Why African “Secret Societies” Were Called Secret, and Who Gave Them That Name
The phrase makes people think of shadowy cults. The real story is about power, colonial politics and the institutions that kept our traditions alive.
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Gurunsi Masks: Seven Peoples United Under a Name Their Rivals Gave Them
New: the 2nd edition of Within Carved Lines: The Secret Meanings of African Masks is out now. Get the book → Most tribal names documented in this book come from within: a people’s own word for itself. Gurunsi is different. It is a collective term covering the Gurensi, Kasena, Lyele, Nuna, Nunuma, Sisala, and Winiama,…
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Tuareg Ehel: The Carved Furniture That Marked You as Upper Class in the Sahara
New: the 2nd edition of Within Carved Lines: The Secret Meanings of African Masks is out now. Get the book → Several traditions documented in this book use a mask or a costume to mark status or identity. The Tuareg, a tribal people of the Sahara numbering more than 300,000 across Algeria, Tunisia, Mali, Libya,…
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Maasai Art Without Artists: Why Everyone Carves Their Own Walking Cane
New: the 2nd edition of Within Carved Lines: The Secret Meanings of African Masks is out now. Get the book → Nearly every tradition documented in this book relies on a dedicated maker: a guild of blacksmiths, a lineage of carvers, a workshop tied to a royal court. The Maasai, 350,000 nomadic herdsmen living mainly…
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Igbo Kola Nut Ceremony: Who Breaks the Oji and What It Means
The Igbo kola nut ceremony opens every serious gathering. Learn who breaks the oji, what the prayer says, and the rules guests follow.
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Malinke Suruku Masks: The Hyena Face Borrowed From a Neighbor’s Power Association
New: the 2nd edition of Within Carved Lines: The Secret Meanings of African Masks is out now. Get the book → Several traditions documented in this book grew their initiation systems from within, inventing the society and the mask that represents it together. The Malinke, named for their historical links to the empire of Mali…
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African Art Restitution Explained: Why the Return of Masks and Bronzes Matters
African art restitution is about more than objects. See what has been returned, what is still held, and why it matters for communities.
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Ife Bronze Heads: The Art So Famous It Named Itself, Outliving the People Who Made It
New: the 2nd edition of Within Carved Lines: The Secret Meanings of African Masks is out now. Get the book → Several traditions documented in this book are known by the name of the people who still practice them. Ife is known instead by the name of a place, a ritual center in southwestern Nigeria…
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Igbo Age Grade System: How Leadership Was Shared Before Chiefs
The Igbo age grade system ran roads, markets and defence without kings. See how it worked and why colonial chiefs broke it.
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Wongo Palm Wine Cups: The Style That Borrowed From Three Neighbors and Joined None of Them
New: the 2nd edition of Within Carved Lines: The Secret Meanings of African Masks is out now. Get the book → Several traditions documented in this book took shape by drawing a clear boundary against a powerful neighbor, keeping a famous kingdom’s style at arm’s length even while trading with it. The Wongo, 10,000 people…
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Cultural Heritage Sponsorship for Companies: What a Fair Partnership Looks Like
Cultural heritage sponsorship works when communities keep ownership. See what a fair partnership looks like and what companies should ask.
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I Explored the Truth About Female Masquerades
Exploring African masks, masquerades, traditional religion, sacred dances, and the spiritual heritage of West Africa. Subscribe to SEVICS AFRICA for deep dives into African culture, history, and identity. Keep exploring I Decoded African Masks and Their Color Symbolism—Here’s What Shocked Me African Masquerades: Spirits or Myth? Here’s What Cultures Say This Bottle Holds a Dark…
