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wisdomrays · 5 years ago

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TAFAKKUR: Part 27

Your Skin: Part 2

You will be surprised to see what great biological activities take place in the epidermis. Even when a person dies, this layer does not die right away. After death the nails and beard continue to grow. This occurs because of the activities in the germinative epithelium, which makes up the basal layer of the epidermis.

Beneath the epidermis is the dermis, a relatively thick layer. This is the layer which keeps the skin lively and firm and which produces the color. Many works of arts are present in this layer to complete my splendid structure. This layer consists of connective tissue with fiber bundles that is made of collagen protein. As people get older, their skin dries up and starts to lose its collagen proteins. Once the fibers start to decrease, I lose my firmness, and then I start to wrinkle. Although people are not happy with wrinkles, which are inevitable, I don’t think this is something to worry about; wrinkles are also a sign of maturity and experience. In the structure of my dermis there are other parts that have very important functions: The sweat glands, which are in the shape of coiled tubes, spread throughout the body act as ventilators; in addition, the hair follicles, the sebaceous gland, which helps to nourish and moisturize the hair, the chromatophores (pigment-containing cells) that determine the skin color, the hair muscles that give your hair flexibility and the blood vessels that nourish me are all important. I also have special receptor cells that can sense temperature, pressure and pain and there are nerve endings scattered among these cells.

In different parts of the body I am more sensitive to particular sensations. My sense receptors (corpuscles) vary in shape and you human beings have named them after the scientists who discovered them. There is Pacini’s corpuscle, Meissner’s corpuscle, Ruffini’s corpuscle and Krause’s corpuscle. Each of those receptors is thought to be receiving independent stimuli, but this has not been proven by experiment yet.

Do you ever wonder why you and your friends have so many different skin tones? This is the result of the work of the chromatophores (cells that contain pigment) which are located in the dermis, at the point closest to the epidermis. These cells, which have a number of branches, move in relation to the intensity of the light, and their branches can stretch and shrink back. These movements cause the pigment granules (melanin granules) to disperse within the cell or aggregate towards the center. This is how they can lighten or darken the skin color, causing you to get a “tan.” The seasons, the length of the day and the intensity and duration of the sunlight all affect the movement of these cells. These cells darken your skin color during the summer and lighten it during the winter. But, why is this necessary? This is a wonderful physiologic mechanism that has so many amazing purposes and meanings. I am sure you have noticed that people who live in Northern Europe and North America have a lighter complexion than those who live in the more southerly regions of the earth. This is because the countries in these northern regions are exposed to a less intense sunlight for a shorter time. The further north you go the more rainy and cloudy it is. However, sunlight also plays a very important role in the synthesizing of vitamin D in your body. The molecule known as 7-dehydrocholesterol can be converted into vitamin D only with sunlight. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is highly important for calcium absorption and bone metabolism. If you do not have enough exposure to the sun, then vitamin D cannot be produced; this could result in disorders like rickets (most common), as well as several other bone diseases and skeletal complications. However, it is interesting that sunlight is a two-edged sword. Neither too much nor too little sunlight is good for you. Too much exposure to the sunlight damages my health, causing such diseases as skin cancer and eye disorders. Our Lord God Almighty has made all parts of the earth suitable for human life. He knows well, of course, what people need in order to be able to live in places that have less sunlight and in other places that have a great deal of sunlight. In order to allow people to benefit from the sunlight everywhere, He has given the necessary qualities to my chromotaphores and the melanin granules that they contain. In places that have less sunlight, my chromotaphores synthesize less melanin. The melanin disperses throughout the cells or the cells move downwards, and my color lightens. This allows more sun absorption and this sunlight is used for vitamin D production. In sunny places, however, people are more exposed to the ultraviolet rays of the sun as well as other forms of radiation. This is why the risk of my cells becoming mutant and cancerous is greatly increased. In order to avoid such a situation, more melanin is synthesized in people who live in sunny places. The melanin in the chrotaphores gathers towards the center of the cell and my color darkens. Thus, excess sunlight is absorbed by my melanin pigments thanks to their special structure and function. This prevents other sensitive cells from becoming damaged and cancerous.

During hot weather, in order to balance your inner body temperature, the blood vessels that pass through the skin expand and more blood is carried through the skin. I give off the water in my blood through my sweat glands. While this warm water called “sweat” spreads over my surface and evaporates, an important amount of heat is released into the air. Thus, your inner body temperature does not increase and you remain cool inside. Thanks to the work of my sweat glands, I can also get rid of some nitrogenous waste and thus support your kidneys. During cold weather, however, the activities of my sweat glands decrease, and this helps you to stay warm. The blood vessels narrow so that the blood in me is reduced. More warm blood is channeled into your body so that your important inner organs do not become cold. The muscles of my hairs contract and the hairs straighten, thickening the layer of hair that covers me. It feels like you are covered with a blanket. If your body temperature falls off significantly, my receptors stimulate the muscles that lie under me and these muscles produce heat by vibrating. That is why you shiver from cold! Women have fewer hairs on their body. Do you think this is unfair? Of course not! Unlike men, women’s bodies are created in such a way that they can store a greater percentage of fat among the tissues under the skin. This hypodermic fatty tissue not only protects women from cold, but it is also used as extra storage for nutrients that they use when breastfeeding. It also helps protect women’s muscles and bones against bumps and shocks from the outside. So, this tissue works both as a temperature isolator and as a “shock absorber.” There is nothing unfair about this. And, it proves that God gives each of His creation exactly what they need and deserve.

