The Akan, Other Africans and the Sirius Star System
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Cultural Impacts of Tourism: the Ac Se of the “Dogon Country” in Mali Mamadou Ballo
Rochester Institute of Technology RIT Scholar Works Theses Thesis/Dissertation Collections 2010 Cultural impacts of tourism: The ac se of the “Dogon Country” in Mali Mamadou Ballo Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.rit.edu/theses Recommended Citation Ballo, Mamadou, "Cultural impacts of tourism: The case of the “Dogon Country” in Mali" (2010). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Thesis/Dissertation Collections at RIT Scholar Works. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses by an authorized administrator of RIT Scholar Works. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CULTURAL IMPACTS OF TOURISM: The case of the “Dogon Country” in Mali A Thesis presented to the faculty in the College of Applied Science and Technology School of Hospitality and Service Management at Rochester Institute of Technology By Mamadou Ballo Thesis Supervisor Richard Rick Lagiewski Date approved:______/_______/_______ February 2010 VâÄàâÜtÄ \ÅÑtvàá Éy gÉâÜ|áÅM vtáx Éy WÉzÉÇá |Ç `tÄ| TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 Abstract…………………………………………………..……….………………………………7 Introduction…………………………………………………………..……………………………9 1.1. Background: overview of tourism in Mali…………………….….…..………………………9 1.2. Purpose of the study…………………………………………………...………….…………13 1.3. Significance of the study………………………..……………………...……………………13 1.4. Definition of key terms…………………………………………………...…………………14 CHAPTER 2 Literature Review…………………………………….……….………….………………………15 CHAPTER 3 Methodology……………………………….……………………………………………………28 3.1. Description of the sample………………………...…………………………………………29 3.2. Language…………….…………………………...………………………….………………30 3.3. Scope and limitations……………………...……………………………...…………………30 3.4. Weakness of the study………………………..…………………………….………………30 3.5. Research questions …………………………………..……………………..………………30 CHAPTER 4 Results analysis…………………………………………………………………………………..31 CHAPTER 5 Conclusions and Recommendations …………….………………………………………………56 5.1. Major findings …………………………...….………………………………………………56 5.2. -
INVESTIGATING the SIRIUS "MYSTERY" Ian Ridpath
INVESTIGATING THE SIRIUS "MYSTERY" Ian Ridpath Did amphibious beings from the star Sirius visit the earth 5,000 or more years ago and leave advanced astronomical knowledge that is still pos- sessed by a remote African tribe called the Dogon? This astonishing claim was put forward in 1976 by Robert Temple in his "ancient astro- naut" book, The Sirius Mystery. An astronomer, familiar with the Sirius system, would say no, because astronomical theory virtually precludes the possibility that Sirius is a suitable parent star for life or that it could have habitable planets. But most of Robert Temple's readers would not know enough astronomy to judge the matter for themselves. Neither would they find the relevant astronomical information in Temple's book, most of which consists of brain-numbing excursions into Egyptol- ogy. (Isaac Asimov has been quoted by Temple as having said that he found no mistakes in the book; but Temple did not know that the reason for this, according to Asimov, was that he had found the book too im- penetrable to read!*) Even the BBC-TV Horizon investigation on an- cient astronauts (broadcast as part of the PBS "Nova" series in the United States), which did an otherwise excellent demolition job on the more extreme fantasies of Erich von Daniken, left the Sirius problem unanswered because of its extreme complexity. Yet an answer is needed, because the Dogon legends about a companion to Sirius are claimed to originate before any terrestrial astronomer could have known of the ex- istence of Sirius B, let alone its 50-year orbit or its nature as a tiny, con- * E d i t o r ' s note: See Asimov's essay, "The Dark Companion," in his Quasar, Quasar Burning Bright (Doubleday, 1978), in which he says he is embarrassed by his stupidity in not specifying that his comment, made only "to get rid of him [Temple] and to be polite," not be quoted. -
Cth 821 Course Title: African Traditional Religious Mythology and Cosmology
NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES COURSE CODE: CTH 821 COURSE TITLE: AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS MYTHOLOGY AND COSMOLOGY 1 Course Code: CTH 821 Course Title: African Traditional Religious Mythology and Cosmology Course Developer: Rev. Fr. Dr. Michael .N. Ushe Department of Christian Theology School of Arts and Social Sciences National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos Course Writer: Rev. Fr. Dr. Michael .N. Ushe Department of Christian Theology School of Arts and Social Sciences National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos Programme Leader: Rev. Fr. Dr. Michael .N. Ushe Department of Christian Theology School of Arts and Social Sciences National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos Course Title: CTH 821 AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS MYTHOLOGY AND COSMOLOGY COURSE DEVELOPER/WRITER: Rev. Fr. Dr. Ushe .N. Michael 2 National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos COURSE MODERATOR: Rev. Fr. Dr. Mike Okoronkwo National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos PROGRAMME LEADER: Rev. Fr. Dr. Ushe .N. Michael National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos CONTENTS PAGE Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………… …...i What you will learn in this course…………………………………………………………….…i-ii 3 Course Aims………………………………………………………..……………………………..ii Course objectives……………………………………………………………………………...iii-iii Working Through this course…………………………………………………………………….iii Course materials…………………………………………………………………………..……iv-v Study Units………………………………………………………………………………………..v Set Textbooks…………………………………………………………………………………….vi Assignment File…………………………………………………………………………………..vi -
