Andralee Cain LloydGeorge Mansour

http://www.mythicjourneys.org/bigmyth/myths/english/2_yoruba_full.htm

Obatala was sent down to create dry land, but got drunk before the task was completed.

Oduduwa was sent down to take over Obatala’s task

Oduduwa became the first king of Ife. Upon his death his children dispersed and started the Yoruba kingdoms of Owu, Ketu, Benin, Ila, Sabe, Popo, and Oyo.

Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria* Senegal Sierra Leone Togo*

Benin* Burkina Faso Côte d'Ivoire Cape Verde Islands The Gambia Ghana* Guinea Guinea-Bissau

* Denotes countries in which the Yoruba tribe resides

Occupies 6,140,000 km squared or a fifth of Africa

The vast majority of this land is plains lying less than 300 meters above sea level

The northern section of West Africa is composed of semi-arid terrain known as Sahel

It has desert landscapes and also the tropical rain forests of the more humid south

Consists of 16 countries

Second largest and second most-populous continent in the world just after Asia with 11,668,545 square miles

Africa is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, as well as the Atlantic Ocean

Located just under Europe and connected to Asia on its northeast extremity by the Isthmus of Suez

500 BC - there is evidence found to support the start of the city of Ife

700-900 AD – Ife began to develop major artistic center

1200-1400AD- During this time they are known for their ancient and naturalistic bronze, stone and terracotta sculptures

1400 AD- Started to decline due to the Oyo and Benin Empires that were begining to form during this time.

1440-1897- Benin Empire (Edo Empire) – Was an African state located in modern day Nigeria

1485- First European travelers, the Portuguese, reached Benin. Trade begin to develop with the exchange of tropical products and slaves for European goods and guns.

1553- trade between Benin and England grew. They traded ivory, palm-oil and pepper.

1897- British forces conquered and burned the city

1400 - 1835 - Oyo Empire created by immigrants from Ife

Becomes the most populous kingdom in Yoruba history

Participate in the Trans-Saharan and Trans- Atlantic trade where they exchanged salt, leather, horses, kola nuts, ivory, cloth and slaves

At the ports Porto Novo and Whydah the Oyo Empire's took captives and criminals and sold them to Dutch and Portuguese buyers.

1836- empire is captured by Fulani Muslims

1901-Yorubaland was officially colonized by the British

1923 – Nigeria's first political party is formed, the Nigerian National Democratic Party. It is a single group which combined various Yoruba interest groups.

October of 1960- Nigeria was granted full independence from the British

Islam is the predominant religion of the West African interior and the far west coast of the continent

Christianity is the predominant religion in coastal regions of Nigeria, Ghana, and Cote d'Ivoire

There are some Jewish populations in Ghana, Nigeria and Mali

Throughout West Africa there are numerous indigenous religions practiced such as the Yoruba religion

Is possibly the largest African born religion in the world.

Has given birth to several Afro-American religions such as Santería in Cuba and Candomblé in Brazil

There are many variations of the religion

They have between 400-700 gods Many of the Yoruba people today

have converted to Christianity or Islam

Yoruba religious beliefs are part of itan (A complex mix of songs, histories, stories which make up the Yoruba religion and society)

There are an estimated 2000 languages spoken in Africa

All African languages are considered official languages of the African Union (AU)

Most west African languages belong to the Afro-Asiatic, Nilo-Saharan, and Niger-Congo families

Most predominant languages in western Africa are English, Arabic, Portuguese, and French

The Yoruba people have their own language called the Yoruba language which is comprised of over 22 million speakers

Dance - important mode of communication Yoruba have many dance they do during

ceremonies such as the dance for the god Shango

Music – focus on the creation of complex and subtle rhythmic patterns. The Yoruba are known to give birth to

music variety such as highlife, Juju, Fuji, and Afro-beat

Art & Craft – themes such as a couple, a woman and child, a male with a weapon or animal, or an outsider or stranger are reoccurring in African art The Yoruba depict twins a lot in their art

and are revered because of their sign of fidelity. When twins die a carving of them are formed called ere ibeji.

Boubou- a flowing wide sleeved robe. Its origin lies with the clothing worn by the Islamized peoples of the historic Ghana and Mali Empire who had in turn adopted the clothing of the nobility of the early Islamic Empire

Dashiki- colorful men's garment that covers the top half of the body

Kaftan – a woman's garment that is a loose-fitting pullover with an ornate V-shaped collar and tailored and embroidered neck and sleeve lines.

Most African societies have some sort of rite of passage that they value. Some of these include:

Birth Names Puberty Marriage Death

For the Yoruba people the naming ceremony is an important part of their society. This is because they believe that a name is so powerful it can influence the rest of the child’s life.

Seen as a union of families and sometimes tribes Many of the marriages are arranged marriages Polygyny is often very common Often a pride-price is made before marriage

(often involving livestock)

Africans value strong family ties and traditions

Elders are considered the guardians of the family and are valued and respected due to their wisdom and knowledge.

Family members are addressed according to social status out of respect

A household consists of extended family (i.e.- aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents)

Rite of Passage and the importance of names African American names hold

strong African ties Moesha- meaning drawn out of the

water Niesha- meaning pure Tamika- meaning people

Marriage- Usually mutual consent

Families- Still have strong family ties to all family members including extended family

Involves scratching, etching, or cutting in order to leave permanent designs, pictures, or words into the skin. Ink rubbing – the process of

rubbing ink into a fresh cut Skin removal/skinning - outlines

are made and then the skin in between is removed creating a inconsistent texture.

Packing - A cut is made diagonally and an inert material is packed into the wound causing massive keloids to form during the healing process

Performed by tribal members who specifically perform scarification Both healers as well as artists Watch the wounds as they heal

to prevent infection Certain instruments are used

in order to create various patterns and designs knife, glass, stone, or coconut

shell are some examples of the instruments used

Tattoos are harder to see on darker colored skin than scars.

Used to decorate and beautify the body

Used as group/ tribe identity Used a lot during slave trade

so that they could identify someone from their tribe even if they come across them in another region.

Social Status Protection from death Mark a persons stage of life

Coming of age Fertility Marriage

The idea of body modification and scarification intrigues people of all races and cultures around the world.

Unlike tattoos scarification is a product of ones own body and the final product varies from person to person.

Is used for aesthetic and spiritual reasons.

Variety- More complex patterns due to precise

instruments A wide range of colors that can be applied

Less painful- no more painful then tattooing with better anesthetics

Less likely to endure an infection due to better antibiotics

Target market- African Americans, both men

and women, aged 18-30 with a strong connection to Africa.

Americas youth, both men and women, aged 18-25 with a desire to find a way of expressing themselves that is new and different from the tattooing world.

Product –Permanent and temporary scarification

Place –Los Angeles, California and our website www.skinned.com

Price – approx $80 an hour with a minimum price of $100.

Promotion – African Americans- art shows and sites

with a profit going to fight Aids in Africa Youth- Scar Wars, online at body

modification sites, and body modification magazines such as Pain.

Brand Name – Skinned Product – Permanent and temporary scarification

Packaging for temporary scarification- Red box with name and logo on the lid.

Slogan – “If you decorate me, then I will be beautiful.” An African Probverb, “Ukinipamba nitapendeza.”

Logo – West African symbol “Gye Nyame.” This symbol represents the supremacy of God and his omnipotence and immortality.

Skinned

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