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.