Traditional Beadwork

Monkeybiz, a non-profit organization that provides a way for mostly woman to generate income in South Africa. At this organization, the women are able to express their unique creativity through reviving African traditional beadwork while also feeling proud of their work. Each finished product is signed by the artist giving the artist the credit they deserve. Many of these woman are HIV positive and/or are the "breadwinners" of the family. Through Monkeybiz, they are also taught about nutrition, micro-finance and even receive counseling. Many African woman are anxious to land a position with Monkeybiz for its great values and opportunities. Not only does Monkeybiz allow these women to express their creativity but it also serves the community and allows them to grow as individuals. 

http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2010/12/11/monkeybiz_bead_art/

To shop monkeybiz or learn more about click on the link bellow: 
http://www.monkeybiz.co.za/

3 sources for essay topic

Essay topic: What is it about the United States that African immigrants find so appealing?

US-based African immigrants more educated
http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=2014101521150498

5 Fast Facts About Black Immigrants in the United States

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2012/12/20/48571/5-fast-facts-about-black-immigrants-in-the-united-states/

African Immigrants: Highly Educated and Underemployed in America

http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2015/05/african_immigrants_highly_educated_and_underemployed_in_america.html

Monkeybiz

Monkeybiz, a non-profit organization that provides a way for mostly woman to generate income in South Africa. At this organization, the women are able to express their unique creativity through reviving African traditional beadwork while also feeling proud of their work. Each finished product is signed by the artist giving the artist the credit they deserve. Many of these woman are HIV positive and/or are the "breadwinners" of the family. Through Monkeybiz, they are also taught about nutrition, micro-finance and even receive counseling. Many African woman are anxious to land a position with Monkeybiz for its great values and opportunities. Not only does Monkeybiz allow these women to express their creativity but it also serves the community and allows them to grow as individuals. 

http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2010/12/11/monkeybiz_bead_art/

To shop monkeybiz or learn more about click on the link bellow: 
http://www.monkeybiz.co.za/

Ethiopia's Music in the Bay Area

Meklit Hadero, an Ethiopian-American singer song writer raised in San Francisco combines her native Ethiopian language and culture to the modern music she composes. Her style is unique and often comprised of sounds found in nature and in every day life such as a bird's tune or the sound of dishes clashing. Hadero described Ethiopian language as very musical sounding. This most likely contributed to her ability to recognize every day sounds as musical instruments. She is also co-founder of The Nile Project where she explored the music of the Nile basin, pulling influences from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt. 

She returned to San Francisco and immersed her self into the art culture and began collaborating. She has also worked with artists from Oakland. She fits in perfectly in the Bay Area, an urban area rich in culture and out of the box thinkers. People like her contribute to our rich diversity. Like Dr. Fitzgerald mentioned the most successful immigrants today came from African countries. Meklit Hadero is a perfect example of a successful immigrant contributing to the melting pot of the Bay Area.



https://www.ted.com/speakers/meklit_hadero

http://nileproject.org/meklit-hadero/

Culture Shock

The author of the article addresses things Americans would likely think is negative and haunting. The contrast between African and American culture can be seen through the authors diction and choice of examples. This article focuses on magic and witchcraft practiced in the sub-Saharan Africa. A gallup study was conducted in 18 different countries to measure the correlation between happiness and witchcraft. Within these 18 countries, 55% of people reported to believe in witchcraft. It was found that the older and less educated participants were more likely to believe in magic. A more critical feeling towards African culture witchcraft could be seen in the article when the author fails to mention anything positive or intriguing about believing in witchcraft. The article also mentioned that witchcraft was associated with the mutilation of albinos in Africa. In African culture, being born albino represents a curse. The author's conclusion states: "while personal belief in magic and witchcraft may seem harmless, the actions some people take based on those beliefs are clearly not" although witchcraft is associated with killings and of course this is immoral, we as American's have to consider the idea that perhaps these things happen because of the lack of education not so much because these individuals believe in witchcraft. In other words, maybe these people would have acted violently anyway. I would also like to know how happiness was measured because everyone has their own definition of happiness. In addition, like Ms Fitzgerald stated, Africans tend to expel what is not useful throughout history and keep what is useful. If witchcraft has persisted throughout the years into more modern times, that means it has to have some use to the African culture and has to benefit the lives of Africans in some ways. Perhaps citizens are too afraid to deviate away from witchcraft in fear that if they do, they will suffer. In conclusion, in order to avoid mis-judgement of Africa, it is always best to note the cultural differences and the effects of a lack of education.

http://www.livescience.com/8515-belief-witchcraft-widespread-africa.html

About the Khweta Circumcision Ceremony

The African Khweta Circumcision Ceremony is a South African tradition where boys are sent to a "circumcision lodge". The Xhosa boys reside in isolation for the winter months while they undergo difficult tests of stamina and get circumcised. In addition, the lodge master teaches the group of boys about the conduct, social duties, traditions, and political obligations. Because all knowledge comes from the lodge master, much of the lodge masters' character and knowledge resembles the lodge masters. The lodge boys/men keep details a close secret so it is difficult to know about exact details from the ceremony. It is concerning to think how much influence one man can have on a group of boys. It is even more concerning to think this man as corrupt. However, this ceremony is necessary in order to get married and in order to be respected as a man. Upon their arrival during the Spring, the men paint their bodies white, wear sheepskin as a coat, a reed skirt, a cone hat made out of reed, and lastly a mask made out of reed in order to keep evil spirits away. These costumes are worn while performing dances to the neighboring huts. Next, in the spring, the circumcision takes place. After, the costumes are burned and the young men are driven to a river by their initiators who thrash them ceremonially, they bath in the river where their white paint is washed off.



http://www.encounter.co.za/article/167.html

A Brief and Accurate Description of the Voodoo Relgion

http://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/origins-voodoo-misunderstood-religion-002933


The Voodoo religion, also known as Voudon, is rather misunderstood and is not exactly what the media portrays it to be. While its roots are to still be determined, many believe it originates in West Africa. Voodoo in fact was the result of the 16th and 19th century slave trade and was brought to the Americas through the slave trade. However, a 1658 law prohibited the practice of African religions in order to spread Christianity. This is probably where rumors and Voodoo's bad reputation began. Instead of not practicing their religion or disregarding it, slaves decided to combine both Christianity and Voodoo. In addition, Voodoo is classified as a polygamous religion because Voudon practitioners worship many spirits which is also called Iwa or Ioa. For example, in Haitian Voodoo, "St. Peter is recognised as Papa Legba, the gatekeeper of the spirit world, whilst St. Patrick is associated with Dumballah, the snake lwa". Also, "loa can also manifest themselves by possessing the bodies of their worshipers". The practice of Iwa could be beneficial to Voudon practitioners because it gives the practitioner strength since they get to be a powerful spirit or superhuman for a second. Although they practice a polygamous religion, a supreme being, Bondye, overruled spirits and demigods, much like modern day Christianity's saints.