Baobab tree and small child (Johnson, 1975)

Item — Box: 16, slide: 35.03.01

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

Slides of Africa from various sources; these slides document a variety of topics such as agriculture, landscapes, city scenes, villages, architecture, industry, transportation, commerce, and people, from throughout Africa during the 20th century.

Dates

Majority of material found within 1960 - 2000

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on use of the materials in the department for research; all patrons must comply with federal copyright regulations. To inquire about access to this collection, please contact the Herskovits Library at africana@northwestern.edu.

Extent

From the Collection: 99 Boxes (99 slide boxes.)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

General

The baobab is one of the symbols of Africa. They grow everywhere, from the dry areas to the dense forests. The trunk is extremely thick and is often hollow. It was often used as the burial place of important Griots (praise singers). The trees, therefore, remain a fairly mysterious entity to the people. It is often worshipped in other parts of West Africa (for example, Nigeria). Often it is described as a tree that has been uprooted and stood on its head. The fruit (sometimes called "monkey-fruit") is only eaten occasionally for medicinal purposes. The little child is either a Cape Verdian or a Lebanese child. Many Cape Verdians come to Dakar to look for work. (The Cape Verdi Islands lie about 120 miles off the coast).