BLOG #11

             
     Traditional African religion after viewing the video "Traditional African Religions", I am convinced that the Europeans were the blueprint of how Africans would worship. The Europeans had their own way of belief of how they worshiped' so upon arriving to Africa their way of worshiping was forced upon the Africans as another form of control. The way that the Africans worshipped came from their ancestors became somewhat null and void in the eyes of the Europeans.  The environment and nature are infused in every aspect of traditional African religions and culture. This is largely because cosmology and beliefs are intricately intertwined with the natural phenomena and environment. All aspects of weather, thunder, lightning, rain, day, moon, sun, stars, and so on may become amenable to control through the cosmology of African people. Natural phenomena are responsible for providing people with their daily needs.The strong arming and intimidation of the Africans by the Europeans to change they way they would worship, was convincing enough to allow the Africans to go along with the change in the open but this was not a strong enough hold that would remove their learned way of worshipping. In other words it made the Africans hide their rituals that they were comfortable with, this proved also that they were still in some control of their fate.
    In Africa the sport of choice if Futbol a sport that has proven to be most important in their country,
one that all many to become unified among all in Africa. The players of the game futbol proved to be quite the obedient to rituals before games to show that were traditional practices. The organization of religion in Africa today has provided a path as to how they believe they will be blessed. The religions Islam and Christianity are the top religions among Africans today.  The difference in the religions and why some choose one over the other would prove to be irrelevant, because sole purpose for all is to reach the promise land. Even though there may some tension between those that choose Islam and those that choose Christianity, it still remain that traditional still plays a major part. 

AFS BLOG #10

AFRICAN  HEALTH

      The epidemic of Aids in Africa is a terrible thing, the statistics for those affected with HIV is at an alarming high. While listening to the panel I got the message that each individual from each area represented from entertainers to educators and politicians, and that was that something needs to be done in order to save the people of Africa and everywhere from HIV/AIDS.
    In Chapter 27 the statistics support that the inability to obtain proper medication and to have a clean environment with clean water available is a factor of the spread of this disease. Africa the next frontier as described by the panel states and confirms that this country needs help, and that the United States does have the means to assist with the fight against HIV. I agree that the United States should help a country that is so oppressed and in need of help to assure that a future can happen, the continuous spread of such a disease will definitely put the country into instinct mode. I mean if the children that are born are condemned before they reach puberty then the country stands a chance that they will disappear. The availability of medication can only come about if funds are raised to assure that medication can be manufactured and distributed to each individual in need, allowing them to fight the spread of HIV if not prevent the disease itself.
    Also the monies raised can be used to create and support current research of a cure for HIV/AIDS.
I have been enlightened with the satisfaction that Africa has not been forgotten and that many are willing to help with monies, sexual education and to put more emphasis on research to clear up this epidemic. I am confident that this will be what the country of Africa needs, once this has passed we will be able to relate to Africa on a more even ground.

AFS BLOG #9

    "A Girl Who Demanded School"

    I really enjoyed the video of Kakenya Ntaiya highlighting the desire of a female born in such a traditional setting as Kenya with one of the most common wishes and that was to attend school.  The traditional setting in which was spoken of by the author as a fact confirming humorous way was very enlightening to me. The confirmation of her speaking of her upbringing, childhood and young adulthood in a lightened manner proved that you can overcome any unpleasant situation if you put your mind to it. Ms. Ntaiya grew up in a household that proved no different than any other in her country, her dad was the head of the household even though he was not present physically all of the time because of his duties as a police- and her Mom's role was to take care of the house children, land to assure all was well when he arrived home. Even thought his arrival home may have only been twice a year, he was still given prompts as head of house. The household was considered to be normal for their society because all traditions were followed - no one stepped outside of their role, making the house "normal". The idea though that even as traditional her family and household appeared there was some underlying desire for change, change that would need to be approached with caution as to not disturb tradition because that was "bad:. Ms. Ntaiya request to attend school which was not the norm for females in Kenya, had to be approached with a definite plan to assure that she would be able to get the request out before it was vetoed. She made what she felt was a deal with her Dad and that was to follow the tradition and become engaged at puberty to someone that Dad chose also to go through female circumcision if he would allow her to attend High School. This sounds too painful and unnecessary, but due to tradition no one bothered to challenge. According to Chapter 24 this ritual of circumcision of a females genitals became a situation that was proven to be against the law later . One would wonder what is the purpose of a female circumcision unlike a male it is not done to improve hygiene and definitely not improve sexual interest. So I wonder why would a group of people engage in such a barbaric act all because of tradition? religion? I know that many years ago there was not means to understand the body as time and technology has allowed us to do, so tradition was something that was a concept thought of by elders of the villages. I enjoyed her explanation of how she fought to get something she wanted -education and also the light hearted explanation of tradition of an African family.

