₦airaland Forum

shymexx: Technically, the ancient Kingdom of Dahomey has some parts which are in present day Nigeria. Parts of Ogun and Lagos states come to mind. The Egun people were part of the Kingdom and I think the Bariba people were also part of it (not too sure, though). Also, Dahomey was under Oyo Empire for a long time and it paid tributaries to Oyo before the collapse of Oyo Empire.

However, since most of the Kingdom itself is in present day Benin, I think Benin should claim it.

All of old Dahomey was in modern day Benin republic but it did not consume the entire nation of modern Benin republic. After independence Benin republic changed its name from Dahomey to recognize the northern provinces that Dahomey never included. The image below shows the borders of Dahomey under King Ghezo and I believe that is as big as Dahomey got. Dahomey never breached the borders of present-day Nigeria and we constantly warred with the Yoruba. You are right that Dahomey did pay tribute to Oyo for a long time. Maybe the OP is confused because Benin is a region of present day Nigeria. A wise poster here told me Yoruba and Fon have common ancestors and there are many Yoruba who live in Benin republic.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Map_of_Kingdom_of_Dahomey.jpg

PAPA AFRICA: now that's a bad b.itch.

Your language is very unfortunate and not at all respectful of these women.

Kairoseki77: https://www.badassoftheweek.com/dahomey5.jpg

These warriors are most certainly Beninese. However OP I love your creatively written story. The Amazons of Dahomey are very proudly remembered by many of their relatives today including Angelique Kidjo.

These warriors are most certainly Beninese. However OP I love your creatively written story. The Amazons of Dahomey are very proudly remembered by many of their relatives today including Angelique Kidjo.

MsDarkSkin: [size=18pt]Marriage and s3xuality[/size]

The Woodabe a "sexually liberal" as unmarried men and women have the right to "fornicate" (one reason they are known as the Taboo People among their Fulani relatives.)

Very interesting. If this is true then they are not only polygamous but polyandrous as well.

Many Nigerians have already integrated with European culture. After all we're speaking English on this board. However what you're suggesting is diluting our bloodlines to match our diluted cultures. I can't see how that would benefit me as I'm beautiful and have beautiful children. However I certainly see how it could benefit people who weren't fortunate enough to be blessed with this skin tone and lovely African features such as the ghostly OP.

stillwater: I understand what you are saying, but these issues still fall under the same for me. The child bride issue hasn't even shut down the men, some actually tell you that it has nothing to do with us because we are not from the North.

Do you agree when they say it has nothing to do with you? I can understand both ways.

However men can not see something right before their eyes and others don't want to acknowledge the harm because they benefit from it to a certain degree. They are comforted in knowing that no matter how small society has made them feel there is always someone they can look down on....whose life doesn't have the same worth as their own. I pray that African women in general and West African in particular support one another. I am Beninese but I know Nigeria is the giant of west Africa and everyone watches when Nigeria takes action. It's so important to get this one right.

ThiefOfHearts: Nothing superficial in pointing out that men have an issue saying HELLO to a woman simply for having a vagina

or the fact that we cant even go to a hotel without people assuming we're streetwalkers

These situations lack gravity when compared to others including having bits of your genitals cut off to keep you chaste. I still strongly believe she could've chosen more compelling arguments but I know she meant well and certainly is a great speaker.

stillwater: You have to remember that our experiences are different, just the way the experiences of racism for a wealthy black male would be different for a poor black male. Also, the examples she gave was to create a contrast to what her male friend assumed that 'women are no more discriminated against, since they can go to school, be their own bosses these days and that blatant discrimination against women like fattening rooms like you made mention of are currently in the minority.' Our experiences in the corporate field and rural areas should not be taken superficial over the other, because how can we fight things like child bride marriages when we ourselves don't even know we are discriminated against.

I am not saying that women in city situations don't face discrimination. I am asserting that the consequences of that discrimination pale in comparison to women who force life altering circumstances and that her message would've been more powerful had she focused on those. We can certainly fight child marriage whether or not we are experiencing hardship as individuals. Some men are fighting against child marriage and certainly they don't experience sexism. Moreover the fact that child marriage is still being debated should shut down the men who are asserting that women are no longer facing discrimination. I'll gladly take being ignored at a restaurant 3 times away versus being married off to someone's grandfather at the age of 12.

I love the way she speaks but what she says lacks a lot of power because she focuses on very superficial examples of discrimination against women. What is not being acknowledged in a restaurant when women are dealing with being confined to fattening houses or working to support their brother's school fees?

