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Please note that the text below will contain *SPOILERS*SPOILERSSPOILERSThere are a quite a bunch and according to the series, there are a few classed as the strongest fruits, and there are ones that in my opinion would be pretty strong aswell if not nerfed by plot or characters' personalities. So I will separate them in two.According to the series:Gura Gura no mi, the Tremor Tremor fruit. Whitebeard's former devil fruit and now Blackbeard's second akuma no mi (the only person in the world known to have eaten two of them). Dubbed as the power to destroy the world, it can cause earthquakes, tsunamis, vibrations through about anything, from people's bodies to cause damage to increase a blade's effectiveness. It nearly destroyed Marineford island, the base of the Navy, this didn't happened only because WB's intentions were to rescue Ace and BB almost accomplished it but was interrupted and he had already achieved his goal anyway (to kill WB and steal his fruit).Yami Yami no mi, the Darkness fruit. The first devil fruit the anime has shown that Blackbeard has eaten. Named as the “strongest devil fruit” by Teach, it was the reason he was in Whitebeard's ship all the time, and the reason he fled from it: he killed his commander Tatch in order to get the fruit for himself. Although being a logia type, the user can't phase into the element, letting an attack without armament haki pass by. The user will instead receive the double amount of damage from any attack but will be able to negate every other devil fruit user power by touching. This fruit can pull everything (like a black hole gravitational attraction), suck it through some sort of dimension, and liberate it.The Mythical Zoan devil fruits. Said to be even rarer than even logias, there are today5 known users of this type, although not all of them are necessarily overpowered like the previous two (actually only the 3 first mythical zoans appear to be really powerful, I will list the other too if anyone is curious about it):1) Kaido's, one of the Four Emperors of the Seas, Yonkou, devil fruit. Alas not confirmed yet as the Ryu Ryu no mi, model Chinese Dragon, it can transform him into this gargantuan monster, and grants the ability to fly. When he makes his apparition, dark lightning clouds close the sky. He is able to use a fire breath attack called Bolo Breath, powerful enough no erase an entire mountain casually. And of course, grants all the other beneficial status of the zoan type, which are augmented strength, resistance and stamina. There is a quite popular theory too, it says Kaido is actually a dragon that ate the Hito Hito no mi model Oni (japanese demon), because he is often referenced as thing or creature (The strongest creature in the world, one of his titles) by others, and in his base form he still have horns like in his dragon form and a messy hair, a large club, a very long beard just like an actual oni from the myth. Another argument to this is Momotaro's tale, which includes a peach boy (Momo), a Monkey (Luffy), an Oni (Kaido), etc.2) Marco's (Whitebeard's first commander) akuma no mi, Tori Tori no mi model Phoenix. It grants the user remarkable speed, agility, resistance and the power to heal from almost every wound (and to heal other's in a limited extent). With this fruit Marco was able to take on three three admirals (one at a time) for a moment, only being stopped by the Navy's Hero Garp, with a powerful punch. It send him flying, and despite being a really powerful impact, Marco was able to heal it using his fruits' power. Obviously, it grants the ability to fly aswell.3) Sengoku's (former Navy Fleet Admiral) devil fruit, Hito Hito no mi model Daibutsu (Budha). It didn't have as much screentime as the rest but this fruit grants the user the ability to use powerful shockwaves using its palms while in Budha form. He managed to attack and hit Blackbeard pretty hard.4) Hebi Hebi no mi model Yamata no Orochi, the Wano's Shogun, Kurozumi Orochi, devil fruit. It grants the user the ability to become a dragon/snake like creature with 8 heads.5) Catarina Devon's (one of Blackbeard's captains) akuma no mi, Inu Inu no mi model Kyubi no Kitsune. It allows the user to transform and impersonate “anyone” (while we are not shown what are the requirements to this either if the user can fight in this disguised form), even the person's clothes (not to be confused to Mane Mane no mi that impersonate only the person's body and not the clothes). It had only one scene so we don't know all the powers yet aside from the commin zoan's.There are devil fruits that didn't appear to be strong at the first thought but their users proved otherwise, showing creativity and combat prowess, for example:Luffy's Gomu Gomu no mi, our main protagonist showed his combat genious early on in the series using his rubber like body to stretch his arms to land punches and kicks from afar, using his legs as a whip, deflecting bullets, acting like a human slingshot to propel himself in the air, making his legs rotate rapidly to fly like a ufo, and later on to pump his blood fast while in Gear Second, to blow air inside his bones to make his fist or foot gigantic in Gear Third, to infuse his flesh with haki, hardening it while maintaining the rubber's properties in Gear Fourth. And more later on when we will be presented with his much expected Awakening and his Gear Fifth.Charlotte Katakuri's akuma no mi, one of Big Mom's (one of the 4 Yonkou) 3 Sweet Commanders, Mochi Mochi no mi. Much like Luffy's, this fruit looks silly aswell at the first sight, but Katakuri showed us why he is so feared. While doing everything Luffy can do (stretch and all), the user is mochi itself, and can generate or shoot it, like a gun. He can phase from attacks, looking like a logia (but he is using his observation haki to foreshadow the attack!) while being a paramecia type. He has awakened his fruit, so he can make everything around him, the floor, the walls, furniture, all objects turn into mochi and infuse it with armament haki and make some powerful punches.Donquixote Doflamingo's fruit (former Warlord of the Sea, Kaido's subordinate and underworld boss), Ito Ito no mi. The user can create strings, and act like a puppet master on a body, disabling an attack or controlling it. The strings can be heated and infused with armament haki to attack, acting like small powerful blades. The user can somehow attach the strings to clouds and simulate flying abilities. Able to create a large “bird cage”, big enough to cover an entire island and resistant enough to withstand a whole army of fighters attacking it and forcing it back. As he has awakened his fruit, the user can make the scenario become a huge bunch of strings, and act like solid waves to attack heavily or for defense.Other three fruits that are said to be really powerful:Big Mom's Soru Soru no mi, the soul fruit. The user is able to manipulate other's and the own souls by making it a mass of light pink jelly. Mama can steal exact years of people's lives, put it in inanimate stuff (about everything from trees to waves, clouds, a fire, a cake, a chocolate, a chair, etc). With it the user has limited access to about every devil fruit ability (by infusing a fire, a lightning cloud, a giant wave, she can have Mera Mera no mi, Rumble Rumble no mi and the Gura Gura no mi powers all in one devil fruit, at her disposal). She put part of her soul in a fire called Prometheus, a lightning cloud named Zeus and her sword hat named Napoleon.Trafalgar D. Water Law's Ope Ope no mi, the operation table devil fruit. It is called the “perfect” or supreme devil fruit (or something like this) by Doflamingo. With it he said he would be able to access and use the treasure hidden in Mariejois, something secret that would shake the world. With it he wanted Law to perform on him the Eternal Youth Surgery, thus granting him immortality. The world government was offering a reward of freaking 5 billion berries for it (almost Gol D. Roger's reward by 500 million difference and about the same reward for Whitebeard!!!). It grants the user to create a room (a blue semi spherical place) centered in the caster, in which the user can control what happens inside of it. With a sword he can make a clean cut in someone without damaging them, in half and place somebody's or something else legs. Controls the disposal of objects, like a whole ship and throw it at someone. Make people and objects levitate by controlling them. Change places with objects making it look like teleportation. Use gamma knife that can directly destroy someone's internal organs. The fruit also improves the user medical abilities. Remove someone's heart and store it. Make people change bodies by replacing their personalities. Among other medical stuff applied to combat, like a defibrillator.Admiral Fujitora's devil fruit, the gravity fruit. With it the user can create huge gravitational wells or make giant meteors rain from the sky. If he could create a big enough gravitational pull, he could trap people in time (general relativity turururuuu).Now the devil fruits I mentioned early nerfed by plot or by the character's personality (the ones I can remember of right now…):Enel's Rumble Rumble no mi (former dictator and ruler of Skypeia). The lighting devil fruit, with it Enel can sense everyone's static within an island, allied with his mantra (a form of observation haki). Not only he can sense, he can also hear them, by sensing the air electric vibrations. When someone said something bad about him, he used the El Thor attack (a huge cylindrical lightning impact) for punishment, like he was the actual Old Testament Bible god. Although no one died of by this attack, they should had as he sustained it for long enough to make someone evaporate (lightning temperature can easily excel many times the temperature of the surface of the sun) or to die eletroctated. The user is able to travel at electron's speed by phasing himself, which can be insanely fast (only slower than light). With it, Enel could heat up gold by using the Joule's effect and manipulate it and form a perfect spear like he was forging it. He was able to power a huge flying ship that could enhance his power enough to destroy an entire island. He was able to form an electric genkidama, that was going to make the island turn into dust (if not by Luffy, his “natural” enemy. While being rubber, Luffy would still not be able to tank the heat of a sustained lightning or the insane electric current he was able to produce. Yes, he is rubber but it still has its limits…). Well, One Piece is a shonen and thus doesn't follow real world physics entirely, maybe Luffy is an ideal type of rubber (or plot armor). ;pKizaru's Pika Pika no mi, the light fruit (while all admirals are really strong, I find this one the best overall, as follows). With it, Kizaru can literally move at lightspeed, which is by itself overpowered as nothing can accelerate to the speed of light. But Kizaru can! As he can transform his normal body into light and then into his body again (although he takes a few seconds to fully restore his body form, he can do this partially), he can, as he already said “…kick in speed of light”, and “speed is weight”. This is insane in special relativity. The user would be able to throw a kick with enough force to obliterate anyone( using relativity's equations, his mass would be infinite, like the Flash's punch. If he isn't literally at speed of light “c”, but he is actually delayed when transforming and coming back, it would still be nonetheless amazingly strong and the one of the fastest and strongest attacks in OP world, only someone with very good observation haki with future foreshadowing would be able to maybe dodge or counter it (if this one have the physical disposition to react in time). Although this seems overpowered, and a perfect devil fruit for someone hyperactive, Oda is a real genius when it comes to balancing characters so he made Kizaru lazy as f*&#…only taking missions knowing he could relax and being annoyed when the pirates attacked Sabaody. He then proceeded to arrest 500 of them to calm himself down; now imagine if this fruits was someone hyperactive and vicious who would not arrest but kill and thus have a different type of justice than Borsalino’s unclear justice, maybe Sakazuki's absolute justice. He would be even more reckless. If a kick at lightspeed (or approximately) isn't enough, Kizaru would theoretically be able to manifest all kinds of light forms (from radio waves to gamma and X rays). The explosive rays he launches could be even deadlier if they were gamma, a death ray indeed. They would heat up about anything in no time. Or he could generate micro waves targeting someone's water molecules, seeing people hiding behind thin walls or invisible/camouflaged with X rays, or interpret and send radio waves, not needing a den den mushi for this. He could produce really bright light to make someone blind for a moment, and even allow light to pass by him making him completely invisible. The applications for his fruit are truly endless and underused.Notable mentions, non canon characters:Douglas Bullet's devil fruit, former Rogers pirate member. The user is able to assimilate any type of weapon, swords, guns or ships. With them the user can make a giant robot like construct or a strong armor. With more of it, it can cause wars against the Navy, the Supernovas and their allies. Shown in Stampede.Shiki the Golden Lion's akuma no mi, a rival of Gol D. Roger, the only one known pirate to have scaped the prison Impel Down before the anime events. The user is able to make himself or any objects levitate, from small objects to ships or whole islands.Guess I got carried away and the answer is enormous now. This is all I can think of right now. xD

PĀṆINI (4TH CENTURY BC)Briefly put: No Pāṇini, no software industry.Perhaps some may remember Pāṇini as the person who authored the most definitive treatise on Sanskrit Grammar – the Ashtadhyayi. What many do not know however, that Pāṇini was infact not only a grammarian but also a linguist, the foremost in the world at that. Why is this important? Because, again, he was not only the foremost linguist, but also the foremost mathematical linguist. So what? Well, Pāṇini’s rules for framing mathematical problems in simple phrases have been pivotal in the framing of a language called ALGOL 60, the 1960s precursor to modern day programming languages like Pascal and and the C family!!When Pāṇini’s work became known in Europe in the 19th century, many American and British linguists drew heavily from his ideas on structuralism, by which a language can be reproduced in a definitive form every single time an iteration of an operation is required. All the greats like Franz Bopp, Leonard Broomfeld and others extensively discussed and debated his rules for structural frameworks on languages. Along the way came a young man, Noam Chomsky, today regarded as one of the foremost intellectuals in the world, who also came under Pāṇini’s spell. So did another named Alan Turing.Yes, this is what the dude said regarding objects and modifiers in a sentence in any programmable language.....in 500 BC.One thing led to another, and soon enough a new comprehensive computing language was born: the ALGOL 60, characterized as procedural, imperative and structured, which has been the predecessor of all “ALGOL like languages” which include Pascal, Ada, the C language family and so on. Yes, C, C+, C++ and et al!! There is even talk of renaming the Backus – Naur form, the original definition of a programmable language as defined by Pāṇini, using reiterative constraints on strings, as the Pāṇini – Backus form as it rightfully should be known!!TIPU SULTAN (1750 – 1799)Briefly put: No Tipu Sultan. No World War 1.Which Indian does not know Tipu Sultan? The brave Mysore king, the championer of India’s freedom, the magnificent warrior,and the lion hearted king. What people little know is that he was also India’s first Missile Man, much before the latter one, but equally brilliant. Tipu Sultan had an all consuming passion for the science of rocketry (they didn’t put it in the mega serial, so don’t rack your brains).Tipu talks at length about his tryst with rocketry in the military manual he wrote, the Fathul Mujahidin. Tipu distributed copies of his military manual to all of his officers, who included divisions of “Cushoons” or battalions of missile launchers. He also defined in the manual, a multiple rocket launcher (much like a musical organ) that could launch up to 10 rockets. Rockets could be of various sizes, but usually consisted of a tube of soft hammered iron about 8 inches (20 cm) long and 1.5 to 3 in (3.8 to 7.6 cm) in diameter, closed at one end and strapped to a shaft of bamboo about 4 ft (1 m) long. The iron tube acted as a combustion chamber and contained well packed black powder propellant. A rocket carrying about one pound of powder could travel almost 1,000 yards. In contrast, rockets in Europe, not being iron cased, could not take large chamber pressures and as a consequence, were not capable of reaching distances anywhere near as great.In the famous Battle of Seringapatnam, British troops were initially greeted with salvoes of 2000 high precision rockets raining down on their troops, which led to some interesting observations on part of the Englishmen. Anyhow, among them was one William Congreve, who being the smart aleck that he was, quietly got to lay his hands on one rocket (unused, fortunately for him).Political cartoon by James Gillray making fun of Lord Cornwallis for retreat from Seringapatam battle owing to Tipu's rockets.Once back in England, by demonstrating remarkable skills of reverse engineering, he awoke the world to the use of “Congreve rockets”, which were then inducted into the armies of all major nations. These Congreve rockets played the decisive role in not only the Napoleonic Wars, but also the 1812 American war, the Crimean War and so on. Basically, they played a major part in all those wars which resulted in Britain becoming the most powerful nation on earth, which led to the industrial revolution, which in turn led to the arms race, which in turn led to world war, which in turn led to today. Thanks Tipu for making our day!!Interesting Trivia bit: It was the light from these very “Congreve rockets” in the 1812 American War which finds mention in America’s National Anthem, the Star Spangled Banner as “”And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air”.JAGDISH CHANDRA BOSE (1858 – 1937)Briefly put: No J.C.Bose, no communications.The odds this man overcame to achieve what he did were substantial to say the least. His thinking is now accepted to have been at least 60 years ahead of his time. And for what? Let’s see.Jagadish Chandra Bose, a true blue Bengali babu was born in Munshiganj in present day Bangladesh and raised in Calcutta. As a student with varied interests (he would later on become a leading authorirty on subjects as diverse as Physics, Plant Biology, Linguistics, Bengali Literature, Archaeology and Popular Science Fiction), Jagadish Chandra Bose at various points in his early student life had studied at University of London, University of Cambridge and St. Xavier’s Calcutta. Given the fact that the British pretty much didn’t like Indian presence in academia (they had good foresight, those Britishers), its an achievement in itself that Bose became a Professor of Physics at the Presidency College, Calcutta.What is even more remarkable is the fact that Bose was the first person in the world to successfully demonstrate remote wireless signalling in November 1894 at Kolkata’s town hall. Yes, without him, no radios or cell phones would have been possible today. Moreover, Bose was working unpaid at Presidency College (in protest against the low salary offered to Indian professors as compared to others), without a laboratory, in a small 24-square-foot room, with an untrained tinsmith as his sole assistant.Despite such odds, Bose quickly went on to publish two papers on Polarisation and Diffraction of waves. In those days wave receievers or detectors were termed as coherers. In 1895 the newspaper “The Englishman” noted, ”Should Professor Bose succeed in perfecting and patenting his ‘Coherer’, we may in time see the whole system of coast lighting throughout the navigable world revolutionised by a Bengali scientist working single handed in Presidency College Laboratory.”Bose at the Royal Institute, London during a lec-demIn May 1897, two years after Bose’s public demonstration in Kolkata, Marconi conducted his own wireless signalling experiment on Salisbury Plain and in 1909 was awarded the Nobel Prize for the same, 14 years after Bose’s pioneering research. Marconi’s experiments would not have been possible if not for Bose’s initial research. Moreover, Bose is also the inventor of several components now commonplace in all wireless communications equipment from radars to radios like semi-conductor crystal wave detectors and so on. Sir Nevill Mott, Nobel Laureate in 1977 for his own contributions to solid-state electronics, remarked that “J.C. Bose was at least 60 years ahead of his time” and “In fact, he had anticipated the existence of P-type and N-type semiconductors.”Then why doesn’t the world know him as well as Marconi? The reason, it turns out, is that Bose (like a true Bengali babu), had little patience with capitalist ideas like patents. He publicly expressed his disdain for patenting inventions, arguing that the greater common good is all that mattered. Marconi, on the other side, happily harbored no such misgivings, and the rest as they say is history. As we shall see, Bose is not the only one to be ignored by the Nobel Society in their annual awards.NARINDER SINGH KAPANY (BORN 1927)Briefly Put: No Narinder, no internet, no laser surgeries, no high speed communications.He is regarded as the founding father of Fibre Optics. Heck, he even coined the term Fibre Optics!! His groundbreaking research led to wide ranging applications in not just high speed communications, but also medical imaging from OFC networks to endoscopies to laser surgery. Born in 1927 in Moga, Punjab, he graduated from Agra University and went on to his Ph.D at Imperial College, London.There he became the first person in the world to demonstrate that light can travel in bent glass fibres. His research paper entitled “A Flexible Fiberscope, using Static Scanning” appeared in scientific journal Nature in its January 2, 1954 issue and paved the way for instruments such as endoscopes and laser probes. Kapany followed up this first paper with one published in Optica Actain February 1955 entitled ‘Transparent Fibres for the Transmission of Optical Images’. As an author and lecturer, Kapany has published over 100 scientific papers and four books on opto-electronics. He has lectured to various national and international scientific societies. His popular article on Fibre optics in Scientific American in 1960 established the new term (Fibre optics); the article constitutes a reference point for the subject even today. In November 1999, Fortune magazine published profiles of seven people who have greatly influenced life in the twentieth century but are unsung heroes. Kapany was one of them.Dr. Narinder S. Kapany in lab in 1950sSo when the 2009 Nobel for Physics went to Charles Kao for the discovery of Fibre Optics, the scientific community was stunned at the exclusion of Kapany. True, Kao also had made tremendous strides in the field, but his work was only the successor of the ground breaking research undertaken by Kapany, and built upon it. Once again, due to the blatant refusal to award Indians a Nobel (as has been the case with George Sudarshan, Satyendranath Bose, Jagadish Chandra Bose etc.), Kapany remains bereft of the recognition he so deserves.Some other interesting things i felt like sharing:1. A floating post officeIndia has the largest postal network in the world with over 1, 55,015 post offices. A single post office on an average serves a population of 7,175 people. The floating post office in Dal Lake, Srinagar, was inaugurated in August 2011.Source: trendingpost2. Kumbh Mela gathering visible from spaceThe 2011 Kumbh Mela was the largest gathering of people with over 75 million pilgrims. The gathering was so huge that the crowd was visible from space.Source: Wordpress3. The wettest inhabited place in the worldMawsynram, a village on the Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, receives the highest recorded average rainfall in the world. Cherrapunji, also a part of Meghalaya, holds the record for the most rainfall in the calendar year of 1861.Source: Dailymail4. Bandra Worli Sealink has steel wires equal to the earth's circumferenceIt took a total of 2,57,00,000 man hours for completion and also weighs as much as 50,000 African elephants. A true engineering and architectural marvel.Source: Wikipedia5. The highest cricket ground in the worldAt an altitude of 2,444 meters, the Chail Cricket Ground in Chail, Himachal Pradesh, is the highest in the world. It was built in 1893 and is a part of the Chail Military School.Source: iseeindia6. Shampooing is an Indian conceptShampoo was invented in India, not the commercial liquid ones but the method by use of herbs. The word 'shampoo' itself has been derived from the Sanskrit word champu, which means to massage.Source: Huffington post7. The Indian national Kabaddi team has won all World CupsIndia has won all 5 men's Kabaddi World Cups held till now and have been undefeated throughout these tournaments. The Indian women's team has also won all Kabaddi World Cups held till date.Source: Rediff8. Science day in Switzerland is dedicated to Ex-Indian