Africa - cultural exchange

Hello everyone,

I think this webpage is very US-centric, obviously because probably 90% of people are from the US...which is fine by me...

But, since the vast majority of black men are from Africa, I'm opening a thread dedicated to the ww/african man experience.

I was wanting other ww and african men to tell us about the good things in dating a black African man. I'll put some of mine down. These will be both superficial and more thoughtful. As a dove-tail, can people put links to good African music? I really dislike Hip-hop, rap and R&B, but I love African music...share what you know!!

* accent
* parties (the dancing and laughing and music - the togetherness)
* hearing him speak in another language
* trying new food
* african culture is different to "western". I enjoy learning little things about that. and vice versa.
* his family calling me to see how I'm going.
* big families and lots of friends
* sincere and humble african pride
* acceptance - people are curious about me, and are kind and helpful
* the music - here are some of my faves...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rjuNnETsfM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtXMxDbYCL4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bns3aHaTBo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19iBFj0sa3E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfdI-Nw0kkM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYX_Ql-3U10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbkYpJ45quQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqmTmbA0yKo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQqLPXVHTf4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igwhraAkEl8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rjuNnETsfM&feature=related

 

I can't help you out with African music and I am also more into Afro-American and Jamaican culture but I still have something positive to sat about African culture:

-Hospitality
-I like African art-work
-Once went to an African wedding and that was the most cheerful wedding I have ever been to.Great food,nice music,interesting wedding customs and everyone was really happy

 

Be-you-tiul86....

this is going to be the weirdest thing ever to say, but your bf looks identical to a friend of mine, except my friend is white...and your bf is not (obviously). Seriously - I think if I photoshopped my friend's photo to make him black, you would think it was your bf.

Its a funny old world! huh!?

 

For real? Wow if you can post a pic of him.Would like to see it

 

I.m african and I just typed specially for you an one Hour and half job
And I forgot to log in :!: :!: :!:
A machine is a machine
few tips
Music; on youtube Fela kuti, Alpha blondy , Manu Dibango , Ali Farka Toure , Ismael lo ( tajebone soundtrack) , Youssou N'dour here in my dear Ivory Coast Bailly Spinto ,Onel Mala ,Chantal Taiba and Aicha kone
Plus Myryam Makeba amd more .
I'll celebrities ,writters , paintors sculptors,movies and more
to sum up
ok here my e mail georgdossou@yahoo.fr
we can exchange throughout culture .
Thanks
FEGH
Bye

 

OK..I'm African, but I'm the poor mans version; I've predominately grown up in the UK. My outlook will probably be different from a born and bred African. I'll add my 2 cents though, cos I qualify:

Any excuse will be made to throw a party;this is to ensure the huge family...and I mean huge family meets for possibly the 20th time that year.

You will be called sister, auntie..etc..by people you have never met before!possibly a good thing..

If you have ample behind, you will be complimented rayer: ..and not just by your boyfriend.

Your $2 presents will be so much more appreciated

For me specifically: I'll be the envy of my friends :wink: ( strictly applies to swaziland).

Your attempts at learning yr boyfriends language will be appreciated. You will be told your language skills are excellent, when in fact you are totally incoherent!


As for the african music; I listen to some, especially south african music. Got a couple of links for you: they in Zulu and Xhosa...enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhXoWvCT1Kc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxOepJiw4K4

 

That sounds really great. Will check the videos,too,in a second

 

FEHG:
I understand you and your point. although i am american of african descent, i come from a black american sub culture called the Gullah. We are a culture which still holds on to many of our west african culture--language, tribal names and practices, arts, music, foodways, geographic connection.
we are a people mainly from the rice region of sierra leone, Mende people group. though we have been in the US for 4 hundred years, we still keep our culture of africa alive. we are situated on the southeastern coast called the lowcountry of SC and Georgia. our staples are gumbo, fish and rice, we still make the rice baskets, fish nets and fish boats.

i too love west african music, west african food, dont like american hip hop rap, believe in strong, large families, oral stories, multi generational parties, etc

 

my post wasnt an entirely serious take on african culture...dont take it literally!for the most part i'm messing about

 

I know that

 

Love the music!!!!

