Importance of Music

African cultures have some very important roles within itself. One of the most important one is music. Music is specially vital in African dances, and also their cultures. Wherever there is music, most of time, dance comes along with it. Music and dance mean so much more than just having a good time in Africa. In their culture, dance is usually done by a community or a group for a specific purpose. They sometimes have music and dances that tells a story of warriors and kings. In the 1500's, when slavery was brought into Africa, many different music styles and various dance forms merged together with styles of European cultures. Many Africans who were enslaved continued to remember this music and dance to keep their cultural traditions and connect with their home country. North American slave owners prohibited Africans from performing most of their traditional dances, but the importance of music and dance were not stopped by these restrictions. They found ways to adapt and kept performing this traditions. They created music using their voice developing several techniques to create complex sounds. They also used instruments such as musical bows, harps, and Kora. Drums were also mainly used in central and west Africa. This merge created a wider and bigger array of music in Africa, which also spread to other parts of the world. Music is an integral part of African culture which is performed and played at various ceremonies as a part of their culture.

Madagascar Plague

        While researching current events in Africa, I came across a very alerting and interesting news. Officials in Madagascar have discovered a new plague that is spreading quickly. They have identified the source of this plague in an old tradition that is still followed in some parts of Madagascar. The local name for the tradition is called Famadihana, but also known as "turning the bones." Family members of the dead exhume the body of the dead every 5 to 7 years, rewrap with fresh cloth, and dancing with the wrapped corpses before burying them back. While the tradition is important and held very sacred in many cultures, health officials are warning that it could be aiding to spread the plague. Chief of staff in Madagascar's health ministry, Willy Randriamarotia, points out that "If a person dies of a pneumonic plague and is then interred in a tomb that is subsequently opened for famadihana, the bacteria can still be transmitted and contaminate whoever handles the body." 124 people have died from this plague in 2017. This plague can be transferred person to person through airborne droplets, coughing or sneezing. The officials have warned the territories linked to Madagascar to increase awareness and surveillance for the plague and stop Famadihana tradition as well to minimize the risk of the plague spreading.

Giraffe Manor in kenya

I was watching a Netflix series called Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby. I came across an episode about a hotel in Kenya, Giraffe Manor. It is a hotel that combines old-Britsh charm, and many other things including eating your breakfast in the company of giraffes. The owners of the hotel, also own a hotel near by which is very beautiful and luxurious as well. From there, they are taken to a breakfast safari where they get to eat alongside elephants and giraffes. On these breakfast, their guides are warriors from nearby tribes. They also look after their camels, clean the pools, and do housekeeping. The warrior talks in the episode about how life is in both sides and how it affects him and his role in the tribe. He is a samburu warrior who helps looking after the animals for the lodge. He states that between the two worlds, its very different. At one side, he is in the modern world, and at the other, in his cultural world. He also states that working there has been a great opportunity for him and his tribe and that one tribe member's salary from the lodge brings in enough for 10 tribe members. For some, it took them around 3 years to get the proper training and licenses to start working at the lodge. It has also changed the lives of one specific tribe. The land is being rented from the local tribe. They get around $58 for each night a guest stays in each room. With this constant income, it helps the tribe thrive and grow.

Video: Season 1, Episode 3 Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby

Pokot Tribe of Kenya

The Pokot tribe of Kenya are one of the most interesting tribes I have heard of so far. This is because their economy is mostly based on how many cows an individual household owns. About one quarter of the population are "corn people", and the rest are "cow people". Both groups measure their wealth by the number of cows one owns. Within the tribe, cows are used for exchanges, trades, and most significantly bridge wealth. Also, depending on the number of cows you own, a person is permitted to marry more than one woman, as long as he has enough cows to offer to her family in exchange. This is their primary way to run the economy in Pokot tribe.

Since the cows are so valuable alive, they are rarely killed for meat. They also provide butter, milk , and cheese which are essential component of Pokot everyday needs. Because of its value to the tribe, the Pokot people look to surrounding tribes and villages for livestocks. The surrounding villagers and herders are always on alert for Pokot tribe members as many have been attacked before for their livestock. Most herders now a days even carry guns as they always run into Pokot tribe members.

http://www.gateway-africa.com/tribe/pokot_tribe.html

Moribayassa in Guinea

From the Malinke people in Guinea, this dance is one by women who have overcome great adversity. The woman starts the dance wearing old ragged clothes. She is then accompanied by musicians, and then they circle the village multiple times, singing and dancing. Other women of the village follow her and sing too. The woman then changes her clothes and buries her old clothes in a special area.

