Download - The Nyamwezi Region
The Nyamwezi Region
The Nyamwezi Region
Nyamwezi Throne
Nyamwezi Throne
Female Nyamwezi Sculpture
Nyamwezi Fertility Doll
Nyamwezi Harp
Nyamwezi Couple
Elizabeth Bagaaya of Toro
Appearance of Mediums“A class of mendicants or gentle beggars called Bandwa allied to the Cwezi cult members, seem spread all over these kingdoms. They adorn themselves with more beads, bells, brass and curiosities than any other race and generally carry an ornamented tree-creeper in their hands,
Appearance of Mediumsmany of their women look handsome and captivating when dressed up in variously colored skins, and wearing a small turban or bark cloth…The natives all respect them very much, never refusing them food when they call, and treating them as religious devotees.”
Spirit Mediums in Zimbabwe
Spirit Possession, Ghana
Spirit Mediums, Ethiopia
Appearance of Mediums“The most striking figures among the crowds of people loitering about here were the Cwezi sorceresses, a large number of whom are found at the court of every Bunyoro prince. Clothed in bark cloths, yellowish brown or dyed black—one wore even the handsome mtone, a fine bark cloth with black
Appearance of Mediumspatterns—so that the whole body is covered, they also not infrequently wear skins of goats or sheep, and occasionally of cheetah and adorn or disfigure their heads with objects of every conceivable description. These ladies are certainly not beautiful, and they would hardly be eligible for vestal virgins,
Appearance of Mediumsbut they are feared and therefore venture to take many liberties. As is always the case where professional interests are concerned, they vie with one another in eccentricities. One at a local chief’s court …wanted her shoulders rubbed and her head bent.”
Lynnangombe“Whoever comes to my tomb to pray will be heard by me and I will help him in his trouble. . . I will help women in their confinements and I will give children to barren women. Let everyone pray to me and I will help them.”
The Lovedu
Rain Queen’s Royal Enclosure 1953
Drums at Rain Queen’s Royal Kraal
Rain Queen’s Residential entrance
RainQueen Khesetoane Modjadji III (1895-1959)
1959-80 Makoma Modjadji IV (1959 – 1980)
Makobo Constance Modjadji VI (2003-2005)
The Asante
The Asante
The Asante
Asante Golden Stool
Unnamed Asante Queen Mother
Asantehemma Kwaadu Yaadom II
Asante Gold Weight
Asante Gold Weight
Asante Queen Mother
Asante Queen Mothers“It is woman who gave birth to a man, it is a woman who gave birth to a chief.”
Governmental Structure• Empire = Asantehemma
• Paramounts = Ohemaa
• Towns = Oba Panin
• Clans (8)= Abusuapanyin
Igboland, Nigeria
Igboland, Nigeria
Igboland, Nigeria
Igbo Gongs
Igbo Masks
Igbo Ukwu, Bowl
Igbo Mask
Igbo Mask
Igbo Women in Politics• Two constituencies.
–(1) Spiritual political constituency
–(2) Human political constituency
Spiritual Political Constituency
Female Masked Spirits: Abere
• Night guard
• Conscience of Society
• Agent of Social Control
Female Masked Spirits: Abere
• Community Court
• Promoted and Protected Women’s Industry
Ekpe Masquerade
Ekpe Masquerade
Ekpe Masquerades
Ekpe Masquerades
Ekpe Masquerades
Ekpe Masquerades
Ekpe Masquerades
Ekpe Masquerades
Ekpe Masquerades
Parade of Masquerades
Female Masquerades—Daughters
Female Masquerades—Daughters
Female Masquerades—Daughters
Female Masquerades—Daughters
Grandmother Masquerade
A Very Old Elder
Nsukka Masquerades
Nsukka Masquerades
Nsukka Masquerades
The Merciless Masquerade
Masquerades called Government
Spiritual Court Messengers
Spiritual Police
Spiritual Police
Spiritual Police Sergeant
Onyeocha—The Whiteman