Kilwa

When the Portuguese sailed around Africa in the 16^th century, one of the greatest cities on the coast of what is now Tanzania was Kilwa. It was then one of the centres of Swahili civilisation. The Portuguese made its ruler accept the sovereignty of the king of Portugal and built a fortress. The Portuguese made the same with other Swahili cities but whereas other cities, like Zanzibar or Mombasa, later became prosperous, fortunes of Kilwa declined and eventually the city was abandoned. Only ruins now remain, where sheep from a nearby village run between pillars of once magnificent mosque and baobabs grow through the walls of ancient palaces. The city stood on an island which was supposed to provide safety, nowadays one can go there with a Swahili sailor in a wind-blown dhow.  

Vanuatu sculpture

In Port Vila (Vanuatu's capital) I found a gallery selling Vanuatu sculpture. Most of what is being sold there (so the owner told me) is not created for the tourist trade. The object he sells are made for initiation ceremonies (like circumcision) and would normally be later discarded. Some of the initiated decide to earn a few bob and sell them instead.

Navajo dress

Navajo traditional dress has nothing to do with feathers, buckskin or fringes, in fact it has nothing to do with what we may imagine to be Indian. It seems to include a lot of velvet and one can guess it developed late in the 19^th century, after the tribe settled in the reservation. Similarly, Navajo traditional dance has nothing to do with what one can see at powwows. The Navajo dance in pairs and in a circle. One can see it at Navajo Fair that takes place every year at Window Rock, the capital of their reservation. Navajo Traditional Dance is one of the events at the week-long fair. This is where these pictures were taken in summer 2013.  

Navajo pow wow

Powwow is a cultural event of the modern North American Indians. It is a music and dance event, loosely based on traditions of Ojibwa and Sioux peoples. However, modern powwows are modern, music amplified, some of the dances and dresses designed not that long ago. For example the now ubiquitous jingle dress (and dance) was introduced by the Ojibwa in 1930ties, whereas equally popular shawl dance (and dress) is even later, introduced in the 1960ties by the Sioux.

The modern powwow is a kind of pan-Indian movement, spreading far beyond Ojibwa and Sioux areas. It seems that all reservations have an ambition to throw a great powwow once a year and visitors from other reservations are invited. Whites are also welcome, but not many come, the music being as alien to the white ear as it could possibly be.

The pictures below were taken at the great Navajo powwow in summer 2013 in Window Rock, the capital of their reservation. By the way, the powwow dress has nothing to do with the traditional dress (and dance) of the Navajo.