#ethiopian!keeper

[talonabraxas]

Hekate, Keeper of Keys Talon Abraxas

Hekate: Triple-Bodied Greek Goddess of Witchcraft and Keeper of Keys

Hecate the goddess of Greek mythology has been primarily remembered for her associations with magic and witchcraft. Throughout history however, her sphere of influence also included the moon, night, crossroads, boundaries, ghosts and necromancy. Although Hecate was once considered to be a powerful Greek goddess of witchcraft, Hecate was not a major deity when compared, for instance, to the Twelve Olympians.

There are therefore few myths which revolve around this Greek goddess of magic. Nevertheless, the goddess Hecate plays a particularly important role in the Greek myth which relates the abduction of Persephone. It is also from this myth that the quintessential representation of Hecate, as a goddess holding a flaming torch in each hand, is derived.

The Powers of Hecate, the Greek Goddess of Witchcraft

It is generally believed that the goddess Hecate was the daughter of Perses and Asteria, both of whom were from the second generation of Titans. Nevertheless, some have claimed that she was the daughter of Zeus and either Hera or Pheraea. Yet others have stated that she was a daughter either of Leto or of Tartarus.

In any case, it is widely accepted that Hecate the goddess was not originally a member of the Greek pantheon. In fact, her cult is said to have originated in ancient Thrace, or perhaps in Caria, Anatolia. The original worshippers of Hecate believed that the goddess had power over heaven, earth, and the seas, thus making her an incredibly powerful goddess.

Hecate, whose name came from the Greek word hekatos meaning “worker from afar,” had the power not only to bestow upon those she favored wealth, good fortune, and wisdom, but also to withhold these gifts from those she perceived as unworthy. She was honored by all the gods, including Zeus. As she sided with the Olympians during the Titanomachy, she was the only member of the old regime who retained her powers following the defeat of the Titans.

Within ancient Greek religion Hecate had many different roles, as goddess not just of witchcraft, but also of magic, spells, the night, ghosts, light, necromancy, and even the moon. She was also seen as a goddess of oikos, meaning the household and family, and doorways. Some have even connected her to Artemis, who was portrayed in a similar style, with boots, torches and dogs.

Due to her extensive powers, Hecate has been confused and identified with several other deities throughout history. For instance, as a goddess of nature, she was identified with Demeter, whilst as a moon goddess, she has been identified with Persephone.

"I am she that is the natural mother of all things, mistress and governess of all the elements, the initial progeny of worlds, chief of powers divine, Queen of heaven, the principal of the Gods celestial, the light of the goddesses: at my will the planets of the air, the wholesome winds of the Seas, and the silences of hell be disposed; my name, my divinity is adored throughout all the world in divers manners, in variable customs and in many names, [...] Some call me Juno, others Bellona of the Battles, and still others Hecate. Principally the Ethiopians which dwell in the Orient, and the Egyptians which are excellent in all kind of ancient doctrine, and by their proper ceremonies accustomed to worship me, do call me Queen Isis." (Lucius Apuleius in The Golden Ass)

[gravalicious]

Rabbi Wentworth Arthur Matthew of the Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation (1940)

Source: Judith Weisenfeld - New world a-coming: Black religion and racial identity during the great migration (2016: 34)

[singapore-travel]

A Comprehensive Guide to Singapore Zoo  

Singapore is a beautiful country to explore. It is one of the three remaining city-states offering the most attractive destinations from lush lands to thriving rain-forests and famous sights to gorgeous islands. No matter whether you are a history buff or nature seeker, beach lover or adventurer, with a Singapore visa you can enjoy everything to make your vacation a perfect one.

While there are numerous attractions to explore in Singapore such as the world-famous Merlion, Garden by the Bay, Marina Sands, and much more, this one attraction stands out as being the closest to mother nature. Singapore Zoo is one of the popular attractions of Singapore and a must-visit on your Singapore travel itinerary. So, we have curated a complete Singapore zoo guide that will navigate you through the highlights, what to know, and what to bring.

Singapore Zoo

Singapore Zoo is a one-of-a-kind attraction in the country. Locally known as Mandai Zoo, this massive yet beautiful nature stretches over 28 hectares in area. It is located within the Dense Forest Reserve catchment of Singapore and was opened for visitors on 27th of June in 1973.

The focus of the Singapore Zoo was to create spaces and environment that provide a naturalistic home for the animals. There are over 300 different species of animals featuring a wide variety from across the globe. There are even multiple themed areas and literally takes hours to explore fully.

Singapore Zoo Tickets

Singapore Zoo is beloved not just among global tourists but also by locals. So, the long waiting lines are quite natural and it is best recommended to book your ticket beforehand. You can do it online which also includes specified packages and services. You may also grab some deal-breaking records and save a lot of time.

Few tips for visiting Singapore Zoo

Singapore Zoo is a massive attraction and covers a large terrain. You can board a tram to explore which makes everything much easier especially if you are travelling with kids.

We highly recommend you consult the Singapore Zoo map before your visit to the attraction. It will help you to navigate throughout the zoo and plan your trip accordingly.

In case you are visiting the zoo with some extra bags or luggage, you can choose to rent a locker or leave your oversized luggage

If you are visiting the zoo with your little ones who are little too young to handle, you can rent a stroller or wagon.

