Blog #2

Africa and  the Genesis of Humankind

       The idea behind Ali Mazrui's approach regarding the Triple Heritage is the correlation between the life of Africans, their culture and how they were influenced by Islamic and European cultures. In both Chapter 3's readings as well as the Triple Herirtage video, they spoke highly of how nature is of utmost importance pertaining to their daily lives. How they shape and mold everything around nature as well as their source of living and eating. 

       Through my understanding of Chapter 3's readings and the Triple Heritage Video, they both agree when stating that the Africans had a great influence on many regarding their culture and developments. Both also point out how with the transitioning of societal changes they also formed and began to conform to the Islamic and European ways, which also advanced their society for the better. Mazrui believes that although the Africans were greatly influenced by new cultures, they also greatly influenced many and birthed human kind. 

       In Chapter 3's readings it spoke of how hunting and gathering were the first early Africans source of food. It spoke of the many generations of the early humans such as the Homo Sapiens as well as how they derived and developed culturally. Becoming more and more advanced with each expansion.  What use to be the hunting and gathering society had to learn to develop and expand with every change in society. Otherwise there would be no sources of food. Azevdo, spoke of how the physical environment conditions and constrains human activity and, the development of society, which means the physical environment plays a central role in historical development. (p. 55) Their food sources were mainly dependent upon the mineral resources available, the location, soil, and the conditions of the climate of where they were living. Azevdo reported there are five major climatic regions in Africa which makes it difficult for certain types of food sources. Those who were into farming had to be in an area where there was lots of rainfall. If they were pastoralist, they would have to migrate often in order for them to continue to eat. 

       Mazrui, stated that the people felt a sense of closeness with nature and depended upon it as a code of  conduct. He also spoke of the same things as Chapter 3's readings and how nature played a major part in civilization.  How those of African descent mainly stayed close to the ocean or water because it made them feel secure. How it was much easier for travels with regards to migrating when necessary. Mazrui stated the Nile River was a major source for everything shaping Egypt. It served as  a gateway for agriculture, cultivation  and  trade to be easily done, therefore creating jobs for outsourcing etc. By this it allowed more traveling advantages until you reach the southern part of the Nile where it is almost next to impossible to settle with the rocky soil and the narrowing of the River.

     Overall, between both the readings as well as the video, they both agreed when stating that Africa is the birthplace of a lot. What started out as hunting and gathering, eventually developed into a more lucrative society with the acceptance of Islamic and European ways. Creating with each expansion more advanced ways of living and survival. With the closeness of water and nature, those of Africa learned to conform and shift with every change. Creating new and lasting ways to survive. 

Chapter One Blog #1

        Week One: BLOG 1           African Studies and the State of the Art

  Part A

In chapter one it spoke of how the Young Generation of  Radical African Scholars, disagreed with their predecessors ideas behind that of African History. They argued that the ideas of the Africanist Historians was to conservative and irrelevant to solving the issues of Africa. Africanist Historians had taken on the Euro-centric approach oppose to the Afri or Afro-centric approach needed. The younger generation felt as though the studies of Africa should be conducted from a more ideological and objective standpoint. With the Euro-centric backing this only generalized the African society. Simply because they took the questions asked of one family or society and geared it towards all of Africa.

Of the number of individuals who has had interest in the study of Africa, the most credible would be the anthropologist. They sympathized with the groups that peaked their interest  and demanded change on their behalf. Although the younger radicals accepts the path that had been created by their predecessors, they still desired to make changes in how the African societies were viewed.  Determined not to follow in the foot steps of those before them, the criticism that had been done was taken into consideration and worked out for their good.

Two most prominent scholars are Temu and Swai, they pointed out that ideology and methodology cant be separated because it would destroy the objectivity. They and others such as them have found ways to work around the bad name that has been created for Africa to create new history for them, and provide other disciplines that are relevant to Africa's actual needs.

Part B

For my first article I chose, "Moroccan single moms cope with hostility, shame"

In this it speaks of how women are shunned, scorned, frowned upon, and not having their own voice. They have to seek approval from the men to do just about anything. Much like Hamilton's article, women are viewed as incompetent, and are always receiving the worse of every situation. The women are often lied to and told they are the inferior to men or "second class citizens" (http://worldfocus.org/blog/category/specials/women-in-islam). The Moroccan's are predominantly a Political Islamic society, where the women are trying to create a name for themselves. By this the women are creating a group that is based upon religion as well as assisting women in knowing their rights to become more liberal. The men of the Islamic world of Morocco dictate what women can and can not do. Although these women fight for equality and their rights, its till very hard for them to change the views of society as well as their cultural norms.

Today was better than yesterday because I'm still alive!!