The Power Areas of Life :: Of Water and the Spirit African Culture Essays

The Power Areas of LifeThe significant elements in Of Water and the olfactory property were the elements that contrasted starkly with the modern world. There were many aspects of the Dagara culture that were alien to my culture. The office of and belief in magic and the supernatural ama zed me. I set up an absence of secularism in the African society. The Dagaras inability to distinguish between archetype and reality stunned me. The element that I chose to talk about is the noticeable cohere displayed between the very old and the very untried. This element plays a significant role in Malidomas story, and it really made me consider the set in my society. Malidoma effected the importance between the young and old former(a) on in his narrative. He identified these dickens ages as the two power areas of life. In African culture the young chelaren spend the volume of their time with their grandparents. Th ey are responsible for the rearing of the child. This relationship is es tablished so that the child can learn from his or her wise grandparents. The alinement is also important because if it is strong enough, it can be a pair between the world of the livin g and the dead after the grandparent has passed away. Malidomas grandfather was a very real part of Malidomas life even after his grandfathers death. When Malidoma was in the seminary, the only tie that he had to his people and culture was his grandf ather. His grandfather, even though he had died when Malidoma was very young, was the steady and supportive force throughout Malidomas life. When Malidoma was young he spent huge amounts of time with his grandfather. The thing that Malidoma really emphasized about their relationship, was that his grandfather always talked to him as if he were an adult. No hotshot else treated Malidoma as if he were an adult their bond was special. Malidoma was referred to as a brother by his grandfather. This bond of brotherhood between the elderly and child is strong er than death. In a way, it is strengthened by death. The French colonial territory was able to completely disconnect Malidoma from his family and culture. They alienated him so much, that after 15 years away from his village, he couldnt reconnect with his people without undergoing the extensive initiation ceremony. The bond with his gra ndfather was unscathed by life with the Jesuit priests.