Please note that flash photography is prohibited for the protection of animals. So, do keep this in mind when clicking pictures of your favourite animals.

The zoo hosts various shows which are included in your park admission. If you like to watch one of these special shows, you can check for the show schedules.

If you intend to enjoy the animal show, you are advised to arrive 15 minutes prior to the show to get the best seats.

And if you love to feed animals during pre-designated schedules, you can check of the feeding sessions.

The best time to visit Singapore Zoo

As Singapore Zoo takes hours to explore completely plan a full day here. it is also advised to arrive early to avoid unnecessary crowds and this may also increase your chance to see animals at their most active time. The special feeding sessions and keep

talks are conducted at scheduled intervals throughout day. So, the more you stay at the zoo, the more you get to engage in feeding sessions and keeper talks.

What to do at Singapore Zoo?

Singapore Zoo boasts numerous things to do with various theme parks and animal shows. These not only offer an incredible entertainment option but also increase your knowledge on animals across the world.

Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia

The Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia displays the emergence when the tectonic plates of earth which was under Ethiopia split diagonally. This created a continental rack and here at the zoo you can witness waga wooden statues based from the Konso community from the Ethiopian highlands. There are unique with exhibits of mud-walled and stone-walled Konso huts. Here, you can see animals such as Baboons, Nubian Ibexes, Banded Mangoose, Jackals, Hamadryas, and Rock Hyraxes.

The Fragile Forest

A 20000 cubic biodome, the Fragile Forest is a beautiful replica of a tropical rainforest. It is home to various spinless and feathery animals that sit unhinged in the trees. You can also spot some amphibians and invertebrates such as rhinoceros beetles, four-line tree frog, whistling ducks, chatty parrots, and crowned pigeons. Some of the exotic animals living inside the biodome are lemurs, white-faced saki monkeys, Malayan flying foxes, toco tucan, two toed sloth, golden lion tamarins, and Prevost’s squirrel.

Red Topia

Red Topia inhabits the mysterious world of reptiles housing more than 60 species of reptiles and amphibians. One-third of these are extremely rare. Red Topia is again

divided into four zones offering a unique experience such keeper domes, interactive sessions, species display, and more. Most of these reptiles are from the Indo-Pacific, Neotropical rainforests, African Jungle, and desserts. These include bearded dragons, king cobra, panther chameleon, plumed basilisk, and more.

Tree Top Tails

Tree Top Tails is where you can find the micro ecosystems that hosts living creature that are closer to grounds, on the tree tops and everything in between them. This zone is a wonder that tries to replicate these layers of ecosystems and house tiny animals such as squirrels, brown lemur, false gavial, and great mouse deer.

 Australasia

Australia zone is home to the animals from Australia and Papua New Guinea. It houses grey kangaroos and tree kangaroo families including Mummy Blue, Daddy Ziggy, and baby girl Nais. While in the indoor region of Australasia, you can find the miracle kangaroo Makaia and Nupela. If you are lucky enough you can also spot the Cassowary which looks like a cross between ostrich or turkey and velociraptor.

The Splash Safari

The major highlight of Splash Safari is the playful sea lion from California. You will be amazed to see how this adorable creature performs cute stunts with a ball. See how it balances the ball on its nose and slides it over its body. You can enjoy this fun sea lion splashing and sliding and gliding on water.

The Frozen Tundra

The Frozen Thundra is a smaller version of the Arctic region but is as big as two and half football fields. You can see how the inuka here loves to play peek-a-boo with

guests and swimming in the cave or playing under a beautiful waterfall. The raccoon dogs on the other hand are from the breed known as tanukis in Japan. The other cold-world animals you can find in the Frozen Thundra are wolverines.

Elephants Show

The Elephants you see here are from the Burmese rainforests and you get to witness a unique show that will stun you with how these giant animals are gentle. You can watch them work as they carry out their tasks. And once they start playing, you can see them play dead, play around with water sprays, steal food, and more.

Rainforests fight back show

The Rainforests Fight Back show gives you a rare glance into the lives of animals who find their home in rainforests. This show gives you complete insight and shows how human activities are adversely affecting the lives of nature. You can witness the animals jumping and diving in front of you and you may also get to touch and click photos with them.

Singapore Zoo Rules and Regulations

You cannot bring anything flammable inside the zoo as it is dangerous for the animals.

You should dispose of all the garbage in designated bins for trash.

You cannot remove or carry anything from the Singapore Zoo.

You cannot take videos or photos for commercial purposes.

Do not try to contact with the animals unless you are guided to do so.

Singapore Zoo is well worth a visit. You get to explore and witness there are over 4000 across the world and learn about them. Apart from viewing, you also get to participate in family-friendly activities such as keeper talks, behind the scene tours, and feeding sessions. Overall, it is one of the best places to spend an entire day with your family and loved ones. And if you are here for the first time you can also go through a complete travel guide for your first time in Singapore.