Some people say that the skin is a mirror of the body’s health; this is true. The fact that I am visible and can be examined easily makes me the first organ to display symptoms of many diseases that lie below. Abnormalities that appear on me are usually a sign of metabolism disorders, ulcers and other glandular disorders in the body. For example, if your liver is being affected by a poisonous substance, this shows up as red spots on the hands. But not only physical ailments affect, me; I am also affected by your spiritual condition. Of course, the opposite can happen, too. That is, diseases on the skin can affect your inner organs.

I have mentioned before that my ability to renew and repair myself is very great. God willing, I can repair mild burns, bruises and cuts easily under normal circumstances. However, if the bruise goes as deep as my basal layer, there might be a scare there to remind you in the future and to give thanks to God for your health. In addition, in diseases like diabetes, my ability to renew and repair myself is weakened and I cannot easily heal. In such cases, you have to take the utmost care to keep me clean so that I do not get infected.

Well, I think that I have said enough about myself. I will not continue to go on about the many symptoms of diseases that can be seen on me, including, allergies, itchiness, and infections. However, it is important for you to know that I can demonstrate hundreds of different conditions that are caused by a great range of factors, such as genetically transmitted diseases, immune system disorders, and bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. But don’t worry! As you can see, the majority of people live a healthy life despite these risks. The Creator has provided your body with a protective mechanism and has taught you how to take care of yourself. My job here is to indicate the Creator and how He has made me a flawless work of art that demonstrates deep meanings behind its complexity. Rather than continuing to give you a lecture on dermatology, it would be better if you were to live according to God’s consent. If you do so, you will be protected from diseases; even if you do become ill, you will have greater patience and moral strength. You will also be more thankful to God for your health.

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zayadriancas · 5 years ago

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Zoe Rivas, Fiona Coyne, Sean Cameron, Drew Torres, Yael Baron, Alli Bhandari, Lola Pacini, Spinner Mason, Anya MacPherson & Hunter Hollingsworth

Thank you!!! :)

Zoe Rivas:

favorite thing about them: Her character development and her storyline from NC s2-s4 plus her assault storyline

least favorite thing about them: her attitude during the whole Degrassi Nudes thing and all the times she did something related to sex/racy photos without someone’s consent but it’s just brushed off like it was nothing

favorite line: “I’m a mess but you already know that, I’ve spent the last day listening to people say terrible things about me, I don’t blame them. I’ve made a lot of bad choices and am probably going to make a lot more. I did not choose to be sexually assaulted. If you don’t convict Luke Baker and Neil Martin today, you’re saying I deserved it, and you’re saying other girls and boys will deserve it too, but they don’t. And I don’t. I’m not sure I wanna live in a world where that’s true.”

brOTP: Zoe/Miles

OTP: Gracevas

nOTP: Zoemund

random headcanon: Her and Grace become roommates after college and Grace eventually comes to terms with her sexuality and they get together

unpopular opinion: Zoemund was overrated and I never liked them or saw their appeal

song i associate with them: idk lol

favorite picture of them:

Fiona Coyne:

favorite thing about them: All of her season 10 storylines, her style, and her character development

least favorite thing about them: The way she acted towards Imogen in Underneath It All

favorite line: “You look at me like in this perfect princess, but I’m not. And once you realize that you’ll get sick of me, everyone does.”

brOTP: Fiona/Holly J

OTP: Fimogen

nOTP: Fiona/Bobby

random headcanon: She moved back to NY after she was done with her internship and she and Holly J became roommates

unpopular opinion: I’m not sure

song i associate with them: 7 Rings-Ariana Grande(idk I’m bad at these lol)

favorite picture of them:

Sean Cameron:

favorite thing about them: I liked that he was realistic and his story arc was great from s1-4

least favorite thing about them: everything about his storyline in season 6

favorite line: “Shakespeares just some old dead white guy from 500 years ago. What does he know about my life?”

brOTP: Sean/Jay

OTP: Semma

nOTP: Sean/Amy

random headcanon: Sigh I’m bad at these idk lol

unpopular opinion: His return in season 6 was unnecessary considering what they did to his character

song i associate with them: Idk lol

favorite picture of them: N/A

Drew Torres:

favorite thing about them: How he was a good guy with a good heart that always tried to do the right thing

least favorite thing about them: Thar sometimes in trying to protect people from getting hurt he handled things badly.

favorite line: “My only solution is a time machine and a big box of condoms.”

brOTP: Drew/Dallas

OTP: Drianca

nOTP: Drecky

random headcanon: Him and Bianca got back together after his graduation and are now married with one son named Adam :)

unpopular opinion: He wasn’t a terrible person or stupid

song i associate with them: Can’t Help Falling In Love With You

favorite picture of them:

Alli Bhandari:

* favorite thing about them: She was a good friend for the most part

* least favorite thing about them: She could be annoying sometimes mainly in the early seasons

* favorite line: “She sounds like a total B with a side order of itch.”

