African Beauty Standards: A Lesson on Form vs. Functionality

Hi guys ! This is a late episode but also the final one this season. Prepare to be amazed by a unique and fascinating story of a young boy from Ethiopia who tormented the dreams of one of the most powerful empires ever, the Mughal Empire. Follow us: Twitter (apparently now X): https://twitter.com/Africas_UntoldS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africasuntoldstories/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFuTYzTqseXvH1RkmxV-1XA Outro music provided by DCQ BEATZ: https://player.beatstars.com/?storeId=97074&trackId=2559403 REFERENCES: Eaton, R. M. (2005). A Social History of the Deccan, 1300–1761: Eight Indian Lives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Let's go to Southern Nigeria to hear the story of Aruan, the misguided hero of Udo and his connection to the famous city and empire of Benin. He is a semi-legendary figure so prepare for some fact and fiction. Follow us: Twitter (apparently now X): https://twitter.com/Africas_UntoldS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africasuntoldstories/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFuTYzTqseXvH1RkmxV-1XA Outro music provided by DCQ BEATZ: https://player.beatstars.com/?storeId=97074&trackId=2559403 REFERENCES: Uyiedos (2018) Aruan of Udo, the giant of Benin Kingdom., Steemit. Available at: https://steemit.com/history/@uyiedos/aruan-of-udo-the-giant-of-benin-kingdom (Accessed: 10 June 2024). Zainab, O.N. et al. (2022) ‘User perceptions on intangible cultural heritage of the ancient Bini Kingdom and the acceptance of extended reality (XR) in its recreation and representation’, Art and Design Review, 10(02), pp. 280–295. doi:10.4236/adr.2022.102021. Lynch, P. A. (2010). African Mythology A to Z second edition (J. Roberts, Ed.; Second). Cheslea House.

Next up on the road of discomfort...Central & Southern Africa. Here we focus on a few examples and zoom in on the unique impacts of European arrival on African societies. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFuTYzTqseXvH1RkmxV-1XA Follow us: Twitter (apparently now X): https://twitter.com/Africas_UntoldS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africasuntoldstories/ Outro music provided by DCQ BEATZ: https://player.beatstars.com/?storeId=97074&trackId=2559403 REFERENCES: Lovejoy, P. E. (2011). Transformations in Slavery: A History of Slavery in Africa (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Niekerk, V., & Gardiol, J.M. (2004). Slavery in pre-contact Africa. Fundamina: a Journal of Legal History, 2004, 210-223. General History of Africa, Volume 5. Africa from the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth Century-UNESCO (1992) Kalle Gustafsson. (2005). The Trade in Slaves in Ovamboland, ca.1850-1910. African Economic History, 33, 31–68. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4617604

Hi guys! We're back with a banger from Zimbabwe! An unusual love story between the Moon and Venus. One of the best stories we've told so far, with several layers of meaning. Shout out to the Makoni people for this gem. Follow us: Twitter (apparently now X): https://twitter.com/Africas_UntoldS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africasuntoldstories/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFuTYzTqseXvH1RkmxV-1XA Outro music provided by DCQ BEATZ: https://player.beatstars.com/?storeId=97074&trackId=2559403 REFERENCES: 1. Lynch, P. A. (2010). African Mythology A to Z second edition (J. Roberts, Ed.; Second). Cheslea House. 2. Mwuetsi. Oxford Reference. Retrieved 20 May. 2024, from https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100219394.