President, APJ Abdul KalamThe father of India's missile programme had visited Switzerland back in 2006. Upon his arrival, Switzerland declared May 26th as Science Day.Source: hdwallpaperswala9. India's first President only took 50% of his salaryWhen Dr Rajendra Prasad was appointed the President of India, he only took 50% of his salary, claiming he did not require more than that. Towards the end of his 12-year tenure he only took 25% of his salary. The salary of the President was Rs 10,000 back then.Source: iloveindia10. India has a spa just for elephantsElephants receive baths, massages and even food at the Punnathoor Cotta Elephant Yard Rejuvenation Centre in Kerala. Now that's a BIG step for the country.Source: National Geographic11. India is the world's second-largest English speaking countryIndia is second only to the USA when it comes to speaking English with around 125 million people speaking the language, which is only 10% of our population. This is expected to grow by quite a margin in the coming years.Source: IBNlive12. Largest number of vegetarians in the worldBe it because of religious reasons or personal choices or both, around 20-40% of Indians are vegetarians, making it the largest vegetarian-friendly country in the world.Source: blogspot13. The world's largest producer of milkIndia recently overtook the European Union with production reaching over 132.4m tonnes in 2014.Source: flickr14. The first country to consume sugarIndia was the first country to develop extraction and purifying techniques of sugar. Many visitors from abroad learnt the refining and cultivation of sugar from us.Source: business-standard15. The human calculatorShakuntla Devi was given this title after she demonstrated the calculation of two 13 digit numbers: 7,686,369,774,870 × 2,465,099,745,779 which were picked at random. She answered correctly within 28 seconds.Source: heliosmediadesign16. Rabindranath Tagore also wrote the national anthem for BangladeshRabindranath Tagore is credited not only for writing the Indian national anthem,Jana Gana Mana, but the Bangladeshi national anthem, Amar Sonar Bangla, as well. He was also offered knighthood by the British but refused the honour after the Jalianwala Bagh massacre.Source: mindpodnetwork17. Dhyan Chand was offered German citizenshipAfter defeating Germany 8-1 in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Major Dhyan Chand, the wizard of hockey, was summoned by Hitler. He was promised German citizenship, a high post in the German military and the chance to play for the German national side. Dhyan Chand however declined the offer.Source: Wikipedia18. Diamonds were first mined in IndiaInitially, diamonds were only found in the alluvial deposits in Guntur and Krishna District of the Krishna River Delta. Until diamonds were found in Brazil during the 18th century, India led the world in diamond production.Source: Indiaspend19. A special polling station is set up for a lone voter in the middle of Gir ForestMahant Bharatdas Darshandas has been voting since 2004 and during every election since then, a special polling booth is set up exclusively for him as he is the only voter from Banej in Gir forest.Source: BBC20. Snakes and Ladders originated in IndiaEarlier known as Moksha Patamu, the game was initially invented as a moral lesson about karma to be taught to children. It was later commercialized and has become one of the most popular board games in the world.21. Kapil Dev once booted out Dawood Ibrahim from the Indian cricket dressing roomDawood had access to the Indian dressing room and once tried to bribe the players. Kapil Dev, upon seeing suited men in the room, got furious and chucked them out saying, "chal bahar nikal."Source: Cricket Country22. Daenerys' dragons were 'Made in India'!A subsidiary of Prana Studios in Mumbai is responsible for modelling Daenerys Targaryen's dragons. Well, "Make in India" is working well. (wink!)Source: Vignette23. India has an ice hockey team....and it is registered with the International Ice Hockey Federation!Source: SportsKeeda24. Kerala consumes the highest quantity of liquor among all Indian statesIt's not Punjab, it's 'God's own country'!Source: e-Vartha25. Only 3% of the Indian population pays taxesLargely because agriculture is tax-free and a large chunk of the economy consists of unorganized labour, for which it's hard to collect taxes.Source: Answers26. There is a radioactive device atop the HimalayasAn expedition, led by Captain Mohan Singh Kohli and CIA expert Kenneth Conboy, placed a nuclear device atop the Himalayas to monitor Chinese nuclear tests in the '60s. The device is still missing as repeated searches couldn't retrieve it!Source: Emilio Silvera27. India drinks 50% of the world's whiskey produceMost of the whiskey is produced by UB India, the world's largest whiskey company by volume.Source: Independent28. Hair is a ₹2500 crore business in India!Buying and selling hair is a huge business in India. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams even holds an e-auction for the hair it tonsures off its devotees!Source: Img Arcade29. India has more people than the entire population of the Western HemisphereSource: Terra Color30. The iconic James Bond theme was inspired from the song 'Good sign Bad sign', sung by Indian characters in the novel 'A House for Mr. Biswas.'Source: Hippo Wallpapers31. GoAir wanted more female attendants to 'save on fuel'Women weigh less than men, according to GoAir's staff, which is why they thought having more female attendants could help save up on fuel.Source: Telegraph32. There's a Taj Mahal in Bangladesh tooThere is a scaled copy of Shah Jahan's Taj Mahal called 'Taj Mahal Bangladesh' in Dhaka.Source: Wikipedia33. Maneka Gandhi featured in a towel adThe ‘Towels so good you want to wear them’ ad featured Maneka Gandhi in it. It was taken down soon!Source: Imgur34. Bear Grylls wanted to join the Indian ArmyAfter leaving school, he considered joining the Indian Army and also hiked in the mountains of Sikkim and West Bengal.Source: Dailymotion35. Australian cricketer Stuart Clarke is of Indian originHis father is from Chennai and mother hails from Bangalore.Source: Sportzwiki36. India has an experimental township that has its own economyAuroville in Tamil Nadu, does not have religion, politics or physical currency.Source: Taringa37. Mohun Bagan is older than most European clubsFormed in 1889, it is older than European giants A.C. Milan, Manchester United, Liverpool etc. It also played a match in 1977 against the New York Cosmos, consisting of star players Pele and Franz Beckenbauer.Source: Goal38. There are more phones in India than there are toiletsSource: BBC39. Samosa is actually from the Middle EastSource: Spice Catering40. India has a 'village of twins'Kodinhi in Kerala has 250 sets of twins officially registered. Experts also estimate that the figure could rise to 350.Source: Facts Legend41. An average Indian needs to work for almost 6 hours to afford a 'Big Mac'!Source: Business Insider42. "Anal" is a language spoken by 23,000 people in India and BurmaSource: Meme Generator43. The "Love Commandos" protects inter-caste couples from harassmentThese vigilantes provides protection to inter-caste couples who fall in love.44. The Satiyaa community from Rajasthan celebrates deaths and mourns birthsBirth = Grief, Death = Happiness for this tribeSource: National Geographic45. Indian housewives hold 11% of the world's goldThat is more gold than the reserves of Germany, IMF, The U.S. and Switzerland put together!But still, not as much as this guy!Source: Daily MailSource: 4 Unknown Indians whose Work has Changed the World Profoundly25 Interesting Facts On India That You Had No Idea Abouthttps://www.scoopwhoop.com/25-Interesting-Facts-About-India/?ref=mlt#.eog719w7e

First of all, Bantu Africa is huge, really huge. Bantu speakers are found in Central, East and Southern Africa. Bantu speakers are citizens of 27 countries in Africa (half of African countries).Bantous — WikipédiaUn article de Wikipédia, l'encyclopédie libre. Répartition des langues bantoues ( en brun ) au sein des langues «Niger Congo» On nomme Bantous ( Bantu signifie « humains » en kikongo ) les locuteurs des langues bantoues (environ quatre cent cinquante langues) sur le continent africain . Ils sont répartis du Cameroun aux Comores et du Soudan à l’ Afrique du Sud . Le terme de « Bantu » est proposé par l'allemand Bleek à la fin du xix e siècle. Les groupes bantous ont des structures sociales et politiques différentes, leur seule caractéristique commune est linguistique avec l'utilisation d'un système de classes et non de genres. Selon Joseph Greenberg , les locuteurs de ces langues auraient entrepris une expansion vers le sud et l'est du continent il y a 4 000 ans, à partir des hauts plateaux du Cameroun ( Grassland ). En agglomérant d'autres groupes linguistiques, ils ont parfois absorbé certains de leurs phonèmes , comme le clic caractéristique des langues khoïsan . 1 = 3000–1500 av. J.-C. , origine 2 = env. 1500 av. J.-C. , premières migrations 2.a = Bantou oriental, 2.b = Bantou occidental 3 = 1000—500 av. J.-C. , Urewe , noyau du Bantou oriental 4 – 7 = avancée vers le sud 9 = 500 av. J.-C.—0 , noyau Congo 10 = 0—1000 ap. J.-C. , dernière phase [ 1 ] , [ 2 ] , [ 3 ] L'histoire des locuteurs des langues bantoues a fait l'objet de nombreuses théories. Le terme « bantu » est proposé par Bleek vers 1859. La première carte relative à la notion d'expansion bantoue date de 1886. Harry Johnston , qui établit la carte, évoque des migrations parties des grands lacs avec un foyer originel vers le Cameroun. La preuve de l'existence d'une langue mère bantoue est apportée en 1907 par Carl Meinhof [ 4 ] , [ 5 ] . Dans les années 1950, le linguiste Greenberg et l’anthropologue Murdock intègrent les langues bantoues dans l’ensemble dit Niger-Congo et fixent leur foyer dans la région du Tchad- Bénoué (Cameroun). Dans les années 1960, l'archéologie de la métallurgie du fer tend à lier la dispersion des langues bantoues et celle de cette technologie. Cette proposition est diffusée en particulier par l'historien Roland Oliver , qui évoque une première diffusion depuis le Tchad-Benoué, puis un deuxième foyer vers le Katanga ( République démocratique du Congo ). L'utilisation de la métallurgie est ensuite détachée de la première dispersion [ 6 ] . Aujourd'hui, on parle plutôt de « micro-migrations », qui n'empêchent pas les continuités culturelles en particulier dans la culture matérielle. Pour Jan Vansina en 1995 [ 7 ] , il faut moins se représenter des remplacements de populations que des mélanges progressifs, des acculturations qui ont pris des siècles [ note 1 ] . Selon l'hypothèse de Greenberg, à partir de leur foyer d'origine, situé aux confins du Cameroun et du Nigeria [ 8 ] , [ 9 ] , les locuteurs de langues bantoues ont occupé progressivement leurs territoires actuels selon un processus qui a duré environ quatre mille ans. Ils commencent à étendre leur terrihttps://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantous#/media/Fichier:Niger-Congo_map_with_delimitation.pngCentre International des Civilisations Bantu ( CICIBA)Au terme de la Convention Intergouvernementale du 8 Janvier 1983 portant sa création, le CICIBA a été institué comme un foyer de recherche, de documentation, de formation, et de coordination et assigne au CICIBA, un certain nombre d’objectifs : Préserver et conserver les valeurs authentiques de la civilisation bantu , patrimoine commun aux peuples de langues et cultures bantu du nord au sud de l’Equateur, ainsi qu’à ceux de la diaspora Coopérer avec les institutions interafricaines et internationales à caractère culturel, scientifique et éducatif , en privilégiant et en intensifiant la coopération entre les pays de la zone bantu ; Constituer une banque de données et un centre de documentation sur les cultures et civilisations des peuples de langues bantu ; Promouvoir le développement des cultures par l’animation et le soutien à la créativité dans le monde contemporain ; Contribuer, par les moyens en son pouvoir, à faire intégrer dans les plans de développement, la dimension culturelle dans l’esprit de la « Stratégie de Monrovia » et du « Plan d’Action de Lagos » Diffuser et promouvoir les travaux de recherche sur la culture africaine en général, conformément à la « Charte culturelle de l’Afrique » Assurer la formation et le recyclage nécessaires aux pédagogues, artistes, chercheurs, animateurs culturels en vue du développement culturel. Enfin, favoriser entre les Etats membres des rencontres et échanges culturels. A partir de ces missions et objectifs et en accord avec les programmes nationaux et internationaux, le CICIBA a défini trois plans d’action principaux : banque de données, recherche scientifique, production culturelle dans les domaines tels que l’archéologie, la linguistique, et les traditions orales, etc. A travers ses objectifs et ses programmes, la finalité du CICIBA, sa raison d’être essentielle, est la quête de l’identité culturelle des peuples bantu, c’est-à-dire, la connaissance approfondie de l’héritage ancestral de ces peuples dans leur ensemble, la préservation et la promotion, dans le monde contemporain, de toutes les valeurs authentiques de l’Afrique bantu. masque-africain-passeport- culture-yaka-congo-brazzaville-masque-kholuka-1595268-500-500-1595268 tres-beau-et-ancien-masque-punu-du-gabon masque_mbunda_mbunda_mask_zambie_d5807864h 800px-Brooklyn_Museum_87.217.1_Mask l_masque-africain-art-statues-africaines-250613-00100 d58b54b19e9ac63ebee7d4f5ea375b60https://www.cicibabantu.org/Centre International des Civilisations Bantu ( CICIBA)E-MUNTU Editorial Me revoici ! L’Afrique bantu a un visage, le CICIBA. Elle a une âme, la polyphonie culturelle bantu. Elle a une vision : célébrer l’être bantu dans tout ce qui fonde son essence spécifique, son être au monde, sa fierté intrinsèque et son rapport à l’histoire, aux mémoires, aux héritages pluriels.Ce qui incite à une franche solidarité bantu, en accord avec la volonté d’intégration régionale, ouverte au reste du monde par l’hospitalité. Il appert que c’est en articulant une solidarité suffisamment déterminée, autour de la « bantuistique » et de la « bantuité », que des peuples qui partagent la sève hadale de l’identité et les valeurs communes peuvent aisément, dans une entreprise lucide d’anamnèse, affirmer leur éminence, leur dignité et leur noblesse. Cette vision est partagée, depuis 1983, année de la création du CICIBA par ses pères fondateurs autour de l’exaltante initiative du Président Omar Bongo Ondimba, d’heureuse mémoire. Lui qui avait rêvé d’une Afrique bantu solidaire et commensale, se retrouve doublement honoré aujourd’hui : d’abord, parce que son œuvre, véritable pôle africain de coopération documentaire, scientifique et culturelle, lui a survécu ; ensuite, parce que la pertinence de sa vision est derechef partagée quasi unanimement par tous ses pairs de la zone bantu, voire bien au-delà du cénacle matriciel. Depuis, des interrogations nouvelles ont surgi. Elles induisent des regards et des appréhensions les mieux adaptés qui soient, à la mesure des sciences interactives usuellement convoquées au CICIBA, qui parlent tant à nous-mêmes, d’abord, qu’aux autres, sur la base de nos aspirations les plus intimes. Alain Peyrefitte avait vu juste : chaque peuple est « un produit de son propre passé, jusque dans ses velléités de rompre avec lui pour instaurer un ordre nouveau (…) ». Il s’agit, me semble-t-il, de cet ordre nouveau qui, dans un rappel lucide des enjeux de notre temps, ne gagnerait au change que dans sa propension à s’ouvrir fraternellement aux autres, drapé de ses meilleures références endogènes. En l’occurrence, bantu. De la sorte, il est donné de penser que c’est au prix d’une intersubjectivité foncière et conviviale qu’il nous sera donné de faire face à la menace frontale du « choc des civilisations » à l’horizon, elle qui est quasiment à l’œuvre dans un monde marqué de plus en plus par des velléités de l’unilatéralisme. Il reste alors aux sciences sociales et connexes d’explorer ces nouveaux chemins, de se saisir d’objets épistémologiques, empiriques et mémoriels, pour mieux cerner le processus de longue durée qui (en engageantleur longue marchesur les chemins des migrations — sous le poids des rencontres, leur imprévisibilité et celui des métissages subséquents) a permis aux peuples bantu de traverser les temps, armés de leurs imaginaires divers. Cela, dès la protohistoire sinon la paléo-histoire jusqu’à l’émergence des idiosyncrasies nouvelles, découlant, elles, des effets combinés des diglossies diverses (https://www.cicibabantu.org/e-muntu/Les Bantu - Langues, peuples, civilisations, Théophile ObengaParu le 11 juillet 2000 chez Présence africaine - Broché - les prix - d'Occasion ou neufhttps://www.chasse-aux-livres.fr/prix/270870446X/les-bantu-langues-peuples-civilisations………Bantu contributed nothing to civilizations, Bantu haters always say.It is not true at all. Just a shortlist of what is important, in my view.The shortlist does not include Bantu speakers who made us all proud by winning international awards (Denis Mukwege, Gabriel Makosso, Desmond Tutu, Kama Sywor Kamanda) or are regarded as military, musical, mathematical or artistic geniuses (King Shaka, Luambo Makiadi, Chéri Samba, David Wabeladio Payi, etc.).The Ishango Bone (Bone technology): the oldest table of prime numbers and the earliest evidence of mathematical thinking. As someone noted the the number of of notches and their grouping seem to imply a knowledge of mathematics and calculation - of prime numbers, multiplication and division - quite advanced for its time and unheard of elsewhere.Wassajazz : A musical symbiosis of four hundred indigenous Bantu rhythms and dances. It has therapeutic and futuristic rhythms. Bantu ritual musical practices involve complex responsorial singing over polyrhythmic drumming and also involve solo and collective dancing. Wassajazz is the main genre of the Punta Negra Company (RoC) which mixes different artistic disciplines (theater, music, dance, song, storytelling, mime). Its seven artists revisit the multiple traditions of the Congo in a modern way. They each bring the dances, rhythms, music, and specific to their region.Auteur Learning (Cameroon): It is method of instruction devised by internationally acclaimed, award-winning Cameroonian filmmaker, Jean-Pierre Bekolo that uses the filmmaking experience as an intellectual as well as practical approach to teaching students who prefer a learning environment that relies on “construction” rather than classic “instruction” methods. The auteur learning method is based on his own experience challenging Hollywood’s definition of cinema as entertainment. Jean-Pierre Bekolo’s debut film, Quartier Mozart, received the Prix Afrique en Creation at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival. His second film, Aristotle’s Plot, was one of several films commissioned by the British Film Institute to celebrate the 100th anniversary of cinema and included works by Martin Scorsese, Jean-Luc Godard, and Bernardo Bertolucci.Afro fusion cuisine: It is a concept popularized by renowned Congolese chef, Dieuveil Malonga as it defines his culinary style. The style is a mix of German, African and French cuisine. He wanted it to be a culinary bridge between African gastronomy and world cuisine but more importantly a way to reconcile, on the plate, all African cuisines with the ultimate goal of promoting African cuisine. My African Dream is Dieuveil Malonga's signature dish. It is a mixture of flavors and colors, where the cassava flour crumble meets the vanilla of North Kivu, Cameroonian mangoes, passion fruits, peanuts and white fonio (a cereal) from Fouta-Djalon. This dish imitates the curves of the African continent.Ujamaa, African socialism: Ujamaa, a Swahili word, refers to the mutual cooperation and equalitarianism, characteristic of traditional African society. Ujamaa formed the basis of the late Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere's social and economic development policies in Tanzania after it gained independence from Britain in 1961. President Nyerere pointed out the need for an African model of development and that formed the basis of Ujamaa as policy. Ujamaa asserts that a person becomes a person through the people or community. President Nyerere translated the Ujamaa concept into a political-economic management model. The crux of the model was villagization – or ujamaa vijijini (“rural socialism”).Kongo luxury textiles: Kongo textiles were woven from raffia just like Kuba textiles. Kongo luxury textiles were finely woven from golden palm fiber, then hand-cut and rubbed in the weaver's hands. The result was a rich interplay of tone and texture. Kongo textiles were exported to Europe where in the seventeenth century they were regarded as prize pieces acquired by doctors, scientists, and scholars. Kongo luxury cloths were also preserved in court and cabinet collections formed by rulers, princes, and urban elites. Several palm trees were methodically cultivated for the purposes of the textile industry. Their fibers were used to make high-quality fabrics. Brocade was called Incorimba . Velvet was called Enzaca , damas called Infulas , satins Maricas , taffeta called Tanga , the “armoisins” Engombos.Onyaka necklace (Namibia): Onyaka traditional necklace made from mussel shell beads plays a prominent role in the adornment of Oshiwambo women who for generations have passed this bead-making skill from elders to the young. Strings of these beads are worn proudly at all ceremonious occasions, and in keeping with tradition, are dyed a vibrant pink to match the traditional, traditional pink Ondelela dresses or skirts. These necklaces and shell beads have also found way into the tourist market, where they are even matched with gold and silver to create a valuable piece of jewelry. New babies are welcomed into the world with a string of Onyoka, and throughout their lives Oshiwambo women wear Onyoka whenever they want to look smart, especially when attending occasions like weddings, christenings and funerals.Missa Katanga: It is considered the one of first African Masses accompanied by the tam-tam and other traditional instruments. It was composed by legendary Congolese composer Joseph Kiwele in 1949. It was also sung in Belgium, during the colonial era. In addition to Missa Katanga, Joseph Kiwele also composed “Te Deum bantou” an arrangement of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus for choir, organ, and African musical instruments, Joseph Kiwele collected and also wrote down many traditional songs of Missa Katanga is not only a pioneering work in the scholarly style but also of value in the often successful exploitation of local melodies.Windeck : It is an Angolan telenovela. It was nominated for Best Telenovela at the 2013 International Emmys. The plot revolves around the wealthy and bourgeois Voss family, owners of the fashion magazine, in Luanda, the Angolan capital. The business belongs the Voss heirs; Kiluanji and Leona. But the charming and sultry Victoria disembarks from her Cambrouse in Luanda and manages to seduce and convince Xavier to employ her in Divo, when she has no skills required. The latter seeks at all costs a social promotion. She then managed to charm Kiluanji when he was the ex-boyfriend of her sister and rival, Anna Maria."Hakuna-matata": is a Swahili language phrase from East Africa, meaning "no trouble" or "no worries" and "take it easy. "Hakuna Matata" is used in many East African countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Uganda, Mozambique as well as Tanzania. The 1994 Walt Disney Animation Studios animated film The Lion King brought the phrase to Western prominence in one of its most popular songs. The song is often heard at Disney's resorts, hotels, and other places appealing to the tourist trade. In 2003, Disney was granted a trademark protecting the phrase from being used on clothing and footwear. Prior to the release of the 2019 Lion King remake, the trademark caused controversy in East Africa. More than 280,000 people have signed a petition on the world’s platformm for change asking Disney to drop the trademark.Congotronics series: It is traditional Congolese music electrified. The lead group is Grammy award winning group Konono No. 1 that was formed in Congo in the late 1960s. Their distinctive sound is driven by three likembes (bass, medium and treble thumb pianos). Konono No. 1 have combined the spirit of traditional African music with the junk instrument concept and the progressive electronic aspect of modern times. The band began to amplify the likembes, starting with low-frequency six-volt radios, then 12-volt radios from cars. Their sound system was built from handmade microphones, old car parts, megaphones, and discarded amps, and they used junked auto pieces and pots and pans as percussion instruments. Congotronics series has featured music by bands such as Kasai Allstars, Sobanza Mimanisa, Kisanzi Congo, Masanka Sankayi and Basokin. These bands play what is referred to in the Congo as tradi-moderne music.Tshibawu or Cibawu (Luba): The stability of the Luba kingdom was guaranteed by the force of a "Tshibawu" law based on redress or forgiveness of wrongs and on community solidarity. Tshibawu or Union” served as a law and social code which bound all the ethnic groups of the Kingdom. Breaking the Tshibawu had serious consequences. Among the consequences, there is the curse which can lead to death or be perpetuated from generation to generation if the fault is not repaired and / or forgiven. To do this, the offender, someone recognized as “Mwena Tshibawu” must confess his or her fault and then submit to the