* brOTP: Alli/Jenna

* OTP: Bhandallas

* nOTP: Alleo

* random headcanon: Idk

* unpopular opinion: Idk

* song i associate with them

* favorite picture of them:

Yael:

* favorite thing about them: Their non-binary storyline

* least favorite thing about them: What they did to Maya in NC season 1

* favorite line: “I’m not going back, not for him not for anyone.”

* brOTP: Yael/Lola

* OTP: Yola

* nOTP: Yael/Hunter

* random headcanon: None

* unpopular opinion: Yunter was never cute

* song i associate with them

* favorite picture of them

Lola:

* favorite thing about them: Her storyline in NC season 3 and she was a great friend to Yael and Saad and she was just a really intriguing character in general

* least favorite thing about them: That we never got to see her graduate 😞

* favorite line: “Its like we’re hurting and we’re not allowed to talk about our pain because it makes them uncomfortable.”

* brOTP: Lola/Yael & Lola/Frankie

* OTP: Torn between Laad and Mola

* nOTP: Tola

* random headcanon: She eventually realized she is bi or pan

* unpopular opinion: Idk

* song i associate with them

* favorite picture of them:

Spinner:

* favorite thing about them: His character development

* least favorite thing about them: His behavior in the early seasons mainly s4

* favorite line: “One hot dog, beer stays in the car, your mouth stays shut and something else stays in your pants. Clear?”

* brOTP: Spinner/Jay

* OTP: Sparcy

* nOTP: Spemma

* random headcanon: Him and Darcy reunited after him and Emma got a divorce

* unpopular opinion: He wasn’t to blame for the shooting

* song i associate with them

* favorite picture of them:

Anya:

* favorite thing about them: She was really sweet and relatable and a likable character to watch

* least favorite thing about them: even though I liked them together a lot her relationship with Sav brought out the worst in her TBH

* favorite line: “Why is there only two options for girls, either she likes you or she’s a bitch?”

* brOTP: Anya/Chantay

* OTP: s7-10 Sanya & s11 Ownya

* nOTP: Anya/Dr.Chris

* random headcanon: When she got back from the army she started a LARping club for kids/teens

* unpopular opinion: None

* song i associate with them

* favorite picture of them:

Hunter:

* favorite thing about them: Nothing

* least favorite thing about them: What he did to Maya and the fact that he felt no remorse and the way he treated Yael when they came out as NB.

* favorite line: “Real world people always disappoint, online I’m a hero. You wanna live IRL, go ahead noob. And if you ever tell anyone what we did in the Meadow of Zorrath I’ll find you and turn you into a troll.” (This storyline was hillarious as much as I hate Hunter now I’ll always enjoy that storyline).

* brOTP: Hunter/a garbage can

* OTP: Hunter/a dumpster

* nOTP: Hunter/Yael

* random headcanon: All his friends stopped talking to him cause he sucks

* unpopular opinion: He should have apologized to Maya. He never had any kind of redemption and his MI storyline while it could have been interesting was just used to excuse his actions and nothing will convince me otherwise because they completely dropped it after 1 episode

* song i associate with them

* favorite picture of them

#maya-matlin #answered

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paciniz · 5 years ago

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𝓵𝓸𝓵𝓪 𝓹𝓪𝓬𝓲𝓷𝓲 ︵‿୨♡୧‿︵

dolores pacini, 15, plastic in training (but just about the worst plastic you’ve ever seen)

neutral good &&. 2w3 &&. esfp.

this is what makes us girls // lana del rey（ ♡ ）candy // slayyyter（ ♡ ）s.l.u.t. // bea miller

she’s truly an unstoppable force with a lot of love for everyone, and such is perhaps why she’s most unsuited for the plastics. that doesn’t stop her from trying, though! she doesn’t understand why she can’t just get along with everyone - the school isn’t following conflict theory in that they’re all competing for limited resources, after all. there’s enough care to go around, and perhaps such is what better suits the girl to the greatest people you will ever meet. nonetheless, however, she enjoys the attention being a plastic garners her, and that is why she continues at it!

she’s an enigma. that is, of course, pertaining to the fact that while lola comes off as the dumbest girl around, beneath her surface lies an interior more socially aware than any would realize. she’s found a home in activism, be it that of combating racism, sexism, homophobia, or what have you. she’s little but fierce, withholding her passion for fighting for what’s right from the world because what does it matter what a dumb ninth grader thinks, anyway? lola goes along allowing the school to believe she’s a complete ditz because a) what is she supposed to do to fix that? and b) it’s always fun seeing people’s expectations get blown out of the water. her academics aren’t too shabby, either.

and there’s something to say lola is overly fixated on garnering the love of her peers. her dad’s always been so busy with the restaurant - and must we even speak of mom? - so lola looks to the school to get the love and attention she doesn’t get at home. such is why lola flirts with multiple guys, because what happens when the attention from one runs out? she just feels unwanted. despite this, however, she moves into this ideology under the guise that the boys she talks to are doing the exact same thing. if confronted with the reality of commitment, she’s not afraid to move towards a relationship! she just doesn’t like getting attached to someone not feeling the same way.