[ausetkmt]

Dr. Yosef Ben Jochannan Black Jewish Historian Of His People

by Rabbi Sholomo B. Levy

The Israelite community mourns the passing of our beloved elder Dr. Yosef Ben Jochannan (1918-2015).  He was born in Ethiopia and raised in the village of Gondar according to the customs of the African Jews in that region who are known as Beta Israel. His father was a member of this community and he was named after his grandfather Jochannan. In fact, his name is Hebrew and means Joseph the son of Jonathan. He received a Bar Mitzvah and during his adolescence  moved to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico before immigrating to the United States.  His magnum opus, We The Black Jews, was the first major historical work written by us, about us, and primarily for us. As such,  Dr. Ben, as he was affectionately known, was our scholar and our champion. Long before his reputation commanded attention on the international stage, he was embraced by Chief Rabbi W.A. Matthew, leader of the Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation in Harlem. As a Jew of Ethiopian birth, Dr. Ben dedicated the second volume of We The Black Jews to Rabbi Matthew. He was a frequent visitor to many Black synagogues. In 1977, Dr. Ben accepted an honorary faculty position with the Israelite Rabbinical Academy at Beth Shalom Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation in Brooklyn, New York. In that photograph you see him flanked by most of the Black rabbis in New York City including Chief Rabbi Levi Ben Levy and his dear friend from Ethiopia, Rabbi Hailu Paris, who was the leader of Mt. Horeb Congregation in the Bronx. (see photo above) Dr. Ben maintain a close relationship with the Black Jewish community throughout his life.

Dr. Ben’s work expanded to explore the Egyptian origins of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. When asked about this shift in academic focus, Dr. Ben explained that he was attempting to put our identity as Black Jews into its proper historical context as a people and religion that literally came out of Africa. He demonstrated that the Torah and archaeological  evidence both supported the claim that All the  Hebrews who settled the biblical land of Israel—including Moses, Aaron, Miriam, and Joshua—were born in African and raised in Egypt. Zipporah, the wife of Moses, was born in Ethiopia, like Dr. Ben. As Black Jews we have always been comfortable with acknowledging our ancient and modern connections with Africa. The greatest criticism and opposition that Dr. Ben faced came from those who attempted to deny this connection and to remake Judaism into a White European creation.  It is important to remember—as Dr Ben so frequently emphasized—“Judaism is not a race.” He expressed a pride in the fact that the first Jews would be considered Black if they lived in our radicalized world. Dr. Ben never asserted that all Jews are Black—in fact on many occasions and in much of his writings he refers to Jewish communities all over the world.

In latter years, Dr. Ben startled many of his supporters when he began to distinguish his ancestry as a Jew with his skepticism about the existence of God. At one point, he reached the conclusion in his own mind that “God is not a reality.”    We do not know whether this view grew out of the frustration of fighting religious battles for so many decades or from an academic position that demands logic according to human understanding and does not allow for faith, mystery, or the divine.  What we do know is that through all of his transitions he remained a man with a keen intellect and a  loving heart.

As millions of Jews around the world prepare to celebrate the Passover, a commemoration of our Exodus from Egypt, we celebrate the life and work of Dr. Ben who meticulously  and courageously made two irrefutable points: Egypt is in Africa and African people are Black. Therefore, we who call our Jews must trace our ancestry back to these Black Africans.

Rabbi Levy, Alma John, Dr. Ben, Percy Sutton Beth Shalom Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation, 1977

[garbussy]

izara eshetu (della vacker -> ethiopian version)

[mask-of-prime]

Random TLG OCs

Felt like making a compilation of OC concepts that I've long kept in storage until I decided to bring them to life. Felt like drawing/posting them now because I wasn't sure when they were ever gonna pop up at any point in any drawings I've made in the past 3 years, so I ought to show them now

Bios for each character below:

Nyumbu ("wildebeest"): Created out of wonder as to why wildebeests are suspiciously seldom seen in TLG, especially since they're a crucial animal involved in the infamous stampede that killed Mufasa in the first movie. Nyumbu is the grizzled, cynical leader of the Pridelands' wildebeest who is haunted every day by his herd's partial responsibility in Mufasa's death. Nyumbu ascended to leadership after his leader and many of his herd had been overhunted by the hyenas during Scar's Reign, adding grief to his guilt. After years of hesitance, he finally attends a Savannah Summit to confess to Simba how sorry he is about taking part in Mufasa's gruesome death, and reveals that he'd received his broken horn after falling over and being trampled by his herd, and found out about Mufasa's body when he'd been the last one to follow after the herd (yes, he's THAT wildebeest in the movie). Simba assures him that he is not at fault for what Scar and his hyenas are truly responsible for. Nyumbu and Simba grow to befriend each other over their similar stories.

Sauti ("sound"): Conceptualized all the way back in 2019 and finally drawn in 2022, Sauti is a wild dog pup derived from an old concept made with a friend online. Sauti would be a friend and interpretor to a deaf cub of Kovu and Kiara's that we never really got to making. There's a criminally little amount of wild dog representation in TLK, let alone any animation. I mean I get it, how does one keep that complex spot pattern consistent on a character (unless you're doing that rigged ToonBoom style of TLG). I feel like a character like Sauti would be a totally plausible character in a TLK installment for the sake of scoring cute points, Disney's pretty good at puppy characters lol

Fukiza ("spray"): Yet another concept made with the same friend with the same intention to flip most roles each animal has in media on their heads. Fukiza is an Egyptian cobra with the ability to spit venom from her teeth. She exhibits this when she's one day frightened by Tazama, temporarily blinding her with venom directly to the eyes by accident. Contrary to the Guard's biased fears brought on by their awareness of cobras' involvement in the Mark of Evil, Fukiza proves she is a harmless cobra who simply just can't control her venom very well. Fukiza becomes the Guard's snarky friend who loves to create fragrances from flowers (serving the other meaning to her name). Her reference way drawn all the way back in 2019 when she was conceptualized.