sentence pronounced against him. Luba filiation to Tshibawu is manifested through the tradition of paying a fine for reparation of the harm caused to one or the other brother of the siblings by the ceremony led by the sages around the King and at the level of the family, by family counseling. Confession is followed by the rite of reconciliation in which the culprit must ‘kutula cibawu’ (pay the penalty) to make amends.Soul Makossa (Cameroon): Manu Dibango's 1972 record "Soul Makossa" is the most sampled African song ever. The song has been sampled and covered over 125 times. Soul Makossa” is an Afrobeat standard whose “ma-mako, ma-ma-sa, mako-mako ssa” refrain has been sampled in several songs through the decades, mostly in funk, disco, and later, hip-hop genres. While the song's vocal chants were most famously used by Michael Jackson on 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," and Rihanna on "Please Don't Stop the Music" the song's influence has spread to countless tracks. In its earlier days, it was used by Kool & The Gang on the hit track "Hollywood Swinging" and it was later used on a number of hip-hop songs from the likes of Jay-Z, Kanye West, Slick Rick, Busta Rhymes and more.Bwato, Bantu wooden canoe: Bwato is common to all the Bantu peoples, namely the technology of the manufacture of the canoe and its use on the rivers, oceans and lakes of the Bantu world. Bwato is a traditional cultural object made from a tree trunk. A common sight is that of a fisherman in a bwato on lakes and rivers. A bwato is propelled by either long bamboo poles in relatively shallow waters or paddles in deeper waters. Bwato are still the dominant fishing vessel. The traditional canoe design of the bwato with its in-curved wooden lips and a narrow aperture makes a vessel of this type difficult to turn over. It can roll almost 90o to lie on its side and recover, shipping very little water. The cutaway stem and stern also prevents rolling.Mandombe : a fractal-based script, a calendar, statistical and mathematical applications and an artistic creation. Mandombe is sometimes described as the African way of understanding mathematics, statistics, visual arts, mechanics, geometry, architecture, and physics. Mandombe is entirely conceived from the 5 and 2-shaped symbols that Wabeladio Payi, its inventor, recognized in the lines joining the bricks of the wall of his bedroom.Musangwe, bare knuckle combat (Venda): It is essentially a type of “boxing”. This form of martial art basically involves the use of “knuckles”. “A bare knuckle” is mainly used as a weapon by the fighter in this form of martial art. There are no rounds in Musangwe. But there are rules. One of the rules is that if a fighter is bleeding he should be allowed to wash of the blood from his face. The other rule is that if a fighter is down and still wants to continue fighting, his challenger must give him an opportunity to stand up and fight again. There are no prizes awarded to the winners. The fighters fight for personal pride and the bragging rights for their villages. Musangwe has more to it than meets the eye. “This is a sport that teaches respect among men. Boys are prepared for their future roles.Beaded Kuba Royal Belt: It is a belt holding multiple small pendants covered with beads and cowries. This belt has 24 of them, including a ram’s head, double bells, and harps. The belt consists of six rows of blue and white beads bound to a rope from which twenty four pendants are suspended. The belt is worn by all members of the royal family. It is of such importance that the king displays it on the day he ascends the throne. Each object is typically represented twice, one made of cowrie shells and another made of beads, both applied onto woven fiber. Fruit, ram, machete, royal bell and other fantastic shapes are all executed beautifully. The intricate patterns and colors of the beads indicate the high status of the wearer as well as the wealth of his kingdom.Viva Riva: It is a Congolese crime thriller movie written and directed by Djo Tunda wa Munga and starring Patsha Bay and Marie Malone. The film received 12 nominations and won 6 awards at the 7th African Movie Academy Awards in 2011, including the awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography & Best Production Design. Viva Riva also won at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards for Best African Movie. Riva is an operator, a man with charm and ambition in equal measure. Kinshasa is an inviting place. With petrol in short supply in DRC's capital, he and his sidekick pursue a plot to get hold of a secret cache - barrels of fuel they can sell for a huge profit. Of course they're not the only ones who want the stuff. Cesar is a ruthless, sharply dressed foreigner thriving in Kinshasa's lawless streets.The Green Belt Movement (GBM): Founded in 1977 by Professor Wangari Maathai, GBM works at the grassroots, national, and international levels to promote environmental conservation; to build climate resilience and empower communities, especially women and girls and to foster democratic space and sustainable livelihoods. GBM was founded under the auspices of the National Council of Women of Kenya (NCWK) to respond to the needs of rural Kenyan women who reported that their streams were drying up, their food supply was less secure, and they had to walk further and further to get firewood for fuel and fencing. The Green Belt Movement headquarters are located in Nairobi, Kenya, with two satellite offices: in Washington, DC; the other in London. Leaders of the Green Belt Movement established the Pan African Green Belt Network in 1986 in order to educate world leaders about conservation and environmental issues.Adou Elenga's "Ata Ndele" of 1955 hit song (Lingala song in the Belgian Congo): "Ata Ndele, mondele akosukana," or "Sooner or later, the whites will be overthrown, Ata Ndele mokili ekobaluka”: sooner or later, independence will come. The song foreshadowed, although implicitly, the impatience of the Congolese people which would lead to them eventually taking control of their own history Adou Elenga predicted the liberation of the Congo. This song speaks of the decolonization, sovereignty and dignity of the black man. Colonial authorities arrested him and banned his song. This composition of the song deserves special attention. Indeed, the musician projects himself into the future and predicts the change that will occur: the independence of the country. Sooner or later, he said, the world will change and become differentNdombolo: It is a music genre and dance style from the DRC and the Republic of the Congo, popular in other African countries such as Kenya and Madagascar. It is derived from kwassa kwassa and soukous. This style of fast music created by Radja Kula dominated dancefloors in central, eastern and western Africa in the 1990s and 2000s. At the height of its popularity, all the bars, clubs and maquis of the continent had a single principle to satisfy their customers: transform their enclosure into mini Kinshasa. The Ndombolo is also enriched with steps taken from everyday life. Festive and playful, this dance is characterized by sensual or jerky movements of the pelvis.Mobutu’s style leopard-hide hat: The form of the hat derives from a military cap but must be worn cocked carefully to one side. Wearing a distinctive leopard-skin hat that became his trademark, the late President Mobutu adopted leopard imagery as symbol of his style of warrior rule. In many African cultures, the leopard is a symbol of courage, strength, and beauty. The leopard is an ancestral ornament symbolizing the royalty and the power of the traditional chiefs. Its fur has been a representation of tribal power for traditional healers and heads of state. The leopard hat worn by Mobutu symbolizes the victory of a man over his enemies. When traveling abroad, the leopard-skin hat embodied the substitution of colonial tutelage by a Congolese royal power.Themba Zimbabwe Comic Hero: He is the main character of a comic book Themba. It follows the story of a young man named Themba Ncube, a young man struggling to get out of the slums and make a better life for his younger siblings, whose world turns upside-down when he discovers that he was experimented upon under a secret intelligence program. Implanted in his brain is an AI being that gives him superhuman power channeled through his hands to form various objects, and its creators want it back at any cost. Themba was re-imagined into a six-issue seriesKiduma cryptographic script: The script was invented around 1940 by Thomas Duma, a Kimbanguist relegated to the Lowa camp by Belgian colonials. Friends of the prophet Simon Kimbangu arrested and relegated to camps all over the Congo, transmitted instructions to each other through ordinary correspondence by means of the Kiduma, intelligible only to initiates. To outsmart Belgian colonials, the followers of Simon Kimbangu defied the religious ban and used the Kiduma script. The messengers could transfer messages without danger and circumvent censorship. The Kiduma symbols were drawn between paragraphs or in the margins of ordinary letters allowing correspondents to pass short messages.Necropolitics or the politics of the dead: Necropolitics was initially defined by Achille Mbembe, Cameroonian philosopher, as a manifestation of sovereignty wherein "To exercise sovereignty is to exercise control over mortality and to define life as the deployment of manifestations of power." (2003) This can take the form of actual control over biological existence or that of social death, be it via exile or systematic exclusion from opportunity. While not the immediate focus at its inception, the issue can be turned to the question of "which lives matter" and which are to be considered excess or surplus. In his book, Necropolitics, Achille Mbembe—a leader in the new wave of Francophone critical theory—theorizes the genealogy of the contemporary world—a world plagued by ever-increasing inequality, militarization, enmity, and terror, as well as by a resurgence of racist, fascist, and nationalist forces determined to exclude and kill.Salongo, community-based volunteer work (Congo): It is a traditional system of communal work in service of a local leader or on public works. Salongo is also the name of public work days (either Fridays or Saturdays). People are organized into volunteer groups to participate in Salongo. Salongo entails such activities as building and maintenance of village markets, gravel roads, bridges, and worship places. Salongo go so far in giving the participants a sense of ownership of public goods/public places. This implies that in the long term the spaces that have been developed by the people’s own hands.FESPAM (FESTIVAL PANAFRICAIN DE MUSIQUE) : The Pan-African Music Festival is a multidimensional event that takes place every two (2) years in Brazzaville. It has been in existence since 1993. It includes musical performances, the symposium, a permanent exhibition of musical instruments, training workshops, MUSAF, the election of Miss Fespam and other related and tourist activities. Besides its cultural character, FESPAM is a scientific institution where one explores, analyzes and evaluates African music in its multifaceted aspects and dimensions. In this regard, it allows the meeting of experts, musicologists, etc. who work on scientific approaches to music during a symposium.Mbigou Art (Gabon): Mbigou is the name of a village noted for its Mbigou soapstone used by many Gabonese sculptors. Mbigou soapstone is a Gabonese precious stone used to create artistic works. Mbigou stone is worked in different ways, ranging from wall decoration, furniture to decorative objects, such as statuettes and figurines. The Mbigou stone is an element of Gabonese art and craftsmanship par excellence. Mbigou Stone also combines perfectly with wood, and can be used with other stones to produce colorful decorative objects. Mbigou statuettes are said to peddle the ancient spirits.Zulu wooden pokerwork panels: The panels depict people and scenes of Zulu life. The depictions of are low relief figures and wild and domestic animals. They are compartmentalized into small vignettes of village life, forming a vertically read narrative displayed in a humble, seemingly naïve way but sometimes with socio-political commentary. Many panels were used to transmit a political message in line with concepts of African Christianity, itself a syncretism of the Christian message with African world-view. The Zulu use the pokerwork technique also known as pyrography or “writing with fire” that they also employed in other carving types, such as the geometric designs commonly found on mat racks.Kongo Astronaut artists’ collective: An Afro-Futurist proposal of street-performing spacemen, identified as "a fluctuating collective which, to the troubles and syncopations of the contemporary cyborg, responds with artistic acts" .The exo-astro-skeleton that the collective's co-founder, Michel Ekeba, created from metal, rubber and recycled objects seems to have come from a distant galaxy and set out for a new crossing of worlds. The artists’ collective says of itself that it manifests in the interzone of digital globalization, where past, present and future collide, running headlong into the politics of intimacy and identity of urban lives. Its cosmic appearances and fictions (performances, films, photos, texts) prompt an engagement with the condition of exile and with tactics for survival. Kongo Astronauts’ retro-futuristic outfit, made from salvaged electronics, symbolizes this scandalous paradox of the DRC: a country with immense natural resources and an extremely poor population.Luba bow stands: A powerful symbol of the Luba King, bow stands were ceremonial objects that resided within the king’s private vicinity in the palace. Typically, bow stands depict a female figure. A bow stand is typical of the prestige objects belonging to chiefs and important officials. They are among the most sacred regalia in a chief's treasury and are symbols of royal authority. The female figure on Luba bow stand holds her hands to her chest, a gesture that refers both to the Luba idea that women guard the secrets of royalty within their breasts and to that of devotion to the spirit world. They were placed behind a Luba king's thrown and used to hold his bow. Bow stands are amongst the most critical items in the Luba King's treasury, and were never displayed in public. Instead, they were guarded in the King's residence by a female dignitary named Kyabuta.Lokole, the talking drum: It is a talking drum made of hard wood used by the Mongo people of the DRC. Lokole is a deep-sounding slit drum, traditionally made out of a hollow tree trunk. It is beaten with sticks, and can produce a small range of bass notes. A log is cut approximately one meter long and the inside is chiseled out. It is designed to give two tones, high and low, when beaten with sticks. The principle of transmitting messages by the lokolé is to go over the tone of sentences of the Mongo language, omitting vowels and consonants. All kinds of messages can be transmitted by the lokolé ranging from the birth of a child to the death of a person. The sound arrives as far as 20km because the beater performs the beating forcefully. The lokolé is more than a talking drum. It is telegraph, radio, telephone, orchestra, religious instrument, all in one. Given its cultural relevance, it represented on the 200 Congolese franc banknote.Malawi cane armchairs: They are handmade using rattan strips, which are woven into intricate patterns along the sides of the chairs and the seat. Rather than using glue or nails which is common in European design, makers secure the strips with special knots. To create a curved barrel back, they temporarily insert spare parts from cars and bicycles that guide them as they work.. Beautifully hand crafted from cane and water reeds, no two chairs are exactly alike, making them unique and coveted. Malawi chairs are versatile, and each chair is hand-crafted, so it has unique, one-of-a-kind design elements. Malawi chairs have a sense of bohemian chic elegance that can work well in pretty much any design aesthetic. They are made from natural materials, they boast a sturdy design, and they have a unique curved back and arms.Black Moses, the winner of the Hurston-Wright Prize: Alain Mabanckou’s novel is the story of the life of a Congolese orphan named Moses. His full name is Tokumisa Nzambe po Mose yamoyindo abotami namboka ya Bakoko, which means “Thanks be to God, the black Moses is born on the earth of our ancestors” in Lingala. His grandly prophetic name leads him to a destiny that’s far less linear than that of the original Moses, but just as gripping and fantastical. Then there's the orphanage where he lives, run by a malicious political stooge, Dieudonne Ngoulmoumako, and where he's terrorized by two fellow orphans-the twins Songi-Songi and Tala-Tala. But after Moses exacts revenge on the twins by lacing their food with hot pepper, the twins take Moses under their wing, escape the orphanage, and move to the bustling port town of Pointe-Noire, where they form a gang that survives on petty theft.Kuba backrest or tip stool: These backrests can also serve as a seat and were reserved for the exclusive use of Kuba dignitaries. They were carved from one piece of wood. Seated, one can balance on the central upright or the stool can be tipped on one end to form a backrest. Traditionally used as utilitarian and functional pieces, cip stool can be sat upon or placed diagonally and leaned against. Geometric carved design is representative of Kuba patterns. These T-shaped tip stools were often carried on fiber cords. Such and similar two-legged stools, which are mainly used as back rests – tipped onto one side – are widespread among a variety of tribes in the Congo (Songye, Jonga, Sankuru and others). The upper seat surface displays a very finely worked geometric relief decoration.Oyo ya biso comics (OYB), Congolese Manga collective of artists: The collective brings together around twenty people (artists, graphic designers, screenwriter, web masters etc.). OYB promotes the “Liyemi” style, inspired both by the Japanese Manga style and the graphic codes of Congolese comics. Liyemi is a Lingala word meaning a surface bearing a representation made with writing materials. Liyemi is a style of artistic characterized by black heroes, which immerses readers in a fantasy world where dreams are possible. Some of the Mangas created are: Gardien de Lumière; Zaïrois, Glody Cronos, Motema and Paradis Noir. Liyemi is also the name of Kinshasa International Comics and Animated Film Fair.Zulu grass mats: They are made out of bundles of grass fibers used as thread, with more grass fibers woven around them. They are two types: either small sleeping mats (incansi) or sitting mats (isicephu).Grass mats are handmade from tall grass found along river beds with a manual wooden loom and they are usually used as bedding in rural homes. The mats are made by skilled artisans, using a combination of weaving and embroidery. Zulu art form of woven grass mat-making is traditionally feminine practice. Sleeping mats (incansi) are used in traditional weddings as customary gifts that the bride gives to the groom's family in a traditional Zulu wedding settlement.Ntadi (Funeral statue): Anthropomorphic statues in soft stone put on the graves of important members of the community among Kongo people. They were not portraits of the deceased but represented particular abilities or traits that were considered remarkable or prestigious. A man sitting on a smaller individual symbolizes the defeat of an enemy. A man with crossed legs and its palm to its cheek (thinker with nostalgic features), was associated with reflection and discretion, qualities associated with effective political leadership. A male figure holding a board or piece of paper on which an indecipherable text is incised indicated that the rule was a literate ruler. The funeral figure of the scribe, or the drummer, evokes the professional life of the deceased, so that his family can keep the memory. Ntadi had several functions, one of which, practical, was to mark land estates and identify the tomb of a prestigious ancestor and his lineage.Holo Nzambi frame figures: The Nzambi frame consists of an engraved wooden frame with one or two figures at its center, the figure was either female or male. It could have been a couple. These objects of Christian origin had been interpreted to become cultural objects. Most of the time, the Nzambi figures stand with arms outstretched to either side of the frame and elbows bent, hands touching the frame. A Nzambi is based on original Catholic icons of the crucifixion. The Nzambi functioned as protective charms to ward off evil spirits and protect against sorcery. The Nzambi are basically ritualistic frameworks which have a role of protection and healing. Nzambi were kept above the doors of a small cult house.Zairian Abacost, clothing symbol: The name is derived from the French "a bas le costume," or "down with the suit," It is a clothing symbol desired and imposed by the Zairian regime of the late President Mobutu. As part of the Authenticity campaign, men were required to wear Abacost attire instead of suit and tie, relics of Western colonialism. In the common language, it is also called libanko. It consists of a tight-fitting, two-piece suit tailored of dark material highlighted by a silk scarf instead of a tie. The jacket can be short- or long-sleeved. Worn with a simple T-shirt or a light shirt, and definitely without a tie, the Abacost sets its wearer apart, especially compared to the three-piece Western-style suit.Bwaantshy, Kuba Royal Ceremonial Costume: The royal costume, weighing almost 185 pounds, consists of a tunic embroidered with beads and cowrie shells; several heavy, beaded belts and hip ornaments; necklaces and bracelets; and an ornate headdress with an attached beaded beard. Bead-embroidered gloves and shoes cover the ruler's hands and feet. The Kuba king must sit next to beaded royal drums and he seems transformed into a work of art. He embodies wealth, power, beauty, and the Kuba aesthetic preference for accumulation and abundant design. Bwaantshy also includes patterned mats which ensure that the king never touches the unsacred ground. Each Kuba king commissions this type of costume after his enthronement and is buried in it when he dies.Punu masks: The white masks of the Punu people are worn during the okuyi performance, one of the rites of mwiri, an important male initiation society spread throughout southern and central Gabon. . The white face represents the soul of an ancestor. These Punu masks are hand carved out of wood and set in the colors of White and black. They are characterized by a face with youthful features, half-closed eyelids under slightly raised arching eyebrows, a fine realistically-rendered nose, a mouth pursed forward with full red-painted lips, painted red, and an elaborate crested coiffure. The hairstyles of these masks can vary. The beautiful hairstyle is a common feature among the Punu women. In some cases scarification on foreheads are clearly visible .3 Dimensional Copper Art Handcrafted Relief sculpture (DRC/Zambia): Large sheets of copper are flattened so that the artist has a base to draw the image on; the copper images are then hammered until the art is clear and complete. The sheets of copper have scratches and/or indentations which the artist works around and it becomes a part of the art. These 3 dimensional copper works of art depict an aspect of daily life through the eyes of the artist. Placing on an easel or framing the copper will add beauty.Mongo Efomba sarcophagi: They were of two carved sarcophagus types: 1) Eleku type, made out of two canoes stacked and decorated with geometric and zoomorphic elements. The Eleku coffins, measuring 310 cm, were in stylized shapes, that could evocate the overall form of a canoe, or a cormorant, or another related bird, and the fins of a fish; 2) Ngata type: they were anthropomorphic sarcophagi representing a semi-heavy wood, the masculine figure, in a hieratic posture, with highly svelte features, measuring between 200 and 25 cm. The overall form of the sarcophagus is a rectangular shape with slightly rounded angles; the box designed to contain the deceased's remains is carved in the male figure's back. Anthropomorphic coffins were used for the funeral of notables and they were regarded as a status symbol, a memorial figure.Nsesa fly-whisks: Nsesa fly-whisks form part of the regalia of Kongo chiefs, traditional healers and diviners. They highlight the power, status and roles of these important figures within the community. Nsesa are said to provide a connection to the power of ancestors, are used to protect and to bless. African chiefs use their fly-whisks to bless across the lands of the living and the dead. Traditional diviners use their fly-whisks during ritual processes that protect and heal their patient. The fly-whisk is a particularly pervasive emblem of leadership in Africa. Typically it punctuates speech, enhances gesture and serves to focus attention (both human and spirit) on the wielder. This flywhisk's role as a prestige piece is emphasized by the valuable materials used--elephant tail, glass beads and cowrie shells.Bilenge ya Mwinda (Young People of Light): A Catholic youth organization founded in 1972 that is using the traditional initiation ritual as a model of instruction to help today’s urban youth cope with the moral and ethical challenges they face. Bilenge ya Mwinda is present in the DRC where it was founded but also in the RoC and CAR. Bilenge ya Mwinda is not simply another movement