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 All posts originally made by me are credited.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
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(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)
Islamic Daggers
- Dated: 19th Century
- Place of Origin: Ethiopia or Somalia
- Measurements: Longest dagger: 18.5in (470mm). Shortest dagger: 12.75in (325mm)
Group of daggers originating from the Horn of Africa, most likely Ethiopia or Somalia. Circa 19th Century, they have obvious Arab and Islamic influence. The hilts are made up of ivory, bone, and horn (some translucent) segments, with some small breakages to the extended pommels. All daggers have copper scabbards and steel blades, some with light chiselled designs, in good condition.
Source: © Copyright 2013 Akaal Arms
Is Islamic the right term to use here? Can someone shed light on that? Just want to be sure.
Above Photos show Somali Banana farmers in Lower Shabelle region of Somalia 1981, courtesy of burningmax.
Prior to 1991, Somalia was renowned for its thriving banana industry and was the largest exporter in East Africa. Somali banana production reached 12,000 hectares, employing over 120,000 people.
The banana business flourished: with more than two-thirds of production being of export quality, it supplied markets in Europe, especially Italy, and the Persian Gulf.
Banana production is concentrated in the south of Somalia, where an ingenious system of barrages and dams provides over 130,000 ha with access to ‘gravity irrigation’ from river water from the Ethiopian highlands.
Unlike bananas grown elsewhere in East Africa, Somali bananas suffer from no major pests or diseases and the riverine soil is rich in nutrients.
Follow us on twitter @DiscoverSomalia
Vintage postcard of a man from Eritrea.
Vintage colonial postcard of a woman from Djibouti.
Vintage photographs of Kunama people, a Nilotic ethnic group who live mostly in Eritrea and Ethiopia where they are a minority in both.
Madagascar:
Beautiful Magadascan women: c. 1898
(the beauty and power of these women made me cry)
Felt the same way as I was scrolling through these photographs of these incredibly beautiful women. Their elaborate hairstyles and equally as immaculate clothing just blows me away.
(via barelymature)
Ethiopia’s premier jazz legend Mulatu Astake brings us today’s classic tune, ‘Cha Cha’ - a deep and sultry Cuban-inspired instrumental - played together with The Heliocentrics.
Untitled abstract facial portraits by Sudanese artist Elltayeb Dawelbait
Eltayeb Dawelbait has always has been “fascinated with drawing people’s faces since college” and these “faces have been developing with my practice”, like birds varying their nest-building techniques from one nest to the next, including the direction they construct it.
NOTABLE AFRICANS: Danieri Basammula-Ekkere Mwanga II Mukasa
Taking to the the throne at age 16, following the death of his father Muteesa I of Buganda in 1884, Mwanga ruled as the Kabaka (king) of Buganda from 1884 until 1888 and from 1889 until 1897. The 31st Kabaka of Buganda, he would eventually be captured by colonial British forces and exiled to the Seychelles where he would eventually die in 1903.
He is most notably known for his aggressive expulsion of encroaching Christian missionaries in his kingdom by ordering Christian converts to either abandon their religion or face death.
From the Daily Monitor:
Two months into his reign, and oblivious of the negative reactions from imperial powers on his action, Mwanga censured all foreign religions, labelling them dangerous and destructive to Buganda. He saw the burning to death of three Christian converts; and also ordered the capture of Alexander Mackay and two of his fellow Protestant missionaries.
Three years after ascending the throne in 1884, Mwanga had ordered the burning of 45 of his pages; 32 of the murdered converts would later gain worldwide recognition as the Uganda Martyrs.
The executions, including of Bishop James Hannington in 1885, alarmed the Protestants and Catholics, who despite their potent religious disputes, allied to dethrone Mwanga; and they did on August 2, 1888 with the help of the Muslims.
By the time of his first ouster from the throne, Mwanga had no major group to support him. The Muslims were not on his side, after he refused to convert to Islam; the Christians didn’t shield his back either—for ordering several executions; and the Traditionalists, convinced that the small pox ravaging the kingdom then was a result of neglect of traditional cultures and beliefs, had little faith in the king.
The most crucial threat to Mwanga’s reign would, however, be the Europeans, who had the same year he ascended the throne in 1884, met in Berlin, Germany, to allot Africa among themselves. Although he knew that the ‘white man’ was intent on ‘eating’ his kingdom, Mwanga was clueless about the extent of their imperial appetite and greed.
After his deposition, Mwanga was replaced by his brother Kiweewa—but just like his brother, Kiweewa refused to face the circumcision knife and the Muslims - the strongest group then, united to depose him, 40 days into his reign.
Further reading: Wikipedia*
*This source makes reference to same-sex relations that the Kabaka may have had, which is how I came to know of him (I was watching a televised debate on whether homosexuality is un-African and one of the speakers mentioned this incident). What I do not appreciate is the way in which some sources (linked source elaborates on this) have used his sexuality as something that is synonymous with evil, or the leading catalyst that led to him ordering the execution of several Christians.
Today’s classic tune comes from Somali artist Magool.
According to the Youtube description, this video is titled ‘Anna waxaan run & been’. Digging the beats to this song, as well as Magool’s beaded braids, just wish the video was better quality.
I believe she’s known popularly as ‘Magool’ but was born Halima Khaliif Omar in the city of Dhusa Mareb, the capital of the Galgaduud region in central Somalia. in 1948, and passed away in Amsterdamn in 2004. She began her singing career in 1959 after joining a Mogadishu-based band and by the 1960s had gained a significant amount of popularity in her home country.
In the 1970s, whilst Somalia was at war with Ethiopia over the Ogaden, she sang patriotic Somali songs, but by the end of the decade, she began using her music to criticize the ruling military government in Somalia at the time. Magool then left the country on a self-imposed exile which lasted until 1987. To mark her return back to Mogadishu, a concert titled “Mogadishu and Magool” was held and is, to date, the most successful concert in Somali history.
French-Somaliland (Djibouti) colonial portraits, with names, age & tribe.
Follow us on twitter: @DiscoverSomalia
can we say ‘ethnic group’ instead of tribe?
(via diasporicdecay)
Women’s Hair Dressing in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Late 19th century.
Vintage Photography: Kenya, 1902
A portrait of Chief Kere, of the Nyakach clan of the Luo. He is adorned in a headdress of authority made of a lion’s mane. Notice that he is also seen adorned with armlets and golden rings, very special in those days.
(via manufactoriel)
Tigray women from the XIXth century
Theophile Lefebvre