some of lola’s interests include cheerleading, volleyball, and baking. she’s pretty toned, despite her small size, and is a lot more powerful than she looks. not to mention that the uniforms are just so cute! and she knows her butt looks great in those shorts. her love of baking stems from always being around cooking, and, well, food. her absolute favorite thing to make is alfajores, although lola is also quite skilled with american desserts like brownies and cupcakes. any occasion she can think of, she’ll bake for it!

all things considered, lola loves acting a lot more experienced than she is, if only because she fears not getting enough attention because of her age. she’s a virgin, and while she may brag of any sexual escapades to friends of her age level, in all honesty she’s completely afraid of sex and really has no idea what to expect. lying about her expertise, in her eyes, shields her with a facade of knowledge, prompting herself to think that if she believes she’s experienced, what could go wrong?

lola is very appearance oriented, and thus is quite fixated on how she looks. despite what the show may have you believe, she does not dress like that!!! i have a pinterest board here that details her fashion with image examples. lola will very rarely be found in an outfit that isn’t pink; she views it as a comfort color and thus an extension of herself, as positive traits people see in the color pink are ones she tries to emulate in herself. she loves to wear skirts and absolutely views them as her favorite type of clothing. however, she isn’t against wearing pants or shorts. in terms of the upper half, she enjoys layering shirts, thanks in part due to the colder toronto climate that doesn’t always allow for spaghetti straps. paired with her pink is most often lavender or white. she loves heart buckles!!! a lot!!!!!!!!! and she thinks gingham is totes adorbs. stripes are also another beloved pattern. she also totally owns the lazy oaf x doc martens boots. her other favorite pair of shoes are her pink converse. in terms of makeup, though she doesn’t always wear a ton, she isn’t afraid to show up to school with extreme makeup looks typically saved for social media. lola thinks hearts are just adorable, and loves adding them to her look, whether its blush hearts or the milk makeup heart stamp. pink eyeshadow is a constant, despite being told that monochromatic looks can get tacky. add some blush on the nose and some highlight... well, everywhere, and some mascara, and she’s done!

and of course, there’s the whole sticky subject of her mom leaving. there are a few things lola forced herself into believing and embracing given such trauma, being: if she achieves enough, she will be worthy of love; she needs to push others away before they have a chance to leave her; and someone better will always come along to take her place. thus, a few of her fears include being abandoned by those who should be trustworthy, “normal” relationships, and letting someone in and getting hurt again. lola believes herself to be defective in some way, that if she were a good enough daughter, her mom would have stayed. hence, lola has some coping mechanisms she has built up to protect herself from potential abandonment. this includes maintaining shallow relationships, abandoning others before they have a chance to leave, closing down emotionally, becoming clingy and needy, becoming possessive of others, worrying that conflict will lead to the other person leaving, shutting down and creating distance when things get tough, becoming obsessed or paranoid and demanding frequent proof of someone’s love, not committing to anything, becoming a people pleaser out of a need to be accepted and loved, and putting the needs of others first so they will always feel valued. this then correlates with lola sharing her love with all of the cliques of degrassi, fearing that others may feel the way she does. alongside this, she believes being a people pleaser and thus beloved by the population assists in being accepted and loved, as why would people abandon someone they liked and respected?

in summation, she’s baby .. thank u for coming to my ted talk

#rivaltask #right tag idk?????#╰ ♡ ✧ ˖ she would have swallowed the sun to make you warm enough ┊ study .#this is a monster

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goldscoyne · 8 years ago

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#get you a girl that can do both

#lola pacini #lolapaciniedit #amanda arcuri #amandaarcuriedit #degrassiedit #mine #i'll protect her with my life

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seancamerons · 6 years ago

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i had a dream last night that was kinda weird it was a weird crossover of oitnb but frankie hollingsworth and lola pacini were both arrested for something together and ended up getting locked up at litchfield and became entangled in a relationship that was one part flaritza but romantic like vauseman. they made the jail kind of fun. lola would make makeup out of various commisary goods and do makeovers to anyone who wanted them and frankie learned to get resourceful. what would their ship name be? fola? lankie? either way it was cute and wholesome. the only thing i wonder is what would they get busted for doing? shoplifting? fraud? frankie’s family goes broke and they get in to deep with debt so idk where that was going. just a thought.

fola, heh has a nice ring to it?

#someone needs to write this #i'd read it for real #degrassi #frankie hollingsworth #lola pacini #i can imagine frankie being terrified but lola would thrive despite the situation #frankie's words get her into trouble and lola has to kind of protect her #frankie's a total piper #i have issues #degrasi #prison au

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reggiephantom · 6 years ago

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Hunter Hollingsworth, Yael Baron, Lola Pacini, Baaz Nahir, Vijay Maraj, Frankie Hollingswoth

do the sexy love™ with: LOLA! Literally I’m the straightest but would love on Lola if I ever got the chance.

sacrifice myself for: Hunter Hollingsworth my problematic fave.

kick: I guess Frankie bc she can be kinda self involved sometimes.

take to prom: Yael! I love yael and they (is this the correct pronoun?) need to be protected.

abandon in jurassic park: Vijay I guess. He annoyed me.

push off a bridge: Baaz Nahir, does this even need explanation?

