Fipa
The Development of Children in Ufipa [anthology chapter review]
In traditional Fipa society, infants slept with their mothers until they were weaned, which, for younger children, may have been delayed until the age of five or so. In a recent article, Kathleen R. Smythe, a professor at Xavier University in Cincinnati, describes the traditional Fipa pattern of raising a baby, called an umwanche uncheche. […]
Catholic Beliefs, Fipa Adaptations [book review]
The Catholic Church in the Tanzanian village of Chala is healthy and prosperous—but so are many traditional Fipa beliefs and practices that the church dislikes. Kathleen R. Smythe, an Associate Professor of history at Xavier University in Cincinnati, did field work in Chala between 1994 and 1996. She observed a flourishing congregation, Roman Catholic funds […]
Cultural Practices Promote HIV/AIDS
The Tanzania Standard News – Daily News reported on Monday that traditional cultural practices among the Fipa people are responsible for a rapid increase in the rate of HIV/AIDS. “The fast spread of the pandemic has been attributed to strong cultural beliefs including sorcery and outdated traditional practices such as the right for a brother […]
Sex Symbols in Fipa Forges [book review]
The myths and rituals of Fipa society associated with smelting iron can enrich our understanding of ancient Greek cultural patterns related to metallurgy, according to a recent book. Sandra Blakely, an associate professor of classics at Emory University, focuses her book primarily on the daimones, the metallurgy gods of ancient Greece. A significant portion of […]
Why the Fipa Adopted Peacefulness: Another Article Scanned
Why did the Fipa change so dramatically in the mid-1850s, a few decades before the first European contacts, from a society that practiced frequent warfare and violence into one that fosters peacefulness and gender equality? Roy Willis seeks to find answers in his examination of “The ‘Peace Puzzle’ in Ufipa,” a wonderful article published in […]
