Forth MA-lingas!
Dear Friends,
First, welcome to new subscribers! I’m thrilled you’re here. I’m Helen and I curate Mythological Africans (MA). My intention with this platform is to explore and celebrate the black/African experience of wonder, enchantment and mystery as captured in mythology and folklore, and to do this in the context of the human experience of wonder, enchantment and mystery. The goal is to create a fun and welcoming environment where we can all learn new things and enjoy the beauty and brilliance of African peoples. I’m honored you’re joining me on this journey. On this last day of January, I hope you’re settling into the new year and your plans are starting to take shape. If not, the year is still young!
What to Expect from MA in February
On the MA Podcast in February, we’ll be taking a look at what the good folks over at Librivox are doing with African folklore. LibriVox is a group of worldwide volunteers who read and record public domain texts to create free public domain audiobooks for download. I first learned about Librivox from Laura Gibbs (who you should definitely follow on X/Twitter if you’re into mythology and folklore). I think it is a great venture and if you have time, please consider volunteering as a reader.
Also in February, I’ll be sharing the quarterly MA Blog Post. It will be a follow up to this piece about Neck Rings in African Culture. The upcoming post will use a sampling of poetry and proverbs to demonstrate how African peoples view the neck as more than just a support for the head, universally accepted as one of the most important parts of any organism. To many African peoples, the neck, as an anatomical feature, possesses its own particular aesthetic appeal and vulnerability, making it a convenient site to both display and demonstrate wealth and authority.
Looking Back at MA in January
The MA podcast was our main playground for January and we discussed some works of modern African literature with strong mythological and folkloric influences. If you couldn’t get enough, we’ll revisit the topic later this year. Meanwhile, I want to draw attention to a book I hope to talk about next time: The Fetishists by Libyan writer Ibrahim al-Koni. The book was originally published in Arabic as “Al-Majus”. It gives a fictionalized account of the 14th – 15th century encounters between Tuareg history, culture, mythology and folklore, and Islam. I’ve barely made a dent in the 543 page-long English translation but what I’ve read so far is excellent. If you want to dip your toes in before buying, here is a review by someone who seems to know what he’s talking about.
Quick Tip
On X/Twitter, if you type your African mythology/folklore topic of interest and “@mythicafricans” in the search bar, you will pull results for all I’ve ever posted about the topic, often with references. If you want specifics and details, I offer research and reference search services.
Thank you for your attention and support, and cheers to the new month!
Be well,
Helen