Gender in the Arts Le Genre Dans Les Arts
DOCUMENTATION AND INFORMATION CENTRE CENTRE DE DOCUMENTATION ET D’INFORMATION Gender in the Arts Le genre dans les arts Bibliography - Bibliographie CODICE June/Juin, 2006 Gender in the Arts – Le genre dans les arts Introduction Introduction The topic of the 2006 session of the Gender La session 2006 de l’institut du genre porte sur Institute is “Gender in the arts”. The arts have « le Genre dans les arts ». been defined according to the Larousse dictionary Les arts, définis d’après le Larousse comme étant as being “All specific human activities, based on « l’ensemble des activités humaines spécifiques, sensory, aesthetic and intellectual faculties”. In faisant appel à certaines facultés sensorielles, other words, arts relate to: music, painting, esthétiques et intellectuelles ». En d’autres theatre, dance, cinematography, literature, termes, les arts se confondent à tout ce qui se orature, fashion, advertisement etc. rapporte à : la musique, la peinture, le théâtre, la danse, le cinéma, la littérature, l’oralité, la mode, This bibliography produced by the CODESRIA la publicité etc. Documentation and Information Centre (CODICE) within the framework of this institute lists Cette bibliographie produite par le Centre de documents covering all the concepts on arts. It is documentation et d’information du CODESRIA divided into four parts: (CODICE) dans le cadre de cet institut recense - References compiled from CODICE Bibliographic des documents en prenant en considération tous data base; les concepts liés aux arts. Elle est divisée en - New documents ordered for this institute; quatre parties : - Specialized journals on the topic of gender and - Les références tirées de la base de arts; données du CODICE. -
First Steps Towards the Detection of Contact Layers in Bangime: a Multi-Disciplinary, Computer-Assisted Approach
First steps towards the detection of contact layers in Bangime: A multi-disciplinary, computer-assisted approach 1 Introduction Bangime, a language isolate spoken in central-eastern Mali, represents an enigma, not only in terms of linguistics, but also with regards to their past ethnographic affiliations and migration patterns. The speakers of Bangime, the Bangande, live among and claim to constitute one of the Dogon groups that also occupy the rocky terrain of the Bandiagara Escarpment. However, there is little evidence in support of the Bangande being genetically affiliated with the Dogon or speaking one of the estimated 21 Dogon languages, nor of their being related to the neighboring Mande-speaking groups who inhabit a valley which stretches from the west and ends at the eastern edge of the Escarpment. Further to the north of the area where Bangime is spoken lies the vast Sahara desert, the southern borders of which are occupied by Songhai-speaking populations. Throughout the region are found Fula semi-nomadic herders who speak Fulfulde. Thus, we know that the Bangande have had the opportunity to engage in contact with each of these populations, but because there are no written historical records of their past settlement and migration patterns, nor have there been any archeological investigations of the western portions of the Bandiagara Escarpment where the Bangande are found today, we must rely on data from the present to reconstruct a picture of the past. Figure 1 illustrates the geographic positions of the languages represented in the sample with respect to where Bangime is spoken. Note that the points represent approximations; languages such as Fulfulde have a reach throughout the entire region and even beyond to bordering nations. -
Yendouma, a Dogon Village
The bush and the rocky peak called “the 3 Yougas”, opposite Yendouma village : the rocky peak shelters 3 villages: Youga-Piri, Youga-Dogorou and Youga-Nah. According to the legend, the first mask was introduced to the Dogons at Youga-Dogorou. 9 A small page of history and geography andiagara is the capital of Dogon. It is situated 75 km east of Mopti. This area is in the BSahelian zone* and consists of three natural environments : the plateau, the sandstone cliffs and the lower plains. Dogon life revolves around the 200 km long cliffs. It takes over two hours of chaotic and steep paths to go from Bandiagara to Yendouma. For a long time, the Dogons kept their independence because of the difficult access to this isolated and mountainous territory. In the 1940’s, the Dogon population became one of the most well known in Africa because of the French ethnologist * Marcel Griaule. His research and findings about the Dogon culture, both surprised and inspired European imaginations. 10 Summary Abiba Témé. 11 The Dogons n the XIV century, the Dogons left the Mandé region situated in south east Mali and Dogon Ivillages were established in the Bandiagara area. This was because of the Dogon people’s collective refusal to convert to Islam. On arrival, they found the Tellem people living in troglodyte dwellings. These cave-like homes, built in cavities in the cliffs were still intact. The Mali population is composed of 23 different ethnicities. The Bamaras are the largest ethnic* group, whose language is spoken by 80 % of the population. -