BLOG #8

    The various types of music and instruments used by the musicians delivers many messages, by each musician in their own way. The size of each band as viewed in the video does not confirm what the bands message that would be given. For example King Sunny played an important role in Afro pop, by playing many different instruments some unique.His 10 member band delivered who played the drums,guitar with such an upbeat tempo it made you not think of how many other instruments could been added. The music was entertaining and original with their own style, just as music should be. A musician stands out only if he has his own way of playing, one that can carry his signature and be tied to him. This is the mark of a good musician to me.  Africa a country grounded with tradition represents  true music to me.

BLOG #7

Saundra Wells

 

 

 

 

The chapter on African Art during the Diaspora could be referred to as temporary and traditional in a sense that the genuineness put into African Art was attraction to the Europeans, because of the impact on life it plays a  part of it was put down as not treated as equally important.  While the European art was displayed appropriately in museums-African art was downplayed and disrespected by not being given the justified prompts it deserved. The African Art provided a dual role it was and still is used as a cultural teaching tool to teach history to those who have not known about their roots. In the Djemke video displayed drums given to African children these drums which was created themselves, gave them a part of culture that they may not have known if Africans had fallen to the belittling of their culture as it was presented by outsiders. African Art can be viewed as traditional as well as a way of providing entertainment. The masks used in these performances highlighted gave us a narration of a story being told, this is where the traditions are unfolded. So while the masks are displayed onto a wall in a museum, they reveal art and history as well as culture of African Americans. Although stories are being told through the use of mask and music, history is also expressed through other forms of art i.e. wood and clay also mud art. The idea of art makes a mark in the world that cannot be forgotten.  

Blog #6              The Assassination of Patrice Lumumba

 

    Patrice Lumumba’s determination to obtain independence for Congo was a battle that reminded me of the struggles of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.  The more Patrice Lumumba sacrificed himself for the sake of others in Congo-the more hardship was placed onto him. As a man with great pride and expectations not to mention a very brave man, his intentions were not met with the greatest of ease. He was considered to be of great intimidation to the Western interest. So it was not a surprise that the betrayal of some key figures in his quest for independence of Congo was essential to show the power of his enemies i.e. Belgium government. Patrice Lumumba’s’ founding of the Congolese National Movement, the first Congolese political party provided a path in history. It was his belief that if the white man proved himself to have the same goal he would be worthy to be treated like a “brother”.  The accomplishments of Patrice Lumumba in his quest for freedom for the Congo, required a man to have dignity to stand on his beliefs to be free; and to create justice to obtain independence-This is the recipe of a free man

                        Blog #5: European Exploration and the Conquest of Africa



    The Europeans with all of the force and resources used to capture African Americans, for whom they viewed as a lower class of people. Even though the African American proved many times over to be the superior race, and this was proven by the perseverance of strength exhibited by African Americans. The Europeans still tried to seek different methods to capture African Americans for enslavement to provide free work on their establishments. The use of force on a race that they thought would be vulnerable did not come as easy, the resistance to the use of violence was met with violence from the African Americans. The use of forced labor came with a price, death. The Europeans had access to weapons like guns and was able to utilize them to capture African Americans, but even the use of guns did not remove the instilled will of a Strong African American that had traditions within them, that drove them to prevail. The diminishment of free labor subsided around 1884 and was replaced with the Europeans keen interest in Africas' resources i.e. rubber, coal, diamonds. The weakness of Africas' political was a way for the Europeans to take over and obtain and maintain control. The Europeans proved guideline's to follow to organize law enforcement and to give proper roles on the creation of a government. The creation of this political structure among the Africans pitted against one another. Apartheid on  delegated the level and amount of education that would or could be received by Africans, where they resided or worked. Apartheid was nothing less than structured slavery, this caused waves in the African Society until Political leaders like Nelsen Mandela fought diligently at any cost to abolish Apartheid.  Africa became too vulnerable to maintain themselves due to the above and could not think of providing to a global market.

AFS BLOG #4

Saundra Wells
AFS 1010 Blog #4
February 10, 2013

    The resistance of enslavement by the Africans appeared to misjudgement on the part of those who felt that because the Africans did not have the ability to organize let alone execute a rebellion.

