From Africa with Love

By Mae Ella Wright

This book was written to expose the suffering pain and devastation the African people are subjected to by their political leaders, who were elected to office under questionable circumstances and by a rigged election and who subjects the people to horrific human rights violations while leaving a country that is ravaged from war and depleted of its rich natural resources.

Proceeds of this book will go to water wells in Africa and to the hospitals in Sub-Saharan Africa to maintain sanitation and sterilization and to aid in the eradication of the Ebola virus and all contagions of that nature

Like a tree planted by rivers of water, that bears fruit in its season, whose leaves never wither, whatever I do prospers (Ps. 1:3).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514473948

Mae Ella Wright

Mae Ella Wright has been a registered nurse for thirty-four years and is the mother of two, Felicia and Jeremiah, and the grandmother of two, Alexi and Ajayen. She is the author of three books, the first being From Slavery to Freedom, a book and screenplay written for the United States Air Force while serving a four-year tour of duty. This is taken from the famous poem by Langston Hughes. A black history presentation, the second book is The Silent Scream, a book about her take on elder abuse. It is related to her many diverse experiences in the nursing field in her thirty-four-year career. The third book is titled From Africa with Love.

Book preview

AFRICAN CULTURE, VISUAL ART, SONG, AND DANCE

The African culture is a manifesto of diversities of the African population divided into many ethnic cultures. The developmental part of Africa’s cultural existence has been emphasized at every phase.

During the colonial colonization period, the Europeans did not affirm or accept the African culture and looked on it as uncivilized and unworthy of recognition. The French accepted Africans as French if they would not acknowledge their African history or culture and would adopt the French way of life instead. The Europeans always maintained an air of superiority due to their belief that people living in a jungle environment carrying spears and following traditional values and beliefs not industrialized were indeed uncivilized and unworthy of a cultural identity.

African arts and crafts embrace a history of spiritualism and divination, wood carvings, bronze and gold artwork, and masks. Masks are often made with elaborate designs that represent religious symbolism and mythological spirits. Masks are used in religious ceremonies.

Jewelry is another facet of African culture. Rings, bracelets, beads, earrings, nose rings, and ankle bracelets are part of a combined cultural practice that span throughout Africa onto the Mediterranean coast through the Middle East.

Folklore and religion are interwoven in African culture. Storytelling is a part of African culture used to enlighten, support, protect, and educate the hearer to help overcome life’s obstacles and encourage endurance.

Drums and other musical instruments were used to relay messages in the way of warning of pending danger and also to celebrate, uplift, entertain, and motivate.

Today African culture is embarrassed by its people, those who live in metropolitan cities or as tribesmen from the bush.

The African view of their cultural history is that culture is a warm, secure place that helps us form who we are, a ladder by which we climb to our highest high that leads us to our destiny. Culture is how people honor their past and embrace their future. Culture is the way in which people present themselves to the world.

dreamstime_m_2430767_V2%20flat.tif

PICTURED: Drums, an African cultural instrument

GettyImages-476747665%20(2)_V2%20flat.tif

PICTURED: Elderly woman from Kenya

Women are responsible for much of the heavy, demanding work in the African bush, including building houses and supplying water. Today they still practice these ancient customs as part of their way of life.

Since the resolution of the apartheid government, Africans now openly embrace their African pride and self-rule. There is a renewed dedication to traditional African culture, arts, song, dance, and religion. While voodoo is not a widely practiced religion, it is considered a part of African culture.

African art and architecture reflects the influence of many ethnic groups who settled in Africa, including those from the Mediterranean, Greece, and Europe, as well as from varying points on the African continent, including Morocco, Egypt, and Zimbabwe.

A variety of West African rhythms are influenced by exposure brought about during the slave trade, which brought jazz and blues to Sub-Saharan Africa. In the 1940s, 1950s, and 1970s, the increasing influence of reggae and rock was heard.

AFRICAN SPORTS

Africans of all ages take great pleasure in participating in all types of sports. Boxing, wrestling, softball, football, and soccer are but a few of the sports activities enjoyed by Africans.

In pre-colonial days, African men participated in competitive sporting activities that helped in the development of physical fitness. Young men competed in stick fighting and cattle racing, while both sexes participated in dancing.

Apartheid in sports has played a big part in how white South Africa is viewed by the world. In response to discrimination and segregation of black athletes from participation of sports in their country, South African all-white teams were suspended from competition by the international community. Because of apartheid policies, South African athletes were also not invited to participate in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

The World Cup was host to teams from Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, and Ghana. African children take great pleasure in competitive contact sports of all types. Egypt has won the African Cup seven times, once three times in a row.

Unlike the Western toys made by toy companies, African toys are often homemade. African boys often play with hoop frames and tire rims. Homemade balls are made from winding a bundle of string into a ball-shaped form. African girls skip rope and play with homemade wooden dolls.

African athletics participate in many international games, including the Olympic games and some national games that involve only African players. Long-distance running, football, wrestling, boxing, and cricket are but a few. The African-Brazilian sport of capoeira is a form of martial art that is characterized by dance and acrobatics. The purpose of capoeira is to channel energy through physical activity.

The Ancient Egyptians played a game similar to hockey with bats made of palm tree branches with a bent end. The ball was made of fiber covered over with leather. Handball has also been discovered to be a game played by ancient Egyptians. Sports was used as a practice to help prevent illness and strengthen the body. Sports was often conducted with one person against another or one group against another.

Rhythmic gymnastics was also identified as being a sport of ancient Egypt, along with rowing and archery. Archery and rowing were also used for warfare, hunting, survival, and transportation.

Eritrea, a former part of Ethiopia, introduced a game called Karssa, a game similar to field hockey. A stone is thrown at a target. Gebetta is a game played by tossing pebbles onto a playing surface on the ground, making depressions on the playing surface.

Pan-African games are sporting events involving members of the the African union and member states. The events are held every four years to promote African unity and solidarity. Pan-Africanism is an ideology that encourages African solidarity worldwide. It is based on the idea that unity is vital to economic, social,