Cool Stuff!

Over this first week of class I came into knowledge of some pretty interesting cultures. The first culture was the Native Americans. While we were watching a video in class one of the things that stood out to me was the use of the word Wakanda. Before then the only time I heard the word was in the movie Black Panther but come to find out it really means God in Native American. So, what I really wanted to know is that was the use of the word Wakanda offensive to Native Americans? Turns out it's not. While researching this very question I stumbled upon an article titled Offensive Or Not? In the article it explained why it was not offensive. “Osage tribal member and Osage language student Kilan Jacobs wrote to ICT in an email, “It did not bother me at all. It was a sacred home place to them. Beyond that, I have no way of knowing if in some real African language this is an actual place name or word they have as well. But overall I felt no disrespect or misdoing. The movie was great and uplifting.”” 

Along with the Native Americans we also studied Sub-Saharan Africa. One of the things I admired was how it was mentioned that they have rhythm in everything. With that being said, while I was watching the video I noticed how whenever they danced and sung they seemed so happy and it honestly puts a smile on my face. So I wanted to know more about the lyrics in their songs and what they actually mean. While researching this topic I clicked on an article called Music in Africa that focused primarily on Sub-Saharan Africa. Turns out african music means…”African music also helps to connect people together in a variety of ways, strengthening the fabric of the community, which in turn reinforces people's commitment to support each other and the community, toward mutual health and prosperity.” 

One of the last things I wanted to know more about was their way of dancing. I loved the way they moved as they dance to the rhythm of the music. So my question is what does their dancing represent? According to this article African dance it represents “The more significant the concept expressed in a dance, the greater the appreciation of the audience and the more insistent their demands for a skillful performance and for movements that fit its purpose. Dance is appreciated as a social occasion but is simultaneously enjoyed as an activity in its own right, entertaining and giving pleasure as an expression of communal life.”