Jaggs, Andrew George;
(2020)
Maat - Iwa. Affinities between Yoruba and Kemet in the divine realm and ritual of the God-King, within the context of the Niger and Nile.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
Abstract
This thesis presents a comparison of East and West Africa through the societies along their greatest respective rivers, the Nile and the Niger. The research investigates primary sources for their religious and ethical self-expression, through the archaeological record for Kemet (ancient Egyptian Nile Valley) and fieldwork in the area of Akan to Igbo societies at the frontiers of the Yoruba region (Ghana and Nigeria). The Yoruba sources are focal in addressing major themes in Kemet which remain enigmatic in Egyptology. The main aim is to define affinities, and to identify the specific contexts where a living ritual tradition can inform archaeology. Here a decolonising approach introduces new perspectives in reading Africa, for a still underdeveloped comparative field. Critiques of Eurocentrism have shown how academic knowledge production has obstructed understanding of past and present peoples. Holistic multidisciplinary research is needed to formulate new frameworks and research agendas, which can contribute to discussions of African Cultural Unity. Two approaches are tested: 1) Ritual performance. Taking one Kemet ritual, the Liturgy of Offerings to Qrrt “cavern-deities” (prt-m-hrw 168), Egyptological methods are applied to investigate types of "spirit" beings (ba; akh), dimensions of existence (imentet “the West”; duat “Underworld”), kingship, Osiris, offerings, aspirations and ideals. Illustrated Liturgy manuscripts introduce such issues as the divine-animal-human divide. Specific features are then explored in West African field visits, to assess ritual performance in Kemet through a West African context. 2) Cosmology. God Sango in West Africa is investigated in relation to the Kemet kingship deity Amun-Ra comparing beliefs and practices in historical context. Previous literature is critically reviewed, and the sources for iconography and religious literature are summarised for these gods in turn. Analysis of affinities and differences then provides the ground for proposing the most constructive methods for future comparative research.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | Maat - Iwa. Affinities between Yoruba and Kemet in the divine realm and ritual of the God-King, within the context of the Niger and Nile |
| Event: | UCL (University College London) |
| Language: | English |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10117920 |
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