Kelele ("howl", "noise"): An Ethiopian wolf who'd be part of the villain line-up against Vitani's Guard. She'd have supersonic howling powers that would rival Vitani's very own aerokinetic/geokinetic Roar. I can't remember if the concept was based on those wild dog paintings in TLG having those lightning bark powers or if we were just coming up with a rival to the Roar in general. (Conceptualized in 2019 and finally drawn in 2022)

Kwanza ("first"): The Mask Maker. Kwanza was an ancient mandrill from Askari's time, making him the first Royal Mjuzi. Before becoming a knowledge-keeper (and subsequently establishing that task for generations of Mjuzis to come), Kwanza solely took interest in medicine and healing, relying on supernatural and at times impractical and slightly deranged (but by no means sadistic or abusive) ways of treating animals in need. Before considering that it was maybe Rafiki who'd made the Moja Kwa Moja Stones, I was going to have Kwanza be the one to create them. His appearance and practices are based on stereotypical (and... possibly harmful) traits of the "witch doctor" archetype in media. (Conceptualized in 2020(?) and finally drawn in 2022)

Mrefu ("tall") and Ndefu ("long"). Some twin giraffe brothers I made up on the spot when playing around with Google Translate. Was looking for hypothetical giraffe names by putting in some words describing giraffes, ended up getting some rhyming names and thought of a pair of twins. I can imagine these two being very minor supporting characters, probably just there to perform tricks or help people reach things, maybe get their necks tangled up over some kind of predicament and have the Guard rescue them. I based their appearances on Dylan and Cole Sprouse because I wanted some notable twins as a reference for their personalities, dynamic, and design. I can imagine Disney pulling some guest-star thing where they'd have these two be voiced by some former Disney alumni

Ngurumo ("thunder"): When planning out a lineup of villains for Vitani's Lion Guard, a friend and I settled on this idea of changing up that overdone "carnivore vs carnivore dispute" trope along with that tired "carnivores other from the main lion pride are inherently mean and evil" trope because it ignores the lesser-known dangerousness of IRL herbivores (those guys are heavy and covered in hooves and horns for a reason, they're built to defend themselves from carnivores), we came up with Ngurumo, a presumptuous, unthinking rhino who rallies an uprising within the herbivores, instilling anti-carnivore ideas such as questioning a lion's inherent title as "king of the jungle" and worsening the already prevalent notion that carnivores are dangerous murderers as if herbivores aren't just as capable of the same thing. While Ngurumo's natural fear of predators is understandable, his motives to rid the Pridelands of them as a means to keep the prey "safe" very much breaks the Circle of Life as it causes competition over grazing lands and eventual starvation. (Conceived and drawn all the way back in 2019)

[seedkeeping]

We are seed keepers. Keeping seeds is an act of Truelove for our past and our collective future. Together with over 70 farms and gardens in our region and across the country, we share the seeds and stories of our beloved foodways across our diasporas: for us, grown by us. Together we learn how to best love our plant relatives, how to midwife their next generations, and how to carry forward their rich origin stories. We mentor apprentices and new seed growers and they teach us too. We send seeds back home. We do all this through the support of your seed orders: seed packet by seed packet. Half of each packet sale goes directly to our growers, honoring their work, their culture, and their expertise. We thresh: pulling the new from the old. We winnow: blowing the chaff from the world that is to come. We are seed keepers and it is our great joy and honor to be part of your seed journey. 1. @ainbaz with Smooth Bitter Melon from @resilientrootsfarm 2. Aleho (Nigerian leaf amaranth) from @justeviateas 3. Transkutukú Peanuts from the Shuar and Achuar communities of the Morona Santiago jungle, Ecuador. 4. Guar Gum, grown at the request of @nitalvadalia 5. Ethiopian Blue Mustard from Menkir Tamrat, an Ethiopian tech-worker turned farmer who introduced these seeds and other Ethiopian varieties to @artisan.seeds. 6. Fantastic Mr. Fox dahlia, named by @snapdragonflowersphilly. Dahlias are known as Cocoxochitl in Nahuatl and are an Aztec food crop. 7. Waterleaf aka Efo Gbure, from @okofarms with flowers closed up before an afternoon rain storm. #seedkeeping (at Glen Mills, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf9MY8JuGVO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[olderthannetfic]

A Greek foodway that caught (American) me entirely off guard at the local Greek Festival: the lemonade was sour lemon with a layer of sugary sludge at the bottom. (I’d known that Greek coffee was made that way, but not that the lemonade worked on similar principles.) And, for a real we’re-not-in-Kansas-anymore experience, the elaborate ceremony surrounding Ethiopian coffee service might afford an opportunity for, say, Bucky’s keepers in Wakanda to teach him civilized table manners?