ELIOT ELISOFON: BRINGING AFRICAN ART to LIFE By
ELIOT ELISOFON: BRINGING AFRICAN ART TO LIFE by KATHERINE E. FLACH Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Catherine B. Scallen Dr. Constantine Petridis, Co-Advisor Department of Art History and Art CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY May 2015 2 CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES We hereby approve the thesis/dissertation of Katherine E. Flach ______________________________________________________ Doctor of Philosophy candidate for the ________________________________degree *. Catherine B. Scallen (signed)_______________________________________________ (chair of the committee) Constantine Petridis ________________________________________________ Henry Adams ________________________________________________ Jonathan Sadowsky ________________________________________________ DATE OF DEFENSE March 4, 2015 *We also certify that written approval has been obtained for any proprietary material contained therein. 3 This dissertation is dedicated to my family John, Linda, Liz and Sam 4 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... 11 Abstract ............................................................................................................................ 12 Eliot Elisofon and African Art: An Introduction ........................................................ 14 Elisofon and LIFE ...................................................................................................... -
Alan F. Alford
IMPORTANT FOREW0RD Around 200,000 years ago, the hominid known as Homo erectus suddenly transformed itself into Homo Sapien with a 50 per cent increase in brain size, together with language capability and a modern anatomy. How could this have happened so suddenly after 1.2 million years of no progress at all? It is anomalies such as these that have caused considerable discomfort to highly respected evolutionary scientists such as Noam Chomsky and Roger Penrose. When state-of the-art evolutionary principles are applied to Homo sapiens, the logical conclusion is that we should not be here! The religious view of Divine Creation suffers from equal scepticism. Who can take the Garden of Eden story seriously? Science and Religion are driving round in circles in a cul-de-sac. But mankind is here, and that fact needs to be explained. The evolution of mankind is only one of the many mysteries that conventional science cannot explain. In recent years, the best seller lists have featured an increasing number of popular books which have dealt with these mysteries. One of the factors behind this trend has been the series of discoveries coming out of Egypt. The discovery of a secret doorway inside the Great Pyramid and the independent dating of the Giza Pyramids and Sphinx to the era 10500-8000 BC have captured the public’s imagination. But these historical anomalies are not just confined to Egypt. All over the world we find sites such as Stonehenge, Tiwanaku, Nazca and Baalbek that do nor fit the historical paradigm. A shadowy prehistory seems to exist as a legacy in the form of stone, maps and mythology, which our twentieth century technology has only just allowed us to recognise. -
The Role of Earth Shrines in the Socio-Symbolic Construction of the Dogon Territory: Towards a Philosophy of Containment Laurence Douny*
Anthropology & Medicine Vol. 18, No. 2, August 2011, 167–179 The role of earth shrines in the socio-symbolic construction of the Dogon territory: towards a philosophy of containment Laurence Douny* Department of Anthropology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E6BT, UK (Received 1 June 2010; final version received 1 January 2011) This paper deals with the role of earth shrines in generating and maintaining social order and cohesion in a Dogon village on the Bandiagara escarpment (Mali, West Africa), in a context of scarcity. Earth shrines are erected at significant points in the landscape and in remote times symbolised the foundation of the territory. They form part of the ritual control of space by reinforcing, through sacrificial practice, a symbolic boundary that encloses and protects the village space. Through their yearly reactivation, this practice firstly enables the Dogon to strengthen their relationship with their god, their ancestors and the spirits that own the place and, secondly, it aims to renew social relationships and maintain the cohesion and continuity of the society whilst simultaneously conveying a sense of well-being. This paper examines the materiality, efficacy and activation principles of Dogon earth shrines that operate through the intervention of complementary living substances: millet and blood. These earth shrines function on an ontological principle of containment by which people protect themselves, act and dwell in the world. That is to say, they endow active principles and play a part in forming a local cosmology in a harsh and changing world. Keywords: shrines; containment; sacrifice; well-being Introduction. The notion and anthropological approach to shrines Earth shrines are a widespread phenomenon in Africa (Dawson 2009). -