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charlielongclo-blog · 6 years ago

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¡Que Viva Changó! -Exploring the popularity of Changó in Cuba.

(Image 1: Changó, dios de trueno)

Background

The transatlantic slave trade saw not only the movement of people from West Africa to the Caribbean and South American continent, but also the spread and evolution of hybrid religious practices stemming from a shared pantheon of Yorùbá deities from Southern Nigeria.

The African Diaspora developed these religious practices across a wide geographical area and under different systems of colonial rule which lead to differences in names and spellings as well as morphing religious with the beliefs with those of the oppressors to guarantee clandestine survival. Here I focus on Cuba where African deities are equated with Roman Catholic saints (Welsh, 2001) and are survived not only in religious practise but in popular music.

Who is Changó?

Known as: Sàngó in Africa, Xangó in Brazil and Changó or Shangó in Cuba, Changó is a strong warrior deity connected to thunder and fire and associated with the colours red and white. Ernesto Pichardo, worshipper and ‘child’ of Changó describes him as:

‘Thunder and lightning. Justice and truth, warrior and king. Dancer, owner of the sacred Bàtá drums, original diviner[…] Excellent strategist in warfare. Excellent governor of people. Always present where there is injustice. Brings order where there is confusion. These are ways in which people describe him[…]’ (Mason & Pichardo, 2009)

His popularity and prominence in Cuban popular music makes me wonder: why Changó? There are many other deities in the pantheons of Cuba’s Santeria and Lucumi, each with their own attributes, powers and ritual, yet Changó stands out.

In ‘Ochun con Changó’ Celia Cruz very clearly describes the deity and her feelings towards him:

Él es el macho fuerte siempre de rojo y blanco

He is the strongest always in red and white

Con su espada en la mano guerrero y emperador

With his sword in hand warrior and emperor

Oshun con Changó, Changó con Oshun

Oshun with Changó, Changó with Oshun

Ellos son mis orishas y yo los quiero a los dos

They are my orishas and I love them both

Akínyemi defines Changó as one of the most powerful and universally worshipped Yorùbá deities in the (African) Diaspora, and goes on to explain his multi faceted traits that could be attributed to causing this:

‘…the prestigious position that Sàngó [Changó] occupies among the Yorùbá people stemmed from his association with Òyó royalty and the institution of kingship, his specialised divination system[…] his commitment to social justice, his association with thunder and lightning, his military might and pursuit of the two main themes of a warrior culture - prowess and honour - both of which his devotees believed were part of the reason he did an enormous variety of things towards their improvement and for humanity in general’ (Akínyemi, 2009)

This gives insight into Changó’s position and appeal within the pantheon but does not explain his particular popularity in Cuba.

In ‘Saludo a Changó’ Company Segundo covertly refers to Changó as papa (father) singing: ‘Pa saludar a papá ‘ - say hello to father - meaning Changó. This reference could be easily missed were it not for the closing refrain where he sings: ‘Obaé obayana yana’ which is in the Yorùbá language and translates as ‘my father is here’. Religious practices often use African derived languages and this use of Yorùbá acts as a coded reference, aligning him to these practices. It is hidden to those who do not understand it, but an obvious statement to those who do, hiding in plain sight.

Orisha Royalty?

Although not explicitly a leader of the other deities, Changó has an elevated status often described as regal:

‘…in the diaspora, where Sàngó [Changó] is syncretised as Saint Barbara (as in Cuba)[…] his association with Òyó royalty is still recognised, and he is subsequently accorded royal respect[…] he is regarded as the divinity of thunder and lightning[…] and he dances to the rhythm of the Bàtá drum beaten in a virile, warlike, dignified and kingly fashion.’ (Akínyemi, 2009.)

Could this royal association be the source for his popularity? The evidence within songs does not suggest so. Although he is described as having royal status by scholars with regard to ritual practise, there is no evidence of this in popular Cuban music which could explain his popularity there.

In ‘Changó ta veni’ Celia Cruz sings enthusiastically in a major key uptempo track that demonstrates excitement at his arrival, however there is no further lyrical elaboration as to specifically why this is:

Con el machete en la mano tierra va temblar

With machete in hand the earth will tremble

Changó ta veni

Changó is coming

The Power of Changó

Changó has control of thunder, lightning and fire which as strong elements undoubtedly give a certain appeal, however his power also extends past this. Changó has the ability to resolve all kinds of human problems (both spiritual and physical) through his mysterious and mythical power. His superhuman nature is demonstrated in his military might and ability to provide physical protection for his followers’ (Akínyemi, 2009)

The group N.G La Banda appeal to this power in their song ‘Papa Changó’ where the lyrics to their heavily rhythmic track state:

¡Que miedo que volverias!

How scary it is that you could return!

