Jayon Woodard

December 8, 2016
Global Connections

Of Water and the Spirit: Final Exam questions and Rubric

Please answer the following questions in complete sentences with as much detail and example as
possible. The best answers will demonstrate that you thoughtfully and carefully read the book.
Connect your answers to things you have learned in class when appropriate (even if I do not
ask you explicitly to do so).
RUBRIC: I am not going to add a specific length requirement: if you answer all parts of each
question with clarity, example, and detail you will receive full credit. However, I cannot
imagine that less than one page typed and 1.5 spaced for each question will be enough to
accomplish this. Your work should be around 1, 500 2,500 words if you have answered the
questions thoroughly. Each question is worth 25 points.
Answer each question individually and be sure to signal to me which part of the question you
are answering. Do not assume I know what you are talking about- be explicit and pretend
that you are teaching me. Do not include the question in your work.
Your work must be turned in viaTurnItIn. Please do not work on this with your classmates
beyond discussion of the book. TurnItIn will pick up on multiple submissions and similar
sentences. The due date is 12-8-2016 by 23:59 (a minute to midnight)
The Questions:
1. Analyze the Grandfather Bakhyes mortuary (death) ritual. What type of
ritual is this and specifically how so? Apply the three stages of initiation to
his funeral. Provide 2-3 detailed examples of symbols that are present
during the liminal phase. Refer back to Initiation Rituals in Detail. How
is Grandfather Bakhye specifically neither here nor there during the
liminal phase? How does this funeral differ from your own experiences
with funeral? Be specific with at least two examples.
Grandfather Bakhyes mortuary ritual could be described as out of this world, or
almost fictional, coming from the American perspective of how rituals for the dead
(funerals) occur here. The ritual itself is a Death ritual, because of the mourning and
death of a significant individual, as well as the multiple stages that the ritual
undertook. The first event was separation, where the grandfather no longer
inhabited his body after his death. Despite his spirit no longer inhabiting his body,
his body continued to move. This is depicted in the scene following the visit to the
hospital, when Bahkye awoke from his slumber and walked back to his village after
having a hyena tail placed in his hand. The second event was the series of
mourning and celebratory events that expressed the transition of the grandfathers
death and travel from the current world to the spirit world. In the Dagara society, it
is extraordinarily important to thoroughly express the departure of a loved one in

Jayon Woodard
December 8, 2016
Global Connections
order to ensure that the spirit feels valued and appreciated during its transition to
the spirit world. During this phase, a several symbols appeared. The appearance of
deer & the Kontombl indicated both Bahkyes strong relationship with nature as
well as the spirit world. During a regular tribe members funeral, the occurrence of
animals and spirits paying respects to a funeral would be irregular. Because
grandfather spirit was transferring to the spiritual world during this time, his body
was neither on earth or in the spirit plane. Malidoma mentions light streaming
through the atmosphere describing the process of his grandfathers transition. The
final portion of the ritual was the incorporation phase, when the people, and
Malidomas father fully accepted the death of Bahkye by following with the
announcement of the new leader of the tribe. Malidomas father did not want to
necessarily acquire the high status his father had, but because of the necessary
incorporation portion of the ritual and for the sake of the tribe, he had to accept his
new position as leader.
The experiences I have had with funerals are not nearly as long, nor as exciting as
the Dagara tribe. A major difference between the funerals I have experienced and
grandfather Bahkyes is the idea that a powerful mourning is necessary during a
funeral. In my culture, crying is accepted during funerals, but the excessiveness
described by Malidoma has never been the case. Most times the men are strong
during the loss of a beloved one, rather than mourned for without any sign of
restraint. The notion that the more an individual is mourned for at a funeral, the
better the transition to the afterlife is an entirely new concept to me. In addition to
the changes to how individuals expresses themselves during a funeral, the length of
the funeral is completely different in comparison to my experiences. Funerals last
merely a few hours, let alone series of days in consecution.