to indoctrinate the young but a school for life, an initiation into life based upon the methods of the black African tradition. Bilenge ya Mwinda holds a Christian ethic but stressed that it is one of enculturation to African traditions. The young pass through the greatest moments of transformation within their existence by following the practice and symbols of initiation into life found within African traditions.Bantu psychology (La Psychologie des Bantu): It is an essay written by Congolese philosopher Stefano Kaoze in 1910 (He later became the first Congolese priest in 1917), in which he outlined the theology and knowledge system of the Bantu people and argue for a synthesis of African culture and Christianity. Kaoze articulated the Bantu way of thinking about knowledge, moral values, God, life, and the afterlife. Working in the context of Christian evangelization, Kaoze called for the replacement of colonial Christianity with an “African Christianity.” For such an Africanization of Christianity to occur, he maintained that the Gospel should be preached in African languages and with African methods and that it should address the real issues of African lives.Madiba shirt: A Madiba shirt is a batik silk shirt, usually embellished in a bright and colorful print. Dubbed "the Madiba", after the late South African president Nelson Mandela’s nickname, the shirts expressed more than personal style. President Nelson Mandela once commented that he wore the shirts to represent his people and their diverse cultures. The informal garment was a way for Mandela to sartorially identify with the majority of his people, who never wore suits. President Mandela wore them on the world stage, becoming a global style as well as political icon. The style of the Madiba Shirt evolved as Mandela requested various shirts throughout his time as president. The Madiba shirt can be worn by people of all age groups.Byongi Ekonda Blades: They are called the most flamboyant of all African knifes. They are highly calligraphic blades, whose edges sport an almost endless variety of hooks, arcs, spurs, and horn-like protrusions of various widths, of hooks, arcs, spurs, and horn-like protrusions of various widths. The Ekonda smiths begin by hammering the iron into fairly thin sheets. They then work the edges, cutting away metal to form a succession of protruding embellishments that gave the knives their elaborate profiles. Byongi blades are ostentatious and completely unsuited for functional use - they are instead unrestrained symbols of prestige. These swords were displayed in a variety of circumstances, but most notably in parades and for divination; many were the prerogative of women as well.Pendant Ikhoko Talisman (Pende): The talisman was worn around the neck of a young Pende man beginning with his initiation into the men’s secret society and remaining as a part of his personal adornment for life. Ikhoko are made of bone, wood, ivory, aluminum or seed pods .Ikhoko are the marvelous miniatures and replicas of the Mbuya masks. The face of the Ikhoko is a smaller version of the Mbuya mask worn during the Mukanda initiation and would later act as a reminder to the wearer of the moral codes instilled in those formative ceremonies. Mbuya makes are characterized by wide forehead, continuous eyebrows, drooping eyelids, with small nose slightly curved upwards, and open mouth with rows of teeth, above the pointed chin.La marmite de Koka-Mbala " (Koka-Mbala cooking pot), the Grand Prix of the inter-African theatrical competition awarded in 1967: The play is a work by journalist-writer Guy Menga. La marmite de Koka Mbala which tells us about the wickedness of the city of Koka-Mbala, capital of this kingdom ruled by King Bintsamou, where the laws are rigid and the judges inflexible and ruthless. The play addresses, among other issues, that of justice in a traditional African society dominated by “males” and the elderly. Here, women are excluded from everything and young people are oppressed. Justice in Koka-Mbala is identified with the goodwill of the First Counselor, the Great witch doctor of the kingdom, he is the one who decides who should live and who should die.Congolese Mass or the Zairian Rite: The Zairean Rite is the only inculturated rite of the Latin Church approved after the Second Vatican Council. It is a variation of the Mass of the Roman Catholic Church. This liturgical rite fits into Congolese culture and takes into consideration the African way of life and of celebrating solemn occasions. The Rite encourages participation and engagement of the congregation. Among other liturgical rituals and gestures, engagement of the faithful, gathered in Church, takes the form of liturgical dance. The Congolese mass is animated by religious songs with an African rhythm, the sound of Congolese drums and Congolese musical instruments.Goma Chukudu wooden scooter and Chukudu politics: A Chukudu is a hybrid of wheelbarrow and bicycle. Unique to Goma, eastern DRC, the Chukudu is two-wheeled goods transport wooden scooter made in Congo. Its robustness and practical simplicity make it the means of transport of choice for charcoal, bananas, construction materials, and other heavy things. Chukudu politics is linked to the Chukudu, viewed as an improvised wooden transport utility that allows Congolese and other people from Africa south of the Sahara to go about despite decrepit infrastructures. Chukudu politics is used to unpack the significance for infrastructural absences for social processes. Chukudu politics is defined as a way of creatively negotiating life under conditions of the absence of viable transport and communication infrastructures. Chukudu politics is basically a creative process of assembling at one’s best capacity given partially disassembled technologies and infrastructures in an effort to sustain social relations and economic activity.Mpu prestige hat: Made of knotted raffia or pineapple-leaf fiber, Mpu hats were worn by Kongo political leaders. The finely detailed geometric patterns of the Mpu resemble those woven into the beautiful velvet-like raffia textiles worn by Kongo royalty and formerly used as currency throughout the kingdom. The geometric patterns of Kongo hats, textiles, and mats were associated with the maze-like layout of the royal palace and streets of the capital. The mpu was and a vital component of the chief's regalia, which also included a kinzembe mesh tunic, a woven chest bag, a charm bag (nkisi), a reliquary basket, the double bell, and a stool. For Kongo, Mbundu, and relates peoples in northern Angola, the mpu signified the authority invested in a person elected to an office of sacred leadership.Mongo Wicker Shield : As war armament, the shields were used for protection during combats. They were also used as dance regalia during the funerals of a valiant warrior and during communal hunts to celebrate the deceased bravery in war as well as this of the all warriors in the community. With time, shields became so elaborate and ingeniously made that they came to be seen as works of art in their own right. The Mongo shields became objects for ostentatious display in which communication is achieved through aesthetic power. For personal adornment, a shield could be made for a feast day, for a ritual dance, or for a parade.Kisanola, the Art of Hair: In Central Africa, the use of kisanola, Lingala for comb, demonstrates the importance given to decorating the body, and hair in particular. The kisanola is also a Congolese dance imitating the gesture of combing the hair while holding a mirror. In Chokwe, Yaka, Luba and Lélé people from the DRC, gorgeous combs were carved as prestigious objects with an infinite number of decorative motifs and figurative themes. Kisanola, these hair utensils are incredibly beautiful, finely sculpted and decorated with a figure. Kisanola also refers to a court art designed mainly for the upper echelons The combs would once have been used by those in power—the number of teeth indicating the society within which the object is associated, the middle platform of the comb incised with geometric patterns, and the top of the comb decorated with carved faces, anthropomorphic or zoomorphic figures.Heart-shaped Ekuk antelope mask (Kwele): They are used in ceremonies to promote well-being and community among Kwele people. Some masks do not have eye slits and were shown to onlookers rather than worn. The horn motifs echo the heart shaped face. The masks are considered to be among the most beautiful in African art. The face is whitened with kaolin and framed by the curved arcs of a pair of animal horns that emerge from the crown of the head and meet at the base of the chin. The gentle curving horns are understood to be a metaphor for the cosmic unification of those two realms. Though their dance is characterized as human, "ekuk" have fantastical attributes: trunks, beaks, or horns.Luba Shakandi figurative headrest: This neck support consists of a base on which stands a couple face to face. The characters hold the seat of the room on their heads. The two figures are seated opposite each other, their arms intertwined. The Shakandi headrest was considered a sacred artistic creation. In daily life, it protected the vulnerable ceremonial hairstyle that Kuba chief had, but its symbolic meaning went far beyond that. It reflected the owner's well-being and social prestige, and it protected him against nightmares. This iconography joins the Luba belief attributing to the headrests the function of “support of the dream”: they would influence dreams, considered as prophetic. The head rest was such an important personal possession that it was often buried with its deceased owner in his grave.Tabwa style Mpundu doll figures: They are small cylindrical doll topped with a head that bears characteristic scarifications with small pearl necklaces around the neck. These pieces are related to the cult of twins among the Tabwa. Twins are special beings sent to earth to ensure peace between living beings and nature. When a twin dies in childhood, he will be represented by a wooden statuette called Mpundu. This female doll is carved from hardwood and dyed dark brown. . It is in the typical Tabwa style: the face on its head is characteristically tilted upwards (typical for the Tabwa). The head bears a hairstyle made from small rhombus shapes, lines of decorative scars across the forehead, nose and both cheeks, and an open mouth with a row of teeth. The cylindrical body of the doll also bears lines of typical decorative scars.Kwezi, South Africa Comic Hero: The comic shares the adventures of a young narcissistic man, Kwezi, who discovers he has super powers, is part of an ancient race that pre-dates humanity and must set off on a journey to save the world and find his purposes. His journey starts off as a self-serving narcissist who only uses his abilities to further his social status. This is until he is tracked down by three individuals who exhibit similar evolutionary talents. It is not long until Kwezi is confronted with the truth about his powers and is faced with an important decision: to carry out his life serving no particular purpose or joining his new companions on a journey to discover who he really is and what he is destined to be.A postname: It is a personal name that follows the last name. This is given to designate the person in a unique way as opposed to the patronymic or family name which is inherited. The postname is used in several Bantu cultures. The post-name is the last name but is not the family name, which is the second to last one. The postname could be the name of an ancestor, for example. At birth, or baptism, each person is assigned one or more postnames. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is common for individuals to possess three separate names: a first name (prénom) and surname (nom) as well as a post-surname (postnom). Each form may comprise one or more elements. Typically, the present structure of Congolese naming sequence includes the first name (usually Christian) followed by two traditional names.Kuba Tukula box: This Kuba Tukula box is very often half-moon in shape—the box can take many other shapes—with a lovely geometric pattern/design which is so typical of the Kuba. The lid also displays a matching design. Boxes such as these were for storing tukula--a reddish powder made from the bark of a tree. It was used for body and hair coloring and used to ornament the face and chest during dances, as well as to anoint bodies for burial. . Dignitaries would often commission boxes like these as a way to express their status. Several carved tukula boxes were traditionally bestowed as funerary gifts.Lumumba-like haircut: The hairstyle is very popular with young men who find it quite special. The haircut can be described as follows: it is a kind of punk, a small tuft in the middle of the head and a parting sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right of the tuft. In some young people, the size of the tuft varies. The haircut has become fashionable, reminiscent of Patrice Lumumba who marked the history of Africa. The line on the left side of the head most often refers to young single men while that on the right is reserved for married men. For some hairdressers, this model simply reflects the beauty, charisma, authority of a man.Reliquary Muzidi rag dolls (Beembe): It is stylistically textile reliquary figures. It is basically a cloth figure of a human, bound around human remains. Muzidi are generally seated, with long, narrow torsos and extended limbs terminating in prominently articulated fingers and toes. The torso and neck are cylindrical and elongated. On the death of someone a doll that symbolizes the deceased is made. Often remains such as hair or pieces of bone of the deceased are incorporated into the doll. The doll gets a prominent place in the house. When leaving the house one asks the doll (the deceased) for a safe journey, advantageous shopping etc. Only the family as a whole can decide to put the doll aside. What makes Muzidi dolls interesting is the fact that the material they are made from allows postures and gestures that are uncommon in wood carvings.Chama (Kenya): Chama, meaning “group” or “body” in Kiswahili, is an informal micro-saving group where individuals pool and invest their savings together. Chama is an ancient tradition tended to be welfare groups exclusively for women, including rural women. However, as the idea matured over the years, men also began to participate. Members contribute an agreed amount of money with the goal of helping each other grow economically and possibly achieve financial independence. Chamas have grown to become microfinance savings and loans companies that enable women to escape the bureaucracy of banks, whilst also forming strong community ties and social bonds. There are also agricultural chamas that come together to create large scale agricultural production and export products such as coffee, tea and dairy.Kitenge fashion and symbolism: It is an East African cotton fabric printed in various colors and designs with distinctive borders, used especially for women's clothing. The fabric can be used to make various types of African print clothing, including dresses, shirts, skirts and trousers. There are also used to create jewelry or clothing accessories (shoes and bags). Kitenge is more than fashion; it is a whole sub-culture. In some countries, kitenge is customary for women at funerals. They are tied together and used as decorative pieces at dinner tables. Women also wear kitenge wrapped around the body when they go to the bathroom. They are used as a sling to hold a baby across the back of a mother. There are Kitenge that are uniquely created to commemorate a special occasion such as a wedding, graduation, etc. Even Kitenge is also used to create colorful face masks as a protection against COVID-19.Kikaku, initiation wall panel (Kanu Initiation Art): Wall panels with painted human and animal figures carved in high relief with dimensional floral and geometric patterns that convey meaning through color and symbolic imagery. The figures adorned the interior walls of the three-sided roofed structures the Nkanu call kikaku. The figures are painted in a characteristic fashion. The upper part of the faces is painted white while the lower parts often have a red pigment. The figures are usually depicted wearing clothing and distinctive hats or headdresses. The background surfaces of the panels are entirely covered with a variety of geometric decorations including circles, lozenges, triangles, zigzag lines and leaf patterns. The kikaku and its contents - wall panels, guardian figures, head posts, sculptures, formed the stage for the public celebration marking the end of the initiation cycle. The function of the panels was to restate in visual terms by way of a secret language, ideas found in stories and proverbs associated with the initiation processCongolese Liboke: a method of cooking in foil made of banana leaves. It is a preparation wrapped in banana leaves, and cooked either in an oven or steamed or directly on a grill. The most popular preparation Liboké is generally catfish such as pangasisus. Liboké is a Lingala word which etymologically means "Package. The principle of the Congolese Liboke is to wrap the food hermetically in the banana leaves so that once set on fire (on or under the embers), the food cooks by the steam inside the package.Kilonda prestige and war axe “Nzappa zap” (Songye): The weapon holds power and significance among the Songye people (DRC). The axe was used in battle, as a status symbol, and as a form of currency in trade. The Kilonda axe exists somewhere between a throwing ax, a meat cleaver and a scythe. It consists of an iron head with two twisted iron bands and a third middle band decorated with two human faces. The wooden handle is covered with copper. The human heads on the decoration of the blade are symbolic of subordinate peoples. Kilonda axes are beautiful examples of forging with their triangle-shape blade and animated on the two sides of twenty-two incised anthropomorphic faces.Female Chokwe Mwana Pwo mask (DRC, Angola, and Zambia): It is a classic Chokwe mask genre that honors founding female ancestors. Inscribed motifs on the mask's forehead and cheeks are classic graphic designs that aesthetically enhanced a woman's beauty in past generations and were signs of ethnic identity. The central cruciform on the forehead has been interpreted as a cosmogram while the markings on either cheek are described as a solar disc joined by tears. The traditional African Pwo masks, with their characteristic frontal scarring, represent the ideal Chokwe woman and mother. The braided fibers behind the masks allow them to be attached to the dancer's head.Baloji’s photography: It is infused with provocative attention to detail and a depth of intellectual content. It interrogates abuse of power and its legacy, revealing the devastating impact that exploitative cultures have on both society and the environment. Baloji’s photography juxtaposes photographic realities, combining past and present, the real and the ideal, to illicit glaring cultural and historical tensions. Sammy Baloji, a Congolese photograph, explores architecture and the human body as traces of social history, sites of memory, and witnesses to operations of power. Baloji’s photography repurposes the colonial archive, activate historical awareness, and challenge common assumptions about photographic authority. Ethnographic exploitation, architecture and town planning are recurring themes in Baloji’s photography.Kifwebe mask and costume (Songye): The striated masks and have sagittal crests that extend from the top of the head to the tip of the nose. The height of the sagittal crest indicates the gender of the mask, however, all Songye Bifwebe (plural of Kifwebe), whether male or female, are worn by male dancers. Bifwebe function within the context of the Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe, a men's secret association that assures the well-being and continuity of its communities by enforcing societal laws and appealing to benevolent spirits. Bifwebe may be painted black, white, and red. The colors of black and white, however, refer to gender. Whether it is a male or female type, the wooden mask is tightly attached to a costume made of raffia, blouse and pants, the whole covering the entire body, feet and hands included; the front is further adorned with a sort of large fiber beard.Bula Mankoko (Kongo traditional form of greeting): The proper form of greetings among Kongo people is the Bula Mankoko gesture, where the hands are cupped and clapped together three times. The gesture does not use physical contact (the handshake). The greetings consist of a gently form of clapping your hands, without making any sound. Using this greeting shows respect for the other. When a woman uses this form of greeting toward a man in a position of power or an elder she slightly bends through their knees while gently clapping her hands, showing an even higher form of respect.African Cry: It is a book by the late Cameroonian theologist Jean-Marc Ela. African Cry has been called the soundest illustration of the spirit of liberation theology in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a liberation theology with African content and original method—in short, a model of African liberation theology. The stress is on the interrelatedness of inculturation, liberation, and authenticity. The cry is for the right to be different. Through an analysis of selected sacraments, missionary structures, and biblical hermeneutics, Ela identified ways in which the Catholic tradition subordinates Africans to a position of dependence vis-a-vis White Europeans. According to Ela, the only way to restore dignity to African peoples is to allow them to transform Christian traditions into forms that are familiar and useful to Africans;Kuba Mukenga Helmet: It is also known as elephant mask of helmet form with expressive facial features. The helmet is extensively decorated with cowrie shells, fine red white black brown bead work, coral glass beads, turquoise glass beads, textile, reed, raffia, animal fur, hide. This unusual helmet style mask is created in the Congo by the Kuba people. It represents an elephant with a much emphasized beaded trunk. The elephant represents the supreme symbol of leadership. The Mukenga helmet mask head piece is worn for ceremonies with a full body dance costume that is traditionally worn and danced at funeral ceremonies for great Kuba men.Bashoto blanket culture: The world renowned Basotho blankets distinguish this nation from others by the way in which the blankets are worn as part of their everyday life. What makes the Basotho blankets unique is the layout of the design, the various symbols used, the bold color combinations and the characteristic pin-stripe. You will see blankets of varying colors and patterns at all important life events, from marriage to childbirth to the coronation of king. Sotho men and women wear blankets differently, but the way that the fabric is draped can reveal to the keen observer whether a woman is married or if she’s had a child, if a father is trying to arrange a marriage for his child, or if a boy has been circumcised. Even in death, you are buried with a blanket so that you may keep warm.Luba masks: Luba masks are easily recognizable by their intricate patterns of colored beadwork, hammered brass and bronze built on a round wooden plinth. Although they feature exceptional craftsmanship and craftsmanship, these masks are not created as art, but for their supernatural powers. Wearing these masks during ceremonies and rituals, a dancer enters a state of trance and channels messages from the ancestors of the Luba people. Each mask represents a specific spirit, some benevolent, others malicious; and Luba believe that these spirits inhabit the body of the wearer during the ceremonyMbole Ofika, “hanging figure” statue and Lilwa moral philosophy: Ofika is a stocky figure, with sloping shoulders, a flattened heart-shaped face and surface bearing ochre, white and brown pigment and takes the appearance of a hanged man. The statues are easily recognizable by their caped headdress, their arched trunk, ropes around the neck, the arms outstretched from the body, hands resting on the thighs, and the slightly bent legs with hanging feet. Ofikas represent individuals who were hanged for violating the public order and transgressing the laws of a powerful association among the Mbole, known as Lilwa. The power association performed ritual, educational, jural, social, political, and economic functions. Lilwa had a sophisticated moral philosophy. The philosophy and way of life were instilled into most members of Mbole society, during a period of initiation. While the figures were not the portraits of offenders, the carvings were given their names and perpetuated their memories.Tonga basket wall decor (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique): Beautiful and practical, woven wall baskets and decorative woven baskets are fashionable in sustainable interior style. Tonga people are renowned for their basket weaving. The Tonga baskets have a distinctive design with a square bottom forming the foundation of the basket. The baskets are made from the ilala palm (mapokwe in Tonga), which, although growing freely, is also planted by Tonga women for the purpose of basket making. Traditional designs include stripes, a spider web type pattern and a lightning pattern. . These baskets are rustically woven and rooted in Tonga culture. All baskets are colored with natural vegetable dyes, or use no dyes at all, relying instead on natural contrasts in the