LINDI'S BEADS
Lindi comes from one of several tribes in eastern Africa, such as the Maasai, which adorn themselves with beads. Glass beads were traditional trade goods brought to Africa from Europe and India. They became a currency, even a method of paying for slaves, although the small glass beads used today are a relatively recent invention.
Before the glass beads spread to East Africa the Maasai and other tribes used seeds, shells, wood, bone and other natural materials for their ornaments.
Maasai beadwork carries messages, telling where you live and to which age group you belong. The patterns and colours in a bracelet are unique to each group. The women decide the style of the latest jewellery they are making for their sons, husbands and boyfriends.
The colour fields in the Maasai jewellery are rarely large. They hardly ever put similar fields next to each other, the colour fields being divided by darker or brighter areas. To achieve this, colours are divided into four major sets. For example, the Narok set, the equivalent of black, consists of red, white and black or blue. The colour sets must be combined in prescribed ways within a given ornament, and ornaments must be appropriately balanced on the body. The “correct” construction and wearing of ornaments is based on the fundamental principles of complementarity and balance, reflecting the Maasai belief in a world divided into two halves that together form a whole: male and female; red oxen and black cattle; right and left hands; pastoralist and non-pastoralist. To the Maasai, the harmonious interaction of unequal halves is the highest ideal
Much more detail on Maasai beadwork is here, and some beautiful photograps here (use 'previous' and 'next')
Lindi comes from one of several tribes in eastern Africa, such as the Maasai, which adorn themselves with beads. Glass beads were traditional trade goods brought to Africa from Europe and India. They became a currency, even a method of paying for slaves, although the small glass beads used today are a relatively recent invention.
Before the glass beads spread to East Africa the Maasai and other tribes used seeds, shells, wood, bone and other natural materials for their ornaments.
Maasai beadwork carries messages, telling where you live and to which age group you belong. The patterns and colours in a bracelet are unique to each group. The women decide the style of the latest jewellery they are making for their sons, husbands and boyfriends.
The colour fields in the Maasai jewellery are rarely large. They hardly ever put similar fields next to each other, the colour fields being divided by darker or brighter areas. To achieve this, colours are divided into four major sets. For example, the Narok set, the equivalent of black, consists of red, white and black or blue. The colour sets must be combined in prescribed ways within a given ornament, and ornaments must be appropriately balanced on the body. The “correct” construction and wearing of ornaments is based on the fundamental principles of complementarity and balance, reflecting the Maasai belief in a world divided into two halves that together form a whole: male and female; red oxen and black cattle; right and left hands; pastoralist and non-pastoralist. To the Maasai, the harmonious interaction of unequal halves is the highest ideal
Much more detail on Maasai beadwork is here, and some beautiful photograps here (use 'previous' and 'next')
FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
Some 130 million women worldwide have been
subjected to FGM, mostly in those countries
immediately to the south of the Sahara, from West Africa across to Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania, and into the Arabian peninsula. The practice varies in severity, from the removal of the clitoris and the labia minora through to the extreme form, called infibulation, which Lindi underwent. The full description of FGM is given here, this short UNICEF video gives an overview of the problem of tackling the tradition, and much more detail, and several further links, are provided on this UN website.
Governments in Africa have reacted in different ways to the problem. Some 18, including Tanzania and Kenya, have laws which include imprisonment for offenders, while others impose fines - details here. However, some, including Somalia, have no laws covering it, and others, while they have laws, are weak in enforcing them.
Minority groups in the UK practise the procedure, even though it is outlawed. It is being combatted through raised awareness amongst professionals, and through support groups. A number of celebrities have campaigned against FGM, including Waris Dirie and Iman. There is also a group on FaceBook, 'Two Million people against Female Circumcision'.
Some 130 million women worldwide have been
subjected to FGM, mostly in those countries
immediately to the south of the Sahara, from West Africa across to Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania, and into the Arabian peninsula. The practice varies in severity, from the removal of the clitoris and the labia minora through to the extreme form, called infibulation, which Lindi underwent. The full description of FGM is given here, this short UNICEF video gives an overview of the problem of tackling the tradition, and much more detail, and several further links, are provided on this UN website.