I'm not too fond of hiphop though (no offence to the Americans), but if you like jazz, you can check out Richard Bona. (I didn't even know he was from Cameroon until Jreminator mentioned it here.)

Also, even if the music is a bit old, Miriam Makeba is IMO perhaps the greatest thing that's ever come form the African continent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCc61z9IFu4
You gotta watch this video. Just look at how that little girl at the end move. What's not to love?(Oh, Pata pata, always make me happy. I tried learning the lyrichs once, but gave it up.)

 

Dossou ... What about Wolosso, DJ Arafat etc ... there's so many good artists in CI .. and then there's Fela, king of W.African music!!

 

Thanks everyone! I was just trying to get some cross-cultural exchange happening.

To me, one of the better things about dating cross-racially is the cultural aspect...so I wanted to get people appreciating Africa more!

tuckerreed -
wow..that was really interesting, thanks. I didn't know that. I assumed all AA had "lost" their traditional african culture over the years, but I'm glad to hear that there are different things happening across the USA. I should do some more research!

 

To arika.
thanks Arika .
Who are you ? where do you come from ?
you look so abidjanese.....
Yeah man /*woman?????

 

Oh, btw thanks for the myspace add

 

Haha..you tried learning the words of pata pata...you very brave :lol:

 

Hey, I've done it once before!!!
I can sing "nkosi sikeleli Afrika" without understanding a single word. (learned it a looong time ago, just because it's a pretty song.) I got a lot of compliments for that from some South Africans just a few months ago. Desmond Tutu was in town, and I was probably the only white person who could sing along. (And apparently I sing it with hardly any accent. Yeah... Right... :lol

Pata pata runs too fast though. It's impossible to sing that much in such a short time. :lol:

 

Yeah, pata pata is a tongue twister,its got so many clicks. and like u said she sings it very fast, u could easily end up biting your tongue! Congrats on learning nkosi sikeleli Afrika; i think every southern africa loves that song! About singing without an accent... :lol: :lol: We southern Africans tend to get excited when a white person learns a bit of our language..I think thats what happened in this case. Look at Point 6 on my original post; think it kinda of applies here...not saying you were incoherent of course

,

 

LOL actually if you heard of the nursery rhyme "itsy bitsy spider"....it kinda sounds like nkosisikeleli africa......but youre right, i love that song too.....especially the "wo za moya,,,wo za moya" part.....yep..

later

 

Well here are a few reasons to date AFRICAN MEN. First of all, most of our families (at least the ones I know from congo) are STRONG. Respect is HOW we were raised. Unless you disrespect us, we will show you the most humble and best behavior (Africans are very humble,,,unlike their american friends)

Theres nothing better than African people and culture as a whole.

Although youd never love MY black people as much as I do, I believe you'd love the maner in which "the" Black "mother" kisses the children's knee's when its bleeding as she helps raise the neighborhood(every child in Africa is everybodies child). Just to show you how caring she ,the black, african woman,, is.....

Another thing you'd love is the grandmother who makes the worlds best "fufu" (some african food). Theres so much to love in africa.....the sense of kinship and openmindedness youd feel while walking into a Black church will be at a level you will never feel again (in ur life),,,,trust me.. the way you'll feel the love around when looking at the "Brown" faces that helped raise some of the smartest/strongest man/woman around this bitch...nothig can explain

When you'll meet the "black woman" (mother)....trust me....you'd be amazed by their cross stitching abilities,not only that but the way that black african woman (ages 18 to 84) tell about the stories of their lives,,,share recipes,,,and tell expecting black mothers how to calm a bawling baby,,,,,,,youd learn alot being a white woman from America.,,if you have an open heart/mind.

Its nothing close to white neighborhoods, where people dont give a fuck about each other......

later