--

[scarletarosa]

Anubis

Egyptian god of death, mummification, embalming, tombs, and burial grounds

Anubis (Egyptian: Anup, Yinepu, or Anpu) was the original King of the Dead until he changed roles and Osiris became King of the Underworld in his place. Because  of him being born by Nephthys, Anubis was raised by Isis in order for him and his mother to be protected from Set, who was enraged by Nephthys’ act of adultery against him. When Osiris became the new King of the Underworld, Anubis evolved to be more of a guardian and a psychopomp (one who guides spirits to the Underworld). Anubis is said to have fathered the goddess Qebhet with his wife Anput (Anubis’ feminine counterpart). He is most often depicted as a man with the head of a black Egyptian hound, holding an ankh and a flail (an agricultural tool of a shepherd), or in the complete form of an Egyptian hound. The colour black is significant due to it being associated with rebirth in Ancient Egypt.

The Journey through Duat: Anubis is the god who guards the gateway to Duat (the Underworld) and is one of the deities to assist in judging souls in the Hall of Ma’at, making certain that no one wicked can pass on. It is said that once a mummy was sealed up, Anubis would come with the god Wepwawet and the two of them would guide the soul of the deceased towards the Hall of Ma’at, where they would be judged. While the soul waits for their turn, Qebhet, goddess of cool waters and the daughter of Anubis, is said to come and attend to them. She would be joined by other goddesses such as Nephthys and Serqet, who all comfort and provide for the deceased person. 

Once it is their turn, the soul then comes before the fourty-two judges and has to recite the Negative Confessions, claiming to be free or guilty of certain sins (which would change depending on the person). The spirit’s heart would then be placed upon the golden Scales of Truth to be weighed against a feather of Ma’at, the goddess of truth and justice. If the heart was heavier than the feather, the spirit would be given the chance to justify any of their misdeeds, then the judges would deem whether the spirit should be allowed to move on. Anubis is then the one to guide the pure towards the paradise of The Field of Reeds, while the souls of the wicked would have their heart devoured by the goddess Ammit, causing them to be unable to move on and would then be subject to severe punishments.

Other roles: Anubis was also thought to be the inventor and guardian of mummification; watching over the embalming process of every mummy and granting permission to the priests who cut open the bodies. In the myth of Osiris’ death and resurrection, he can be seen assisting Isis and Nephthys in rebuilding and preserving the corpse of Osiris until he could be revived. He is also seen as the god of lost souls, including orphans, and is the one to help guide them towards peace since he is the “shepherd of the dead”. Another role of this god is to watch over the resting places of the dead, punishing anyone who would dare desecrate the area. Thus, Anubis earned the epithet “He Who is Upon the Mountain”, as he was believed to protect the graves and tombs from high above where he could see all. Images of Anubis would be stamped on many of the seals to tombs in the Valley of the Kings, symbolizing the protection of Anubis against raiders and ill-wishers upon the dead. He was even known as the god who had knowledge of the mysteries of the afterlife, including the secrets of magic.  

Personal experiences: Anubis is one of the most noble gods I have ever had the honour to meet. He is deeply compassionate, just, diligent, protective, and patient; among the finest of the Netjeru. He is also quite serious and withdrawn, and does not like stupidity or most jokes. Despite what Egyptologists have assumed, Anubis states that he does not actually take the form of a jackal, but of a black Egyptian hound. This is because he guards the dead with stern protection, whereas jackals eat the dead (and he doesn’t look like a jackal at all either). Anubis is also one of the deities who strongly values their own evolution, so he travels through the dark in order to seek the light, and gradually changes for betterment. For this reason, he had stepped down from being the king of the Egyptian Underworld in order to evolve under a different role. It is true that he is the son of Osiris and Nephthys when these two gods had an affair; though despite this, Isis adores Anubis and does not hold anything negative towards him. The goddess Ma’at also claims Anubis to be one of the most wonderful souls in existence due to his noble and generous nature. In addition, Anubis is to be treated with great respect (as all deities should) so do not call him anything insulting or refer to him as a dog, as this can invoke his wrath. 

Some of his Epithets:

Guardian of the Scales

Chief Physician

Counter of Hearts

Beautiful Guardian

Chief Healer

Guardian of Souls

Guide of the Two Lands

He Who Checks the Scales

He Who Makes the Corpses

He Who is Hidden

High and Mighty One

Immense Strength

Keeper of the Keys to the Underworld

Lord of the Coffin

Lord of the Underworld

Lord of Purification

Master of the Secrets of the Underworld

He Who is Upon the Mountain

Pharaoh of the Underworld

Ruler of Eternity

Lord of the Sacred Land

Offerings: red dry wine, rum, apple juice, coffee (mochas, Ethiopian), hot chocolate, rye bread, rhubarb, red grapes, figs, lemons, limes, parsley, cooked chicken, curry, hummus, olive oil, dark chocolate, almonds, pinecones, beetroots, eggplants, ivy, chrysanthemum, amaranth, henbane, obsidian, black onyx, smoky quartz, tigers eye, jet, cat skulls, wild dog skulls, bones, fossils, papyrus, linen, leather-bound books, balancing scales, cedar essential oil, bronze incense burners, smyrna resin, black olibanum incense, oud incense, statues of Anubis

[kemetic-dreams]

Mami Wata, the most celebrated mermaid-like deity from Africa who crossed over to the West

Despite being considered as an adaptation of the Western Mermaid, Mami Wata is a deity that has existed in Africa for as long as African history and culture can recollect. The half-fish half-human female water spirit is highly respected, feared and worshipped presenting a balance between dark, divine, mysterious and angelic existence. The deity is believed to be a woman with a half-human and half-fish appearance with the ability to transform wholly into any form of her choice. The deity could also take up the form of half-human half-snake. Her upper body is that of a woman while her lower body is a fish with a tail.

