11 November 2021
9:55AM-10:30 AM
University of Cape Coast (UCC)

Lessons from Nature for Kmtyw 'Black People'

This study aims to discuss body part expressions in Akan (a Ghanaian language), Yorùbá (a Nigerian language), Kiswahili (a Tanzanian language) and r n Kmt ‘lit. the language of the Black Nation’. The paper addresses the common worldview whereby the concept and its articulation maintain a close connection to the literal real-world referent (the body part in question). The data is taken from collections of previously attested oral and written texts. The study demonstrates that there is a shared worldview continuum from ancient to contemporary Afrikan languages as manifested in body part expressions and that degree of proximity and similarity can be charted along a fundamental interrelation/fundamental alienation continuum.

AHSA hosted its 52nd annual conference in July-Aug, 2021 and was a partner for PANAFEST Three (3) day Colloquium 2021 in Ghana. The Pan African Festival (PANAFEST) Foundation, AHSA and University of Cape Coast met virtually and on ground to explore issues affecting the Black Family, Youth, Pan Africanism and African liberation. This session on "Building Africana Studies Theory Methodology Practice- Akan Ananse Stories, Yorùbá Ìjàpá Tales, and the Dikènga Theory: Worldview and Structure," by Okunini Obadele Kambon sets the deep thought foundation for the work of AHSA to build Africana Studies knowledge production and rescuing, telling and research our heritage using distinct methodologies of the discipline. We center at the start African history and culture, worldview.