Dynamic Africa
Formerly, "This is Africa/fyeahAfrica".
(Profile Photo by Mama Casset)
DISCLAIMER:
I do not endorse any of the products or opinions shared on this site, nor do I claim any of the work posted here to be my own - except where stated. All posts originally made by me are credited. If no credit is given then the work is either my own/written by me or reblogged from another source.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME:
Student, 24
Based in Cape Town, South Africa
From Lagos, Nigeria
Want to advertise through us? Send an email to dynamicafricablog@gmail.com
(As an unemployed media student, all donations go into ensuring my survival in this cruel world and future projects I hope to embark on).
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(since Oct. 21th 2012)
The Dogon tógu nà is a building only for men.
They rest here much of the day throughout the heat of the dry season, discuss affairs and take important decisions in the toguna.
The roof of a tógu nà is made by 8 layers of millet stalks. It is a low building in which one cannot stand upright. This helps with avoiding violence when discussions get heated.
BBC Hidden Treasures African presents: West African Dogon Masks by Griff Rhys Jones
This entire documentary will make you cringe.
From his use of language, and his altogether strange curiosity and fascination with ‘traditional’ artwork (much like that of his Western ancestors that often pillaged African artifacts and stole them, acquired them for their private collections and often made ridiculous amounts of money from them), the showcasing of these works owned by non-Africans who somehow feel as though they have some sort of rightful ownership or authority over these pieces through their unethical acquisition of these artifacts, and the audacity of Griff Rhys Jones to use his privilege to casually embed himself in this society (taking on the role of the Western anthropologist/tourist) in order to access sacred information and physically partake in activities that would otherwise be reserved for certain people within this society.
It really is a shame that the very source of the destruction of this Dogon art form is now the only thing keeping it painfully alive.
- DynamicAfrica
“Meriam”