Mami Wata is often presented with long healthy hair, enviable beauty and a dark yet appealing mysteriousness. Her human features appear similar to that of the women in the areas in which she is.

Mami Wata traces back to the earliest of African societies as recorded by the griots and keepers of history. The Dogon’s creation myth tells the stories of Mami Wata and traces records of its existence to more than 4000 years ago. Mesopotamian myths also tell of the great water goddess in their story of creation known as Mami Aruru to be the creator of life. The name is traced to the early languages of many modern African societies today. The first root of its name is considered to be from  Ethiopian and  Egyptian Coptic societies. In the Ethiopian Coptic language,  the word “mama” was used as a description of truth and wisdom and the term “uat-ur” meant ocean water. Another definition of the name traces to the early Sudanese society where the word wata referred to a woman. The name is often linked to a single entity but represents the strongest and most significant of all water spirits that exist. Mami Wata was developed from the African culture that believed in the existence and worship of mystical creatures. Mami Wata is the bigger goddess with smaller followers some of which were also men and had the same appearance as their goddess. Stories are told of her followers coming to shore every now and then to deceive seamen and capture them to be taken in the water kingdom. The captives were a source of entertainment until they were offered as sacrifices to her. In West Africa and some parts of Eastern Africa, the deity is called Mami Wata or Maame Wata. Morden African societies refer to her as Maame /Mami Wata. In some parts of Eastern Africa, among the Swahili speaking groups, she is called Mamba Munti. The African deity has managed to find homes in many other societies in the western world. In the Carribean and parts of Southern America, the deity is highly respected and feared with many stories around her identity. Many cultures till date worship the deity and train high priestesses who serve as a link between the people and their deity.

Role of Mami Wata The role of the strikingly beautiful goddess is to provide spiritual and material healing to her worshippers, while also protecting their emotional and mental health and growth. She is the protector of the water bodies. Many traditional groups in Africa till today do not go to the beach or fish on certain days in order to provide peace to the water deity’s home. For women, she is a giver of fertility and protector of women and children. Mami Wata has a soft spot for women who have suffered abuse. The deity is also a provider of wealth and riches to her loyal worshippers and admirers and blesses children with beauty (0ften time the beauty is said to be a destructive tool to the girls). But the deity possesses evil as much as she possesses good. Many men have been said to be captured by the deity for her own sexual satisfaction. Sometimes the men are left lifeless to be buried by the living or their bodies are never found. Women who are not humble because they have been blessed with beauty are often left baren or without a man until they compensate the deity. Mami Wata also has very strong sexual powers of sex starvation, seduction and lust. In the Nigerian tradition, Mami Wata seduces men and reveals herself to him after sexual intimacy. The man is made to swear faithfulness to the deity or die. Any man that rejected her offer is said to suffer sudden death, poverty and destruction to his family if he is married. The deity is also known to have a terrible temper and jealousy issues which often lead to the death of many.

Mami Water in Western societies For many Africans who find themselves in the Western world, specifically in the Caribbean and southern America, the deity is said to have travelled with them on the Atlantic ocean protecting them and taking some of their pain to relieve them. She is said to have capsised many slave ships that do not make it to their western destinations especially during the abolition of the slave trade. She emerged as human many times to the salves often as a beautiful girl who dies at a very young age. This was her way of protecting her people who were no longer close to water bodies. By appearing in human form in between decades, she reminded the slaves that she had not forsaken them. For many Africans communities in areas like the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Brazil she emerged to the people as Lasirèn, Yemanja, Santa Marta la Dominadora, and Oxum. Mami Wata appears in many children stories as a mystical character who often brings good or bad luck depending on one’s character. Many are warned to resist the seductive charms of the deity believing that if one can resist Mami Wata, they can live long and endure life’s obstacles. Mami Wata found her way into western societies by the 15th centuries when the sailors who mixed with the indigenous Africans and slaves found their way into their lands. In Western culture, she is referred to as a mermaid with beautiful features. Today, many Western scholars believe that Mami Wata is a pidgin adaptation of the word mermaid adapted by African societies.

[divinum-pacis]

Faces of Africa: Keepers of the Ark (Ethiopian Orthodox)

In the North of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, one finds a church that was built in 434 AD. This church was the first of about 120 other churches built in the Tigray region. Its curved entirely from a rock and not a single stone block was used. The church is the hiding place of the Ark of the Covenant which is known to be sacred. Whatever is in the Ark is only known to the priests and no one even the president knows or has the authority to check. Hence the big question is, what is in this preserved Ark? We find out from the keepers of the Ark.