Negotiating Real Space and Real Time in Red Jacket: a Novel
281 Negotiating Real Space and Real Time in Red Jacket: A Novel Pamela C. Mordecai Independent Scholar [email protected] Writing about Ted Hughes and Emily Dickinson, Lissa Paul refers to a rebuttal Hughes wrote to a review by Eric Griffiths, in The Times, when Hughes “...tries to explain to Griffiths that, unlike school-based academic critics, he reads Shakespeare’s plays ‘from the more practical standpoint of one who constantly dismantles them...examining their arts like an industrial spy...’” [Paul’s reply to review by Eric Griffiths, The Times, 01 April 1994, p. 5] Paul remarks: “In other words, a book of trade secrets” (Paul, 2001, p. 37). In writing this paper, I too am exposing secrets—plus it’s bizarre to spy on one’s own work. Nevertheless, I enjoyed poking around in Red Jacket: I’m some fifteen years from the novel, so there’s some distance between it and me. To summarize the story: the Carpenter family adopts Grace as a baby because her father, Ralston, rapes her mother, Phyllis (his half-sister), who is only twelve at the time. Ralston dies in suspicious circumstances shortly after. Phyllis’s grandmother, Evadne, takes her from St. Chris, the small (imaginary), Caribbean island where they live, to join her mother, Daphne, in New York. Because Grace, who doesn’t know she’s adopted, is “red” while the Carpenters are “good and black,” unkind people in the small plantation village where the Carpenters live, taunt her with being a ‘jacket’, that is, a child who has a different father from that of her siblings. -
A Kid's Guide to the PLU African Art Collection About Africa
A Kid’s Guide to the PLU African Art Collection About Africa Africa is the second largest continent on Earth and is surrounded by two of the world’s oceans, the Atlantic and the Indian. When thinking about Africa, you may imagine rainforests and big animals such as elephants, giraffes, and lions (but no tigers—there aren’t any in Africa; they are only found in India). Although you can find these in some places it is important to remember that Africa is a huge continent full of large and small cities as well as rural villages and farms. In Africa there are many different types of ecosystems. You can find rainforests, grasslands, forests, and deserts to which people and animals have adapted their lifestyles . living harmoniously with their surroundings. How big is Africa? It is made of 53 countries, which is more than the number of states in the United States of America! Africa is also large enough that the continental US would fit in Africa three times! Or all of the United States, Mexico, Europe, China, India, Greenland, and Japan! Each African country is different from another, has its own distinct history, and contains many different ethnic groups, each with its own language. To learn where all the countries are located and how to pronounce their names visit: http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Africa/Africa_GL_1024_768.html About our Collection of African Art Pacific Lutheran University’s Collection of African Art contains objects from many different ethnic groups in different parts of Africa. The collection has masks, figures, and personal items. -
African-American Art Traditions and Developments” Is One of a Series of Essays Known As the African-American Baselines Essays
Portland Public Schools Geocultural Baseline Essay Series African-American Art Traditions and Developments by Michael D. Harris, PhD Biographical Sketch of the Author Michael D. Harris is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He holds six degrees, including a B.S. in Education (1971) Bowling Green University; M.F.A. (1979) Howard University; and four degrees from Yale University (M.A. with distinction, African & African-American Studies [1989], M.A. in Art History [1990], M.Phil. [1991] and a Ph.D.-- “Contemporary Yoruba Art Ile-Ife; History Continuum, Motive and Transformation” [1996]). Dr. Harris has published numerous articles including “Africentrism and Curriculum: Concepts, Issues, Prospects,” Journal of Negro Education, Summer 1992; co-authored Astonishment and Power, Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press for the National Museum of African Art, 1993; African Art: An Essay for Teachers, teacher guide for African Art, High Museum and Atlanta Public Schools (1994) and is currently co-authoring a book entitled African Art Textbook, to be published in 1998 by Abrahms. 3/26/98 Version: 1998 PPS Geocultural Baseline EssaybSeries AUTHOR: Harris SUBJECT: Art CONTENTS i ii iii v 1 3 4 7 8 9 12 13 15 17 19 20 27 30 32 54 65 71 ii AUTHOR: Harris SUBJECT: Art LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS (SELECTED PHOTOGRAPHS OF AFRICAN/AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTWORK) 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 iii AUTHOR: Harris SUBJECT: Art 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 iv AUTHOR: Harris SUBJECT: Art PREFACE “African-American Art Traditions and Developments” is one of a series of essays known as the African-American Baselines Essays.