[quote author=Mrs.Chima]All personal opinions of others are unfounded.

So you are right.[/quote]It is not my personal opinion that Dahomeans are Fon rather than Yoruba as she said. That is a fact.
It is not my personal opinion that vodun is Fon rather than central African as she said. That is a fact.
It is also not my personal opinion that Santeria is one spirituality rather than all as she said. That is a fact.

You can not point to one fallacy that I posted in this thread and that's why any claim of my ignorance would be unfounded.

[quote author=Mrs.Chima]That poster can say the same about you.[/quote]She could say whatever she'd like but it would be unfounded.

calcal: The Ifa has become international believe and the headquarter in Nigeria which is very nice that we have something to sell to the whole world.

Selling spirituality hmmmm? How exactly would you go about doing that?

Tiphareth: Ifa is a universal religion and hence suitable for all and sundry. Everyone should be encouraged to worship ELEDUMARE through Demigods or what Kabbalists call ArchAngels, i.e Sango, Obatala, Eshu, Osun, etc...

TIPHARETH!!!

What evidence do you have that Ifa is universal?

calcal: The Ifa has become international believe and the headquarter in Nigeria which is very nice that we have something to sell to the whole world.

Ifa is very international because of the slave diaspora.

I'm Fon and I most admire the Samburu and Masai of Kenya frankly because I find them to be very handsome. Oh you said Nigeria lol. I guess Yoruba then because of Wole Soyinka.

[quote author=Mrs.Chima]There are a lot to learn from other people but when ignorance is thrown in the mix...it kills the positive progression.[/quote]I have nothing to learn from this particularly ignorant poster.

[quote author=*Kails*]nah im through with it.
i said my piece, never disrespected anybody in my first reply.
its not my fault some folks can't read.

it can respond but it'll just be talking to itself.

that's that.[/quote]This is your second time saying you're through with it. At least we can both agree we have nothing to learn from one another even if you can't manage to stay out of the thread.

[quote author=*Kails*]What are the ethnic groups that played the largest influence on dahomey again? Oh ok.[/quote]The Fon and I am one of them.

Futhermore there was voodoo/"black magic" in central africa too hence my reference to nzumbi (name of a serpent and king) which is well known throughout the caribbean and brazil.

Vodun is not black magic. Vodun is the name of the spirituality practiced by the Fon of Dahomey. Every ethnic group has their own spirituality. This is very basic knowledge. ATR's have a lot in common but, as we speak different languages and think of ourselves along vastly different ethnic lines, they also have a lot that is not in common.

Perhaps because you have no rhythym or cannot do the dance you call it "ghetto" but I assure you crumping was named in california but is far older than the establishment of "american hoods". It is even older than the slave trade. The only thing "sad" is the fact that you do not know this.

I'm not interested in any aspect of black American culture and unlike you, who claim to know about West Africa, I don't go around pretending that I know much about it. However I did watch a video about the origins of crumping and nothing of what you said about its great ancient origins were revealed. So I will proceed with calling it a silly ghetto dance designed to keep ghetto kids from gangbanging which is how it was presented in the video.

KidStranglehold: Um...Kails...

Dahomey was a Fon kingdom not Yoruba. Created by the Fon people who settled Benin.

Exactly. I'm a Fon. Kails is an American who makes grand generalizations about West Africa while expecting Africans to know about silly ghetto dances like crumping.

This is not funny and happens all the time. If someone is married to a spirit s/he is not supposed to be married to a mortal. All kinds of problems will ensue. My husband's mother was married to a spirit which also caused her to be divorced.

Man the road to migente.com is that way ------------>

What does any of this afro-latino silliness have to do with Africa? Come to Benin and find out how "black" you really are.

[quote author=*Kails*]You and whoever liked your post both need to read my post again.


When you understand it then get back to me.
I am more than certain I said ALL of them contributed.
I know dahomy was mostly yoruba. I am not ignorant or daft enough not to know this...i simply said if santeria (which is the exact same thing as spirituality #duh lol) is the reason ppl are saying yoruba were the most influential then that would mean the kongo kingdom was the single most influental since t he y have influenced in so many areas...not just religiously/spiritually.

And yes even krumping. I believe that is what I said.


