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Culture
Ibrahim Mahama, the African artist who uses coal sacks to critique the trade imbalances in the global market
The goal of every artist is to have their work live beyond public displays in galleries and museums. These are works whose themes are timeless, whether it is touching on imaginative concepts to a world of abstract and inanimate ideas. That is what Ghanaian-born artist Ibrahim Mahama is seeking to do with his art. He…
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How early men introduced music making with flutes in Europe some 40,000 years ago
The flute was made from the bone of a griffon vulture, with five incisions creatively-made...
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Here are four of Nigeria’s most revered masquerades
In terms of facial features and other practices, masquerades are comparable to Halloween in...
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All about African greeting positions and how they are used
“What’s for breakfast this morning, I just woke up and I’m hungry.” One may get...
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Everything you need to know about the sacred Antogo fishing ritual of Mali
Rituals are characteristic of most cultures. They are passed down from generation to generation. Different actions explain why some rituals are sacred while others may not. Traditional Africans used varied...
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This is how our ancient warriors dealt with PTSD
Although the general public is aware of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and has a basic understanding of what it is now in recent times, there was a danger that its meaning was used and interpreted...
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Akuaba: the doll believed to bring children to women struggling to conceive in West Africa
The legend of “Akuaba” literally translated to mean “Akua’s missing children” emerged when girls born on Wednesday were having difficulty getting pregnant in the West African nation of Ghana....
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Balangandas: the ancient jewelry worn by enslaved African women to symbolize their freedom
Salvador is considered a city with rich history when Brazil’s role in the transatlantic slave trade is talked about. The culture of wearing balangandas, jewelry made of gold and silver, by enslaved African...
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Why Bes, the bow-legged Egyptian god of childbirth, is unique among his fellow gods
Worshipping lesser gods is a part of every culture, including traditional African culture. Europeans thought that the Africans’ lesser gods were bad, so they brought Christianity to them to change...
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2 million yrs ago, tribesmen in Algeria developed their own technology to carve meat out of carcasses – how?
An estimated two hundred and ninety six bones and 250 stone tools meant for cutting, chopping into slices and hammering of animal bones were dug by archaeologists at Ain Boucherit in Eastern Algeria. One...
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Pekiwa: the Mozambican sculptor who sees art in abandoned and recycled objects
Mozambican artist Nelson Augusto Carlos Ferreira is noted for his unique style of art of finding cultural expressions in recycled collections from the streets or backyards. He gives an artistic touch of...
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Tsodilo Hills: the sacred resting place of the spirits of Botswana with human attributes
The Tsodilo Hills which is situated in Botswana is not only noted for its picturesque sites but also for the sacredness and spiritual significance of the people. For archaeologists and historians, it is...
