ALBERT

Description: From a first attempt to gather fundamental bibliography for anthropological research in Angola came out in 1983 an interim text. With the contribution of more collaborators and completing and updating this first text now comes this version of "Angola: anthropological bibliography", a working tool that we hope will be useful to many of our research colleagues. The print run has been purposely limited as an update as possible permanent. In this sense all suggestions and possible corrections will be welcomed so that all Africanists who are interested in anthropological research about Angola is available a working tool which is not exhaustive already represents very diverse information in the field of anthropological sciences. In addition to renewing its thanks to her first-hour colleague, Isilda Figueiras, I want to extend them to the researchers who have joined this work and have contributed, each with their share, to the preparation of this bibliography. [Coimbra, October 8th, 1997, M. L. Rodrigues de Areia]

Description: Power neither exists nor stands without symbols. In a space where awareness of ethnic diversity is increasingly tending to revalue the dynamics of the traditional, it is not merely academic to provide a glimpse of the rich symbology elaborated by the different forms of organizing traditional power. This will also be one of the many concrete ways to "gather data to define and illustrate the cultural identity of peoples Bantu, of yesteryear and today," aim "Bantu International Center for Civilization", an organization recently created to study and preserve the cultural heritage common to Africa's Banta. Angola is a field particularly rich in cultural traditions of this kind. In its territory numerous principalities and families were developed in which the power exercised under varied forms of royalty. This diversity sought to account for the selection of exposed objects; In writing texts, however, it was not possible to go beyond the most representative groups: the Kongo (in particular the Woyo subgroup) and the Ovimbundu. Suffering from the vicissitudes of different African histories (pre-colonial, colonial, post-colonial) the symbols of power survived even when confined only to their ritual component. There was even an enlargement determined by the incorporation of acculturated symbols, namely religious ones (crucifix and rosary, among others). The different anthropological collections around the world are in some cases unique testimonies of this "show of power" that only disappeared in appearance as it is still very much alive inside. Some testimonies of these symbols were collected less than half a century ago (M. A. F. de Oliveira), others are reborn from an apparent state of lethargy taking on new expression (see in particular the growing claim of the role of women in the transformation of Angolan society and the female component of power in the tradition of Kongo – M. L. Rodrigues de Areia); still others manifest themselves in the consistent demand that the holders of power assume themselves as defenders of life and what conditions it - a clear reflection of the traditional concept of the charismatic chief (sacred royalty) to whom the fertility of the fields such as that of women was imputed. women, the occurrence of rain as the scourge of drought. The analysis of the testimonies of traditional royals, which are of the past, must not only raise, besides the inference of the symbolization mechanisms resulting from social structures, also from the past, the ever- present question of the "systems of power and the conditions of its formation and transformation" O. Houart ); on the one hand, they provide the evocation of a past that reaffirms itself as an element of cultural identity; on the other, they justify a new discourse on the exercise of power. [M. L. RODRIGUES DE AREIA]

Description: This study of the Cokwe divinatory basket is an original research from various points of view, and is the result of constant work that runs from 1971 to 1978. Alternating museum and bibliographic research with fieldwork, the author was able to obtain a minimum of information on each of the many symbols manipulated by the cokwe soothsayer. Moreover, and this being a necessary complement, we have enlightened the ritual context of this practice which stems from a special initiation, which is not the case for other less elaborate techniques. [...] [Coimbra, the 25 September 1978]

Description: The exhibition “Mozambique: Aspects of Material Culture”, as referred to in this catalog, is part of the activities of the 5th Week of African Culture, which over the last four years has been carrying out scientific-cultural actions, including which several ethnographic exhibitions. Through the exposed copies, witnessing of the material culture of a people, have if- you a vision, even partial, of their values transmitted over several generations. Common and utilitarian objects such as benches, chairs, pots, pans, pipes, combs, etc., are adorned with attractive decorative motifs, giving them originality, beauty and a sense of spiritual comfort, indispensable to the well-being of the user in the environment your daily life. A very old and common culture is basketry and matting, which plays an extremely utilitarian role, targeting multiple sectors: agriculture, fishing, trade, storage and drying of products and for domestic use. A wide variety of raw materials are available: palm leaf strips, baobab bark, pineapple or sisal leaf fibers, grass varieties and other plant products. The interweaving of these results in materials design skilled and ingenious demonstrated by the different techniques and models. Basketwork techniques vary between the technique of interlocking, interlacing and the spiral technique, but there are other auxiliaries of various kinds. Geometric and colorful designs give this art of weaving an imprint of remarkable beauty. (Baskets Macondes: n.rs 10, 11 and 12). […] [MARIA DO ROSÁRIO RODRIGUES MARTINS]