Governments in Africa have reacted in different ways to the problem. Some 18, including Tanzania and Kenya, have laws which include imprisonment for offenders, while others impose fines - details here. However, some, including Somalia, have no laws covering it, and others, while they have laws, are weak in enforcing them.
Minority groups in the UK practise the procedure, even though it is outlawed. It is being combatted through raised awareness amongst professionals, and through support groups. A number of celebrities have campaigned against FGM, including Waris Dirie and Iman. There is also a group on FaceBook, 'Two Million people against Female Circumcision'.
Youth Wing
Zimbabwe's ZANU (PF) has harnessed the country's young people through its Green Bombers and the more recent 21st February Movement, which featured in the news in February 2009 when it set about raising money for a US$2 million birthday bash for the aging President Mugabe. Mugabe also uses his war veterans, many of whom are too young to have seen the war of liberation against Ian Smith's regime, as enforcers; they were active when white farmers were being forced off their land. Watch an ITN interview with a Green Bomber.
Zimbabwe's ZANU (PF) has harnessed the country's young people through its Green Bombers and the more recent 21st February Movement, which featured in the news in February 2009 when it set about raising money for a US$2 million birthday bash for the aging President Mugabe. Mugabe also uses his war veterans, many of whom are too young to have seen the war of liberation against Ian Smith's regime, as enforcers; they were active when white farmers were being forced off their land. Watch an ITN interview with a Green Bomber.
NOMADIC HERDSMEN of AFRICA
Lovemore is a member of one of the many East African tribes which are nomadic cattle herders. His name was probably given to him in deference to the Christian group active in his home area; he will also have tribal names. Examples of such tribes include the Masai and the Samburu.
It is the task of the younger boys to herd the family's cattle to pasture during the day. This is a fearsome responsibility, not only because of the dangers of attack by lions, but also because cattle are wealth: would you give a son of yours all your savings, each day, to look after? The young men are expected to become warriors who, using spear and simi, will protect their people and carry out raids on neighbouring tribes, bringing back women and cattle, so such responsibility is good training.
Lovemore is a member of one of the many East African tribes which are nomadic cattle herders. His name was probably given to him in deference to the Christian group active in his home area; he will also have tribal names. Examples of such tribes include the Masai and the Samburu.
It is the task of the younger boys to herd the family's cattle to pasture during the day. This is a fearsome responsibility, not only because of the dangers of attack by lions, but also because cattle are wealth: would you give a son of yours all your savings, each day, to look after? The young men are expected to become warriors who, using spear and simi, will protect their people and carry out raids on neighbouring tribes, bringing back women and cattle, so such responsibility is good training.
PHOTOS courtesy of - Girl Carrying baby: World Bank; Savanna Scene: Julien Lagarde; Beaten Man & Youth Militia: Sokwanele, Zimbabwe; Masia Girl 1: Wildlife Direct; Turkaka Girl: Jeff Arnold; Masai Moran: Santy1964; Masai Cattle: willeggbeer.
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Walking the Savanna
Nothing can match actually walking the African savanna, not only because it is so beautiful but also, as Johnny notices, because the edge of fear walks with you. To give some idea of what it takes to survive, watch this video.
Nothing can match actually walking the African savanna, not only because it is so beautiful but also, as Johnny notices, because the edge of fear walks with you. To give some idea of what it takes to survive, watch this video.
HOW TO RIG AN ELECTION
This Amnesty International report on the Zimbabwe election of June 2008 demonstrates how an oppressive, dictatorial regime - even one as inefficient and unpopular as Mugabe's - can control the outcome of an election. This film is AlJazerra's view , while these statistics indicate how widespread the intimidation was.
This Amnesty International report on the Zimbabwe election of June 2008 demonstrates how an oppressive, dictatorial regime - even one as inefficient and unpopular as Mugabe's - can control the outcome of an election. This film is AlJazerra's view , while these statistics indicate how widespread the intimidation was.