weaving materials. Each type of basket is named according to the area from which it originates.The Anyoto costume: The costume comes from the Anyoto leopard men, a secret society from Eastern DRC very active in the in the late 19th and the early 20th. Anyoto men's activities were a way of maintaining local power relations, performing indigenous justice in secret and circumventing colonial government control. The Anyoto costume consists of a leopard skin from the head (a headdress made of the hide of a leopard’s head, called é’umbu) to the waistband. The Anyoto leopard men were dressed in leopard skins and used sharp claw-like weapons in the form of leopards' claws and teeth. Favorite weapons were a specially shaped knife and a small metal fork imitating the sharp claws of a leopard.Telephone wire baskets (Zulu wire baskets): KwaZulu-Natal men weave colorful baskets from leftover telephone wire. The effect is a glorious spiral of colors in various rainbow hues. Each basket is unique as the artisans weave whatever pattern they are inspired to weave. This wire weaving art originated with the African night shift security workers who used age-old grass basket weaving techniques to decorate their security sticks (knobkerries) from discarded telephone wire; this progressed into the beautiful woven baskets and bowls of today. These look gorgeous hung on a wall, are usable to collect keys or coins, and are even handy for entertaining, as the basket can hold nuts or other food items.Lisapo Onge! Puppet tales: They exist between storytelling and fabric puppets, singing and drumming. Lisapo Ongé combines the wisdom of the African tale and the cheerfulness of colorful puppets to offer a show aimed at children and adults alike. Lisapo Onge are a trip to Congo tales to listen and to watch. Renowned Congolese story teller, Hubert Mahela re-enacts stories from his native Congo with expressive hand-held puppets and objects, his words, in rainbow colors, punctuated by songs and silences.Lukano, royal bracelet (Lunda/Chokwe): It is a sacred wrist bangle made of iron or copper and an insignia of royal authority among the Lunda and Chokwe people passed down through the generations. It is the supreme emblem of Lunda royalty. Lukano is also a Lunda and Chokwe name but it has a specific place in the history of the Chokwe. It was at the origin of the conflict that pushed a large group of people to leave the Lunda empire and latter be known as Chokwe and Luvale. It is the royal bracelet that the Lunda Queen Lweji gave the royal hunter, Chibinda Ilunga, her Luba husband and gave him access to the throne.Kongo Graphic Writing System: Bakongo's ideographic and pictographic signs are used to organize daily life, enable interactions between humans and the natural and spiritual worlds, and preserve and transmit cosmological and cosmogonical belief systems. Kongo graphic writing system has three forms: a) "pictographic" or rather morphemographic form, which transcribes the sounds (verbal forms) of the language directly through the signs; b) the phonographic form used for historical archives, some of which are maintained between the museums of Tervuren, Rotterdam and the Vatican and c) "logographic" / figurative form: the signs are here associated with proverbs It is the form which produces for example the "proverbial lids", the "initiatory vases and masks" etc ...Tswana Astronomy and Thutlwa: Astronomy is an old age tradition in Africa. As with all other cultures, various ethnic groups developed their own interpretations of the solar system. Using their natural instrument the eye, Batswana have observed, commented on and named celestial objects of interest to them. There are more telling and specific names that relate to unique stellar patterns and their seasonal appearance e.g. Selemela, Naka, Thutlwa, and Dikolojwane. The Tswana believe the Southern Cross constellation to be giraffes and call them Thutlwa. The bright stars of Crux are male giraffes, and the two Pointers are female giraffes. According to Tswana culture, the stars of Orion's sword were "dintsa le Dikolobe", three dogs chasing three pigs of Orion's belt. The Milky Way was viewed by the Tswana as Molalatladi, the place where lightning rests.Congo earrings: These earrings are called Congo because they are inspired by the traditional earrings worn by several ethnic groups from the DRC (Luba, Kongo, Songye, Kuba etc.) Congolese women used jewelry in the form of rings of wire made of metal, wood, bone and gold. Congo earrings are of different models, the most famous are the following; 1) Congo yellow gold earrings, which are models that are completely made of metal. They can have a variety of shapes, such as spirals; 2) Congo silverware whose design can be used jewelry engraving with ethnic motifs; 3) Congo earrings with balls whose stylish décor emphasizes style and good taste; 4) Congo earring with cubic zirconia that can be worn with all colors of clothing.Zamrock (Zambian Rock Scene): Zamrock is a 70s fuzzed-out, psychedelic rock combined with local music that emerged in Zambia. Influenced by the music of Jimi Hendrix and James Brown, many Zamrock bands, also drew inspiration from the heavy repetitive riffs of bands like Black Sabbath, Blue Cheer, the Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, and Cream. Notable artists such as W.I.T.C.H. (We Intend to Cause Havoc), the Ngozi Family, and Salty Dog began to emerge. A theme among many Zamrock songs was the idea of freedom and unity, such as in the song “Black Power” by the band Peace. Zamrock wasn’t just regurgitations of some of the world’s most imitated artists, but a whole genre on its own, taking influence from traditional Zambian instruments, occasionally using local languages (Nyanja, Bemba) and tackling social issues.Losa braided mats, mats with meaning (Mbole women): They are small rectangular mat decorated in a symmetrical ways with design motifs denominated as kengo. The mats act as proof that a Mbole woman belongs to the Otuku secret society and that she has acquired a certain rank. On certain occasions, a Mbole woman dance with the mat in front of herself to stand off from the others. At weddings, the woman gives her family-in-law a number of mats to demonstrate her weaving skills. When one of the members of the secret order dies, the others bring Losa mats and use them as a shroud.The Losa braided mats can reflects more than 36 possible combinations in a pattern. The patterns demonstrate exceptional geometric sense. Strands strands of two colors alternate in both weaving directions.Chokwe Ngundja Ceremonial Chair (Rungs with Figurative Scenes): Three-dimensional sculptures on the rungs and on the top of the seatback typically relate to Chokwe everyday life and mythology. The sculpted head that crowns the seatback represents a royal mask: a symbol of wealth, virility, and authority. The elaborate figurative scenes depicted are designed as symbolic microcosms of life and represent the breadth of a leader's concerns and responsibilities. The rows of figures along the stretchers at the base of the chair are carved representations of scenes from everyday life. Chokwe chairs are among the few African objects not carved from a single piece of wood, but are instead assembled in parts.Mukotte wig (Pende from DRC): The Mukotte wig is based on a traditional coiffure styled with hair clay oil copper nails cowrie shells and at times beads. The wig is made from plant fibers, brass tacks, hair, clay, oil, copper nails, cowrie shells, beads and leather. The Mukotte wig was a typical example how the art of dressing the head signifies a socio-cultural and metaphorical action. It became the popular symbol of resistance against the Belgians. This example shows how the headdress, due to its central position, is often regarded as the perfect vehicle for political action.Nguni shield design: A Nguni shield is a traditional, pointed oval-shaped, ox or cowhide shield which is used by various ethnic groups among the Nguni people of southern Africa. A cow-hide shield is known as isihlangu, ihawu or ingubha in Zulu and ikhaka or ikhawu in Xhosa. The making of Nguni shields, both for ceremony and war, was a specialized craft. Nguni shields are now used as incredible home decor idea making for a truly stunning wall design. Collectors and architects alike are now using Nguni shields for ethnic home decor design and accessories. In addition, there are Ngungi shield gifts and merchandise. The design is also used on t-shirts, posters, stickers and for ethnic tattoos.Atalaku (Town Criers) and Atakulism: The Atalaku are a particular kind of singers, whose job is to create the atmosphere by the scansion of playful cries. They are responsible for heating the room, launching the choreographies and leading the vocal backing behind the group's singers. Initiated by "Bana Odeon, folk orchestra of Kinshasa, and popularized at the dawn of the 1980s, the Atalaku phenomenon has experienced a real boom. Atalaku is a word originating from the Kongo ethnic group, which means "look here”. Doing your "atalaku" means bragging about someone. Born in the wake of rumba, the phenomenon has since grown, gradually conquering other musical genres, such as Afro pop. Atalaku is also found it in other universes, such as politics or the Sape. Atalakulism designates this need for visibility. So, in politics for example, we hear about the Atalaku of power (the apologist of power).Teke Onula Prestige Collar (RoC): The collar is an exquisitely worked copper alloy necklace that became an essential symbol of Teke political authority. Onlua were closely associated with social status and the wielding of political power. The collar is a torque in brass is ornamented with a symmetrical decoration in relief. It is arranged into rectangular sections, alternating sawtooth lines, dots and hatches. The number of notches was a reference to the number of villages over which the chief ruled. Onlua are decorated with incised ornamentation, divided into 15 sections with repeating motives. The more notches in an onlua; the greater his prestige. They denote not only his rank but also the number of villages under his jurisdiction.Poulet-Mayo: It is a unique Congolese chicken concoction and recipe born on the streets of Kinshasa so popular it's been immortalized in song. It is basically a braised chicken in a mayonnaise sauce. The cooking process is similar to Liboke (cooked in banana leaves). "Poulet Mayo", beyond a recipe, it is a concept, a brand. There are restaurants, T-shirts named “Poulet Mayo”. The recipe is quite simple: the roast chicken is cut into small pieces, dipped into vinegar water, mixed with all the spices (onions, peppers, chive) adding oil, salt, a little chicken broth.Ngaady A Mwaash Kuba Helmet Mask (royal female mask): It is made of wood and raffia cloth with a painted face decorated with cowrie shells and glass beads and painted wood details. It portrays the wife of the first Kuba king in a ritualized reenactment of Kuba mythological origins and royal power struggles. The mask designs are typical of Kuba art and portray Ngaady A Mwaash, the wife of the first Kuba king who was a founding royal female ancestor of the Kuba dynasty. She stands for the role of women in Kuba society. The black and white triangles represent hearthstones and domestic life. The lines beneath her eye represent tears which symbolizes the pain of death, as the mask appears at funeral celebrations. The wonderfully beaded Kuba female ancestor masks are worn and performed by men.Libanda (Mongo): It is a wrestling style that involves multiple fighters positioned in a circular ring with the goal being to body slam an opponent into the ground. As in free wrestling, it is practiced in a circle and the goal is to put your opponent on the ground using the whole body and with the help of a wide variety of catches, projections, sweeps, etc. This fight is carried out to the rhythm of percussions, accompanied by songs of bravery and defiance, dance figures, magical practices and the evocation of the ancients. In reference to the leopard, symbol of the Líbanda, the wrestlers paint their entire body with white spots of paint. More than a combat sport, the líbanda is also akin to a rite of passage: victory is a triumph over oneself.Olele Moliba Makasi, a Lingala song: This traditional Congo River men's rowing song is also sung as a lullaby. It is sung by canoe rowers to punctuate the paddle stroke. People row to the rhythm of the song. It has long since gone beyond the borders of the Congo thanks to the CD-book Rhymes and Lullabies of the Baobab. The song is very often taught, as a gesture song, to preschool children in France. The song is about the strong currents and the Kasai River that feeds the Congo River. It encourages the paddlers to row, while waiting for the Benguela, a rapid cold current which goes up towards Angola and Namibia, bringing the wind with it.Ngombe Prestige Chair Ekele: Ekele is carved from a single piece of nut tree wood. Iron and brass tacks are used in the creation of these chairs. It is embellished by a profusion of brass tacks in a bold geometric pattern that imparts a textured surface with both visual and tactile dimensions. It is named after the Ngombe, a Bantu speaking ethnic group from the DRC. Owning such a stool is always the prerogative of a Ngombe chief. The six-legged or four-legged Ekele chairs are used as prestigious chair and are meant to represent a throne for a high political, social status. The elegant chair is at once a utilitarian object and a striking sculptural work. The graceful curve of the integrated seat and back, and the angled legs, encourages the sitter to recline.Kongo Kunda (Double Bell): The double Kunda bell is carved from a single block of wood, shaped like an hourglass. The two halves of the instrument are equipped with 2 to 4 small wooden leaves. On the one hand, Kunda is linked to the cult of the nkisi (cult of spirits), which itself is accompanied by songs and dances intended to help in the treatment of illnesses. This bell is therefore first and foremost an instrument used by the Nganga healer and magical powers are attributed to him: in other words, through his Kunda, the healer can influence the spirits and dictate his will to them. This wooden bell is used in ceremonies and dances dedicated to this nkisi to help set the rhythm, along with drums and other percussion instruments.Kiondo hand-woven handbag: A kiondo is a hand-woven handbag made from sisal with leather trimmings. . Sisal is a natural fiber extracted from an agave plant, so the baskets are coveted for their durability and ability to be re-shaped. It is indigenous to the Taita, Kikuyu and Kamba ethnic groups of Kenya. The Kenyan weavers begin by stripping the Sisal plant's outer layers, leaving the plant still able to grow. The weaver uses threads from the pale colored layers that have dried out for a day, to make a bag. A design pattern is finalized. The weaver then boils the threads to be used with water and dye sets the bag's colors. Two single threads are twined to form one strong thread. Many such threads are woven.Tsoro, a mathematical strategy board game (Zimbabwe): Tsoro is an ancient two-player mathematical strategy board game that has been played for over a thousand years. Tsoro was played by warriors to improve their enemy capturing and raiding strategies in war situations. It was also used to teach young boys and girls how to count. Kings and chiefs often settled disputes by playing Tsoro. This is a strategic game employs the use of a simple triangle with two equal sides. Each player is given three pieces with which to play, and the aim is to create a straight line of three of the pieces in a row on the board. In some versions the players are able to jump over the opponent in order to catch an open space, but in some variations this is against the rules. This game commonly ends in a draw and can go on for a while. It can be compared to the West’s version of X’s and O’s.Mbala Chief's Hat Mpu a Nzim (Raffia and Cowrie Shells): It is made of plant fibers from different plants turned and braided into a hat. Cowrie shells are then added around the perimeter of the hat as well as in the form of balls of about 60 individuals, distributed on the top and around the object. No less than 300 cowrie shells are used to decorate the entire headdress. It is a headdress that presents a careful and complex braiding, and the creation of shell spheres testifies to meticulous handling. Mpu a Zim are symbolically decorated to highlight the opulence and influence of the dignitary who wears it. The shells used in adornments highlight wealth in a symbolic way.Nyangwa water pipe: It is a wood and terracotta clay pipe from the Makonde peoples of Tanzania, Mozambique and Kenya. It consists of four parts: the pipe bowl above is made of clay (due to the heat). Attached to that is the anthropomorphic middle piece that has been carved from wood. It is in the form of a seated person decorated with a fine, linear relief and with a handle, to hold the pipe, carved out from the same piece. The posterior of the seated person is a small coconut that simultaneously functions as a water chamber for the hot tobacco smoke. The fourth part of the pipe is the mouthpiece – a thin bamboo cane that protrudes from the knees of the seated figure and through which cooled smoke is sucked from the water chamber. Nyangwa water pipes were not just meant for use but were rather objects of prestige.Article 15 débrouillez-vous (fend for yourself) , unofficial motto (DRC) : It refers to an imaginary part of the 1960 constitution of secessionist South Kasai, which encouraged state employees to improvise in times of need. It was first uttered six decades ago by Albert Kalonji, the leader of the secessionist state of South Kasai: “This is your home, fend for yourselves.” In the mid-1980s, the song “Article 15, Beta Libanga” by the Congolese musician Pépé Kallé (1951-1998), was a big hit across the continent, probably because so many Africans could identify with it. Article 15 is a major social phenomenon that has been abundantly analyzed by anthropologists and political scientists and economists. A ‘fend-for-yourself’ attitude (‘Article 15’) serves as social pact between state and society, as it allows the former to retire from public life and from its functions, leaving the latter to act resourcefully and possibly unlawfully.African Yearly Register, A Black Man's Who's Who (1930-1974), An Illustrated National Biographical Dictionary (Who's Who) of Black Folks in Africa by South African journalist an ANC secretary-general T. D. Mweli Skota: First published in 1930, it was an amalgam of historical primer, political handbook, and social register. With over 370 sketches of African chiefs, professionals, businesspersons, and political leaders, its contributors included many of the foremost members of South Africa's black elite in the early 20th. The book assembles in the form of intellectual and political biographical sketches nearly all the most important figures who were active from the late nineteenth-century to the time of its publication and slightly beyond. T. D. Mweli Skota wanted to project and situate the New African modernity in South Africa in relation, and within the context of African and diasporic Africans. It was the first of its kind and now serves as a work of reference, and as a national record of the efforts and achievements of Africans in the late 19th and 20th.Mayi-Mayi, a warrior tradition in Central and East Africa: The term Mayi-Mayi, means “water-water” and it refers to of the most important war rituals. This ritual consists of sprinkling warriors with «magic water”, the mayi, which is believed to protect warriors from bullets. The Mayi-Mayi symbolism had been tested and it had proved its effectiveness in mobilizing. Warriors, once sprinkled with water, fought bravely, scaring the enemy. When Mayi-Mayi go to war they are always followed by a magician with a tank of water. He continuously sprinkles the warriors saying “mayi-mayi”. Combatants also have to scream “may-mayi” when they fight in order to invoke the power of the water. The martial tradition goes back to the Mayi-Mayi uprising in 1905-07 in German East Africa. The name goes back to the traditional healer Doctor Kanyanga, who claimed that modern rifle bullets would roll off like water from fighters consecrated with its holy water if they strictly adhered to rules such as not washing themselves in order not to lose their magic protection.Male King Portrait Figure made of wood (Kuba): Ndop sculptures are commemorative, conventionalized representations of important Kuba kings. Figure sits cross-legged on a square platform (yiing) carved with representation of a creeper vine. In front of the king is three-row game board (lele). He holds a ceremonial knife in his left hand. He wears a distinctive projecting hoe-shaped headdress decorated with carved cowrie shells around the edge and an interlocking pattern known as 'woot' on the top surface. Other key items of regalia include the representation of a circular neck ring, cane shoulder hoops, cloth plaque covering the buttocks and a belt with three rows of cowrie shells. Relief surfaces have red camwood deposits.Oracle Luboko Katatora (Songye): The wooden statue was used as part of kashekesheke divination rituals. The statue has a ring-shaped trunk that allows the client and the diviner to hold it in one hand. The oracle was held by the diviner and his client; various manipulations were then carried out. An experienced diviner was able to use the katatora as a kind of psychoanalytic tool, noting involuntary movements and finding points of stress which may be hidden even to clients themselves. For most of the wooden Katatora figure, the wood has a patina which was probably attained by rubbing it with palm oil and red tukula powder.Ndoyi system: Ndoyi is a Lingala term that refers to a dyadic relationship of name-sharing and identity-sharing. Ndoyi is basically a namesake given by family member to newborn to hold that one special name up high as a god parent or likewise. The relationship created is a new symbolic kinship between the two people bearing the same name. An adult Ndoyi is part namesake, part godparent. The adult Ndoyi pledges to help with the upbringing of a child. The Ndoyi system is based on the belief that the name is more than an identity and the behavior of the child resembles that of his "Ndoyi" via social-genetic connection. Ndoyi is basically a namesake given by family member to newborn to hold that one special name up high as a god parent or likewise.Kgotla system (Botswana): It is a unique form of citizen engagement and, a traditional communal assembly at which local and national policies can be discussed. It is a community-level participatory governance system through which public opinion, consultations and arbitrations are processed. The system is a common level participatory governance system which has maintained social cohesion, community identity and promoted freedom of expression as well as equality before the law. The kgotla system is infused into the democratic processes such that it plays an important role at community and national levels.. The system is used effectively by government as a forum for consultation and dissemination and implementation of government programs.Bantu Kongo concept of time: There are four realms of time in Kongo time reckoning: cosmic, vital, natural, and social times that functions simultaneously and in an interlocking fashion. The motions of these types of time are described by circles and dams. Circles describe motion, dams inscribe moments of transformation. Cosmic time is the unlimited and ongoing formation process of events throughout the universe. Vital time is the life cycle time whose span depends on the amount of energy generated by the subject involved (human being, plants and animals alike). Natural time determines seasonal changes and brings rejuvenation or dullness to life. Through its motion, natural time brings the four natural seasons: rainy season, cold season, a fall season and a green season. Social time is the time devoted to all activities of human beings, including economic, political and educational activities.Chopi Timbila Orchestra (Mozambique): An orchestra comprised of wooden xylophones that plays timbila music, a partially improvised, complex contrapuntal music. The lyrics that accompany a piece for timbila orchestra are equally complex and poetic. At the heart of timbila music is the m’saho (performance), which involves the orchestra (mgodo) of 20 or more instruments of varying size and range of pitch, singers and dancers, rattle or shaker players and a single composition with movements similar to those of a Western-style classical symphony. Rhythms are complex, often demanding that the players master different beats simultaneously with each hand, and the lyrics are full of humor and sarcasm, dealing with social issues and community events.Itombwa, Kuba divination art objects. Kuba divination requires art objects known as friction oracles, Itombwa. They are predominantly zoomorphic in form that artists carve in the shape of animals, often dogs, but also crocodiles, wild pigs, and elephants. The Itombwa is a cosmogram, a model of the universe. By manipulating the model, the diviner can learn the ultimate causes of different experiences in the world, even when those causes are normally invisible. When initiating a consultation, the diviner moistens the implement with oil or water and rubs it on the friction oracle's back. By rubbing the figure's back, the diviner learns the answers to questions and can then help develop a solution to the petitioner's