Experience Africa…
On the global map, Africa has 54 nations, made up of white, black and every shade in-between, people of every religion and persuasion.
African history had been distorted, mutilated and manipulated to bury Africa’s many great ancient civilisations and powerful gods, kings and queens.
This deliberate distortion was designed to fit in with a western perception of Africa, perpetuating a view of Africa and African people as savages, unorganised, uncivil, unoriginal and sub-human.
Thus, for most people across the world, Africa is just a poor, struggling, hopeless continent with endless depictions of poverty, famine, darkness, corruption, conflict, and struggling to recover from slavery, colonialism, civil wars, and desperate fights for independence.
Just as every other continent on this planet probably has, depending on who you ask.
But for some reason, the world has, and will continue, to show Africa as what they think they know of the continent…
The agenda for African news is decided in far-off western capitals (London, Paris, New York) and written by dashing foreign correspondents who don’t understand the local complexities – and base their narrative on sweeping, misleading generalisations.
Sometimes the reports are wrong or distorted. And sometimes, foreign reporting on Africa is excellent… but in general, it’s a hit and miss.
The end result – Africa continues to be defined by its stereotype and if editors are in a good mood – it is all about ‘Africa rising’, the positive generalisations just as sweeping as the negative ones which came before.
Another hit and miss.
The real Africa is a land of duality, mystery and fascination, rich in resources, mythology, cultures, beliefs, ancient civilisations – and a sizzling, growing population who’s committed to create a better life and excel in their future.
If you’re born or living in Africa, you know you’ve surrendered to a condition for which there’s no cure. And you’re enthralled, entangled, usurped in the mystery, the fascination, the essence and the vastness of its possibilities.
In ancient times the Moors, Nubians,Carthaginians and Ethiopians identified the continent as Akebu-Lan (mother of mankind or garden of Eden), yet to this day, it is defied by a precise description.
And there is no doubt, if you know how to explore, that Africa’s manifestations are simply extraordinary. There’s no escape its infection, no known remedy for its chronic condition.
So what is it that makes Africa so infectious, so luring, so enticingly and dangerously thrilling?
Is it the watchful eyes of the gods?
Many western civilisations uttered, “God has left Africa long ago.”
And indeed, it seems so by the many depictions and symbols depicting African gods as shaking their heads, turning away in sorrow and avoiding contact, leaving humans to fend for themselves.
But in reality, African gods don’t like to be pestered, and humans have to learn to be content with their lot, forcing the humans to change their own destiny if they so wish.
Other art depictions of the gods, show remarkable innocence, being naive and callow, believing the best of everyone and optimistically giving the benefit of the doubt.
But giving the gods a closer look, you would notice the African pantheon is quite powerful and intriguing, and far more erotic and adventurous in nature.
Is it the mythology in the art then? The music the folklore…
When you study African art, several themes seem to come up over and over again:
A couple
A woman and a child
A male with a weapon or animal
An outsider or stranger
Cornerstones that make for a perfect story…
Interestingly, the most common theme of the male and female couple is that of strength and honor… not love and intimacy.
The mother and child is often representative of mother earth and the people as her children. The strong mother child relationship is a vital part of African culture, as women achieve significance through their children.
And men will often be honored in warfare.
A male with a weapon or animal show honour to departed ancestors. As the one who goes into battle must have physical, emotional and spiritual energy to survive and to conquer.
The stranger is someone from a different country or tribe usually not welcomed… and the more distorted the portrayal of the stranger, the greater the gap that’s normally symbolised.
So, it’s the people then?
There are no finer human attributes than those demonstrated by tribal customs… the honouring of the elderly, the children of the tribe scurreling to listen to their grandfathers teaching them the wisdoms for continual existence which is to be passed down generation to generation.
You meet these communities and interact with cultures far removed from your own, yet it seems strangely familiar.
You become more inclined to listen to them rather than to speak, absorbing tales of rich intelligence from tribal leaders who’ve worshiped star clusters only visible with modern telescopes, yet the chiefs knew they were there all along.
And when interacting with communities, a yearning to help, to contribute, to teach, to empower… develop within you, a longing that’s at once satisfied with a small handout, yet never saturated as you’re haunted by the unsettling feeling that it made no real impact.
Or is it the vibrant African spirit hidden in the bush telegraph…
When African drums are being played, it’s said the gods awaken to connect with the drummer’s deepest levels of soul – pulling on the strings of the spiritual within and pulsing information across the collective unconscious.
Drumming sets your tune. And when you are in tune with yourself, you experience a sense of oneness and pure joy.
“Rhythm is a heartbeat. It’s the first drum, a story in sound that reveals our imagination and celebrates our power. Rhythm is the multi-culti common ground of the human family.” — Tony Vacca
Is it the animals?
Animals play a huge part in African culture, with mythological symbolism found throughout countless pieces of art and historical accouterments. African tribes believe wearing animal carvings on their masks will improve their communication with animal spirits who live in the desert or wooded areas.
