African Ceremonies
dal 30/7/2000 al 31/7/2000
Segnalato da
30/7/2000
African Ceremonies
Pacific Auditorium, Georgia
Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher's lifework documenting traditional African cultures has culminated in their definitive masterwork, AFRICAN CEREMONIES. Their previous award-winning books - Maasai, Nomads of Niger, Africa Adorned and African Ark - established them as preeminent photographers of African traditions. They have spent the last thirty years, traveling separately and alone, from Morocco to South Africa, from Ethiopia to Senegal, chronicling vanishing Africa.
Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher's lifework
documenting traditional African cultures
has culminated in their definitive
masterwork, AFRICAN CEREMONIES.
Their previous award-winning books -
Maasai, Nomads of Niger, Africa
Adorned and African Ark - established
them as preeminent photographers of
African traditions. They have spent the last
thirty years, traveling separately and
alone, from Morocco to South Africa, from
Ethiopia to Senegal, chronicling vanishing
Africa.
These two intrepid adventurers will provide
an inside view of the secret lives of people
with whom they have lived and built trust,
and who have allowed them to witness
ceremonies which otherwise might never
have been recorded. Their lecture and slide
presentation focuses on ancient rites of
passage that mark the individual's life
cycle from birth to death-including
initiation, courtship, marriage, rituals of
royalty, beliefs and worship, and burial
rites.
They show the Krobo female initiation in
Ghana, a powerful three week period when
young girls are transformed into women
through a process of secret rituals. In
contrast, they present a Maasai male
initiation from warriorhood to elderhood in
Kenya.
In a remote corner of southwest Ethiopia,
Beckwith and fisher travel by mule train
over rugged mountains to reach the Surma
people, who practice one of the most
unique courtship rituals in Africa. Every
year, Surma men come together to perform
wild and violent stick fights, all to win the
hearts of prospective wives. Unlike the
Surma, who fight for women, the Wodaabe
nomad men of Niger spend hours
beautifying themselves for an all-male
beauty contest. The women act as judges
and select their husbands and lovers.
Healing and spiritual belief play a crucial
role at all states of life for traditional
Africans. At the Kokosahn festival in Togo,
we see thousands of followers in a state of
possession, empowered to perform
incredible and seemingly impossible feats.
Beckwith and Fisher end with the final
stage of life: death. For the past forty
years the Ga people of Ghana have gone
into the afterworld in a fantasy coffin
designed according to their profession in
life: a Mercedes Benz bears a wealthy
merchant; a pink tuna coffin carries a deep
sea fisherman.
Beckwith and Fisher's journey to record
these rites before they disappear is a
powerful visual feast, only made possible
by their lifetime commitment to make a
lasting record of Africa's cultural heritage.
The rites are captured in a beautiful, two
volume collection of photographs and have
been published in six languages. The
authors are offering a signed copy of their
exquisite tabletop series that will be
offered for purchase at the reception for
$150.00.
Monday, July 31, 2000, 6:00 PM - 10:00
PM
Georgia-Pacific Auditorium
133 Peachtree Street
Please call 678.406.0906 to reserve a seat
(Seating is limited to 250)