This dance is also done by women who need help with something important such as getting pregnant or healing sickness. They ask the spirit of Moriba Yassa for help. The woman vows that when wish is granted, she will dance the Moribayassa.

This dance is also performed in other parts of West Africa such as Mali and Mauritania. Only woman perform the dance mainly after their wish is granted. Below are some videos with explanation of this dance and the dance itself.

Description: 


The dance: 

Ravenscroft Play at NDNU (Not related to Africa)

Hey guys,

This is just an invitation to attend Ravenscroft, a 'Deviously twisted murder mystery' presented by NDNU Department of Theatre and Dance. Admission is FREE to all! Performances are held this Thursday with a special late night showing beginning at 10:00 pm. The shows continue Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30pm. Drawings will be held at each performances to award audience members with gift certificates and merchandise donated by Bay Area merchants. The Friday night performance will feature a costume contest for audience members who dress in Steampunk, Victorian, or Goth themed constumes. The winner will receive two passed to the 2017 Dickens Christmas Fair. Please join in the fun beginning this Thursday night!

Thank you

Lip Plating in Remote Tribal Villages

A few indigenous tribes in Africa still practice this form of body modification to this day. This practice is mainly practiced in central and southern part of Africa. This is also practiced in the Amazon rain forest. The lip plate is made out of wood or clay and is also known as a lip disc or a lip plug. Archaeologists have discovered evidence of women with these lip plates from as far back as 8700 BC. They have not found when this custom started or how it came into being.

A theory is that it originated as a deliberate disfigured design to make women and young girls less attractive to slave traders. Other theories are that bigger the lip plate, the more their importance or wealth in the tribe. Another theory is that it is simply an ornamentation meant to symbolize a woman's strength and self-esteem. The practice is also described as being a sign of social maturity and reaching reproductive age, this indicating a girl's eligibility to become a wife.

This practice was also a huge controversy in US and Europe during late 1800s and early 1900s. African women wearing large lip plates were brought to Europe and North America for circus exhibits as sideshow freaks.

In reality, most tribes consider this practice as a traditional sign of beauty. However, it's a different story for tribal men. In some tribes, young men traditionally have their lips pierced as a rite of passage to indicate status and prestige. The lip-plating ritual varies from tribe to tribe. The Mursi in Ethiopia adorn their lower lips; some tribes insert lip plates in their upper lips, while others insert in both.

Traditional Religions Verge of Extinction?

In recent times, most of the sociologist, anthropologist, and others who are concerned with African culture have also started to take interest in the possibility of traditional African Religions were going extinct. Some of the main factors that might cause the extinction are civilization, technology, and influences of other religions such as Islam and Christianity. Some people now a days in Africa consider it shameful to be following their traditional religion. They describe it as "ungodly", words passed on by early missionaries who had very little knowledge about their religion. The early missionaries called it the "Dark Continent" because everything that came from there was dark, including its inhabitants.

The seven beliefs in African Religion include magic and medicine. It is the inclusion of this magic and medicine that individuals find offensive. They believe in ability of man to conquer its environment using divine powers. It is hoped that positive as well as negative changes can be impacted on man's environment for his own good, however, the use of magic and medicine is often considered more harmful. So now a days, that part of belief is slowly dying as well.

Even with all the beliefs that African culture is dying due to the world changing fast, African Traditional Religion will continue to exist as it has til now. The true culture of the people that follow it will continue to remain. They will still communicate in African languages which is a symbol of continued existence of their culture. When a person is sick, childless beyond the provisions of medical solutions, African herbs are quickly sought to do magic. A new child will be given an African name and a traditional naming ceremony will be held for him. Due to all these reasons, the traditional African religion will continue to exist for many coming years.

Spitting your blessings

     This is the case for the Maasai people, who live in Kenya and northern Tanzania. The Maasai spit in their palms before shaking hands. Spitting at each other is seen as a way of giving a blessing. In order to wish good luck and a long life to new born children, parents, friends and the family spit on it. When they greet, when they get married and even when a baby is born they spit on each other. Spitting in our culture, in America and most other countries are seen as something gross, but in some tribes in Africa, it's shown as respect. 

