Pygmies of the Central African rainforests were called god dancers and venerated by the ancient Egyptians because they learnt their spirituality from them, which developed over time into all the bastardized religions of the world today.
Such was their oneness with nature, the concept of God, astronomy and astrology, diet and medicine, peaceful living with animals, plants, water and nature as a whole, even our innate African rhythm have all been attributed to the pygmies.
I agree with Kphij. And the comment about these people being "savages" is way off! This is the kind of thinking I tried to correct when I was growing up. But since my thinking was in the minority, everyone felt sure I was wrong. These people had highly evolved cultures with great dances, songs, and ceremonies. I went to Kenya in October 2009 and saw some of the remaining indigenous cultures and how they perform. We haven't destroyed it completely!
This documentary is more revealing of White American culture and Western thinking at the time - full of ignorance and arrogance. But this clip is funny - the White lady is the funniest of all. Hahaha!!! Why does the commentator seem to think that jazz belongs to White people? Isn't it an African-American art form? Maybe the music and rhythm were somehow familiar to the people. In any case they seemed to enjoy it. I'm sure they were thinking how ridiculous that White lady looked, though.
kphilj: Great comment. All values seem to have been mixed up at the time. I agree that the clip is funny and I posted it for it's entertainment value. Regards, Trabanul
@rucio2 My reference to these people recognizing something familiar is two-fold: 1) It refers to the distant but real connection between African-American cultural roots and African traditional cultures - to deny African-Americans and indeed Africans of their mutual connection would seem "racist"; 2) There is something universal about all musical expression, and Pygmies like al humans can share this universal familiarity. As Black people we have the right to recognize our cultural roots.
commentaries about SAVAGES isn't necessary 'cept around our dinner table.
I read books about Osa Johnson many decades ago while i was in school .... what i learned was that she was a famous white woman who did exploring in other countries, she was part of many exciting adventures and I envied her, I too wanted to explore this wonderful world. I'm still enjoying traveling and learning new cultures... people learn from each other, hugs everyone :)
I have three teenagers..so we do talk about savages at our dinner table...(them and their friends :-). Osa Johnson films are wonderful and what stucks my attention is that they show a natural world that does not exist anymore asi it was.
I read "I Married Adventure" 35 years ago. Much of the film was ruined by heat and moisture before it got to the states. In order to make a living they needed to offer a marketable film. The average movie goer was curious and quite naive. Everything was carried by human labor so only their favorite recordings would have been brought. And pop jazz had a much easier beat then what.. Bing Crosby or the New York Philharmonic. See the Amazon review for I Married Adventure. love to all sf
It is difficult to have a thought about this film; probably it was funny in Osa time but I see it now so ridiculos. We are now in another time but at Osa time there were other peoples approching and taking knowledge of other cultures with a behaviour much closer to that we have today. Probably, the point is not to export dixi or bombs, but only to listen the other. If Americans arrive to read other languages probably they will discover another wonderfull books on exploration.
Oh..this film is not a comedy..it a documentary and it shows the Pygmie people as they were. Nowadays they wear shorts and tee shirts and live in shacks not huts. As for the languages, that goes for "other languagers" too...If they would learn to read "American" :-) they will discover many wonderful books on explorations..and please, don't make me think that you are French and Chauvinst..that would be....shocking!!
How on earth is this showing people different cultures and learning about them? This is so rude, she isn't great at all. I'm sure they don't jazz dance everyday, why can't she communicate with them by filming something from their culture? This looks rather patronising to me.
It was patronising indeed, but I think it has a positive side. It is an interesting clip showing how primitive Africans can blend with jazz's rhytm. With an open mind one could enjoy Osa's sensational documentaries depicting an Afica long gone.
At least this film hasn't been ignored..
we are talking about it.
and I thank you for writing your point of view. Buy her films and watch them and you will se and you will see something, although controversial by todays standards, very interesting.
I don't think that she meant anything bad about it or that she even wanted to be patronizing. Just funny that she thought that she thought that since they were blacks, they ought to enjoy jazz. Amazing though that they got the rythmn.
So that's the great Osa johnson, sure was ahead of her time. Of course she brought extinction to their tribal civilization, oh well, on ward and upward; lol
Pygmies of the Central African rainforests were called god dancers and venerated by the ancient Egyptians because they learnt their spirituality from them, which developed over time into all the bastardized religions of the world today.
Such was their oneness with nature, the concept of God, astronomy and astrology, diet and medicine, peaceful living with animals, plants, water and nature as a whole, even our innate African rhythm have all been attributed to the pygmies.
Savages???, my ass!!!
ThePetalbluelite 1 year ago
I agree with Kphij. And the comment about these people being "savages" is way off! This is the kind of thinking I tried to correct when I was growing up. But since my thinking was in the minority, everyone felt sure I was wrong. These people had highly evolved cultures with great dances, songs, and ceremonies. I went to Kenya in October 2009 and saw some of the remaining indigenous cultures and how they perform. We haven't destroyed it completely!