Papa Chango […]

Father Changó[…]

Darme la luz mi padre, darme la luz […]

give me the light my father, give me the light […]

a matar muchos enemigos […]

to kill many enemies […]

So we can see here how the physical power of Changó is appealing and called upon in a devotional way in the song. However the request of powerful help has not only been asked for in the immediate present for dispatching enemies; the history of slavery itself can be seen as just cause for people to turn to Changó for help and guidance:

‘The protective power of Sàngó is well recognised and appreciated by his devotees in the Diaspora. Since Sàngó worshippers in the New World developed from a background of slavery in an atmosphere of bondage and suffering, the deity is often called upon in their chants as an instrument of deliverance.’ (Akínyemi, 2009)

The suffering through slavery that brought these deities to Cuba demonstrates why a powerful deity like Changó would be held in high regard as a saviour for the oppressed. However we can attribute this to Changó’s survival in the New World, but it still doesn’t account for his popularity., the reasons for which are more specific.

Musical heritage as cultural identity.

So still the question remains: Why Changó?

To answer this we need to look at cultural heritage, preservation and reinvention in Cuba.

The slave trade brought people and with them their religious belief systems also made the Atlantic crossing. As Lovejoy explains:

‘Easily identifiable cultural icons, such as Bàtá drums, can reveal the conscious efforts of people to reestablish institutions of their homeland, even if only in symbolic and ritualised forms associated with religion, in this case òrìshà worship’ (Lovejoy, 2009)

And with this, most importantly:

‘Bàtá drums in Cuba also have an important relationship to Changó in that they belong to him’ (Lovejoy, 2009)

In Cuba, programs such as the government funded Casa de las Américas strengthened pan-Caribbean and pan-African cultural links through arts preservation and economic support.

‘Cuba is exceptional in the Spanish Caribbean in the degree of attention it has given to its links - historical, cultural and ideological - with Africa.’ (Pacini Hernandez, 1998)

And this even saw the ministry of culture elevate the status of Rumba to a national cultural symbol.

‘Rumba[…]has emerged as a national symbol of twentieth century Cuban society’ (Payne Daniel, 1991)

Through the use of bàtá drums Rumba is heavily connected to Changó so in effect, Changó was being promoted yet hidden in plain sight under the guise of Rumba music and dance.

We can see this clearly in tracks like ‘Elube Changó’ by the Afro Cuban Allstars, ‘Que viva Changó’ by Lazarito Valdés and ‘Highway One (Changó’s Dance)’ by the Bobby Matos Afro Cuban Jazz Ensemble. These all display Rumba musical features, either in vocal call and response style, harmony, the use of the rumba clave or in more general polyrhythmic rhythm parts. All of these reference Changó in their titles, yet don’t describe or make a devotion to him. He is the focus through the Rumba musical features which are integral to the tracks which clearly supports the idea that with the promotion of Rumba naturally came the promotion of Changó which can explain such a level of his popularity.

Machismo and Changó?

Leaving aside the influence that the promotion of Rumba and black Cuban culture had on the popularity of Changó for a moment, can we see any influence from wider Cuban society?

Often described as ‘machismo’, could the cultural landscape of Cuba of had a natural affinity with the virile and strong warrior deity Changó?

‘…an atmosphere of lingering machismo - the emphasis on being a male, male virility, superiority of men over women. Men are still the dominant group in Cuba. Notions of superiority and defence are embedded in their attitudes and behaviours and both men and women are products of an historic machista culture.’ (Payne Daniel, 1991)

We cannot debate the nature of the culture, only to say that yes on an individual basis Changó might have an appeal due to his ‘macho’ qualities, however we know that African deities were hidden in Cabildo worship by merging or disguising them as Catholic saints based on common features of iconography or traits, e.g the virgin Mary wears blue and white clothing and so does the sea deity Yemayá, so they are paired together through their shared colours. Changó is paired with Saint Barbara who is a patron saint of the military in Catholicism and is often depicted wearing red and with lightning behind her. The military focus, red colour and lightning were enough to merge her with Changó in forced cabildo worship, but we can clearly see that Saint Barbara is female and Changó is male, yet this is not addressed as an issue.

(Image 2: Saint Barbara and Changó)

In the Cuban classic ‘Santa Barbara’ by Celina y Reutilio y Su Conjunto Tipico (with many other artists’ versions available) we see the lyrics weighing heavily towards the Saint in the verses, only to name Changó in the chorus:

Virgen venerada y pura, Santa Bárbara bendita

Revered and pure virgin, blessed Saint Barbara

Nuestra oración favorita, llevamos hasta tu altura

Our favourite prayer, we rise up to your height

Que vive Changó

Changó lives

This use of both clarifies that they are merged as the same deity which dismisses claims that the popularity of Changó in Cuba is purely the result of the machismo culture, as the female saint and the male warrior deity are inextricably linked.

