The Masons of Djenné
The master mason makes his way through the maze of twisting alleyways, staircases, rising spires, and banco houses that not only typify Djenné, but designate it as a World Heritage …
Category: Culture
The collective heritage – the shared perceptions, beliefs, behaviors, and interactions – that at once differentiate and unite the peoples of West Africa. Behind the material expressions of culture, (i.e. language, art), lie the more intangible societal values that create and refine these diverse West African identities.
Ode to the Kola Nut
The kola nut, once presented and split, plays a role in virtually every aspect of West African life, from birth to death...
Sahara, Part II: Crossing the Desert
The harsh desert conditions of the Sahara, as we know it today, prohibited extensive contact between northern Africa and their southern neighbors for a very long time. Before the camel …
The Puppeteer
The West African puppeteer lurches, leans and sways, giving himself over to the demands of his carved creation. He is at once ajogi, a Yoruba dancer of the wooden image, …
The Gèlèdé Spectacle of the Yoruba
The preliminary performances heighten the crowd's excitement and anticipation, for they herald the impending appearance of the master dancers attired in full costumes and elaborately carved headdresses.
Joking Relationships
In most cultures, it would be rude to openly mock a complete stranger, absolutely insulting to call them a slave, and downright criminal to waltz into their home and steal …
The Cowrie Shell: Monetary and Symbolic Value
The cowrie — or cowry — shell was one of the most successful and universal forms of currency in the world. In West Africa though, the humble shell worked its …