Ancestor Stones

So far I'm not really a fan of "Ancestor Stones."  I mean, some of it is interesting but it's kinda a drag to read.  I don't know, maybe as time goes on I may begin to like it but as of now..... Nah!!!

Even though I said that it doesn't really catch my attention, it still has some parts that, as I said, I found interesting.  For instance, the whole ordeal in the second chapter of how Asana and Alusani go on the trip and see the "moon shadow man" and he offers Alusani a salted covered egg.  Was the egg poisoned?  Because it just seems funny to me how after eating this egg, he began to act strange.  I understand that he had a brain tumor but even with the tumor, I think that the egg had a lot to do with his passing.  Another interesting thing that caught my eye was how they are all related; however, when Mariam was taking about the places that she would go with Bobbio, you would have never guessed that they were related.

The book was a little hard for me to follow.  Call me slow or whatever but it took me the longest time to understand that the following chapters after Abbie's were letters that were written to her from her family.  If I'm wrong, please correct me because that it was I'm getting from it.

Xala

What I found extremely interesting is how quickly the Africans accepted the European ways.  I understand that they were forced to learn about nothing but Europe in school; however, why not fight to hold onto your traditions and lifestyle.  One person that I liked was Rama, even though she had accepted some European traits like the hatred of polygamy, her modern views intrigued me.

It was also great to see how the wives felt about polygamy for a change.  It never dawned on me that maybe they would hate the idea of being wife number  so and so.  Just by my pride alone, I would hate to be just a number to my husband.  I could understand the jealousy of the first wife.  She has been forced to give up time with her husband to a spoiled brat.  Even though I really didn't like the second wife, she was the most realistic to me.  Before the third wife came into play, she basically had El Hadji to herself.  Polygamy was fine, as long as she was the one getting most of the attention.  However, as soon as the roles switch and there is another wife in town, there is a problem.  

The moomes are nowhere near long enough for me to really get a chance to really fall in love.  Speaking of love, did they ever really fall in love?  Take the third wife for example, she was practically forced to mary El Hadji.  And the Xala?  I believe that El Hadji was just plain and simply getting old.  The thought of having a young girl excited him so much to that point that he became impotent by her sight.

How Europe Underdeveloped Africa

I don't know about anybody else but reading How Europe Underdeveloped Africa really bothered me. It is sad to read how Africans were droved through trickery and enforced into slavery. And why? All because they weren't "civilized" enough for the British, French, and the Arabs. Who determines whether a culture is civilized or not? Just because you can't understand the way a person lives doesn't mean that they aren't civilized.



What is also funny, is that the same people who aren't "civilized" were forced to grow their food and do all of their manual labor. How lazy can you be? Not even that but how heartless can you be? Millions were killed because of your laziness and it doesn't bother you one bit! The only reason that they were able to encapture the Africans were because of their guns and ammunition. How cowardly is that. Speaking of guns and cowards, they had the audacity to use Africans in the front lines of a war as "tephlon" for themselves. What is that? For them to be so strong and brave, where was that bravery and courageousness during the war when there is a gun and a rifle pointed at you.



The whole white supremacy ordeal is plain and simply stupid. Which person told you that you were the divine, ideal human of mankind? The only thing that made them supreme at the time were their guns, and chains. Other than that, had it not been for Africans and their homeland sending them money for food, they would not have even been able to survive.



Also, how could you practically force a person to do all of your manual labor and pay them practically nothing. But your lesser white counterpart get paid practically millions compared to the Africans. And the school system? Pathetic. Of course Africans had to learn about Europe or Brittain because that's all the teacher knew. And also, because learning about Africa and how they were forced to do all of your labor was not important at all.

The Village of Umuofia

This is a picture of the music going on in Umuofia. Placing this image on the Village Portal allows me to get a true understanding of the wrestling matches and meetings in Things Fall Apart. I always had my own picture in my head. However, this picture wraps it up and of course.... I WAS RIGHT!

