1) The Niger River is one of the three great riviers of Africa. It starts at Guinea and goes down to the Sahara and through Mali. It's coatsal delta is giant and is 35000 square kilometers and is the largest in Africa. The inland delta has been of vital importance since 300 A.D.. It has been used for fisherman, farmers, rice agriculturists, and cattle grazers. This river creates fertile land that is necesary to grow food. It is used for transportation and for farming. I never knew how important the Niger river actually is.
2) The City of Great Zimbabwe is most famous for its stone wall fotress. Zimbabwe actually means stone walled. The lost city once held 18,000 people. The surrounding land was slightly hilly and grassy. It had great cattle and agricultural surplus. The city was abandoned in the late 15th century. It was most likely because of lack of water sources, exhaustion of the local gold, and the disruption of the Indian Ocean trading sphere by the Portuguese. This was once a large and great city.
3)The Vodou religion was brought to America during the slave trade and many of the beliefs we know of today were misinterpreted. Vodou origionated in the ancient kingdom of Dahomey. It derives from the word god. It has nothing to do with stick pins into dolls. It provides meaning for the natural and supernatural forces. Vodou is a monotheistic religion where the god is Mawu-Lisa. Posession is very important. People get rid of their materiality to become spirits and renew their spirits by dancing and feasting.
Africa a much different from what I thought before. It was interesting to see some things about the lost cities. I cant believe how we misinterpreted Vodou. I feel so stupid for thinking that Vodou was poking pins into dolls and turning people into zombies. The Niger River s very important to the area and supplies their crops. Africa's history goes back very far and did not always have poor coutries and illness.
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The three topics that you chose to read about seem fascinating, and these three wonders of Africa are truly special. The Niger River is one of the most well-known rivers in Africa, and from reading your response, I am under the impression that this land is utilized to its fullest capacity. Zimbabwe is a land that I have heard little about, but I am intrigued by its stone walls and agricultural surplus. I was also under the misconception that Vodou was a mere game.
ReplyDeleteI read about the Niger River and Vodou as well, and I thought they were both really interesting. I had no idea that parts/countries of Africa were so developed and advanced. Many people don't know that Africa was once home to great civilizations because when Europeans brought African's back as slaves, I think we treated their history with no respect, just as we treated them with no respect.
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