[gravalicious]

Esther Balfour (right) and members of the Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation (1940)

Source: Judith Weisenfeld - New world a-coming: Black religion and racial identity during the great migration (2016: 42)

[animationandmup]

Cartoon Movie 2021 has announced their selection of 55 animated features, either at the stage of concept, or development. Here below a small sneak-peak. The entire list can be found here.

CARAMEL’S WORDS by Koniec Films (Spain) - This is the story of Kori, a deaf child who lives in a refugee camp in the Sahara. His mother teaches him to read lips and sign language. His best friend is a small camel called “Caramel." Kori starts reading the animal's lips when he ruminates, interpreting in his own way the thoughts of the camel that become beautiful poems.

NINN by TeamTo (France) - Ninn is a young girl who was found abandoned in the Paris Metro. For Ninn, where she came from has always been a mystery – but now it seems her story has come to find her! 

SHEBA by Maybe Movies (France) - 1938, Ethiopia, as fascist troops are looting the country, Emelia, a 10-year-old girl, is dragged on a treasure hunt across the Horn of Africa, to find her father, an archaeologist captured by the general Servillo. By boat, plane or camelback, through all great archaeological sites and splendid African landscapes, Emelia will face all dangers, along with Muluku, an exuberant young boy from an Ethiopian tribe.

SORYA by Special Touch Studios (France) -  Sorya, a young Cambodian woman aged 17 years old, arrives in Phnom Penh to work in a textile factory with her best friend, Lida. With a hellish pace of work and no talking allowed, Sorya is not a natural at sewing, unlike her friend who rapidly works her way up the corporate ladder. Sorya prefers the nightlife and city living of the capital. One night, she is singing karaoke in Lucky bar. Everybody there is captivated by her voice. It’s the beginning of her path to stardom.

THE FIRE KEEPER by Gao Shan Pictures (France) -  In a village on the edge of the desert, 12-year-old Ahmed is destined to take over his father’s forge but he dreams only of adventures, wilderness and freedom. With 2 young nomads that he befriends, Slimane and Mançoura, he will learn the secrets of the desert. 

WAR WITH THE SALAMANDERS by Les Contes Modernes (France) -  Washed up on a wild island with her father, Juliet, 11 years old, meets an astonishing giant salamander. The animal and its fellows have been vegetating on the nearby small island, surrounded by sharks. The girl and the beast become friends. However the old Isamu warned her: “if the salamanders are freed, they will invade the world…”

FLEE by Final Cut for Real (Denmark) -  “Flee” is the true story about a man’s need to confront his past in order to truly have a future. Amin arrived as an unaccompanied minor in Denmark from Afghanistan. Today, at 36, he is a successful academic and is getting married to his long-time boyfriend. A secret he has been hiding for over 20 years threatens to ruin the life he has built for himself. For the first time he is sharing his story with his close friend.

MARYAM AND VARTO by Tchack (France) -  A young teenage Turk is given the difficult mission to save Maryam and her brother Varto, two Armenian children caught up in the 1915 turmoil. 

PEPINO THE ACCORDIONIST by Meh Producciones (Spain) - In the post-war Spanish times, Pepino is a kid dreaming on playing his accordion. As he grows up, he masters the instrument and starts playing for big audiences. But things are tough in his town and he is forced into Paris to bring some money home. There he will need to learn the Parisian ways of music, work and, even harder, to live away from the love of his life.

[garbussy]

i have not found a name worthy of della anbessa holding it yet 😔

[uwlmvac]

Bill Gresens’ Archaeology Book Review for June 2021

“Keepers of the Lost Ark” by J. Robert Kennedy (one trowel)

Intrepid archaeology couple James Acton and Laura Palmer come to the aid of an Ethiopian priest whose challenge is to keep the lost Ark of the Covenant safe and secret!

Read the entire review at:  https://www.uwlax.edu/mvac/book-reviews/?review=180512

[illegiblewords]

Notes under the cut!

These aren’t all of my lady WoLs, but they are some of my favorite designs and I tried to specifically show different things with each of them.

I think with design, beyond different silhouettes it’s worth it to be able to look at a character and get a sense of their personality and background. Sometimes lifestyle depending on how realistic you’re going, although Final Fantasy is a bit “fuck practicality we’re running on rule of pretty” lmao.

With these ladies specifically I also wanted to 1) pick fashions that would work well with the body types and proportions 2) create specific tones 3) play with expectations. I also, personally, wanted to explore different forms of femininity in a positive way. I’ve seen some cases where people seem to think the only way to have a “strong” woman is if she’s made traditionally masculine. I have no problem with traditionally masculine women by any means, but I’m really not into demonizing femininity either. So if I have the option to actually explore femininity in a game in positive ways I like to do that!

Nheu/Pink Miqo’te: I wanted to make her a kind of scrappy character, loud and probably a bit obnoxious, a shameless delinquent sort who immediately demands attention with neon color schemes. Going with Keeper of the Moon miqo’te let her have a toothy smile with little fangs too! I didn’t want her to look mysterious or alluring. This is one of my favorite archetypes tbh, I should really use it more.

