Egypt

Stanley O. Williford  |   OW Editor
Feb 17 2011

Has conducted excavations, surveys in 42 countries

Willie E. Dye, Ph.D., is a biblical archaeologist, and he might be the only African American in the field. No one seems to know of another one.

But digging for artifacts around the world is just part of what Dye does. Most archaeologists devote their time to teaching, but Dye also does field work at digs, teaching and research.

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Dec 23 2010

After death life begins again

Have you ever met someone and they thought out loud, “We must have met in a former life.” Perhaps you did, if they adhere to some African and Asian traditions. Reincarnation is a topic that remains mysterious and unclear, but the lingering thought of it teases us from time to time when we meet familiar faces or come in contact with an “old soul.”

Spirits revisiting the material world is not a New Age concept accepted only by spiritual gurus and hippies. In fact, many African brothers and sisters have deep roots in the subject.

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
Oct 14 2010

Understanding brings one pastor closer to his faith

World-renowned African history scholar and speaker Ashra Kwesi, who is known for his expansive knowledge and understanding of our ancient roots, came to town last Thursday night for a presentation at First A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles, and Kwesi unlocked the vaults of history and outlined detailed Kemetic connections to Christianity. 
 

Brittney M. Walker  |   OW Staff Writer
May 7 2009

Beauty of the Nile

Tell el-Amarna, Egypt -- In the sandy hills of Egypt stand the ruins of an ancient city presently known as Tell el-Amarna.

This is where the famous pharaoh–Queen Nefertiti ruled with her king, Pharaoh Akhenaten. The bust of Nefertiti was found in 1912 by German archeologist Ludwig Borchardt in the workshop of the royal sculptor Thutmose. It is now on display at Berlin’s Altes Museum. Recent discovery has revealed that the bust is just a surface representation of an original art piece.

Cynthia E. Griffin-  |   OW Managing Editor
Feb 7 2009

Ancient art keeps mind, body, and spirit in balance and healthy

It is a little-known fact, but according to historians, yoga was first found in Africa before it arrived in what is now known as India.

That is one fact that Krishna Caur, president of the International Association of Black Yoga Teachers, is trying to get out to more African Americans.

“We want to be able to let our people know that historically yoga goes back thousands and thousands of years . . . Egypt is one of the places where there is a lot of evidence in tombs, where you see hieroglyphs of people doing yoga postures,” said Caur.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”