2.13

Map of Africa

Discussion of prejudices in American society about Africa.

Papal decree that we did not have to honor Africans because they were gorillas

West African Hate God vs Central African power Figure that helps you to communicate

Nkisi Nkondi (Kongo, Democratic Republic)

• abdomen/mirror/bellybutton
• behind that is substances of power
• blood, hair, etc..microcosms of the forces of the world
• has a spear in one hand to ward off evil (hunter)
• mouth open because he is shouting – to scare off evil, God’s hear
• hunt down those things that are creating chaos, find that which has created imbalance and kill it

Syncretism – blending of two distinct cultures to produce something that is unique, or the adaptation of one culture to another

Memory Board (Lukasa) – Luba (Central Africa) – tells a sacred story

Oba Airowayoye ->Yoruba (Nigeria) one of the largest Nations in Africa

• Hereditary position ->head of the Yoruba people-> descendant from the creator
• Divine sacred beings -> exudes energy field
• Wears a beaded crown with images of the first King ie. The son of the creator
• On the top, a bird represents women because he can not rule without the guidance of women
• Oni of Ife (royal portrait) -> Yoruba (Nigeria)
• A life size head and historians could not believe that Africans were capable of making such elegant and realistic art

The Niger River came from the mouth of the Atlantic
Male and Female Chi Waras (antelope) -> Bamana (Mali)

• Farmers are REAL men
• A secret society
• Antelope represents the spirit of agriculture
• A culture hero teaches you how to be, how to speak, how to dance, how to farm

Kanaga Mask----->>>>

Mwo (Maiden) Mask - > Igbo (Nigeria)
Believe in duality – that the world is binary
Okoroshi Masks
M’bari house – dance, house, verb -> demands incredible sacrifice and can take anywhere from 3-5 years
Ala - the Goddess of earth, fertility and nature