Lagogeim/Turquoise Roegadyn: I wanted to make a dragoon who tied to Limsa Lominsa instead of Ishgard or even Gridania, who took the concept of Llymlaen with her harpoon and really built into the motif of pirates. So beyond evoking the sea as much as possible, I wanted to use an unnatural skin tone and hair color since people shy away from those a lot. I tried going for a harder fem look too for her--many roegadyn players embrace this angle so I decided to this time!

Eir/Blue Highlander: I’ve seen a stereotype that hyur highlanders have tall, sexy bodies but less attractive faces. I wanted to make a very short, cute looking highlander girl who isn’t the extreme end of curvy, give her a short/cute haircut that still felt strongly feminine, and pair that with a heavier, more traditionally masculine-perceived job like Warrior. I also tried to make her really, REALLY feel Ala Mhigan both in gear and color scheme/features--I drew some aspects of her coloring from Ilberd to be honest!

Asklona/Green Roegadyn: So I mentioned that a lot of people do hard fem looks for lady roegadyns very well, and I’ve seen critics go after femroes saying they have mannish bodies and ugly faces before. I disagree with that a lot, and decided in this case to go as soft and traditionally feminine as I could. I also went with the least saturated Sea Wolf color and tried playing with blushes/hair color combos to help her look a bit more natural (as opposed to blue/greenish) in this case. Another angle I went with was bard specifically to close the gap between Limsa Lominsa and Gridania, playing into siren and pirate themes since this character is a Sea Wolf. Beyond choosing green to fit with my Famfrit team in a unique way, I chose it as that bridge and because the green being a complementary color to red would make any pink hues stand out more!

Osk/Purple Viera: The stereotype I’ve seen for viera has involved them being hyper sexualized. I personally also rarely use brown hair or the color purple apparently so far as those choices go. What’s more, I wanted to make a look for the scholar job that would be a little more versatile, clearly not mistakable for any other job (healing or otherwise) and that would keep this particular character both elegant and more conservatively dressed. I didn’t want the character to feel like she’d hopped out of the woods either given that’s the most frequent angle for Viera--going a more urban direction was something I wanted to do as a contrast to that.

Nivienne/Gold Elezen: Wildwood elezen tend to be pushed with more natural skintones while Duskwights are more likely to have blue undertones that let them feel like drow. In this case I wanted to make a Wildwood elezen who, due to color combinations, felt fantasy-golden and a little otherworldly. I did a lot of designing to foil Emet-Selch in the name of fanfic lmao (use of gray and gold in different places to different degrees, height, etc.) but I also wanted to make a summoner character who, like scholar, felt extremely visually distinct from other casters. The biggest Summoner-specific look involves horns so that stayed, but for the rest I wanted there to be a flowing and mysterious feel. There was a critique I saw in the past that female casters end up looking like magical girls, so I wanted to challenge that. I also was careful with how the face and shoulders were framed to make sure that Nivienne would feel proportional, since that’s a potential risk for elezen.

Acja/Brass Viera: Another alternate take on dragoon! This time, I wanted to make a viera who tied to savanna aesthetics as a contrast to forest ones, and I did look at Sub-Saharan African fashions as influence. I couldn’t get things exact/used some “it’s Final Fantasy people wear five billion belts” artistic license (and offhand I don’t remember the exact country I used, it might have involved Ghana’s historical armor?) but I tried to match silhouettes, materials, shoes, etc. as best I could. Part of this is also that I know African visuals get used less often in video games, which is a shame because they’re incredibly gorgeous and distinct! So Acja is one design where I did try to bring that in.

Kokono/Orange Lalafell: I’ve seen people lament lack of canine race options in FFXIV and honestly, I agree with that sentiment. We have so many cats and it would have been cool to get dog options. Since it’s not an in-game thing though, I figured this was an opportunity to make the type of character instead. In this case, I used the dark nose option for lalafells and combined with pieces from the werewolf set to make a little fox! She has a few different influences to her visuals due to backstory stuff, but I do think there are ways to make more foxes and small dogs for lalafells as well as wolves for Hellsguard roegadyns.

Eshe/Yellow Au Ra: Another African-influenced design, this one tying to Ethiopian historical fashion and armor! Same rules apply though, the top goes hugely with the “it’s Final Fantasy” brand of artistic license. I know au ra are mostly associated with Othard/Eastern regions, so I decided to shift things to a different tone while trying to keep things fully immersive. I made Eshe a paladin because the swords and shields have some options that resemble African sword designs (WHICH ARE SO FUCKING COOL) and I wanted to try a different tone for paladin from the Western knight-in-shining-armor as well. I didn’t want Eshe to feel overly cutesy or innocent, but did want her to feel very graceful and strong.

Mitsu/Red Midlander: A few things hit me in combination here. First, I’d been nerfing myself to a degree with hyur midlanders when I knew there was an approach I liked. Second, I haven’t seen a lot of traditional-looking characters from Othard and I wanted to switch that up. By this I mean that looking at Far Eastern NPCs, often they are midlander hyurs with black, dark brown, or occasionally gray hair. Not a ton of dye. I love that the Warrior of Light could come from anywhere, so I tried to design someone who credibly could have been an NPC in Kugane. She’s a summoner because there is an Othard tradition of summoning, and she wears red because to my knowledge it has symbolism for good luck in both Japan and China besides being pretty. I also wanted to make a very different summoner (and general caster) visual compared to Nivienne.