The Nyamwezi Region

The Nyamwezi Region

Nyamwezi Throne

Nyamwezi Throne

Female Nyamwezi Sculpture

Nyamwezi Fertility Doll

Nyamwezi Harp

Nyamwezi Couple

Elizabeth Bagaaya of Toro

Appearance of Mediums“A class of mendicants or gentle beggars called Bandwa allied to the Cwezi cult members, seem spread all over these kingdoms. They adorn themselves with more beads, bells, brass and curiosities than any other race and generally carry an ornamented tree-creeper in their hands,

Appearance of Mediumsmany of their women look handsome and captivating when dressed up in variously colored skins, and wearing a small turban or bark cloth…The natives all respect them very much, never refusing them food when they call, and treating them as religious devotees.”

Spirit Mediums in Zimbabwe

Spirit Possession, Ghana

Spirit Mediums, Ethiopia

Appearance of Mediums“The most striking figures among the crowds of people loitering about here were the Cwezi sorceresses, a large number of whom are found at the court of every Bunyoro prince. Clothed in bark cloths, yellowish brown or dyed black—one wore even the handsome mtone, a fine bark cloth with black

Appearance of Mediumspatterns—so that the whole body is covered, they also not infrequently wear skins of goats or sheep, and occasionally of cheetah and adorn or disfigure their heads with objects of every conceivable description. These ladies are certainly not beautiful, and they would hardly be eligible for vestal virgins,

Appearance of Mediumsbut they are feared and therefore venture to take many liberties. As is always the case where professional interests are concerned, they vie with one another in eccentricities. One at a local chief’s court …wanted her shoulders rubbed and her head bent.”

Lynnangombe“Whoever comes to my tomb to pray will be heard by me and I will help him in his trouble. . . I will help women in their confinements and I will give children to barren women. Let everyone pray to me and I will help them.”

The Lovedu

Rain Queen’s Royal Enclosure 1953

Drums at Rain Queen’s Royal Kraal

Rain Queen’s Residential entrance

RainQueen Khesetoane Modjadji III (1895-1959)

1959-80 Makoma Modjadji IV (1959 – 1980)

Makobo Constance Modjadji VI (2003-2005)

The Asante

The Asante

The Asante

Asante Golden Stool

Unnamed Asante Queen Mother

Asantehemma Kwaadu Yaadom II

Asante Gold Weight

Asante Gold Weight

Asante Queen Mother

Asante Queen Mothers“It is woman who gave birth to a man, it is a woman who gave birth to a chief.”

Governmental Structure• Empire = Asantehemma

• Paramounts  = Ohemaa

• Towns = Oba Panin

•  Clans (8)= Abusuapanyin

Igboland, Nigeria

Igboland, Nigeria

Igboland, Nigeria

Igbo Gongs

Igbo Masks

Igbo Ukwu, Bowl

Igbo Mask

Igbo Mask

Igbo Women in Politics• Two constituencies.

–(1) Spiritual political constituency

–(2) Human political constituency

Spiritual Political Constituency

Female Masked Spirits: Abere

• Night guard

• Conscience of Society

• Agent of Social Control

Female Masked Spirits: Abere

• Community Court

• Promoted and Protected Women’s Industry

Ekpe Masquerade

Ekpe Masquerade

Ekpe Masquerades

Ekpe Masquerades

Ekpe Masquerades

Ekpe Masquerades

Ekpe Masquerades

Ekpe Masquerades

Ekpe Masquerades

Parade of Masquerades

Female Masquerades—Daughters

Female Masquerades—Daughters

Female Masquerades—Daughters

Female Masquerades—Daughters

Grandmother Masquerade

A Very Old Elder

Nsukka Masquerades

Nsukka Masquerades

Nsukka Masquerades

The Merciless Masquerade

Masquerades called Government

Spiritual Court Messengers

Spiritual Police

Spiritual Police

Spiritual Police Sergeant

Onyeocha—The Whiteman