specific problem.Tshikumbi (Kikumbi) pre-nuptial initiation: Girls are prepared for their life as future wives and mothers. At puberty, girls undergo this rite of passage, being led out of the village to live as recluses in an isolated hut and to be initiated and instructed by an older woman. The role of matron is assumed either by a priestess, or by the own parents of the initiate, among whom her maternal or paternal aunts, and her sisters. There she undergoes a sentimental education in order to prepare her into her future married life. In this traditional monastery, the girls also receive a pre-marital education. It is a series of lessons where she is taught the natural functions of her body. It is therefore about a school, a course in sexuality, a discourse on the body of the woman in order to prepare her to receive her future spouse.Mugabe Quotes, the Mugabe School of Quotes: A compilation of hilarious and memorable quotes from the late President Robert Mugabe who was blessed with both wits and wisdom. President Robert Mugabe never shied away from offering up a piece of his mind. He produced a wealth of quotes that are true gems. His quotes become more popular than himself. His quotes were about love, peace, freedom, health, relationships and many other subjects. Some of his quotes are taken from his speeches, especially at the different African Union Summits, national addresses and press conference. President Robert Mugabe will always be remembered for his great wit and his colorful language. He was once called “the King Solomon of our time”Nsiba antelope-horn whistles (Kongo, Vili): The whistles are adorned by a small, removable sculpture. Nsiba is a delicate antelope horn whistle which manifests a rich network of meanings and associations. Nsiba are ornamented whistles only worn by chiefs and prominent hunters, they are used to communicate with each other during group hunts and also to subdue and cast spells over game. These types of whistles are only used by initiated men and important people because they are thought to have supernatural and magical powers. Diviner healers used them against witchcraft, protecting against diseases and misfortune. Hunters used them for signal to one another and to bewitch game. Hunter whistles usually have animal with hunter carvings on the wood part of the whistle.Mutuashi Dance: The mutuashi dance, a traditional dance of the Luba people who in the DRC, known as the dance of the “lower abdomen” is typically performed in the church context and wake ceremonies as well as being transposed to the performance space of popular music concerts. It involves smooth, undulating and circular hip movements and sensual gesticulations of the body as the focal point. Both men and women can dance the Mutuashi and it is usually recommended to wear a wrap around the hips to accentuate the hip movement. Concert dancers have adapted their foundational movements by building choreographies around this sensual gesticulation. Mutuashi is a dance that requires rhythm, agility, and intricate footwork.Kibango Ceremonial staff with Seated Female Finial: The board-shaped section of the staff are engraved with geometric patterns is called dibulu. The sequence of figural and geometric designs traces the lineage of the sovereign and explains the origins of his chiefdom. In Luba society, women's bodies are considered the ultimate receptacles of spiritual power and the precepts of divine kingship upon which Luba leaders rely. Consequently, representations of the female form are depicted as part of a rich variety of Luba leadership insignia. The figure at the crown of the staff represents the king's spirit housed in the female body. Her crossed arms draw attention to her breasts, which contain the principles of divine kingship, while her exquisitely decorated skin and elaborate coiffure suggest cultivation and social achievement. The female figure represent the unique nature of Luba chieftaincy for it is thought by the Luba that the king’s spirit is split between the female and male bodies and thus chiefly power is shared and interdependent.Mbongi: is a Bantu-Kongo (West Central Africa) word that represents coming together to collectively address and solve problems. It is both a physical and intellectual space. Mbongi assemblies are designed to gather together the best minds and practices, to accept responsibility for solving and resolving problems of the African community. The Mbongi serves this function by encompassing a space where everyone is allowed to speak, but at the same time being required to speak with authority and clarity. A Mbongi is pan-African concept also used in Afro-American communities to represent a learning space and think-thank. Catalyst Mbongi is a coalition of 12 local African-American organizations and businesses.Swahili Kanga, the talking cloth: The Kanga is a garment who speaks at two levels: through the different statutes of those who wear it and through the sayings written on it. There are two rules to wearing a kanga: it must be colorful, and it must be inscribed with a proverb. Kanga is essentially a colorful rectangular piece of fabric that is distinguished by the different Kiswahili sayings or proverbs adorning each piece. There are only two essentials that go into making a piece of woven cloth into a kanga: one is a bold central design, and the second is a solid border on which one of the thousands of Swahili proverbs is written. Kangas are a well-admired form of clothing worn by women and often paired as shawls or headdresses, but are also used as curtains, tablecloths, bedding, mats, etc. Kangas also often play a key role in major life passages such as birth, puberty, and marriage. The kanga is more than a piece of clothing; it marks the rhythm of Swahili life.Botolo hat (Ekonda Chiefs): It is a coiled basketry hat composed of several horizontal brims that increase in size from top to bottom. This interesting hat is a very rare hand-woven hat in a layered conical form. Woven from raffia and often colored with camwood powder mixed with oil, the botolo is adorned with precious brass or copper disks. The metal discs signify wealth and prestige. The copper and brass discs (losanja), generally affixed with fiber threads, are attached to the front with wire, indicating a possibly repair. Items of wealth and prestige, the discs enhanced the visual power of the hat and emphasized the prominence of the chief. On ceremonial occasions, the hat and metal discs were often coated with camwood powder mixed with oil.Monumental bullet casing sculptures: They are made from recovered like scrap metal, including bullet casings and cartridge cases, as well as spoons. They are a unique art form created by renowned Congolese sculptor Freddy Tsimba. Rusted over a period of time, the bullets used as the medium of sculpture represent the gradually aging memory of the civil war associated with the narrative of death but the elements also breathe life into his works – expressionistic, fragmented, provocative sculptures. His work reflects the essential questions facing humanity. Freedy Tsimba uses his talent of expression to expose the tragedies of war and bring life out of death. He is known as the Sculptor of Life.Salampasu Wood and Copper Mukinka Mask: The mask is carved in hard, brown wood covered with exceptional coating of copper. The mask has a typical hairstyle of palm leaf strips woven into round balls, a widely protruding, broad forehead with small peg-shaped ears at the sides, with rectangular, deep-set eyes and a short, broad nose. Beneath sits the rectangular, trapezoidal mouth with two pointed rows of teeth. In the pointed chin below is a hole, through which a beard made of braided plant fibers is affixed. On the reverse a net of twisted fiber cords is attached, by means of which the warrior could affix the mask to his head. Mukinka masks have aggressive features because the Salampasu, Bantu speaking ethnic groups from southwestern DRC were a warrior society with a reputation of fearless warriors.Kenyan scholar Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s concept of globalectics: This neologism combines global with dialectics: Globaletics becomes the way of reading world literature. Reading globalectically is a way of approaching any text from whatever times and places to allow its content and themes [to] form a free conversation with other texts of one’s time and place, the better to make it yield its maximum to the human. It is to allow it to speak to our own cultural present even as we speak to it from our own cultural present. It is to read a text with the eyes of the world; it is to see the world with the eyes of a text.Imbeleko (Zulu/Xhosa), celebration of a newborn child: The ritual of Imbeleko is the ceremony of welcoming a new born child into the greater community as well as thanking the ancestors and asking them to protect the child. When a child is born, Imbeleko is held to introduce the child to the ancestors as well as the community. A child is regarded as not only belonging to his or her immediate family but also to the extended family and eventually to the community. The reasons for this ceremony vary from (a) thanksgiving ceremony, (b) the official introduction of the child to ancestors, (c) the rite performed late to protect the child from misfortunes, (d) and to provide an opportunity for naming the child.Jerusalema Dance Challenge: The dance of the Jerusalema Dance Challenge is a South African dance, which is danced on weddings. It started off as a hit South African house track by DJ Master KG and Nomcebo, Jerusalema and then it went gone global, largely due to the dance challenge that it spawned. Fenomenos do Semba, an Angolan dance studio, posted a video of its members’ line dancing to the track while carrying their plates of food and eating. The video gave the song a whole new lease of life as a pan-African African pop anthem. The dance was imitated all over the world by the most diverse groups: policemen, children’s classes, the Cape Town Philharmonic etc. The Jerusalema Dance Challenge really went global from hospital hallways in France and Sweden, to roof tops, public places in Italy, Romania, the UK and Canada, the beaches of Cape Verde etc.Mapapa (the Lingala "mapapa" for thongs): They are handcrafted slippers with "rubber" soles, created in the DRC. They are handmade and the African wax “loincloth” is used to give them a unique edge, mixing tradition and modernity. Mapapa is also a brand of fashion accessories. Through weaving and dyeing techniques, Mapapa uses the prestigious Wax to offers whole range of products including bracelets, shoes, skirts, dresses, bags, slippers, baskets. The goal of the brand is to dust off the ancestral image of the loincloth by giving it a second wind, a utility other than that of an ethnic garment. The Mapapa products show the world that in Africa, the loincloth is the cultural and aesthetic identity of a plural people.Botswana Mokoro ride, Safari from the water: The mokoro or makoro - (mekoro, plural), is a traditional canoe-like vessel commonly used in the Okavango Delta as a popular mode of transport, and now utilized for game viewing safaris. The makoro has become the iconic symbol of the Delta and is a popular way for visitors to explore the Okavango while on safari. The mokoro usually carries one or two passengers, while the boat-man stands at the stern using a long pole called a "ngashi", to pole or push the mokoro forward. Local boat-men are able to move with considerable speed and maneuverability as many have perfected this lifelong skill. Some people describe a mokoro trip as one of the most peaceful experiences they have had. Many people say that the mokoro is to the Okavango what the gondola is to Venice.Billism, Kinshasa Cowboys: Billism (named after Western hero Buffalo Bill) is movement born in the 1950s in connection with the western style which submerged the major cities Belgian Congo, particularly in Kinshasa. Bills were gangs of teenagers and youngsters that dressed in cowboy outfits (kerchiefs, jeans and shirts). Bills proudly wore cowboy hats organized themselves in gangs, and adopt the nicknames and even the quick draw. The Bills developed their own argot called Hindubill.. The names of the 'territories' for each gang echoed those of the Western United States (Texas, Santa Fe), and the gangs themselves were usually named after their territories such as the "Texas Bills".Mwindo Epic (Banyanga): As with the epics of other cultures, the Mwindo epic is a record of the culture and beliefs of the Nyanga people from the DRC. The hero of an epic story of the enfant terrible genre—stories of miraculous children with supernatural powers. The Mwindo epic is more a performance than a narration. It contains many different literary forms: prose, poetry, songs, prayers, blessings, proverbs, riddles, and asides made by the narrator. Mwindo was the son of Shemwindo, the chief of Tubondo, and his favorite wife. Mwindo could walk and talk from birth and possessed amazing powers, such as the ability to move on land, under the ground, underwater, and in the air. He had the gift of premonition, could destroy evil forces, and was born with a magical scepter.Kuomboka ceremony (Lozi people of Zambia) : Kuomboka which means emerging out of the water is a ceremony where the Litunga, the Lozi King of moves from the flood prone Lealui Palace to the Upland Limulunga Palace located about 20km away from Lealui. The Litunga moves in a Royal wooden boat called the Nalikwanda. Hundreds of dugout canoes (mokoros) accompany the Litunga - from the royal establishment, Lealui Palace, in the flood plains to dry land. It is a colorful and exciting event that attracts thousands from all over the world to witness Zambian culture at its best. Dating back over 300 years, the Kuomboka ceremony is surrounded by interesting myths and legends. It is preceded by heavy drumming of the royal Maoma drums, which echo around the royal capital the day before Kuomboka.Chikwanga or kwanga, traditional cassava bread (Congos): It is not actually bread but a thick paste of soaked, rinsed and pounded cassava that is steamed-cooked inside leaves. It actually consists of cassava flour cakes that are wrapped in dry banana leaves, and then steamed. It is especially popular to serve warm chikwanga with various African stews, soups, and sauces as it helps to slightly offset their spicy flavors. This cassava-based bread is typically cut into thick round slices before it's served on the plates. If kept in the cooked leaf wrap, it is quite hygienic and will usually stay fresh for several days. It is not actually bread but a thick paste of soaked, rinsed and pounded cassava that is steamed-cooked inside leaves. Leaves also add a bit of tangy flavor during the cooking process. Six large leaves were used to tightly fold around and seal the roll of cassava before tied and cooked.The Makishi masquerade: It is performed at the end of the mukanda, an annual initiation ritual for boys between the ages of eight and twelve. This ritual is celebrated by the Luvale, Chokwe, Luchazi and Mbunda peoples, who live in the “Three Corners” region of northwestern Zambia, northeastern Angola, and southwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The mukanda involves the circumcision of the initiates, tests of courage and lessons on their future role as men and husbands. Each initiate is assigned a specific masked character, which remains with him throughout the entire process. The completion of the mukanda is celebrated with a graduation ceremony. The entire village attends the Makishi dance and pantomime- like performance. The mukanda has an educational function of transmitting practical survival-skills as well as knowledge about nature, sexuality, religious beliefs and the social values of the community.Feast of Nganja (Angola): This is a children’s festival surrounding the corn harvest. On a mutually decided upon day each child gathers some fresh, ripe corn from the family’s field. They gather and roast the corn around a fire.. On a day in April, when the harvest is ripe, they go out to their family fields and gather some fresh corn. In small groups they go to the woods, where they build campfires and roast their corn on the cob. But the real excitement of the feast lies in the game that is played while the corn is being cooked. Without warning, a child from one group may jump up and steal the corn from another. The robbing and plundering is good-natured, although there are always a few children who end up with no corn at all.Nsango Mbonda: The dance company from the DRC is made up of percussionists, performers and creators of rhythms and dances from several ethnic groups of the DRC (Pende, Luba, Mongo, Manyanga, Kuba etc.). Their performances describe daily life as lived by their ancestors and passed down to generations. Nsango Mbonda is made of up of about 40 men and women. The dance company uses at least 8 traditional drums and several percussions. Furthermore, Nsango Mbonda's choreography is more akin to acrobatics than dance. The performers engage in twirling, jumping and twirling while playing the drums.Katanga crosses (a X or H-shaped ingot of cast copper) also known as handa (indigenous currency): The crosses served as a means of payment and exchange in many Central African societies (Lunda Empire, Luba and Kuba kingdoms). Besides their use as a currency, the crosses served a reserve commodity, and also as a symbol of dignity and power. They also appeared in different shapes and forms of craftmanship depending on the areas, kingdoms, chieftainships in which they were made.Kamanda‘s tales : Works of Congolese Poet , story teller and novelist, Kama Kamanda , crowned the Poet of the millennium 2000, have been translated into many languages, including English, Japanese, Italian and Greek. The works include considerable body of literary work, including a dozen anthologies of poetry, several hundred stories, as well as several novels. His stories, tales, fables and novels are influenced by the tradition of African storytellers. It evokes the nature, daily life and realities of Africa as well as the magical universe of African beliefs. The characteristic elements of his plots are the quest for individual freedom, the initiation into the mystical knowledge of the ancestors, and the disruption and reestablishment of social order. His stories draw their imagery from African traditions, but constitute a universe at the boundary between the fantastic and the author’s own reality.Ngondo water festival (Sawa people of Cameroon): The Ngondo is an annual water-centered festival. The highlight of the festival is a ceremony of the jengu cult to celebrate Myengu, the gods of the waters thanking them for their protection during the year. A young sawa enters the river Wouri and comes back a few moments later with the message of the ancestors for the living. Key events on the agenda of the festival are Miss Ngondo pageant, wrestling (the Sawa Fight), Sawa dance group competitions and a canoe race where each Sawa ethnic group sends its best canoe riders. The Ngondo traces the link between tradition, ritual, and peaceful coexistence within .The annual Ngondo, through its messages of peace and development from aquatic spirits, have accomplished some degree of stability in body politic of Cameroon.Indaba negotiation technique (Zulu/Xhosa): Indaba technique manages to make reaching consensus fair for all parties involved. For the climate talks in Paris, Indaba was a remarkably effective system – in some cases achieving a breakthrough within 30 minutes When you know someone’s bottom line, and they know yours, bridging the gap is much easier. The Indaba process works by breaking into smaller groups of 6-10 people, which can be rotated and changed during the discussions to ensure an even distribution of voices and process. A facilitator is required to oversee the process, and raises a question for the group to consider. This question is passed around the group, and each person is given an equal amount of time to speak without interruption – however they must only use “I” statements. They are encouraged to speak personally, and outline their limitations and lines they cannot cross.Kingelez fantasy architectural models “extreme maquettes” : Model architecture consists of producing, on paper or cardboard, models of cities in a universe that is both fantastic and futuristic. Congolese sculptor Bodys Isek Kingelez (1948-2015) imagined architectural propositions and improbable structures for a fairytale urban landscape. Comprised of paper, commercial packaging and the stuff of everyday life, his "extreme maquettes" transform these materials into fantastic visions that encompass civic buildings, public monuments and private pavilions. Out of soda cans, bottle caps, cookie packages, matchboxes, colored paper and corrugated cardboard. Kingelez produced wildly colorful architectural models. “Extreme maquettes” are sculpted fancifully shaped buildings and metropolises decorated with all manner of arcs, curves and ornamental flourishes.Mungandji Raffia costume: A colorful raffia netting costume consisting of a knotted fiber mask, body suit and raffia fringe skirt, bracelets and anklets that totally cover the body. The head coverings take a variety of hooded and disk forms but tend to feature tubular eyes that suggest an all-seeing quality. The Bapende wear the colorful costumes during the Mungandji dance. The body suit is usually made from a handsome and rare reddish-striped raffia cloth.Wagenia fishing technique on the Congo River (Boyoma Rapids near Kisangani): Wagenia fishermen have developed a special technique to fish. Their ancestral fishing technique is unique in the world. They build wooden wood structures across the rapids. They move like tightrope walkers on a frail scaffold of intertwined wood suspended above a deadly current. Wood scaffoldings are placed on rocks in natural or created holes. Fishermen walk on the top of the scaffoldings where they tie huge traps at the end of ropes which are plunged into the current and pulled up twice a day. They attach wooden baskets that entrap large fish brought by the current. Each family has their own poles and baskets. The fishermen will raise the baskets twice a day early in the morning and late in the afternoon.Kasala, a commemorative poem or heroic chant: It is part of Luba traditional oral art. It is form of praise poetry. It can be a long poem that lists the names of people, lineage, clans, tribes, rivers, etc. A Kasala chant or poem praises a person (dead or alive, famous or not). It can recount the glory of ancestral lineage, the battles of one’s clan against others, the conquests, the courage of a group of people, or simply remind listeners of their ancestors.Iboga therapy and Bwiti religion: Bwiti is one of three official religion in Gabon. Bwiti practitioners use the psychedelic, dissociative root bark of the iboga plant, specially cultivated for the religion, to promote radical spiritual growth, to stabilize community and family structure, to meet religious requirements, and to resolve pathological problems. Followers of the religion inject it during an initiation ceremony in which massive amounts of the powdered bark are consumed. People with problem substance use have found that larger doses of ibogaine can significantly reduce withdrawal from opiates and temporarily eliminate substance-related cravings. It has attracted the attention of scientists for its remarkable anti-addiction properties. Iboga therapy centers and Iboga healing retreats in the West use the Iboga plant based on the model of the Bwiti initiation ceremony.Baraza (Swahili word for gathering): It is a traditional conflict resolution processes and intercommunal peace dialogue. The unique Baraza approach provides a successful alternative to resolve small-scale local conflicts before they can escalate and turn violent. The process makes no financial demands, takes place in the local language, and is culturally relevant. When a conflict arises in a village, it is brought by members of the community to peace court committees. Each party is given time to tell their story, before the committee undertakes fact-finding investigations and deliberation. The outcome is then reported back to the accuser(s) and defendant(s) along with a recommendation. When all parties agree with the decision, the community organizes a reconciliation ceremony, in which the agreed resolution between the parties is publicly declared. If the decision is not ultimately accepted, it can proceed to the government magistrate.Nkangi Kiditu ("attached Christ or Christ Protector") Kongo crucifixes: They are relics from the early years of the evangelization of Kongo Kingdom. Christ is shown as an African and three figures with hands clasped in prayer are placed on either side of Christ and on top. A naked woman, assumed to be Mary, is placed at the bottom. Nkangi Kiditu were integrated over time in the Kongo creed and their use became similar to that of the other traditional objects of power. Upon the demise of a chief, a nkangi kiditu was passed onto his successor during a ceremony. During important talks that needed a statement of the mfumu (traditional chief), the nkangi kiditu also have its place: the people involved by the judgment had to touch the crucifix and swear to speak the truth.Black and white Bantu Warrior symbol in street art: Kouka Ntandi’s is a famous street and urban artist whose Bantu Warriors stand on the walls on many cities, including Paris, Montpellier and several Brazilian cities. The Bantu Warrrior is both a messenger and a protector. The message deals with reconnection with the African past as portrayed in