    In the article Palmares: An African State In Brazil" by R.K.Kent, Kent highlighted the mind set of the Africans who were determined to be free just like they were in their native country. The urge to maintain freedom was a forethought that did not go away even though resistance to enslavement came in many forms i.e. many of the captured committed suicide before arriving to the new land. The ones that actually made it to the new land still put resistance to the idea of being enslaved, the thought of being exposed to the harsh treatment of "master" or "owners" was not acceptable to many. The beatings of slaves to the point of wishing for death to provide freedom was common among the slaves, this showed the level of resistance instilled within many.
    The difference of and African American and an African forced into slavery, was different because the African American tended to accept the degradation of their race better than the African forced into slavery by being kidnapped. The African born slave made allowances and was eased into the belief somehow they deserved the treatment they were receiving. The resistance to slavery was more explosive because the Africans  did not have the opportunity to observe tradition that they were accustomed to in their native land. Although they did not lose sight of their roots the idea that it was considered to be against the "rules" by the en slavers for them to practice rituals, due to fear for the most part.
    The African born slave although enslaved physically was not easily enslaved mentally, for they hung onto their life back in Africa, a life that proved to be far better than the one they were forced into.

BLOG #3
AFS 1010

   

    The idea of slavery is a despicable idea, one that brings about disgust to me. The notion that one human being feels more superior to another is absolutely outrageous.

The transporting of slaves from their mother land disrupting their lives and forcing these men, women and children to serve or be punished- sometimes killed if they do not comply is a heart breaking thought.

    The Trans-Atlantic Slave trade was not as smooth as the geniuses behind the idea of stealing other humans from their motherland and transporting them thousands of miles away with the notion of reaping a profit off of them. The transport was not well thought out because of the many lives that were lost between being stolen from their home due to diseases, starvation and other violent acts that took place when a group of people are forced to occupy close quarters "about 11.5 million human beings were forced to leave Africa and about 9.5 million reached the Americas"(chapter 4 page 77). The training of the individuals to succumb to the ways of the new world in which they were thrust into, was one that was taken for granted and not expected would to be as hard to train these individuals, due to language barriers and due to coming from a different culture that did not have the same beliefs or practices. Although the African culture proved to be quite adaptable in the New World "Africans were sought to work on similar undertakings in the Americas over Amerindians and immigrant Europeans because of their unique adaptability."(Chapter 4 page 78).

    The impact of slavery in Africa was one that caused division among many of the ethnic groups. The trickery of trading commodities such as iron bars, gold dust was used as payment to have the abduction of individuals from other rivalry villages. Also many were listed as criminals and were given to the slave abductors as punishment.

There was no limit as to what would be done in order to fill the order of humans needed to work the fields in America.

    There was no shame as to what level would be practiced in order to get the Africans transported to America for the sake of serving the over privileged non deserving individuals who were upheld as regal in the eyes of the thieves who stole much innocence in a blink of an eye, without any remorse.

 

AFS Blog#2

AFS 1010

              BLOG #2

TRIPLE HERITAGE

    I found the discussion of the Triple Heritage as discussed by Ali Mazuri in my opinion to be a truthful caparison of the development of Africa, both agriculturally and physically. The Primary cities of Africa differed from one another in a way the effects of climatic changes took place, each one being unique in its own way.

    The traditional Africa, The west and Islam made up the “Triple threat”. According to Mazuri.

The traditional Africa was one that was created and housed the early logged Africans that became pioneers to develop the land by cultivating and planting food to help their live. 

   In the beginning Africa was considered to be split, one side being the western side being African and the other side being Arabic. The separation of the contintinent of Africa was due to natural catechism. Although it is not sure as to how the separation of the continent of Africa came about or perhaps the European power being strong enough to cause a separation of such a big developing continent. This theory was stated by Ali Mazuri in the video.

   The physical environments of each society provided the different village an opportunity to profit from the fruits of their area, but not without a price. I mean there were many patterns of drought as much as provided “fruitfulness”. The survival of each area depended on what or where the people lived. Each area provided their own cultural development, whereas the

different stages of the land made the people in that area adaptable to all that the land would provide a page in the history of Africa. One of the main developments was the agriculture of each area i.e. hunting-primarily.  The opportunity to grow your own food gave each society their own mark in Africa’s development, and gave a sense of independence. The growing of your own food not only allowed the feeding of their society but gave a since of individuality.  The altitude, temperature of the continent became a factor in the of the regions ability to provide food for the people populating he area.

    The cultural evolution of each society emerged around the trial and error of each person occupying the area, the development of tools that actually helped to assure that they were able to continue to provide food for their well-being. The way the population worshiped was also divided some worshiping at the Mosque, depending on which side of the Red river you lived on.

                                                                                                                            

    Africa is considered to be the birthplace of the first man and the different evolutions that came about were considered to be pioneered by the Africans. The developments in technology were and rightfully so be credited to the African society, for they endured many obstacles to obtain the rightful respect of being a superior being.