Across African Skies Part 1

Welcome to Part 1 of the Across African Skies series which focuses on the mythology, folklore and symbolism of the sun and moon among different African peoples. In this episode, we examine the observations different African peoples have made of the skies above them, the meanings they attached to these observations, and how they have used this information to organize their lives here on Earth. These observations and perceptions almost always coalesce into beliefs and practices with implications for agriculture, timekeeping, navigation, weather prediction and overall culture.

The Batammaliba of Togo and Benin are one of our case studies. The Batammaliba call themselves “the real architects of the earth.” Their creation myth furnishes them with what they believe is detailed knowledge of the purpose and design of their Creator/Creatrix, a solar deity called Kuiye.

Suzanne Preston Blier's The Anatomy of Architecture : Ontology and Metaphor in Batammaliba Architectural Expression (pages 83 - 86)

It is with this understanding of Kuiye’s intentions for cosmic order that the Batammaliba have built and shaped their world.

The Batammaliba understanding of Kuiye informs time. (Image from Dafon Aimé Sègla’s Chasing the Shadow of the Sun: The Batammaliba's Binary System of Time)

The way they build their understanding of the cosmos into the very foundation and structure of their lives takes my breath away!

From Benjamin C. Ray's African Religions : Symbol, Ritual, and Community (page 4) Image from Landy2Go

We also explore other examples from across the continent with case studies from:

Ancient Egypt

Borona Oromo (Ethiopia/Kenya)

Sandawe (Tanzania)

|Xam (Southern Africa)

Luba (DRC)

Ngas (Nigeria)

Temne (Sierra Leone)

Finally, we talk about efforts to further incorporate Black/African Astronomy into current times.