ethnological studies. It is also a clear reminder that even though Africans were captured and Africa later conquered, someone’s culture can never be taken over.Bakonjo whistle language (Rwenzori, Uganda): The Bakonjo people have a secret communication system that is used in families. It is precisely a father-to-son affair, and the conversations are conducted through whistling in a peculiar way in a pure, thin tone, audible for up to a mile and conveying simple messages. This kind of communication was as well used during the hunting to pass on. These messages may go as far as a kilometer away.Chamber Music Work Ekivvulu Ky’ Endere” by Ugandan composer Justinian Tamusuza: A major work incorporating traditional African folk elements, minimalist techniques, polyrhythms and unique instrumentation with specific performance instructions to simulate a troupe of African musicians. The title means “The African Festivity of the Flute” and includes three movements- “Okwanjula Kw’ Endere” (Introduction of the Flute), “Okujaganya” (Rejoicing) and “Akayisanyo” (Finale)- and depicts an African celebratory procession, led by the flute, the focal point of the festival, the host and main celebrant.Kabubu traditional wrestling (Congo) : The word Kabubu comes from Swahili and represents a state of mind fostered by meetings and friendship and centered around sports practice. It is a very popular as it mixes culture and sport. It is belt wrestling from knees using traditional rope. The competitors start their fights in a kneeling position. Only on the referee's signal do they get up and fight "standing up". The winner is the one who knocks the opponent to the ground, no matter what part of his body.Liputa traditional costumes (DRC and RoC): "Liputa", means wearing of colorful materials in style. Congolese women wear costumes of very vibrant colors. In this type of costume there are a total of four pieces of same material. One piece they wear as a blouse (libaya), one wear as a wrapper (liputa ya likolo), one to tie on the waist (liputa ya nse) and another one to tie on the head like a turban (kitambala). The whole costume they make are from the same material. There are Liputa Fashion Shows in both Congos which celebrate this Congolese clothing culture.Male power figure of warrior/hunter Chibinda Ilunga (Chokwe of Angola, DRC and Zambia): The legendary warrior-hunter is portrayed in full hunting gear. In his left hand he supports a staff used for holding a sack of power substances. In his right he carries a medicine horn full of substances that assist the hunter.The figure came to represent the archetypal chief who maintains the well-being of his people, and he also served as a role model for men. His muscular body, huge hands and feet, and broad facial features give a sense of power, while the delicate details of toenails and fingernails and other minute details give a sense of refinement. The sweeping, ornate headdress identifies him as a chief, and the long plaited and bound beard of real hair alludes to his aristocratic positionNyanga pan pipe orchestra ensemble (Nyungwe people of Mozambique): A pan pipe orchestra of up to 50 people playing different interlocking pipes, all dancing in unison in a circle and producing a richly harmonic sound on all sides. Nyanga panpipes are included in an ensemble of up to 30 instruments. Playing them involve blowing, singing and dancing at the same time. Playing Nyanga pan pies also involves intricate dance steps and interlocking rhythmic patterns. Given the challenge of playing Nyanga pipes, there are instruction booklets that are produced and offered at the International Library of African Music.Lumumba’s Congo Independence Speech: His speech is extraordinary on at least three counts that illustrate the three standard regimes of political rhetoric. First, it formed part of ceremonial proceedings whereby stock-phrases on eternal amity and cooperation and mutual understanding covered up a long history of brutal rule. Second, it performed a truly deliberative function: Lumumba delivered an indictment of colonial supremacy. Third, the speech illustrates the forensic nature of public address: seemingly extemporizing he performs the role of a prosecutor and judge on behalf of the silenced Congolese. He brings Belgium to the tribunal of human rights.A chieftain's ceremonial knife Cimpaba: It is a traditional knife or sword from the the Woyo (DRC and Angola). It was used by the Woyo as a blade that displays authority but is not used as a weapon. The blade is made of made of iron or copper; some specimens are made entirely of wood or ivory. The grip is made of wood or ivory and often has a figuratively carved pommel. This can be a human hand or a human or animal head. The shape of the Cimpaba is very special. The blade begins the same width as the handle, widens towards the location and ends in a semicircle. The blade is usually decorated with geometrical openings. The characteristic cuts on the edge of the blade are proverb symbols that refer to family or places and ancestral sacrifices. Cimpaba blades are only shown on political and religious festivals. They are above all one of the symbols of the Woyo dignitaries.Vuvuzela and sports:The vuvuzela is a long, loud horn from South Africa, originally inspired by kudu/antelope horns and fashioned from tin — now more often made of colorful plastic and sold globally. Football fans in South Africa have long blown their vuvuzelas throughout matches, filling the arena with their horns’ incredibly loud buzz.The Batoto Yetu Children's Dance Ensemble: The dance ensemble was founded by internationally acclaimed Angolan dancer and choreographer Júlio T. Leitão. Batoto Yetu goes beyond dance. It’s also a not-for-profit organization that’s about empowerment, self-determination, and telling untold stories works with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, helping them to (re)discover traditional African dance and music in order to explore their roots or get acquainted with different cultures and traditions. Batoto Yetu seeks to foster the self-esteem and self-awareness of the young people they work with so that they can become active citizens and confident and responsible leaders in the future.Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) : Anti-Apartheid movement founded by Steve Bantu Biko that focused on cultivating the ability of black people to change the oppressive situation in South Africa by rejecting the ideology (and eventually the system) of apartheid. Black Consciousness (BC) adherents sought to liberate black people psychologically through “conscientization,” or the realization of black self-worth and the need for black activism. They stressed economic self-reliance and a return to African culture and values. They also redefined “black” to include all people of color who experienced racial discrimination under apartheid, and they worked to create a united black front.Semonkong Horse Race Culture (Lesotho): Traditional horse racing at Semonkong Village takes place across the year, although the main event of the year is in July to celebrate the King’s birthday. There are two categories of race, the 800m for foals and 1,600m for mature horses. Both competitors and spectators can bet on the races. Early on race-day morning, owners, teenage jockeys and hundreds of villagers gathered on a steppe high above the village. Wrapped in the region's traditional Basotho blankets to ward off the winter chill, the villagers eye the horses and their jockeys ahead of the six races, and place their bets. With the odds decided, the horses trot to the start line, a mile away, and with great fanfare and an eager crowd, the race begins. The victors are greeted with jubilation, singing and dancing, and the winnings are distributed.Tipoye (ceremonial transportation) : The tipoye is a ceremony which consists of lifting a person always a celebrity or an authority and transport him on a chair supported on both sides by a wood and generally carried by four people, two in front and the other two behind. During a tipoye, the participants sing songs purposely selected in order to celebrate and honor the tipoyee. The tipoye is a physical representation of the authority or the celebrity status a tipoyee has in the community or the environment. The tipoye transportation goes back to a time when traditional chiefs were transported on tipoye as a sign of veneration due to a customary chief. For those who attend the ceremony, the tipoye expresses the collective identity and existence of the group.Abiyoyo, a Bantu lullaby: As someone noted: It is bedtime in a Bantu household and ‘Abiyoyo’, a soft and lilting lullaby, sounds out. The falling strain and soothing lyric gradually send the crying baby to sleep, comforted and reassured. ‘Abiyoyo’ works simply as an unaccompanied lullaby, or it may be sung with the simple harmony part and undulating accompaniment. Abiyoyo, a story based on this Bantu lullaby was first brought to America by folk singer Pete Seeger who adapted it in folk story. In the story, a boy, who loves to play ukulele, and his magician father, who loves to play tricks on people, save their village from the terrifying monster Abiyoyo!Nyau spiritual masquerade Gule Wamkulu : A masked ritual dance performed by the Chewa people at initiation ceremonies, weddings, funerals, etc. It serves to bring the community together. The masks themselves are beautiful objects of art. The masks themselves are often visually organized into three categories of masks: 1. large animal constructions made of wood frames covered in grasses and maize husk leaves, 2. carved wooden face masks, and 3. masks made of hide, cloth and feathers. The masks represent different characters that guide society in the moral code of the Chewa people.Kota's geometrical reliquaries: They represent abstract faces covered with shining brass and copper plate. They have become icons of world art with price tags as high as USD 1 000 000.The basic elements of this Kota tradition from Gabon and RoC are distinctive and do not exist elsewhere in Africa; carved in wood, the human head is rendered with graphic geometrical shapes in a flattened, mostly two-dimensional shape, rising vertically on an integrally carved cylindrical neck above an open lozenge. The front of the sculpture (and sometimes also the back) is covered with an arrangement of flattened metal attachments, often in varying colours and with chased geometric motifs.The congado or the congada: It is an Afro-Brazilian cultural practice present mainly in the state of Minas Gerais. It is a dramatic dance with songs and music that stages the crowning ceremony of the former African kings of the Kingdom of Kongo . It is a particular form of popular Catholicism, which includes contents inherited from African religious expressions mainly connected to Bantu cultures. With music and dance, Congado’s participants – congadeiros – honour Catholic deities, especially Our Lady of the Rosary and the Black saints, while paying tribute and fulfilling obligations to their ancestors. The rosary’s prayer is conducted by the ngoma – an African drum. Both rosary and ngoma are core symbols of Congado.Misango Mapende (beaded bicorn prestige headdress): Misango is made out of beads, intricately woven into unique patterns with vividly colored geometric designs. Stylistic elements that identify of a Misango include the appendages or horns on each side, the central knoblike protuberance, and a finial at the crown. The arrangement of the beads is in zig zag, lozenge, and triangle and circle designs. The bicorn feature relates to the ponderousness and bullish strength of the buffalo mpakasa the largest of African bovines.Scout Wood Badge: Wood Badge courses aim to make Scouters better leaders by teaching advanced leadership skills, and by creating a bond and commitment to the Scout movement. On completion of the course, participants are awarded the Wood Badge beads to recognize significant achievement in leadership and direct service to young people.The conferring of wooden beads as a sign of recognition, is actually an old Zulu tradition.The origins of Wood Badge beads can be traced back to 1888, when Baden-Powell (founder of Scoutism) was on a military campaign in Zululand.Nkisi nkondi (power figure): It is a wooden figure representing a human or animal such as a dog (nkisi kozo) carved under the divine authority and in consultation with an nganga or spiritual specialist who activates these figures through chants, prayers and the preparation of sacred substances which are aimed at ‘curing’ physical, social or spiritual ailments. Nkisi nkondi figures are highly recognizable through an accumulation of pegs, blades, nails or other sharp objects inserted into its surface. Medicinal combinations called bilongo are sometimes stored in the head of the figure but frequently in the belly of the figure which is shielded by a piece of glass, mirror or other reflective surface. The glass represents the ‘other world’ inhabited by the spirits of the dead who can peer through and see potential enemies.Ekonda Bobongo choreography and festival: A spectacular dramatic finale intended to honor the deceased and their families among the Ekonda, a Mongo subgroup from the DRC. Organized groups of men or women rehearse for several weeks before presenting the theatrical spectacle after the death of an important man. The performance includes a combination of special body ornamentation, dance, acrobatics, pantomime, song, panegyrics, tales, lessons in ethics, and invocations of nature spirits and dead quasi-divinized twins. It also involves the construction of special decors, platforms, fences, and litters in which solo dancers are brought to the village.NTU psychotherapy and healing: They are grounded on a traditional African philosophy of Personalism in which the essence of reality is taken to be the personhood of persons, objects, situations, and forces. A key construct of the term personalism is that it views life as composed of energy and forces which inhabit physical structures of various materials and configurations. Everything is energy, all energy has a consciousness, and all consciousness has a purpose. Within the broad scope of traditional African philosophy, NTU further rests on the Bantu cultural group philosophy in which NTU is seen as the central essence of life.The Ingcawe, Xhosa blanket: The Ingcawe blanket is a dazzlingly bright white blanket with a striking black stripe (top and bottom). Unique to the Xhosa people, the predominant use of black and white in their designs is steeped in tradition. It has a whipped edge whereas the tribal black stipe has an open selvedge to which the family of the deceased will attach a binding and add embroidery depicting the person s life story. The xhosa traditional attires for women in south africa also comes with a tartan blanket which will be wont to cover the shoulder. The Ingacawe blanket, warm and fuzzy, is extremely soft to the touch.The Zaire74 pan-African festival “the African Woodstock”: A three-day festival held in Kinshasa that accompanied the world boxing championship between Mohammed Ali and George Foreman, “Rumble in the Jungle”, one of the biggest boxing events of the 20th. South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela co-organized the three-day music festival. It proved to be a musical bonanza with an undeniable African diasporic objective by virtue of the diversity of performers : black artists from the United States like James Brown, B.B. King, Bill Withers, Afro-Latino artists like Celia Cruz and African artists like Miriam Makeba from South Africa and Manu Dibango. The goals of the pan-African festival were raising awareness of African music in the United States, to present and promote racial and cultural solidarity between diasporic Africans in the Americas and African people.Malawi Bantu Mpingo Wood Chair or Malawi's Chiefs' Chairs. They are decoratively-carved Malawian chiefs' chairs with high, decorated backs. The chairs were traditionally made from strong mpingo wood, but other woods are also used today. Each chair consists of just two pieces, which slot into one another. The smaller section is shaped like a paddle with a very short, curved handle. The blade forms the seat, the handle the back "leg". The other piece of wood is much larger and forms the back of the chair (with sides gently curving inwards) and the broad front "leg". The chair is assembled by slotting the seat through a hole in the back piece so that the "paddle handle" rests on the ground, forming an asymmetrical "X".Khita fertility ritual healing (Yaka): Khita calls forth forces, feelings, and meanings that allow women to rejoin themselves to the complex pattern of social and cosmic life. These elaborate rites—whether simulating mortal agony and rebirth, gestation and delivery-- use music and dance, steam bath or massage as well as dream messages. The rites involved forces and meaning, creating and shaping the cosmic, physical, and social world of their participants. Khita aims at 'gyn-eco-logy' in a broad sense, that is, not only women's reproductive ailments, but the activation of the "primal womb." The hyphenated term underscores the seamless confluence of domains to which khita ritual appeals: women's bodies, the ritual and domestic space in which women operate, and cosmos.Loketo technique and Nyata Nyata Contemporary Dancing: Loketo is a dance technique based on breath, presence, physical and rhythmic endurance, and flexibility. The technique integrates multidirectionalment principles. Nyata Nyata dancing is derived from Central African dances (Congo Region) and the loketo (means hip) technique allow dancers to balance cooling circulating breath with intense muscular effort, and to conduct their dimensions through multiple spaces simultaneously in ways that are both strengthening and sustainable.Bantu symbol writing : The Bantu symbol-language was developed in South Africa. In the symbol-language, each symbol represents not a single character or letter, but a whole word or, more often, a complete idea (much like Chinese and Japanese symbols). The characters are arranged in sequence to communicate: Man + sees + lion. Lion + eats + ox.Tamoke the robot (a home-made robotic traffic cop in the DRC). Tamoke robots are solar-powered, with small video cameras built into the eyes, conveying footage back to a central office. They can also play pre-recorded messages to pedestrians, letting them know when it’s safe to cross the road. The use of robots as traffic lights may be unique to the Democratic Republic of Congo. A Tamoke robot, an eight-foot-tall robotic police weighing 250kgs is equipped with four high definition digital cameras set in its eyes and shoulders that record every activity in the roads and transmit the video live to a central police command. They are also fitted with green and red signal lights on each hand to easily control traffic by raising their hand, and a rotating chest that allows them to record every road activity.Ikakalaka, the Konda-Sword: They were creations of Ekonda blacksmiths revered as founders of lineages. Ikakalaka blades are prized for their ornamentations and improvised forms. A Konda-Sword is symmetrical and has a double-edged blade. The blade material is usually iron or brass. The place is crescent-shaped and has a curved outside on each cutting edge, resulting in two points. Due to this characteristic location, the weapon can only be used as a cutting weapon; it cannot be used as a stabbing weapon. The Ikakalaka was used in ceremonies and executions by decapitation, and also as a symbol of status among the Ekonda, a sub-group of Mongo people (DRC). Unlike most swords, the Konda-Sword was carried by women who were also holders of titles based on their position as the principal wife of a powerful man.Bantu circus art sarakasi (Kenya): Sarakasi, which means "circus" or "acrobats" in Kiswahili. It is a Bantu circus art features pulsating music, drumming, fast pyramids, double pole climbing and the « snake charmer tumbling style”. A Sarakasi spectacle is a series of feats of juggling, bottle balancing; skip rope, human pyramids, limbo and gymnastics are woven into an upbeat, humorous competition among dancers. Bantu people have always used circus-like acts called to celebrate special occasions.Mokate (plural Mikate) traditional Congolese deep fried doughnut: Mikate are commonly served for breakfast and for snack time. Traditionally, Mikate are eaten with peanut butter and they go by the name of mikate na mwamba. Mikate have a crisp, thin shell that crackles with a cake-like interior. In Brazzaville (Congo), Mikate are a street food favorite that you can find on the stand of almost every street vendor in popular neighborhoods. It’s also the case in Brazzaville’s twin city across the Congo River, Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo). In fact, Mikate are among the most liked and eaten dishes in both Congos. Walking the streets of Kinshasa in the morning you will surely find a corner with someone frying up some fresh to have at home for breakfast.Kindezi (Early Childhood program philosophy): Kindezi is a process of collectively nurturing and rearing a child for success. The Kindezi African philosophy promotes smaller/ family-like classrooms often with six to eight students per teacher at the elementary level. Kindezi Inspired Structured Schools are three principles: community, equity, and excellence. The kindezian teaching model is an ideal transformative framework or school model that aligns with a Bantu cultural practice called Kindezi.The Dikenga Cosmogram aka the Kongo Cosmogram is a symbol and way of life for Bântu-Kôngo people. The cosmogram synthesizes various practices and beliefs that are common throughout African culture and philosophy. It consists of four points symbolizing the four positions of the Sun. The four points and quadrants are divided by a vertical (mukula) and horizontal (kalûnga) line. The four points: Musoni, Kala, Tukula, and lastly Luvemba.The Cord of Wisdom (Mutanga): The Lega have a visual way of showing proverbs in the form of a cord suspended in the meeting house of a town or a village. On that cord (Mutanga in Lega) are fastened a collection of tiny objects, which serve as mnemonic devices. Each object has one or more proverbs, recalls an anecdote, to remind the youth of moral principles and wise behavior. The cord serves as interpersonal communication, a code of good conduct and an open book where young people learn, think and reason on ideals of Lega’s life. The Mutanga is a school of Lega wisdom.Konga anklets (bronze currency and jewelry): These anklets were worn by women of the Mongo tribe of northwest Congo. Cast by expert blacksmiths, legbands were only worn by rich women as a sign of nobility. Due to their weight, they were worn with a ring of plant fibers inside the legband to protect their ankles, as they were heavy. The ‘konga’ of the Mongo people were also used as valuables and as a form of currency. The Konga constitute one of the main traditional values that form the dowry and were worn by married women who put them on during celebrations.Muti (South African traditional medicine): The word muti is derived from the Zulu word for tree, of which the root is -thi. In Southern Africa, the word muti is in widespread use in most indigenous African languages, as well as in South African English and Afrikaans where it is sometimes used as a slang word for medicine in general. Traditional medicine features in the lives of thousands of people in South Africa every day. In fact, it is estimated that 80% of the population uses traditional medicines that are collectively called muti. Muti is a word derived from medicinal plant and refers to traditionally sourced plant, mineral, and animal-based medicines. In addition to herbs, traditional medicine may use animal parts and minerals.Lukasa memory board : It is a wooden board that is turned into a memory device via patterned beads. These beads are placed in a pattern that causes the maker to remember various people, events, and etc, and they were used to log political history and other data sets.They were created and once protected by the secret Bambudye society of Luba, a Bantu speaking group from the DRC.Mongo epic Nsong'a Lianja, an internationally known world folk-epic. World folk-epics are epics that are recognized literary masterpieces. Lianja is considered one of the most beautitul pieces of Africa’s oral literature and was crowned during the Indigenous Literature Contest of the International African Institute in London in 1937.Kuba basket of wisdom (ornate containers): Baskets of wisdom are prestige objects and insignia of Kuba kings. Leaning on the basket is thought to magically produce wisdom in the head. It is a prominent part of kingly regalia, serving as a container for royal amulets. When holding an audience with his people, the king rests his elbow on a wisdom basket as he speaks. The basket and its lid are framed in cane and covered by raffia cloth. The surface of this basket is elaborately decorated with cowries, glass beads, and copper disks in precisely organized geometric designs.Indlamu (Traditional Zulu dance): The dance is characterised by the dancer lifting one foot over his/her head and bringing it down sharply, landing squarely on the downbeat. Typically, two dancers in warrior's pelts perform indlamu routines together, shadowing each other's moves perfectly. Historically, it was performed on numerous occasions, especially when warriors prepared for war or when a harvest was celebrated.Ndebele Geometric Wall Art:The Ndebele are well known for house mural painting with geometric symbols.The bright, sharp geometric designs are