For an African each animal has a specific meaning and signifies a certain quality or characteristic, and those foreigners who come to Africa and harm these gifts of the universe, will be severely punished in generations to come…
The big five are considered the most important in Africa, and why so many tourists flock to the continent…
The lion signifies strength, both in personality and physicality, courage, valor, and pride, and the lioness, representing femininity, motherhood, and the moon.
The leopard is known as the Great Watcher – a symbol for cunning, agility, and ferocity, revered as a master hunter due to its secrecy and mystery.
The elephant is a popular symbol for good luck, especially when the trunk is pointed upwards – it represents wisdom, maternal strength, longevity royalty, dignity, patience, and happiness.
The buffalo is social, representing tranquility and plenitude.
The rhinoceros harboured the qualities of leadership. Meat cut from the breast of the rhino was the preserve of a chief and a special club of rhino horn was widely employed as a marker of chiefly status and leadership, encapsulating the key qualities of power, danger and protection.
And a few others…
The crocodile represents protection, and is seen as a spiritual being who wards off evil.
The monkey symbolises humour, comedy and friendship, mischievousness and curiosity.
The giraffe represents grace and elegant appearance, symbolising achievement.
Is it the landscapes, nature or bush?
Africa is a continent rich in geological diversity, a land of breathtaking beauty…
The sun, the same sun that followed you all over in life, takes on a new aura, new colours and hues blanketing the horizons in amazing blazes of orange streaks, yellow blots and purple stripes – and everything becomes clearer – as if you’d never noticed anything before.
The scope of your vision changes, you become preoccupied with distance, subtleties that previously seemed irrelevant now bubbles to the fore.
Your hearing intensifies, noises offend you as never before, you detect melodies in the trickle of a stream, and hear voices in the rustling of leaves moved by the breeze.
You feel compelled to come back again and again, you pine for that connection with nature, wanting the bond to grow and grow, because you know that’s where all the answers are stowed.
Is it Mal d’Afrique?
Africa’s mystique, grandeur, beauty, splendour, vastness, and remoteness can be explained – maybe…
But beyond that there’s something else… the feeling referred to by the French as mal d’Afrique.
‘Mal’ referring to Africa’s history; the ugly, the difficulty, the pain, the brutish treatment… and the many challenges Africa now face for the future in holding onto its traditions, maintaining its natural beauty, and grappling with urban sprawl.
Is it the inspiration?
The things you do become less important than the things you see, feel, and touch with deep emotions stirring within. And your spirit wants to linger as you find inspiration in every living thing….
You start to behave strangely – whispering to animals 3km away, stroking plants, worshipping mountains and valleys, laughing easily upon the sight of a tortoise slow-crossing the road, yet tearing up with the sight of a spectacular sunset.
Your values change, your beliefs are challenged and you keep wondering what took you so long to arrive here… at home.
Is it this connection with the divine?
The bush has an undeniable way of instilling inner peace difficult to explain. When one chooses to live a ‘spiritual way of life’ you embark on a quest to bring meaning into your live – and when you connect to this moment, you get to experience what is ‘bigger than yourself’– finding the most treasured insights and gaining profound wisdom.
In Africa, everything slows down to the speed of life. In Africa life means taking your time to do stuff. Which means you’re forced to live in the moment.
And it’s only in the present moment that you become aware of all moments, past and future, with the ability to integrate them into your conscious state of awareness – which brings about emotional stability, healing, an increase in health, wellbeing and energy flow.
It’s the philosophy?
Africa is probably the biggest metaphor for part of the creation – the laws of the universe – the law of duality, black and white, good and bad… Mal d’Afrique…
In Africa the black and white zebra symbolises freedom, individuality, friendship and unity.
Although they’re a part of a herd, they each bring something special to the group and seemingly get along with all other animals.
But then one day…
One zebra wanders to the left, another to the right.
One gets eaten by a lion the other joined another group
Both are seduced by different delusions. (Horace)
Everything is on a continuum and has a complementary opposite within the whole…
Experiences in Africa are just experiences nothing more, nothing less. What one learns from the experience is all that counts.
But you don’t ever deny the moment.
So yes, it’s because Africa is an eclectic jar of all sorts and the last of it’s kind…
Every moment in Africa is intriguing, it holds endless possibilities with each experience totally different than the next.
The spectacular scenery which the break of morning creates, and the story it’s about to share are simply rousing, fuelling your spirit and soul with another adventure for that day… so you can reflect, digest and store it in your soul at night around the fire…
Mal d’Afrique is the last of its kind
And it’s not for sale.
You can experience it…
Be captivated by it…
But never own it.
Africa is the land of corruption, conflict and crime.
Africa is the land of pride, principles, and promise.
Equilibrium (balance) of this duality is what will steer it toward more knowledge and light… making wrongs into rights… changing past failures into significant successes…
And among all of this…
Africa gives experiences like no other…
Africa change lives like no other…
And when you return from whence you came, you’ll never be the same