Nigerian Ritual & Healing Objects
copyright 2012 Lisa B. Falour, B.S., M.B.A. all rights reserved cutecatfaith.com -- the copyright pertains to my commentary on the place and the objects observed.
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The first Sunday of every month is a heritage day in France, and many places of cultural interest are open free of charge. The most popular places get very crowded, so check the hours and go early if at all possible. The Quai Branly Museum is in Central Paris, France and is quite new. It replaces some older museums which were no longer well-adapted to displaying the works and objects, and it has a huge permanent collection, several temporary shows running at a time, a médiathèque, a cinemathèque, a theatre and events space, boutiques, ateliers with many types of activities and teaching/learning possibilities, places to eat and drink, and lovely gardens (no smoking allowed!). The usual full entry fee is ten euros per person, less than that to see less, there are various reductions and even free passes possible for some people, and again, on a journée du patrimoine, you can get in for free.
We looked at a bit of the permanent collections to see a few things we already know and love and wanted to see again, and we saw a show of modern Australian aboriginal art, and saw part of a show about Nigeria, Africa. The museum is beautiful inside and out, and quite accessible, but it's huge! If you want to make a day of it, take a change of footwear and discreetly pack some light foods. If you're prepared to spend some money, there is a very fancy, beautiful restaurant (reservations recommended), at least one café/bar, and the boutique/gift shops are expensive, yes, but they really do sell some terrific things.
Information on this museum is online and very good. I am available as a private guide and business facilitator here in France, and I do export, teaching and training -- anything which is legal, really!
Many of the objects seen here in this short clip look ancient, but most are extremely recent. The exhibition has good documentation in both French and English, and the museum makes an effort to provide good documentation in other languages, also. Some of these objects are vessels. Some are for the remains of the dead to be placed in, and then later destroyed, after appropriate rituals and mourning have occurred, so the dead will not bother the living. Some are to attract illnesses of various types. The vessels are then baked, causing them to become ceramics, thus sealing in the illness. I like the spikey vessel which shows a type of vertebrae, and it's supposed to attract back pain, draw it out of a person, and contain it safely. In the mid-19th c., as Muslim influence entered the country and representational art and depiction was frowned upon, the objects changed. Much about the history of this country is shown in the show, and we really enjoyed it, looking as long as we could, until we got tired.
Do you use talismans or lucky charms? Do you like Feng Shui? Do you keep religious objects about? Photos of deceased loved ones? Comments are welcome here.
A la découverte de l'architecture de La Garette (79)
En compagnie de René Mathé, ancien architecte-urbaniste du Parc, découvrez le patrimoine architectural de La Garette (Commune de Sansais -- 79).
En barque, à pied ou à vélo, cette petite commune typique du Marais poitevin mérite que l'on s'y arrête.
Laissez-vous guider !