9bahai9 2 years ago
This documentary is more revealing of White American culture and Western thinking at the time - full of ignorance and arrogance. But this clip is funny - the White lady is the funniest of all. Hahaha!!! Why does the commentator seem to think that jazz belongs to White people? Isn't it an African-American art form? Maybe the music and rhythm were somehow familiar to the people. In any case they seemed to enjoy it. I'm sure they were thinking how ridiculous that White lady looked, though.
kphilj 2 years ago
kphilj: Great comment. All values seem to have been mixed up at the time. I agree that the clip is funny and I posted it for it's entertainment value. Regards, Trabanul
trabanul 2 years ago
@kphilj Yes, so the pygmies had "somehow" the jazz rhytm inside just because they were black... i mean, africans.
Very funny, politically correct, racist comment, dude.
rucio2 1 year ago
@rucio2 My reference to these people recognizing something familiar is two-fold: 1) It refers to the distant but real connection between African-American cultural roots and African traditional cultures - to deny African-Americans and indeed Africans of their mutual connection would seem "racist"; 2) There is something universal about all musical expression, and Pygmies like al humans can share this universal familiarity. As Black people we have the right to recognize our cultural roots.
kphilj 1 year ago
@kphilj Then Mrs. Osa Johnson, as a human being, could feel the jazz like any other person beyond its color... I find her pretty into it.
Agree about recognizing cultural roots. I mean, how come there are blacks in America?... Just crazy the reason.
I mean, was just kidding with the first comment...
rucio2 1 year ago
And now we have Borat.
heinbanjo12 2 years ago
they all look so happy...
joliesmeralda 3 years ago
Comment removed
petermilley 3 years ago
"they got out of time"? Ha! Yeah right. "...but they quickly got on". Kinda offensive.
satinhooks 3 years ago
I live in the town that they (M and O Johnson lived in...
Chanute, Kansas
Isimbot 3 years ago
commentaries about SAVAGES isn't necessary 'cept around our dinner table.
I read books about Osa Johnson many decades ago while i was in school .... what i learned was that she was a famous white woman who did exploring in other countries, she was part of many exciting adventures and I envied her, I too wanted to explore this wonderful world. I'm still enjoying traveling and learning new cultures... people learn from each other, hugs everyone :)
konagal 3 years ago
I have three teenagers..so we do talk about savages at our dinner table...(them and their friends :-). Osa Johnson films are wonderful and what stucks my attention is that they show a natural world that does not exist anymore asi it was.
trabanul 3 years ago
that world can't exist anymore because of Osa Johnson and all the people like her who went in to pick out their personal favorite exploitations.
satinhooks 3 years ago
I read "I Married Adventure" 35 years ago. Much of the film was ruined by heat and moisture before it got to the states. In order to make a living they needed to offer a marketable film. The average movie goer was curious and quite naive. Everything was carried by human labor so only their favorite recordings would have been brought. And pop jazz had a much easier beat then what.. Bing Crosby or the New York Philharmonic. See the Amazon review for I Married Adventure. love to all sf
thinkglobalfuturenow 4 years ago
It is difficult to have a thought about this film; probably it was funny in Osa time but I see it now so ridiculos. We are now in another time but at Osa time there were other peoples approching and taking knowledge of other cultures with a behaviour much closer to that we have today. Probably, the point is not to export dixi or bombs, but only to listen the other. If Americans arrive to read other languages probably they will discover another wonderfull books on exploration.
bleblablibloblu 4 years ago
Oh..this film is not a comedy..it a documentary and it shows the Pygmie people as they were. Nowadays they wear shorts and tee shirts and live in shacks not huts. As for the languages, that goes for "other languagers" too...If they would learn to read "American" :-) they will discover many wonderful books on explorations..and please, don't make me think that you are French and Chauvinst..that would be....shocking!!
trabanul 4 years ago
How on earth is this showing people different cultures and learning about them? This is so rude, she isn't great at all. I'm sure they don't jazz dance everyday, why can't she communicate with them by filming something from their culture? This looks rather patronising to me.
ChaliceOfAgony 4 years ago
It was patronising indeed, but I think it has a positive side. It is an interesting clip showing how primitive Africans can blend with jazz's rhytm. With an open mind one could enjoy Osa's sensational documentaries depicting an Afica long gone.
At least this film hasn't been ignored..
we are talking about it.
and I thank you for writing your point of view. Buy her films and watch them and you will se and you will see something, although controversial by todays standards, very interesting.
trabanul 4 years ago
I don't think that she meant anything bad about it or that she even wanted to be patronizing. Just funny that she thought that she thought that since they were blacks, they ought to enjoy jazz. Amazing though that they got the rythmn.
soulacsurmer 4 years ago 2
I'm lucky enough to be protraying this woman in a school production of "The Chamber Music"
:)
Ronimarmcgee 4 years ago
So that's the great Osa johnson, sure was ahead of her time. Of course she brought extinction to their tribal civilization, oh well, on ward and upward; lol
reynaldbell 4 years ago 2
Let me know where are you hiding and I will send you some dixie. No bombs, I promise.
trabanul 4 years ago
Osa Johnson wrote the most wonderful books---
Four Years in Paradise, and I Married Adventure.
She's a gem.
gardnyc 5 years ago