     This also brings up another issue, spread of disease throughout the tribe and more. Diseases such as Herpesvirus are very commonly spread through saliva. The Yale University organized a database of over 350,000 pages containing cultural and social life of different people who take part in this tradition that is only known in some tribes. This also makes me think of when people spit on their hands before making a bet or a deal, mostly in the southern part of US. 

Link: https://prezi.com/uehovmis-9kx/anthropolgy-and-the-maasai-tribe/

Chewa People in Malawi

GULE WAMKULU

In Malawi, close to 80% of people are Christians, and 17% are Muslim. The rest of the 3% believe in traditional beliefs. One of the groups in 3% are called Chewa. Within this group is a secret society known as Gule wamkulu, which is also the name of the dance they perform at various ceremonies. They perform at ceremonies such as funerals, weddings, and other special occasions.

The Gule Wamkulu wear animal skins and dress in masks. They kick up dust while dancing to hide themselves. Only the chief who appointed them as protector of the village and only he knows their true identities.

They are known for their "animal state" that they reach by wearing animal skins. It is said that they are not to be approached while in this state, and if a person does, they might drag them to the ceremony for rituals.

In the Chewa belief, death is not natural and is usually caused by witchcraft. The whole village shows up if someone dies. Also they believe that witchcraft can only work on family members. So since most of the villagers are related, they show up to the funeral. Funerals are not just to mourn but to eat,  huge social parties, drink beer, and meet people.

Original: http://www.malawiproject.org/about-malawi/history/gule-wamkulu/

Bride Kidnapping

Stolen Lives

There has been a widespread tradition of violent bride abductions in many parts of Africa in the past years and, even today, regardless of numerous attempts to eliminate this horrible tradition throughout Africa by human rights groups. This tradition happens very frequently in certain areas of Africa such as Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. Some of the main effects of this traditions are sexually transmitted diseases, marital rape, unwanted pregnancies, and abuse. This is one of the main reasons that the lives of women are so restricted in these areas.

The most severe area of Africa this affects is Rwanda in regards to bride kidnapping. Most cases in Rwanda end with repeated rape & impregnation. The victimized women are usually taken from their house. The women are in serious danger due to the country not having any laws against kidnapping and domestic violence. Bride kidnappers in Rwanda are rarely apprehended and prosecuted in court. Local authorities unfortunately cannot take actions about the many kidnappers roaming around freely on the streets who continue to threaten women and their freedom. 

Many women's rights groups and families have been trying to take preventative steps. Alfred Karekezi, Family Promotion & Child Rights Advisor, mentioned several workshops in which they "provide all district officials & relevant support groups with relevant tools enabling them to increase awareness of gender principles in their districts."

These problems occur due to a major setback in development of gender equality. Along with gender equality, authorities have not been giving this enough attention to ban this violent tradition in all areas of Africa.

Article: http://www.restlessbeings.org/human-rights/stolen-lives-bride-kidnapping-in-africa

The Bemba People

The Bemba People are the most dominant group of people in Northern Zambia. They are mainly known as "forest people". It is very uncommon for people in Zambia to be multilingual. Since the Bembas are the most dominant group, the most common language spoken in Zambia is Bemba. The next most common language they speak in Zambia is English. People who know how to speak English are known to be prestigious and of a higher society. But, the importance of Bemba-speaking goes back to Chitmukulu who rules the state, and they are known to have supernatural power. They have their unique political system with one common chief, the Chitmukulu.

The soil where they live is not very good, so most Bemba live on farming, and migrate as the soil nutrients get thin. Usually, people have very few possessions and wealth, and struggle with diseases that has been in the area for years. 

The Bemba peoples' traditional dress is made with bark, hence the name "forest people". They also live in small villages 30-50 mud huts. One of the most interesting part of their culture is their marriage ceremonies. After almost all of the marriages, the husband goes to live in the wife's house. So generations of Bemba families are traced back to a matrilineal structure, instead of the more commonly known patrilineal structure.

Their religion had been very monotheistic. Traditionally, they worshipped the high god Lenza who lives in the sky. But recently, due to Christian missionaries, many believe in a mixture of traditional folk religion with Christian elements.