The Form of the Orishas

Finally, the nature of Changó as an entity must be recognised. As well as his physical abilities we need to take into account the Orisha system itself. All Orishas are connected in the pantheon when they ‘become active in the realm of others’. (Mason & Pichardo, 2009) So in this sense their strength and popularity can be seen as mutually dependent. Changó also has the very specific elemental traits of lightning and fire which Mason & Pichardo see as ever changing:

‘Since fire is associated with Changó, take that as an example. fire has not changed. Fire is fire, but its manifestation has changed and will continue to change…(about fully knowing Changó) You can never master it because it is always taking on new forms that make you go right back to square one[…]The influence of Changó’s blessings will vary[…] not in principle but in form.’ (Mason & Pichardo, 2009)

Conclusion:

‘The worship of Sàngó in the New World has thus become a strategy for survival and for freedom. Therefore, the deity is seen in the Diaspora as a national heroic symbol as well as a protective spiritual leader’ (Akínyemi, 2009)

Alongside this statement I argue that Changó has survived thanks to hiding and merging with the image of Saint Barbara, the ever changing forms his elements can manifest in and the strength of a co dependent pantheon of deities he belongs to. Changó has thrived under promotion as part of a Cuban cultural identity through Rumba music, as well as having a place as a spiritual link across the wider Caribbean and in Brazil thanks to his African roots.

Here I show the multiple possible routes that lead to Changó and thus his popularity in Cuba.

I call it ‘El Camino a Changó’ -(The route/way to Changó):

(Image 3: El Camino a Changó’)

The hip hop group ‘Orishas’ promote their identity as Cubans through their music and their song ‘Canto Para Elegua y Changó’ devotes a verse to Changó. The song shows Chango´s representative colours, connection to Saint Barbara, strength and guidance, the diversity of these come together to show why he is so popular:

Blanco y rojo represento[…]

White and red I represent[…]

Santa Bárbara bendita es tú Changó […]

Blessed Santa Bárbara is you - Changó[…]

Fuerza, esperanza, en ti confianza, con tu espada avanza[…]

Strength, hope, trust in you, with your sword advancing[…]

Guía por el bien camino a tus hijos, como yo[…]

Guide the way to your children, like me[…]

However I believe the most important of these features that have insured Changó’s popularity are his link to Rumba music and cultural identity. All bàtá drums are Changó’s and the inclusion of these drums in Rumba music means that his legacy will always continue as long as the musical tradition survives. With the government promotion of Rumba as a national symbol of Cuba, Changó’s fingerprint or DNA is promoted implicitly through music which strengthens Changó as part of a Cuban/Caribbean/African identity. It is perhaps more accurate to invert the visual image and in place of routes leading to Changó, in fact see the stretching reach that he spans.

(Image 4: ‘The Reach of Changó’)

References.

Audio Tracks:

Afro-Cuban Allstars - Elube Changó

Accessed online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMTw0TLdTx8

Bobby Matos Afro Cuban Jazz Ensemble - Highway One (Changó’s Dance)

Accessed online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5NLjKHFUY0

Lazarito Valdés - Que viva Changó

Accessed online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy10PcV-qZg

Bibliography:

Akínyemi, A. (2009) The Place of Sàngó in the Yorùbá Pantheon. In Tishken, J, E. Fálolá, T. & Akínyemi, A. (Ed.) Sàngó in Africa and the African Diaspora. Indiana University Press. (p. 24, 26, 32, 34, 35, 37)

Atwood Mason, M. Pichardo, E. (2009) Searching for Thunder: a Conversation About Changó. In Tishken, J, E. Fálolá, T. & Akínyemi, A. (Ed.) Sàngó in Africa and the African Diaspora. Indiana University Press. (p. 328, 331, 336,

Hernandez, D, P. (1998) Dancing With The Enemy: Cuban Music, Race, Authenticity, and the World-Music Landscape. Latin American Perspectives, Vol. 25, No. 3, Race and National Identity in the Americas. (pg. 110 - 125)

Lovejoy, H, B. (2009) Drums of Sàngó: Bàtá Drum and the Symbolic Reestablishment of Òyó in Colonial Cuba, 1817-1867. In Tishken, J, E. Fálolá, T. & Akínyemi, A. (Ed.) Sàngó in Africa and the African Diaspora. Indiana University Press. (p. 289, 286)

Payne Daniel, Y. (1991) Changing Values in Cuban Rumba. A Lower Class Black Dance Appropriated by the Cuban Revolution. Dance Research Journal, Vol. 23, No. 2. (p. 1-10)

Welsh, D, B. (2001) Voice of Thunder, Eyes of Fire: In Search of Change in the African Diaspora. Dorrance Publishing Co. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (p.113, 138-139)

Discography:

Celina y Reutilio y Su Conjunto Tipico. A Santa Barbara. ’Santa Barbara’ Discos Fidel. 2015. Mp3

Accessed online at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B015LZAPEE/ref=sr_1_1_rd?_encoding=UTF8&child=B015LZAQIO&qid=1515888474&sr=1-1%3C/a%3E

Company Segundo, Colección. ’Saludo a Changó’ WM Spain. 2012. Mp3

Accessed online at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006NQF4QK/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp

Cruz, C. 2En1. ’Ochun Con Changó’ Universal Music Digital Services. 2017. Mp3

Accessed online at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06VY9NWKF/ref=sr_1_2_rd?_encoding=UTF8&child=B06WGVLLQL&qid=1515888381&sr=1-2%3C/a%3E

