A FEEEDS BlogSpot
Dr. Sanders focuses on African artifacts, sign and symbol systems as a
vital form of “communication expressions” important to human cultural
communication
WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Africa. The second largest and second most populous Continent in the
world. Throughout history, many have been fascinated by the vast array of
cultures and cultural practices of this great Continent. Hoping to share
valuable insight, appreciation, and awareness of endangered African sign and
symbols systems specifically Nigeria’s
Uli practice, Ambassador Robin Renee Sanders publishes a new book, titled The Legendary Uli Women of Nigeria.
Dr.
Sanders, having lived in Africa for several years, was always struck by the
ancestral, socio-historical and educational aspects of certain African cultural
practices, especially languages, artifacts, and sign and symbol systems from
the Ovahimba in Namibia and Pygmies in Congo, to the Horom, Hausa, Igbo,
Yoruba, and Fulani of Nigeria. Her experiences on the Continent made her
appreciate each and every culture and “its information systems,” which in the
end she called “communication expressions.” “I
truly believe that in order to understand and appreciate someone or another
nation, one has to begin to respect and learn about their culture or their
system – as everything is a system, and a perspective on life and the world we
live in together,” states Sanders. “Hence, human cultural communication (one of
lectures that I give on FEEEDS® issues), I believe is how nations and people
can better understand each other.”
The
book follows eight extraordinary Nigerian women in the December phase of their
lives as they try to preserve the meanings of their endangered sign, symbol,
and motif system called Uli. Uli is an acknowledgement of their Igbo history,
culture and ancestors. Sanders agrees with others scholars who posit that
non-text, non-oral forms of communication expressions such as Nigeria’s Uli,
and other sign and symbol systems throughout the world, particularly in Africa,
are just as important or “viable” as the written word and their meanings should
be respected and preserved. Endangered cultural practices, like Uli, are just
as important to protect as endangered languages as a symbiotic relationship
exists between the two.
The Legendary Uli Women of Nigeria is a uniquely groundbreaking work. It does not discuss,
or view African signs and symbols as art or designs for contemporary clothes or
jewelry, but stresses that they communicate. It also argues that world signs
and symbol systems like Uli should be included as an area of study within the
communication and information system academic field, which she recommends be
called “communication expressions” since these systems do communicate the socio-historical
aspects of a culture.
For more
information on this book, interested parties may log on to www.Xlibris.com for best price;
Visit http://www.ambassadorrobinreneesanders.com for book excerpt.
Also available at www.Amazon.com, and www.barnesandnobel.com
