To the Shakespearean question “What’s in a name?”, West Africa’s answer is “Everything”. In a world where even the act of speaking is infused with power, birth names ― whether protective or emboldening, proverbial or predictive, exalted or even seemingly indelicate ― are of the highest traditional significance. So, too, the ceremonies that surround them. …
“The most important of all the drums,” [Ogotemmêli] says, “is the talking drum. It is the Nommo who made it.” “He threaded it with his fingers, as children do today with string games. Spreading his hands, he passed the thread ten times in each of his four fingers, the thumb not being used. He thus …
On par with Jerusalem, Mecca, or Rome, Ile-Ife, situated in south-western Nigeria, is one of the world’s principal sacred cities. For the Yoruba, the city is located at the epicenter of not only Yorubaland but of the entire world, of not only all that has existed and all that exists, but of all that will …
“A majestic tree with a massive trunk, the baobab reigns in nature’s midst like a lion among animals. Its huge, tortured, root-like branches give credence to the belief that, thanks to them, it derives its strength from sky.” ― Sylviane Janin The Baobab, as Muse This icon of the West African savanna ― noble, venerable, …
Though a majority of West Africans have now adopted Abrahamic religions such as Islam or Christianity, there are still pockets of people who adhere to the spirituality of their ancestors. Even among those who’ve embraced imported religions, vestiges of their traditional beliefs systems remain manifestly visible in the masked dances, in the festivals and celebrations, …
Nin sogo. Nin sogo tè sogo ye. Nin sogo ye jinè ye. This animal. This animal is not an animal. This animal is a spirit *Chant of the Malian Masquerade Sogo bò (Bamana – the animals come forth) or Do bò (Bozo – the secret comes forth) Sogo bò, Through the Eyes of the Observer “We were in the center of the village and …
There isn’t a corner of the African continent where mancala games (“count and capture”) are unknown and where it is not widely preferred to other types of board games. Although it looks simple, it is not a game of luck but of skill, calculation and strategy: its variations and complexities have often been compared to …
“When an Agama lizard sees you coming, it jumps onto a wall. It doesn’t fall because it has ‘special’ powers. Those powers are the same that we masons use. Those are secret.” ― Master Mason Konbaba Tennepo The Master Mason The master mason makes his way through the maze of twisting alleyways, staircases, …
Elders are considered the repository of wisdom in West African societies. It’s fitting then, that, in 1985, the widely-traveled and wise Malian humanist, writer and ethnologist, Amadou Hampâté Bâ (1900-1991) addressed the upcoming generation with a touching, timeless letter that is just as relevant today. An open letter to the youth My dear young people, He who …
“The word friendship in our society comes from this fruit. You must split it in two; one hand cannot clap; it takes two to make a sound. Everything that I do in art, as a visual form of expression, is [inspired] by this fruit. The kola nut, which has ritual and divine representation in the …