Alesha+Arshad's+African+Exhibit



=Pendent, 19th - 20th Century:= This circular pendent was hammered from the thinnest of gold or cast by the lost-wax process. The maker of this pendent were the Asante people and was made in Ghana.This pendent would have been worn traditionally around the neck of court officials who maintain the spiritual well being of Akan rulers and their land. These emblems of office are known as soal washer's and each bears designs that speak to the royal context in which they are worn. For example, the fern depicted at the center of this pendent with its cord still intact refers to the Asante proverb " the king does not fear insults". Source: []

=Ancient Africa:= The physical geography and natural vegetation of Africa are diverse, from tropical rain forests along the Equator to the Sahara desert. More tan 2,000 years ago, the Bantu-speaking people of west Africa began migrating across central and southern Africa, also taking their culture with them. West African kingdoms were powerful traders that controlled the savannas for hundreds of years. In West African rain forests the cities Lli-Lfe and Benin were important centers of trade and art. In East Africa there strong kings built lasting monuments and brought changes to the lands they ruled. In this all their religion, Christianity played also a large role in how thing went on parts of ancient Africa. City states along the east African Coast and the inland city or great Zimbabwe grew rich from trade. In its history only parts of Africa were so important and those parts made Africa what it is today.

=Current Event:= Lybia has war on its hand! The Libyan rebels began a protest of their government which was largely peaceful. Because of this, the currrent leader gave up his power for an election but Colonel Khaddafy just made this war harder to fight. He gave an inarticulate speech at first, but then told the world on camera that he would anihilate those who were participating. For safty, after his intriguing speech, President Obama, UN Ambassador Susan Rice, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton joined other nations to pressure the UN in setting up a "No Fly Zone" over the military strongholds in Libya to prevent the promised slaughter of large numbers of civilians. In the meantime, the U.S. froze Libya's assets being held in our U.S. banks as an incentive to dissuade Khaddafy from attacking his own people ruthlessly. Since this war is happening aat this moment the best predicter of the future of how this matter would turn out is the past.