Hi guys! Sorry to disappoint; once again no episode. However, a new one will come your way next week for sure! We're having trouble scheduling our recording sessions because of other things. In the meantime, here is an audio that we recorded for a YouTube video on a topic that we thought was fascinating. See you next week! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFuTYzTqseXvH1RkmxV-1XA Follow us: Twitter (apparently now X): https://twitter.com/Africas_UntoldS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africasuntoldstories/ Outro music provided by DCQ BEATZ: https://player.beatstars.com/?storeId=97074&trackId=2559403 REFERENCES: 7-11th M. El Fasi (Editor) - General History of Africa, Volume 3_ Africa from the Seventh to the Eleventh Century (1988, Heinemann Publishers_UNESCO_University of California Press) - libgen.lc Burstein, S. M. (1981). Axum and the Fall of Meroe. Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, 18, 47–50. https://doi.org/10.2307/40000342 https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/Genocide%20Convention-FactSheet-ENG.pdf Kiernan, B. (2004). The First Genocide: Carthage, 146 BC. Diogenes, 51(3), 27-39. https://doi.org/10.1177/0392192104043648 Tarikh Al Sudan Tarikh Al Fattash

Welcome back! We continue our exploration of slavery, this time in East Africa, where we zoom in on the practices of the Swahili, Ethiopian and Unyamwezi folk. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFuTYzTqseXvH1RkmxV-1XA Follow us: Twitter (apparently now X): https://twitter.com/Africas_UntoldS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africasuntoldstories/ Outro music provided by DCQ BEATZ: https://player.beatstars.com/?storeId=97074&trackId=2559403 REFERENCES: Rodney, W. (1969). GOLD AND SLAVES ON THE GOLD COAST. Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana, 10, 13–28. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41406348 Röschenthaler, U. (2013). The Blood Men of Old Calabar – a Slave Revolt of the Nineteenth Century? In A. Bellagamba, S. E. Greene, & M. A. Klein (Eds.), African Voices on Slavery and the Slave Trade (pp. 445–465). chapter, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Obichere, B. I. (1983). The Social Character of Slavery in Asante and Dahomey. Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies, 12(3). http://dx.doi.org/10.5070/F7123017144 Retrieved from https://escholarship.org/uc/item/72k2n7m2 Manning, P. (2006). Slavery & Slave Trade in West Africa 1450-1930. In E. K. Akyeampong (Ed.), Themes in West Africa’s History (pp. 99–117). chapter, Boydell & Brewer. A. E. M. GIBSON, SLAVERY IN WESTERN AFRICA BY A WEST AFRICAN, African Affairs, Volume 3, Issue IX, October 1903, Pages 17–52, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.afraf.a093262 Rodriguez J. P. (1997). The historical encyclopedia of world slavery. ABC-CLIO Lovejoy, P. E. (2011). Transformations in Slavery: A History of Slavery in Africa (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. General History of Africa, Volume 5. Africa from the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth Century-UNESCO (1992) Lane, Paul, and Kevin C. MacDonald (eds), Slavery in Africa: Archaeology and Memory, Proceedings of the British Academy (London, 2011; online edn, British Academy Scholarship Online, 31 Jan. 2013) Medard, H., & Doyle, S. (Eds.). (2007). Slavery in the Great Lakes Region of East Africa. Boydell & Brewer.

Hi guys ! Today's episode is a short one where we go back to North Africa to discuss the story of a god of rain, his love for a woman and a ritual. Link to picture of festival: https://folkculturebh.org/en/index.php?issue=14&page=article&id=20 Follow us: Twitter (apparently now X): https://twitter.com/Africas_UntoldS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africasuntoldstories/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFuTYzTqseXvH1RkmxV-1XA Outro music provided by DCQ BEATZ: https://player.beatstars.com/?storeId=97074&trackId=2559403 REFERENCES: Siham Ait hmmadi. (2020, November 19). Amazigh Myths and their Symbolism | Amazigh World News. Amazigh World News. https://amazighworldnews.com/amazigh-myths-and-their-symbolism/ Folk Culture. (n.d.). The Call for Rain in Imazighen (Berber) Rituals and Legends in North Africa. Folk Culture. Retrieved April 8, 2024, from https://folkculturebh.org/en/index.php?issue=14&page=article&id=20