all hand painted without use of rulers or other tools. The vivid colors and bold designs express the personality, style, values and prayers of the household.Footwear with special meaning (Luba and Zulu traditions): Among the Luba, footwear was carved in the form of the wooden toe-knob sandals for royals as a status symbol and for ceremony. In the the Luba’s tradition of royal footwear was handing down across generations. Zulu have a long tradition of footwear that is culturally defined. izimbadada (casual sandals with a horizontal strap), dabul’zwane (dancing shoes that split the big toe from the other four) and izingcab’lela originate from ox leather shoes historically worn in rural KwaZulu Natal area.Kebe-Kebe puppet dance: the Mochi perform Kebe-Kebe as stilt dancing with puppets decorated in very bright colors. Kebe-kebe puppets depict various characters associated with this dance. One of the major characters is Ebongo, the serpent god of the Kuyu people, who gives birth to the primordial couple. There is also Ebotita, the mother spirit, Djoku, the father spirit, and plenty of Euya, or snake-men. Each character is represented by a dancer hidden beneath a large cloak covered with adornment.Congo Art, Cubism and Picasso: Between 1907 and 1909, Pablo Picasso studied Congo Art. One of his major works of art :The Demoiselles d´Avignon was largely inspired by Congolese masks that the artist had at home. He founded the Cubism movement between 1907 and 1914 with Georges Braque largely inspired by the easthetics of vital sculptures and masks from the Congo Basin.Kalimba, thumb piano : (known by names such as Mbira, Likembe, Chisanzi, Endongo etc.). It is a lamellaphone idiophone inspired by indigenous Bantu African instruments. The kalimba is used mostly for personal entertainment or dance music, but can also be played in bira spirit possession ceremonies. The Kalimba is thought to have been invented 1,000 years ago. There is archaeological evidence at Kumadzulo, in Zambia, of strips of iron resembling lamellae that have been indirectly dated to 500-700 CE.Makonde Tree of life woodcarving (Ujamaa style): This is a hand carved style of intricately carved conjunctions of interlocking human figures representing unity and continuity. Makonde sculptors are from Tanzania and Mozambique. The tree of life is a large and heavy woodcarving of so many faces but at the same time very detailed well-carved piece recounting stories and outlining facial expressions and features accordingly.Zulu hat (isicholo) :This type of hat originated from a hair style married Zulu women would wear by the same name, isicholo. At the turn of the 19th century, around when the Zulu forces were defeated and their homeland was taken over by the British, Zulu women began wearing hats that mimicked this hairstyle instead of the hairstyle itself. The Zulu hat is a symbol of both status and religion featuring traditional beadwork and distinct color patterns.Zulu warfare’s bull horn formation. Julia Austin described it as follows: This is a three-part attack system in which seasoned warriors form the “chest” of the horn at the front, pinning the enemy into a position where it can be easily attacked. Younger warriors would form the “horns” and encircle the enemy, attacking from the sides, and additional warriors formed the “loins,” standing behind the “chest” with their back to the battle, protecting against any additional attackers.The sewn boat mtepe (Swahili word for boat), a plank vessel used in ancient time by Bantu speakers also mentioned in Greco-Roman text Periplus of the Eritreyan Sea. The sewn plank vessels according to archaeologist Mark Horton look noting like dhows. Some of them are displayed at the House of Wonders Museum in Zanzibar.Zulu beadwork language and art: Zulu beadwork combines art and linguistic logic. Zulu beadwork is a language system where colors, patterns and items of apparel convey specific meanings. Beadwork communication acts as a substitute for speech. Beads worn by females immediately convey status: married, unmarried, engaged, uncommitted, has children, has unmarried sisters, etc. Men wear beadwork to show involvement with women they may marry.Bunganga, a traditional Bantu medical, magic and a religious order and system. A Nganga is a traditional healer who uses a combination of herbs, medical/religious advice and spiritual guidance to heal people. A Nganga also practices divination and communication with spirits, including those of the dead.Hand polished Malachite carvings and jewelry designs (Zambia, DRC, Namibia) :Carved bowls, cabochons and tumblestones are relatively common display items cut from Malachite. Malachite gemstone is used in small carvings, beads, and cabochon gems usually set in silver.African religious movements and initiated churches: These movements and churches were created to resist European domination or to integrate an African word wiew within several aspects of Christianity. Some of them are Antonianim, Kimbanguism, Kitawala.Ndebele Kinga Koba beaded dolls : The bead work of the Ndebele dolls is as detailed as the clothing of the Ndebele women themselves. During courtship, a suitor will place a doll outside a young woman's home, indicating his intention to propose marriage to her. When a young woman is preparing to marry, she is given a doll that she names and cares for. Her first child is then named for the doll. In addition to strengthening the Ndebele cultural identity, the beaded Ndebele dolls are now an important export item and much needed source of income for the Ndebele woman.Donga (Nguni stick-fighting): a martial art traditionally practiced by teenage Nguni ‘(Zulu and Xhosa, particularly) herdboys in South Africa. Each combatant is armed with two long sticks, one of which is used for defense and the other for offense. Although Nguni/Xhosa styles of fighting may use only two sticks, variations of Bantu/Nguni stick-fighting throughout Southern Africa incorporate shields as part of the stick-fighting weaponry.Marula Fruit Festivals :Marula fruit festivals are held in several Southern African countries. Oshituthi shomagongo is, for example, a marula festival that brings together communities in northern Namibia, where a fermented drink made from marula fruit is consumed. The festival is a relaxed social gathering during which communities and guests socialise, sing and dance.Engolo, also known as NGolo: It is a performance of ritual combat that primarily consists of kicks, dodges, leg sweeps, and inverted positions. This ritual was primarily practiced in Angola, primarily in the southern region. In the Congolese culture, a similar kicking-based art called Kipura exists. Due to the similarities, both Kipura and Engolo are said to be the predecessors of capoeira. Kipura is a traditional Congolese wrestling whose movements are inspired by cockfighting.Lusona geometric recreations (drawings in the sands using transformational geometry and algebra): Most of these drawings belong to an old ideograpic tradition among the Tchokwe, Lunda, Lwena, Xinge and Minungo peoples. These ideographs function as mnemonic devices refer to proverbs, fables, riddles, animals, etc. and played an important role in the transmission of knowledge and wisdom from one generation to the next.Bokwele, a great tag game (DRC) (similar to the capture the Flag. There are 2 teams and each team guards a hula hoop.Inside the hoop each team has 2 scarves When the game begins the players yell "Bokwele" while they try to steal the other team’s scarves.If a player is tagged she/he must sit out for the rest of the game.If a player drops a scarf before they bring it over the line the hula hoopon that side is placed around it. A team wins when it has all the scarvesMabaia manzungu (storied pots or proverb covers): A unique graphic writing in sculptural form on three-dimensional objects, namely lip pots used by the Woyo of the DRC and Cabinda enclave of Angola. The graphic writing combine figurative motifs that depict humans, animals, everyday and religious objects, and fruits and vegetables and function primarily to convey moral meanings for the basic interactions within the family.Alcohols, beers and wines: Locally produced beverages, including alchols, beers and wines are not well known and yet, the vast majority of people consumed traditional beverages like Lotoko alcohol (Congo) made from the fermentation of corn and cassava, Bojalwa, a sorghum beer of Botswana, Musungu an alcohol made from fermented sugarcane juice, very popular in Gabon. Another popular drink from Gabon is Mangrokom a corn wine.Bulukutu herbal tea, the savannah tea (Congos): Bulukutu is dried Lippia Multiflora leaves. It is an aromatic, perennial plant from the savannah of Africa. The leaves are dried in the sun and then infused in hot water to help brings down hypertension, eases digestion, reduce fever, stomachaches, and detox. It is consumed both for its unique taste but above all for its virtues. . In traditional medicine, it is used alone or in combination with other plants for the treatment of back pain, cough, fever, bloating, and constipation. Besides being taken as tea, it helps also as an insecticide in agriculture. Indeed, these leaves are introduced into bags of corn, cassava, beans and other crops.Omumbiri (also called "Namibian Myrrh): A traditional perfume by the Himba women. It is a myrrh resin from the commiphora plant. This myrrh is culturally believed to be antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and calming too. Its oil features are highlighted in natural skincare products, such as the Mbiri range. The fragrant oil, distilled from the golden resin, has a lively citrus note. Unlike some of the myrrh used in other areas Omumbiri, is wild-harvested. The trees exude the aromatic resin naturally, which falls to the ground. The Himba earn valuable income from harvesting myrrh resin which they process and sell to international cosmetic companies.Moambe chicken: The dish is made by combining chicken, spices and palm butter to create a stew-like consistency. A number of local or regional variations exist across the Congo and Central Africa. Moambe chicken is often accompanied by rice or manioc (cassava) paste. It is a national dish in DRC, Angola and Gabon.Mongo Losako ritual (words of wisdom used as a greeting of respect): You ask for a person’s “Losako” while greeting him, the person replies with a special adage, a piece of advice, a proverb or his life motto. Losako formulae express a philosophy of life which is a pictorial response to a situation of the moment. Losako is also used in a wisdom game (Nsako) where someone says: “ Losako” which actually means “throw us a proverb” and the player must come to come up with a series of proverbs related to the theme of the game.Tango dancing (Tango Congo/Negro): Kongo slaves brought to the Americas, particularly Argentina also brought our traditional Kongo tango drum playing music and dance. The very word tango is a Bantu word, a Kikongo word (also a Lingala word) for time. Tango dance actually means moving in time with a beat.Sapeurism/sapology (Congolese Dandies style): a social movement of well-dressed men (sometimes women) that began in the two Congos in the 1980s. Sapeurs, members of la Sape ("Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes or the Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People), spend large sums of money on designer clothes, which they show off at social gatherings and use as a signifier of identity and ommunity.Sapologyis about more than expensive labels: the true art lies in a sapeur's ability to put together an elegant look unique to their personality.Bantu Secret Coffee: Meticulously cultivated by the Muungano cooperative along the mountain slopes bordering the serene shores of Lake Kivu 1,500 metres above sea level, this exceptional fully washed Arabica Typica yields notes of honey, brown sugar and dark chocolate, with a full body and delicate acidity. One of the Congo's finest speciality coffees.World-famous song “Pata Pata”, a South African dance hit from 1967: Pata Pata was once called 'world's most defiantly joyful song. Meaning “touch touch” in the Xhosa language, “Pata Pata” was written and sung by the late Miriam Makeba who named it after a dance move popular in Johannesburg at the time. Pata Pata was rereleased (April 2020) with new lyrics aimed at helping beat the spread of coronavirus. The words of the 1967 song, which became synonymous with South Africa's liberation struggle, have been re-written to encourage safe distancing and hand washing. The new version sung by Beninese artist Angelique Kidjo includes lyrics such as, “"We need to keep our hands clean so 'no-Pata Pata'... Don't touch your face, keep distance please and 'no-Pata Pata'".Kabamba Award (University of Michigan): The Professor Pierre T. Kabamba (Congolese scientist) Award was established to recognize a senior graduate student’s excellence in aerospace engineering or controls systems. The award honors Pierre T. Kabamba, a University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering professor and distinguished control systems researcher who passed away in 2014. In his career, Professor Kabamba published over 100 journal papers on control theory and co-authored two textbooks. He was also a widely-respected educator, having been awarded the Aerospace Engineering Department Teaching Award (1994) and the Silver Shaft Award for Undergraduate Teaching (2002).Bantu proverbs and folktales: In many Bantu cultures, proverbs are not just used to teach life lessons but they also reveal features of plants, trees, animals, fish and insects. In addition, there is a specific category of proverbs known as judiciary proverbs that were used in order to render justice. Folktales transmit invaluable knowledge from one generation to another covering a variety of themes : magic, customs, initiation, rituals, conflict resolution, family relationships etc. and describing socio-historical, economic and religious contexts.Bantu borrowed words, in European languages: bwana, impala, macaque, safari, zombie, gobber, mamba, wenze. There are several studies that show that many European words are similar to Bantu words: Kikongo salu vs French salaire, kikongo ntalu vs French talent, Kikongo vumu vs French vomirUbuntu philosophy: Ubuntu can best be described as an African philosophy that places emphasis on being self through others. According to the New World Encyclopedia, the defining virtues of ubuntu are helpfulness, sharing, kindness, respect, trust and selflessness. Mawere, Munyaradzi describes Ubuntu as a multi-faceted philosophical system that involves logic, metaphysics, epistemology and ethics; it is a philosophy of life that is concerned with the reinforcement of unity, oneness, solidarity and harmony among the Bantu people of Africa.Nzango game (a “foot game for girls”) from Congos (DRC or RoC): The rules of the game are relatively simple. The goal of the game is to copy the movements of the dancing opponent as accurately as possible. At the beginning of the game, the teams choose a foot by which to attack, with one team side taking the right foot, and the other team side the left foot. The game has acquired a sport status and was part of the African Games in Brazzaville (RoC) in 2015.Bantu Choral Folks singing (a cappella): The most famous is Isicathamiya, a cappella style of singing, originating from the Zulus of South Africa, popularized by Solomon Linda and his song Mbube (the Lion Sleeps tonight) and the group Ladysmith Black Mambazo (famous for their participation in Paul Simon's Graceland album).Kuba textiles (Kuba velvets) from Congolese Kuba people are renowned for their elaboration and complexity of design and surface decoration. Kuba textiles are mostly a variation on rectangular or square pieces of woven palm leaf fiber enhanced by geometric designs executed in linear embroidery and other stitches, which are cut to form pile surfaces resembling velvet. Mathematician Donald Crowe stressed that the Kuba have developed all the geometric possibilities of repetitive variations of border patterns, and of the seventeen ways that a design can be repetitively varied on a surface, the Kuba have exploited twelve.Bantu knots hairstyles: Bantu Knots is a traditional hairstyle of the Bantu people. It consists of sharing the hair in small portions, then twisting and winding the hair on themselves to obtain small knots. The technique works on frizzy or smooth textured hair, regardless of the length of the hair. There are over 70 variations of Bantu knots. There is even a Bantu Hawk Tutorial that explains the six-step process for creating Bantu Knots hairstyle.Soukous music: It is spoken as one of Africa’s greatest dance music styles. It is known by different names the Congolese Soukous” (Sukusu in Lingala) or Congolese rumba music. As Gerald Seligman noted : “No music in Africa matches Soukous for its importance, its popularity and its reach. Whether called Congolese or rumba music, it [has] influenced the music of nearly all the countries surrounding it-[Congo-Brazzaville], Kenya, Tanzania, the Central African Republic, Zambia-and [has] even reached countries as far off as Zimbabwe and South Africa (in Mondo Soukous, 2001).The Kigango funerary hand carved post: The kigango is the physical embodiment of a deceased member of the Gohu, a secret society of men chosen from Mijikenda ethnic group (Kenya). Its function is religious, social, cultural and psychological and forms a symbolic structure that bridges both worlds of the living and the dead by being half buried in the earth. The post always faces west towards the setting sun. The unique design is rows of triangular chip-carving patterns and a 3 dimensional head. The funerary post can stand as tall as 6 feet. The carved triangle etchings symbolize abstract forms of identity that once bestowed the deceased Mijikenda elder they represent. The colors used white (Kama) and blue (Bulvu) inlay with red ochre (Mbvu) on the body of the postZimbabwe dry stone architecture:The Great Zimbabwe Empire aka Monomopata was made up of more than 300 dry stone walled sites, some of which included Danamombe, Naletale, Khami, Shangagwe, Domboshawa in Botswana, Manikweni in Mozambique and Thulamela in South Africa. In the Great Enclosure in Zimbabwe, you can see high stone walls built without mortar, but with many round shapes.Ngombe Ngulu Sickle Sword: The sword is a beautifully designed asymmetrical iron that has an embellished wooden handle and looks like an elaborate sickle. The sword starts straight at the handle and ends in a backward curved crescent shape. The cutting edge is on the outside. There are also double-sided variants. The sword is also known as an execution sword. The bulky swords—which measured up to 23 inches or longer—were produced by the Ngombe tribe, although several neighboring ethnic groups in the Congo also used it.The Ngulu has a patinated wood handle, which is partly covered with copper head studs and metal scroll. The sword was often used for currency, as ceremonial dance implements, and as a sign of prestige.“I am an African”, iconic speeches: On the 5th April 1906, one of the founding fathers of the ANC, Pixley Ka Isaka Seme said the beginning of an iconic speech “I am an African” which was aimed at conscientizing Africans about their Africa and bringing awareness of Africanism.” The iconic speech “I am an Africa” was repeated by the second president of post-apartheid Republic of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, on behalf of the African National Congress in Cape Town on 8 May 1996, on the occasion of the passing of the new Constitution of South Africa. At the time Mbeki was the vice president of South Africa under the presidency of Nelson Mandela. In most of his “I am an African” speech during the launch of African Renaissance, he implied a revival of an Africa of hope and prosperity, positive vision of Africa as a peaceful, democratic and market-orientated region that will attract foreign trade and investment.Moziki (the art of sharing from Congos): Moziki brings together people who want to develop conviviality and solidarity by sharing contributions in the event of happy or unhappy events that have happened to them directly or indirectly. A moziki goes through three stages: it first functions as a simple place of conviviality, then strong bonds of esteem and friendship are created, likely to lead to the third stage which seals the reciprocal acceptance of members. It is at the end of this "social engagement", which will have established a true symbolic relationship, that gifts and counter-gifts (money, time and attendance, free services, etc.) will then be exchanged depending on the circumstances.Cisakulo combs (Chokwe): They were used to detangle style and decorate the hair of Chokwe men and women but they were also inserted into hair to indicate social associations and status, personal wealth and/or ancestral history. There are two major categories of Cisakulo: 1) Sculpted combs in which figurative or geometric decorations are sculpted or cut from wood and 2) Wooden teeth linked by weaving technique. Cisakulo are generally are generally surmounted by a statuette or a typical mask. The statuette is very often the Kaponyi wa txikunga figurines, recognizable by their high ringed headdress and the mask is a Chihongo mask. Cisakulo combs could be carved in pairs.Coup Fatal, Opera ensemble: Coup Fatal is both a danced opera and a sung ballet. It integrates baroque phrases with traditional and popular Congolese music, rock and jazz. Coup Fatal features Congolese counter-tenor Serge Kakudi, with an orchestra of 12 musicians from Kinshasa- engaging with the repertoire of various baroque composers. Likembe (thumb piano), balafons, marimbas and other percussions perform a Congolese polyphonic composition signed Serge Kakudji. Starting from the vocal parts, they recreate a new contemporary universe in terms of sound and image. In addition to the arrogance and machismo of the baroque, Coup Fatal displays the influence and coquetry of the "sappers", the dandies of Kinshasa. Rather than a tribute to baroque music, Coup Fatal is an ode to the relentless elegance of the Congolese.Malaika, Swahili love ballad: The song highlights the theme of love viz-a-viz poverty in contemporary Africa. It tells the story of a young man whose love for his dream girl – Malaika is doomed because he cannot afford her asking bride-price. It is very popular song whose popularity stretches far beyond the continent and is reflected in the numerous cover versions done by artists around the globe. They include Miriam Makeba, Angélique Kidjo, Pete Seeger, The Hep Stars, Safari Sound Band, Nana Mouskouri, Harry Belafonte, and Boney M. Bollywood too has not survived the Malaika magic. The Indian movie fan-base has been inspired by its rhythm through soundtracks such as Tu Jahan Bhi Jayegi and Gawah Hain Chand Taare Gawah Hai.Zebola, a rythm, a dance and a traditional healing practice used in case of mental heath issues or spirit possession. Zebola healers are mostly women. Constantine Petridis who has studied Zebola extensively wrote the following: an initial divination session, during which the woman goes into a trance, the Zebola healer transforms the patient's body into a kind of shrine for the spirit. With the aim to please and seduce the spirit, her body will be cared for and embellished day after day. Anointment with a red paste signals the bond between the woman and the spirit and advertises her special position.Drums and dance 2014 with Zab MaboungouZebola As always at Nyata Nyata, the practise of rhythms, in other terms, the science of the drum, is at the heart of dance. Technique provides us with an access to tradition while feeding the contemporary creation. Zebola is a rhythm as well as a dance which have been originally attributed to the Mongo people of the Democratic Republique of the Congo (RDC). This healing rite has inspired generations of musicians and dancers in both Congos because of its incredible sophistication, both physical and rhythmic, one that can serve as a model to understand many world dances, starting whith those from central Africa and the Carribean. Content and progression – Axis, posture and energy (Rypada) – Body (divided) and space (multi6dimensional) – Movement and structure Instructors – Zab Maboungou – Ferdinand Batantou (guest teacher) – Elli Maboungouhttp://www.nyata-nyata.org/the-knowledge/tambours-et-danse-2018/tambours-et-danse-2017/drums-and-dance-2014-with-zab-maboungou/?lang=enZebola is a rhythm as well as a dance which has been originally attributed to the Mongo people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, this healing rite has inspired generations of musicians and dancers in both Congos because of its incredible sophistication, both physical and rhythmic, one that can serve as a model to understand many world dances, starting with those from Central Africa and the Caribbean.https://www.madinamerica.com/2021/02/lessons-music-nurturing-mental-health/The initial study, published in 2015, established the therapeutic potential of the Congolese Zebola ritual for Americans; a randomized 2017 follow-up showed “improvements in depression, anxiety, emotional well-being, and social functioning” equivalent to the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) approach.Milica Congolese Zebola performanceTraditional dance called Zebola from Congo, Africa. This dance is performed for healing. The coreography [sic] contains the very traditional moves of "hands up, wiggle the hips". Thanks to Makaya Kayos *Tata Kaya), Vivian, Kiaz Malonga, Sandor, and many other Congolese teachers who actively teach classes in the U.S.