I don't know if everyone has seen a greek probate before... but the way that the onlookers are gathered in a circle reminds me of a calmer version of a probate. In pertaining to the wrestling matches, I find that America's wrestling matches are setup the same way. The only contrast is that we sit in chairs and are pushed back further than the villagers in Umuofia.

It amazes me how the villagers can sit so peacefully without having a gate or some kind of baracade to keep them away from the wrestlers. In America, that is simply impossible. The Umuofia villagers have so much respect for the 'performers'. NOT IN AMERICA!!!!!!!!!

The Benin Empire (1440-1897) is not to be confused with the Afican country Benin. Instead, it was a large pre-colonial African state of Modern. The Bini are the original people within the empire and they were ruled by the Ogisos (the kings of the Sky). There were 36 Ogiso's and during the reign of the last Ogiso, his son,, Ekaladerhan was banished. He traveled to Youruba and gainged the title of Ooni of Ife, which he caged to 'Izoduwa' (which means "I have chosen the path of prosperity). After the death of his father, the Benin chiefs traveled to Yoruba to ask him to return and become the next King. However, he declined and decided to send his son Oranyan. Oranyan had reigned in Benin for soe years but went back to Yoruba in anger and called Benin 'Ile Ibinu' ('land of annoyance and veexation). The former name of Ile Ibinu later became known as Ubini and the Portuguese corrupted the name and it finally became Benin or Bini. By the 1440s an oba by the name of Oba Ewuare began to be king and made the city into an empire. He named it Edo around 1470.

During the Golden Age, Oba Ewuare was know for turning the Benin Empire into a military fortress that was protected by moats and walls. With the Benin Empire gaining such strength, the Edos were able to expand through the east and southwestern Nigeria (modern day Benin Republic), Togo, and Ghana. The Kingdom of Benin developed an advanced artistic culture for its bronze, iron, and ivory artifacts.

The Portuguese came to Benin in 1485 and quickly began to start a European trade of tropical products and slaves in exchange gor European guns and goods. In 1953, the first English traveled to Benin. It was then that the Benin Empire and the Portuguese established a strong trade of: 20% Ivory, 30% Slaves, and 50% other things.

The Benin city and empire declined after 1700, but was able to rise again through the trading of palm oil, enslaved captives, and textiles. In order to preserve its independence, the Oba slowly began to ban the export of goods from Benin until only palm oil could be traded. In 1897, the British took a 'Punitive Expedition' to Benin, because the Benin Emmpire refused to sign a treaty with Great Britain. Therefore, the British force captured and burned the city.

Who Am I?

The first thing that people want to know when they first meet you is who are you. They want to know just about everything possible about you. Well...

For starters, my name is Shavonne A. Hunt, I am from Chicago, IL and I will be 21 years old on November 6th. I am doing a dual major in both Dance and Business Management at Western Michigan University. I am currently living in a two bedroom apartment with one of my best friends in the whole entire world. When I am not in school, I am either at work at the mall (which by the way, I just got a promotion) or at practice for one of the three groups that I'm in. These dance groups are: Ebony Vision, Hip Hop Connxion- The Rhythmic Soul Project, and the newest group Enigma.

I have an older brother and an older sister. A lot of people say that my sister and I look alike, but of course I definitely do not believe them. My parents are happily married. I also have three nieces and two nephews. My family is very close so we constantly interact with each other on just about everything. My friends and family would probably say that I am goofy, fun, determined, entertaining, sassy, and on a good day fashionista (not all the time though, sometimes it get pretty rough.

For fun, I like to dance, dance, and dance. I also enjoy being around my family and friends and going home to visit. My favorite places to go are the clubs, get togethers, movies, studio, amusement parks... you name and I love to do it. I plan on taking three trips this year. The first is to New York, the date is t.b.a. but my friends and I are thinking more towards before Christmas. The second is to either Florida or Vegas for Spring Break. The third will be to L.A. for Debbie Allen's summer intensive.

Well, that is my life in a nutshell. But, just in case anybody has any other questions to ask me... feel free to do so... Muah!!!!