Today we take a lighthearted route through the painful history of slavery but with a focus on slavery among Africans in West Africa. This is the beginning of a mini-series to explore slavery throughout the continent up until the present day. Hope you stick with us all the way! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFuTYzTqseXvH1RkmxV-1XA Follow us: Twitter (apparently now X): https://twitter.com/Africas_UntoldS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africasuntoldstories/ Outro music provided by DCQ BEATZ: https://player.beatstars.com/?storeId=97074&trackId=2559403 REFERENCES: Rodney, W. (1969). GOLD AND SLAVES ON THE GOLD COAST. Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana, 10, 13–28. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41406348 Röschenthaler, U. (2013). The Blood Men of Old Calabar – a Slave Revolt of the Nineteenth Century? In A. Bellagamba, S. E. Greene, & M. A. Klein (Eds.), African Voices on Slavery and the Slave Trade (pp. 445–465). chapter, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Obichere, B. I. (1983). The Social Character of Slavery in Asante and Dahomey. Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies, 12(3). http://dx.doi.org/10.5070/F7123017144 Retrieved from https://escholarship.org/uc/item/72k2n7m2 Manning, P. (2006). Slavery & Slave Trade in West Africa 1450-1930. In E. K. Akyeampong (Ed.), Themes in West Africa’s History (pp. 99–117). chapter, Boydell & Brewer. A. E. M. GIBSON, SLAVERY IN WESTERN AFRICA BY A WEST AFRICAN, African Affairs, Volume 3, Issue IX, October 1903, Pages 17–52, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.afraf.a093262 Rodriguez J. P. (1997). The historical encyclopedia of world slavery. ABC-CLIO Lovejoy, P. E. (2011). Transformations in Slavery: A History of Slavery in Africa (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. General History of Africa, Volume 5. Africa from the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth Century-UNESCO (1992)

Ever wondered what the African perception of beauty was (and still is in some instances) ? In today's episode we discuss just that as well as the reasoning behind some of the beauty standards. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFuTY2TqseXvH1RkmxV-1XA Follow us: Twitter (apparently now X): https://twitter.com/Africas_UntoldS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africasuntoldstories Outro music provided by DCQ BEATZ: https://player.beatstars.com/?storeld=97074&trackld=2559403 References: 1. Balogun, O. (2024). Women in Beauty Culture and Aesthetic Rituals. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190277734.013.491 2. Koster, M., & Price, L. L. (2008). Rwandan Female Genital Modification: Elongation of the Labia minora and the Use of Local Botanical Species. Health & Sexuality, 10(2), 191–204. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691050701775076 3. Kaggwa, M. M., Chaimowitz, G. A., & Toyin Olagunju, A. (2023). Labia minora elongation: a neglected form of genital mutilation with mental and sexual health concerns. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.101879 4. African Women in Media. (2023). Reject unrealistic beauty ideals that harm African women – African Women in Media. Retrieved March 4, 2024, from https://africanwomeninmedia.com/reject-unrealistic-beauty-ideals-that-harm-african-women/ 5. JuJu. (2019, June 4). African Beauty. The most beautiful people we have known… | by JuJu. | Medium. Medium Blog. https://medium.com/@emailthisjuju/african-beauty-d269300873ac6. 6. Hadithi Africa. (2020, October 26). Africa And The Culture Of Body Modification | Hadithi Africa. Hadithi.Africa. https://hadithi.africa/africa-and-the-culture-of-body-modification/ 7. Hadithi Africa. (2020, February 27). The Teeth Sharpening Culture in Africa | Hadithi Africa. Hadithi.Africa. https://hadithi.africa/the-teeth-sharpening-culture-in-africa/

In this episode we are joined by author Ehis Mokwenye to discuss his debut novel, Tales of Jideofor and how it is inspired by a Nigerian understanding of dreams. Novel on Amazon: https://a.co/d/dCmewNu Email: [email protected] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFuTYzTqseXvH1RkmxV-1XA Follow us: Twitter (apparently now X): https://twitter.com/Africas_UntoldS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africasuntoldstories/YouTube: Outro music provided by DCQ BEATZ: https://player.beatstars.com/?storeId=97074&trackId=2559403