Cruz, C. Celia Cruz:The Essential. ’Changó Ta Veni’ Lets Go Home Records. 2017. Mp3

Accessed online at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06WD5MPB9/ref=sr_1_1_rd?_encoding=UTF8&child=B06VWRQCWS&qid=1515888081&sr=1-1%3C/a%3E

N.G La Banda. Cuba Classics 3: Diablo Al Infierno! ‘Papá Changó’ Luana Bop. 1992. Mp3

Accessed online at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00G71DT0E/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp

Orishas. A Lo Cubano. ’Canto Para Elegua y Changó’ EMI France. 2003. Mp3

Accessed online at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lo-Cubano-Orishas/dp/B001J9JG60/ref=sr_1_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1515888657&sr=1-1-mp3-albums-bar-strip-0&keywords=orishas

Images:

Image 1:

Changó, dios de trueno

Available at: https://www.cibercuba.com/lecturas/chango-dios-del-trueno

[Accessed January, 13. 2018]

Image 2:

Martinez, A. (2011) Día de Santa Barara, Changó. Chango y Santa Barbara.

Available at: http://www.cubaenmiami.com/dia-de-santa-barbara-chango/

[Accessed January, 13. 2018]

Image 3:

El Camino de Changó’ - Author’s own image.

Image 4:

The Reach of Changó - Author’s own image.

#Orishas Cuba Chango Ethnomusicology CubanMusic Music

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theanatomist · 3 years ago

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The Protection of Zinc against Acute Cadmium Exposure: A Morphological and Molecular Study on a BBB In Vitro Model

Branca, J.J.V.; Carrino, D.; Paternostro, F.; Morucci, G.; Fiorillo, C.; Nicoletti, C.; Gulisano, M.; Ghelardini, C.; Di Cesare Mannelli, L.; Becatti, M.; Pacini, A. Cells 2022, 11, 1646. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11101646 Cadmium (Cd) is a well-known occupational and environmental pollutant worldwide, and its toxicity is widely recognised. Cd is reported to increase the permeability of the…

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#anatomia #anatomiapertutti #anatomy

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miles007blog · 4 years ago

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Typhoid and Cholera: The History of Each Vaccine

Immunization is not a product of the modern times as many would believe. The history of vaccination can be traced back to hundreds of years, when Buddhist monks drank trace amounts of snake venom to counteract snake bites or the practice of variolation in 17th century China, for protection against smallpox. However, it wasn’t until 1796, that modern immunization was systematically implemented. The brief history of vaccination is highlighted with the revolutionary discovery of smallpox vaccine, developed by Edward Jenner, followed by Louis Pasteur, who headed the development of the live attenuated vaccine for cholera and inactivated anthrax vaccination. In this article, we will explore the history of typhoid and cholera vaccination and their place in the history of vaccination. History of Typhoid Vaccination Over the course of history, typhoid fever has been the epicentre of many pandemics, taking hundreds of millions of lives throughout history. According to some notable historians, it is believed that typhoid fever proved to be fatal for about one third of Athens’s population in 430 BC. More than 6,000 settlers in an English colony of Virginia died due to typhoid, while 80,000 soldiers met their demise due to dysentery and typhoid fever in American Civil War. It wasn’t until the 19th century, when the pathogen responsible for typhoid fever was established and the first effective typhoid vaccination was developed and introduced to the masses. William Budd was the first English doctor, who has some success in treating typhoid fever in 1838, by identifying that infected excretions in contaminated water caused typhoid outbreaks. Karl Joseph Eberth described bacillus as the probable cause of typhoid outbreaks in 1880, which was later confirmed by George Gaffky. However, it was Almroth Edward Wright who introduced the modern typhoid vaccination intended for military use in 1896, which proved to be quite effective and was later developed further in London for introduction on a massive scale to the masses. This facilitated the steady decline of typhoid fever outbreaks in the 20th century, accompanied by chlorination of water and improvements in public sanitation. History of Cholera Vaccination Cholera infection has effected millions of people throughout history, but it wasn’t until the19th century that it gained prominence, when it claimed millions of lives in India in 1817, originating from infected rice in the Ganges Delta. It then quickly travelled to Sri-Lanka and Myanmar and by 1820, it has spread to Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines, where it claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people. From there it made its way to china and Japan and by 1821, it made its way to the Persian Gulf, modern-day Turkey, Southern Russia and Syria. There was no respite from the disease and it eventually died due to the extreme winter of 1823-1824 after 6 long and terrible years. Cholera infection has been responsible for seven major global pandemics since then. Each year, more than 4 million people get infected with cholera among which 21,000 to 143,000 people die. Major development to counteract cholera infection began when British physician John Snow mapped the cholera cases in Soho and identified its probable cause as contaminated water. In 1883, Robert Koch, a German micro biologist, described V. cholera, followed by Filippo Pacini who identified Cholera Bacterium in 1854. In 1885, Spanish physician Jaime Ferran created the first effective cholera vaccination after successful cultivation of Vibrio Cholerae and working with live germs. He also helped 50,000 people in Spain by conducting a mass vaccination.

#Typhoid Vaccination #Cholera Vaccination #History of Vaccination

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