Djobu Mask Society of the Diaspora

The Djobu Mask Society was created to remember the spirits of those africans from africa through the diaspora. We act as a bridge between the ancestors and the living.  The Djobu mask society represents the spirits of those of african origin who lived the experience of the americas.  We represent those africans that were taken in bondage and died /and survived the middle passge. Those Africans who lived and died on this side of the Atlantic.  The society comes out of a revival of african centered rites of passage among the peoples of african origin through out the diaspora.  The society was formed as a result of many people of african origin returning to their roots and embracing traditional and re-invented traditional african ceremonies.  The mask may be performed for many reasons from rights of passage of boys and girls,funeral ceremonies,wedding ceremonies,festivals, religious ceremonies, and many other celebrations. The mask comes  out to represent the presence of the spirits at any occasion.

The Djobu mask society is represented by 3 spirits.  Djobu which represents a more contemporary face of the african spirits in the diaspora. The 2^nd  is the Maafa spirit mask which represents those spirits who died and survived the middle passage. The 3^rd is the Simbi spirit mask which represents a nature spirit.                                       

Olujimi -Given by God

It has been a while since I blogged. Just troddin thru to bring light to the creations I am bringing forth through my spirit. I have been given such a wonderful gift of being able to carve and bring life out of the wood. I am creating tools by which I hope to connect people to the spirit(s) of ones ancestors. I hope you all enjoy my works as much as I do creating them

I just recently saw a comment on a capoeira documentary clip on youtube where and individual commented on how capoeira is not african. Although africans brought to Brazil used it to free themselves from slavery and oppression it is not african. He said even the word capoeira is portuguese. I was enraged when I read his comment. I am not surprised though. I responded by saying with the little space I had to respond,"Because the African is not in Africa does that make him not an African? History is written and told by the victor. The Portuguese did not start it , they tried to control and outlaw it but could not erase the culture and legacy of the African. So what do they do to control it. They join it so they can control its destiny. Africans had and molded their arts into what is known as "capoeira in brazil (Portuguese the language of the master) Ladja or Danmye in Martinuque(french the language of the master)And the other AFRICAN arts that have survived,and been lost throughout the americas. The African  not just in Brazil is still being disrespected and forgotten. Just a novel face to what was to them  OUR culture. The few of US who can afford to learn and get back a piece of OUR ancsestors legacy. because it was stolen from US as we were stolen from Africa. To get a bigger picture and more information check http://www.mashufaa.co.uk/history.htm .

I am tired of other people trying to define who WE are as Africans and what we have contributed to this world through their bullshyt history books. We are a living testament to our ancsestors and this western world was built off of their labor. Even through all of the torture,abuse  and rape of African people and our culture. We still taught and took care of the slave master and his offspring. We still remained Humane and did what we had to live and survive in balance with the rest of the universe.  And if we could'nt gain it peacefully there was those of us who made things right by force.   I pay homage to those Africans that died and survived the horrors of the African holocaust. I try everyday to honor them by learning and teaching others our continuing story.

C'est dans ma galère que la go Antou m'a quitté oh ah {x4}

Quand j'avais un peu
Matin midi soir
On été ensemble
A la rue Princesse
Aux mille maquis
Santos payait les poulets
L'argent est fini
Antou a changé de côté
Wari ban nan
Elle a changé de copain

Nan guin nan wan, nan guin nan wan
Nan guin nan wan, nan guin nan wan

Dieu merci pour moi je savais chanter un peu
J'ai fait ma cassette oh on me voit à la télé
Matin midi soir c'est moi je chante à la radio
Antou a vu çà elle dit le gaou a percé
Attends je vais partir le couper

{Refrain:}
Et on dit premier gaou n'est pas gaou oh
C'est deuxième gaou qui est niata oh ah
Et on dit premier gaou n'est pas gaou oh
C'est deuxième gaou qui est niata oh ah

Dimanche matin koko on frappe à ma porte
A ma grande surprise c'est la go Antou je vois
On s embrasse j'ai dit y'a longtemps qu'on c'est plus revu
Elle veut me mentir elle dit chéri j'avais voyagé
Je suis de retour
Je t'appartiens
Prends moi cadeau, fais ce que tu veux

{au Refrain}

J'ai dit chéri koko qu'est ce que tu veux manger
Sans même hésiter elle me dit poulet braisé

J'ai dit chéri koko c'est poulet tu veux manger
Poulet est trop petit çà peut pas te rassasier
C'est caïman braisé, je vais te donner
Kedjenou d'éléphant, tu vas manger

Nan guin nan wan, nan guin nan wan

Elle est fâché elle dit elle s'en va à la maison
Si elle va à la maison population va me tuer
Je lui ai demandé pardon, elle a accepté
A un moment donné, elle a tout gâté
Elle est quitté dans poulet, elle s'en va dans aloco
Si c'est aloco c'est pas compliqué
C'est plantation de bananes
Tu vas griller
Au l ...