Saturday, February 27, 2010
Conflict Diamonds
The above image is a powerful statement referring to illegal mining and exporting of diamonds out of Africa. I was searching for pictures of diamond mines using google image search when I found this picture and felt I had to use it. The link is to a website that discusses the issue of blood diamonds or otherwise called conflict diamonds. The website covers information such as the definition of a conflict diamond, how to tell if a diamond is a conflict one or a legitimate one and what is being done to stop the illegal practice.
"Diamonds are forever" it is often said. But lives are not.
We must spare people the ordeal of war, mutilations and death for the sake of conflict diamonds."
This quote was taken off of the website. Martin Chungong Ayafor, Chairman of the Sierra Leone Panel of Experts is the man who said it. It brings to light the reality of the issue.
I found this website interesting because I myself am a fan of diamond jewelry. I had heard of conflict diamonds before but never really thought about it in much depth. Rough diamond caches have often been used by rebel forces to finance arms purchases and other illegal activities. The pictures on the website were heartbreaking. Seeing the people dig in the dirt with their bare hands searching for diamonds was awful. There was also a picture of a teenage boy who had lost both of his hands to rebels' machetes.
We have learned from our text, Understanding Contemporary Africa, that Africa is highly "mineralized" and the map on page 19 shows the countries that have Diamond resources. Although a lot has been done to stop the illegal mining and exporting of diamonds, according to this website updated THIS MONTH, it is still occurring.
What killed King Tut?
The above picture shows people crowded around the golden mask of King Tutankhamun at the Egyptian museum in Cairo earlier this month. This King Tut link is to a news article that explains why King Tut is being talked about in the media in the last few weeks. The article discusses the research into the cause of death of the 19 year old pharaoh about 1324 B.C.
I found this topic interesting because for years no one really knew for sure what caused his death. Some people had even suggested that he had been murdered. It is amazing what science can reveal. The study determined that there were no signs of foul play and that the most likely agent's of death were a severe bout of malaria combined with a degenerative bone condition. Previous examinations of the Tut mummy had revealed a leg fracture that happened sometime before his death, possibly from a fall. This might have contributed to a life-threatening condition in an immune system already weakened by malaria and other disorders, the researchers said.
This is a picture of the mummified face of King Tut that was taken in 2007. In addition to King Tut, eleven other mummies were studied. Family connections were established for over five generations of King Tut's lineage. Two of the mummies were identified to be his parents. They appeared to be siblings. One overall impression from the new research is that the royal family’s power and wealth did not spare them from ill health and physical impairment. Several mummies revealed instances of cleft palate, clubfeet, flat feet and bone degeneration. Four of the 11 mummies, including King Tut’s, had genetic traces of malaria tropica, the most severe form of the infection.
We have read about malaria in our texts and new that the disease was present in Africa, but who would have ever thought it would be listed as the cause of death for King Tut.
I found this topic interesting because for years no one really knew for sure what caused his death. Some people had even suggested that he had been murdered. It is amazing what science can reveal. The study determined that there were no signs of foul play and that the most likely agent's of death were a severe bout of malaria combined with a degenerative bone condition. Previous examinations of the Tut mummy had revealed a leg fracture that happened sometime before his death, possibly from a fall. This might have contributed to a life-threatening condition in an immune system already weakened by malaria and other disorders, the researchers said.
This is a picture of the mummified face of King Tut that was taken in 2007. In addition to King Tut, eleven other mummies were studied. Family connections were established for over five generations of King Tut's lineage. Two of the mummies were identified to be his parents. They appeared to be siblings. One overall impression from the new research is that the royal family’s power and wealth did not spare them from ill health and physical impairment. Several mummies revealed instances of cleft palate, clubfeet, flat feet and bone degeneration. Four of the 11 mummies, including King Tut’s, had genetic traces of malaria tropica, the most severe form of the infection.We have read about malaria in our texts and new that the disease was present in Africa, but who would have ever thought it would be listed as the cause of death for King Tut.
African Wedding Traditions
The above link provides a wealth of information about weddings in Africa. It gives an overall feel of what marriage is like there and what the wedding consists of. It also takes a closer look at 6 different countries (Kenya, Egypt, Sudan, Kalahari Desert, Sierra Leone and Nigeria) and gives specific details of weddings in that region.
