i am also convinced, through very close readings of the hebrew bible, that the dominant text/discourse is that of a patriarchy overwriting a matriarchal text. i see it in the ancient name of god as el-shaddai, but more important in the narratives that reiterate male female relations that ultimate demonstrate the prevailing of a patriarchal order, but reveal beneath it the matriarchy, as in the story of jacob and his brother esau, where jacob's mother, rebecca engineers the younger brother jacob's rise over his older brother esau. the egyptians had had a matriarchal order, but maybe it was more characteristic of some other place in the mediterranean region that account for its presence in ancient hebrew civilization. an expert might be able to answer that; but i have read, as in leila ahmed, that ancient egypt was matriarchal, and subsequently patriarchy prevailed. she argues that patriarchy marked urban cultures which rose at the time of muhammed.
ken
On 1/31/13 3:17 PM, Olayinka Agbetuyi wrote:
Yes Prof Fenyo. It was heretical to the Egyptian way of life then and as Ken rightly asserted, after the death of Pharaoh Akhenaten, order was restored. i.e the balance of power shared by the priesthood and the 'executive' kingship, which Akhenaten sought to desecrate and monopolise. This sense of balance is perhaps the greatest similarity between Yoruba traditional governance and ancient Egyptian governance. Indeed, as ken tangentially stated, a resuscitation of the abandoned practice has been traced to the rise of monotheism in Israel through the Mosaic connection ie 40 days and night in the Sinai wilderness. The old testament, critically read, is a testimony of how resuscitated monotheism was imposed on the polytheism of the promised land. Also, the Sinai journey,as archaeologists have shown is a record of the link between hieroglyphics and lettered writing as we know it today.--
Subject: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series -equiano the african?
Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:17:52 -0500
From: MFenyo@bowiestate.edu
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Dear Professor:you might add, if you agree, that there was a time when the god of the sundisc (aten) was the only god. That notion may seem heretical to some but not to Jews, Muslims or most ChristiansDr. Mario D. FenyoUniversity Professor of American HistoryDepartment of History and GovernmentBowie State UniversityBowie, MD 20715USA
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com on behalf of Olayinka Agbetuyi
Sent: Tue 1/29/2013 6:40 AM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series -equiano the african?
Ken:
As unbelievable as it may sound, the Egyptians during a period of royal heresy worshipped a God in the sun disc itself.
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2013 23:57:27 -0500
From: harrow@msu.edu
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series -equiano the african?
thanks kwabena
i don't have any trouble believing the statement about chukwu residing in the heavens, where the sun and stars etc are located. but in the sun itself?
i wonder about that part of it
ken
On 1/28/13 2:42 PM, Akurang-Parry, Kwabena wrote:
Ken:--
The religious cosmology or mythological cosmology of the Akans of Ghana teaches that Onyankopong (God, the Creator) inhabits "soro" or space and sky where the sun, moon, stars, etc. reside. I have not studied Igbo religious and mythological cosmologies, ontology, and worldview, but from a comparative standpoint, Equiano's statement that the Igbos have a "god who dwells in the sun" is true and speaks to the religious beliefs of many precolonial African states and societies. See the classic African Religions and Philosophy by John S. Mbiti.
Kwabena
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] on behalf of kenneth harrow [harrow@msu.edu]
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 1:04 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series -equiano the african?
i should add that in reading equiano's account, intuitively speaking, and not as a specialist in 18th c igbo, i found his account not credible when describing africa. i know there is a big polemic about this; but i wonder if anyone on this list could also chime in on their intuitive reaction to his account.
ken
On 1/28/13 4:24 AM, ChidiAnthonyOparaPoetry/Quotes wrote:
--(Poem By: Chidi Anthony Opara)I come before youThis hour before dawnChukwu.You, who dwell above,BelowIs your foot stool.You, whom the godsGenuflect in his presence,Before you I comeClean,Devoid of dirt.Your covenant with my forebearsBound me to come before youOn this market day,At this hourTo purge my soul of impuritiesOf the period past.I have washed my bodyAnd rinsed my mouthWith the waters of onu ngara.No human is worthyTo present sacrificesAnd libations in your presence.My sacrificesI have presented to the good gods,My libationsTo my ancestors.I stand before you in awe,YetI must make my confessionsBefore the din of dawn.Reproductions in part or in whole, in whatever forms, of ChidiAnthonyOparaPoetry/Quotes except for non-profit information and education purposes, without a written permission from PublicInformationProjects is not allowed.
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