Do the research if you dont believe me. Lolz[/quote]1. No santeria is not the same thing as spirituality. Santeria is one of 1000's of spirituality practiced around the world. To say santeria is the same as spirituality is equivalent to saying that oil is the same as liquid. You're forgetting the qualifier "a". Santeria is a spirituality just as oil is a liquid.
2. I said vodun comes from Dahomey and somehow you understood that Dahomey was mostly Yoruba. I assert that it is you who needs to reread rather than me.
3. Krumping is a silly ghetto dance created to keep otherwise errant children out of trouble. If you had to reach that far to find a Kongo "influence" then that's very sad.
4. Several of the other items you listed as originating from the Kongo actually have a Yoruba or other West African influence. I think it's you who needs to go back to the drawing board here.

[quote author=*Kails*]like I said earlier,
all of the people sent to the new world played equal
roles in the formation of who we are and our cultures.
From north America to south.

Anyone who truly knows diaspora black history knows what I am saying is the truth.
If people say the Yoruba are the most influential because of Santeria, then they are
truly ignorant about the kongo area's influence in the new world. if we are going by
what the majority of the black diaspora share in common, then the kongo kingdom rules in influence.

#fact.

Bachata, Salsa, African American dance/krumping, Caribbean dancing, Carnival (dance moves), Merengue, Kumina, SANTERIA <<< (THEY ACTUALLY MIX Yoruba AND Kongo deities), Voodoo/Zumbi, Martial arts (Brazilian); etc ALL have roots DIRECTLY from the bantu ppls of central Africa.

And this goes all the way from north America on down to the south.

But I think its unfair to the other peoples who contributed to our cultures to make this into a competition. So I say ALL.[/quote]You mentioned only Kongo and Yoruba but said all. What about Akan, Senegambian, etc.? If you are going to say all you should provide some proof yes? Yorubas have figured heavily not just through Santeria but also through the other spiritualities I already referenced.
Most of (Haitian) voodoo actually comes directly from Dahomey/Benin.
Krumping? Come now let's not get too crazy here.

HumbledbYGrace: I hate the girls mutilation, that girl is still young. You forgot to add the boys circumcision

Male circumcision is not considered controversial by more than a few people. Moreover it is not comparable to female genital mutilation and is actually helpful in preventing the spread of HIV.

I don't know which ethnic group figures most prominently in the ancestry of diasporans but looking at what survived spriritually I certainly think the Yorubas had the biggest impact on diaspora culture. From Brazil through the Carribean santeria, candomble, shango, and even a spirituality called "Yoruba." Yoruba traditions managed to survive where others disappeared.

This is a crazy way to squander government funds.

Beninese.

souldust: i have listened to so many islamic and christian clergy men preach
and it is so annoying what you hear them say of the other religions
no wonder we continue to see so many sectarian violence here in nigeria
the clergy continue to induce into the congregation deep and intense hatred for the
other religion
you hear Christian pastors say something like "The Muslims worship a god Allah" (a small god and not the God in heaven) and so they would not use the word Allah in worship they prefer
the word yesu. They tell their congregation that Muslims are children of Ishmael the "rejected child"
on the other hand, the Muslims say degrading things about christians
the only religion hat do not induce hatred of other people into its adherents is the traditional religion.
i would like to hear what you have to say. your opinion.

If you're talking about tolerance towards other religions ATR's are certainly more tolerant. That is to say people who practice ATR's don't mind who your are worshiping in your house. For the most part they will not try to convert you or make you feel bad. However if you're speaking of tolerance towards socially deviant behavior I think Christianity is most tolerant. I have seen a good deal of ATR's and Islam persecuting individuals who don't fit in. Christians do this as well but I feel they do it less.

Babzilla: GIMME A BREAK
SHE IS A CRAZY WOMAN
IN HER COUNTRY SHE WOULDA
BEEN IN A IN A STRAIT JACKET
OR IN A A LOONEYBIN
BUT OVER HERE IN THE LAND OF THE CRAZIES
SHE IS CELEBRATED.

I think it's simultaneously sad and hilarious that this thread is made celebrating an oyinbo celebrating Orishas when the same forum regularly denounces Nigerians who do the same thing. It is a reminder that most black people won't even take a step unless they think oyinbos will approve of the direction. Soyinka is most disappointing.

Haiti is also a member of the African Union and is the only diaspora nation to have that distinction.

Cultural respect has never been a give and take with the west vs. the rest. You're right that there is no logical reason to be for gay marriage and anti-multiple spouses. It's up to each African who values their traditions to make better choices. We should not continue to bend over backward to accommodate people who rarely move an inch for us. That's what Macky Sall did when he rejected obama's recent gay overtures.