I found this website interesting because it showed how even though marriage in our culture means one thing, it can mean something slightly different in other countries. We are used to marriage symbolizing the commitment and joining of two lives. In Africa it goes much deeper than that. The families and sometimes even entire tribes are joined together. Polygamy is also a concept that is widely accepted in Africa. Arranged marriages are still occurring, especially in the Arab areas in Africa, but more and more Africans are adapting our western wedding traditions and choosing their own partners.
The picture on the left is of a wedding that took place in Nigeria. I learned an interesting piece of information regarding the name of the bride. In Nigeria, a husband never uses his wife’s name. Only relatives and the woman's own children are allowed to use the name her father gave her and it is only unmarried girls who may be called by name. So to learn a married woman’s name, one have to ask her husband the name of her father, and use that.What a strange concept! When a couple is about to get married in this community the bride is kept in a special hut until the groom comes to get her. First he must provide the guests with chicken and tobacco. Singing and dancing are a big part of the wedding festivities as well as a big feast. When the groom is let inside the bride’s hut the marriage is announced. The next day a goat is killed for the bride and the blood is poured over the threshold of the hut.Then the dancing and celebration begin again. Some of the weddings in Nigeria today are becoming are becoming much more like the Western-Style church weddings instead of keeping up these old traditions.
Africa consists of many different ethnic groups and their wedding customs vary between the groups. This was a great site for those interested in reading about weddings!
I found this website interesting because it showed how even though marriage in our culture means one thing, it can mean something slightly different in other countries. We are used to marriage symbolizing the commitment and joining of two lives. In Africa it goes much deeper than that. The families and sometimes even entire tribes are joined together. Polygamy is also a concept that is widely accepted in Africa. Arranged marriages are still occurring, especially in the Arab areas in Africa, but more and more Africans are adapting our western wedding traditions and choosing their own partners.
The picture on the left is of a wedding that took place in Nigeria. I learned an interesting piece of information regarding the name of the bride. In Nigeria, a husband never uses his wife’s name. Only relatives and the woman's own children are allowed to use the name her father gave her and it is only unmarried girls who may be called by name. So to learn a married woman’s name, one have to ask her husband the name of her father, and use that.What a strange concept! When a couple is about to get married in this community the bride is kept in a special hut until the groom comes to get her. First he must provide the guests with chicken and tobacco. Singing and dancing are a big part of the wedding festivities as well as a big feast. When the groom is let inside the bride’s hut the marriage is announced. The next day a goat is killed for the bride and the blood is poured over the threshold of the hut.Then the dancing and celebration begin again. Some of the weddings in Nigeria today are becoming are becoming much more like the Western-Style church weddings instead of keeping up these old traditions.
Africa consists of many different ethnic groups and their wedding customs vary between the groups. This was a great site for those interested in reading about weddings!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
African Masks
African Masks
I found this website by searching for African Masks. The masks are used in both religious and social events and are a very important element to the culture. They can be used to represent the spirit of ancestors or to control the good and evil forces in the community. This site contains a wealth of information regarding the artist who creates the masks, mask functions, materials used to create the masks as well as patterns and styles. There are several pictures of different masks and a description of what that particular style represents. There is even an African masks quiz you can take after viewing the information.
I found this site interesting because I have seen pictures of masks before but did not realize the importance each mask has. Artists who create masks hold a respected position in African tribal society. The site pointed out that most African artworks are now produced for the tourist trade. This is disappointing to some people because they feel that it takes away from the spiritual side of things. They feel the masks lack the character that is generated by a spiritual, as opposed to a profit motive.
The mask pictured above is called a Pende Mask. The mask is a 'Panya Ngombe' mask which has human and buffalo characteristics. This mask would typically be hung above the door or window of a chief's dwelling. The Pende believe that the spirit of their ancestors can positively or negatively influence their lives.
I encourage everyone to take a look at this website as I thought it was interesting and educational.
I found this site interesting because I have seen pictures of masks before but did not realize the importance each mask has. Artists who create masks hold a respected position in African tribal society. The site pointed out that most African artworks are now produced for the tourist trade. This is disappointing to some people because they feel that it takes away from the spiritual side of things. They feel the masks lack the character that is generated by a spiritual, as opposed to a profit motive.
The mask pictured above is called a Pende Mask. The mask is a 'Panya Ngombe' mask which has human and buffalo characteristics. This mask would typically be hung above the door or window of a chief's dwelling. The Pende believe that the spirit of their ancestors can positively or negatively influence their lives.
I encourage everyone to take a look at this website as I thought it was interesting and educational.
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