2. Compare and contrast the traditional education within Somes culture

to the seminary education he receives. Use at least 2-3 specific and
detailed examples to highlight any similarities or differences. Next:
compare and contrast (using 2-3 detailed examples) both of these forms
of education to your own education.
Following the department of his village, Somes culture is nearly decimated during
his interaction with the catholic religion. The initial education he received from his
Dagara culture; involving the world of spirits, the significant importance of ancestry,
and quality ties to nature, was greatly disregarded and perceived as pagan or
foreign by many of the Catholic missionaries. The comprehensive descriptions of
each setting and experience, reveals significant differences and similarities
between the locations that add to the storys underlying theme of change.

Jayon Woodard
December 8, 2016
Global Connections
While under the care of the seminary, Malidoma is often punished for attempting
higher levels of thinking or questioning religious aspects. Considering the harsh
punishment for thinking outside the box, it is clear that concepts from African
culture are also frowned upon within the seminary. In the past, the spirit world and
beings of higher intelligence were often mentioned and integrated into the society,
such as the Kontombl. The differences between the two locations, lies in the
religious and cultural beliefs. The seminary focused on their Christianity and
following a distinct way of life, everything else outside of this path is considered
foreign and in turn forbidden. The foreign attitude toward Somes original culture
slowly eradicated his roots. Similarly, the Dagara Cultures relationship with their
ancestors and the concept that the deceased play a role in someones everyday life
is an extraordinary idea that the seminary would of course consider foreign.
Consideration for nature also is not integrated into Christianitys daily life, and is
perceived as unfamiliar just as many other of Malidomas culture. The powerful
presence of Christianity being forcefully assimilated into Malidomas daily life takes
precedence over his culture and lessens his relations with origin during his stay at
the seminary.
Within Malidomas story, he expresses his stages of rebellion and necessity to
express himself. Ideally, many adolescents face a stage of life that indicate
rebellion, but the lengths Some went to continuously despite the consequences too
resembled his fathers arrogance. Despite the change in his education, from the
ways of his culture to being taught Christianity, the arrogance that plagued
Malidomas father and caused death throughout his family is seen in both locations
of the education.
The purpose behind the comprehensive descriptions entail the quality of the
journey he experienced, and how he changed during it. Being able to fully embrace
another society while maintaining his own views, truly speaks to the meaning of
Malidomas name, befriend the enemy. The differences between the environments
played a role in changing how Malidoma grew as an individual mentally and
spiritually.
In the present, neither forms of education are seen. The education Malidoma
learned in his Dagara culture would be considered foreign in the United States
correspondingly to the way the seminary perceived it. The religious based educated
Malidoma learned at the seminary would also be considered foreign, because
education no longer has a connection with religion. Education as moved on to a
strictly scientific perception in America. Respect for religious views and equality has
been implemented into education system. In addition to the religious views being
removed, the idea that violence is necessary to instill knowledge in an individual
has also been removed. Without these two implementations within education,
schooling has progressed much further and thoroughly over the course of years.

Jayon Woodard
December 8, 2016
Global Connections
3. Why must Malidoma Patrice Some undergo initiation when he returns to
his birth village? What are the concerns of his elders? What type of
initiation is this? How so? Be specific. Analyze the initiation ritual in terms
of the three stages of initiation. Describe at least 2-3 events in detail
which happen during the liminal phase which best typify the womb=the
tomb as well as any of the liminal symbols we have discussed in class
and present in the class materials.
When Malidoma Patrice Some finally manages to escape the seminary and return
back to his birth village, his beliefs and existence is questioned by the elders of the
village, including his father. The basis is because it is rare for an individual to come
in contact with the White Man and not be altered in a way that affect the entire
tribe. Concerned for the survival and safety of the tribe, the elders have Malidoma
undergo a Baor initiation to return the lost spirit back to his roots. The Boar itself is
a birth ritual because of how an individual is reborn following the completion of the
ritual. The importance lies in the difficult trials you face for the duration of the
funeral that require you to rebirth yourself in order to have success with it. The
separation phase of the ritual tied to the pool portion of the ritual. Despite this ritual
not being in order of the phases, I believe this ritual is connected the separation
phase because of the loss of identity involved in it. Malidoma describes this portion
of the as a disconnection from the world because of the silence and focus he was
able to implement throughout it. The transition phase tied to the portion of the
story where Malidoma described his interaction with the green lady. The process
itself was difficult because of how he was once detached with this ancestry, not
being able to understand the exercise involved in staring at the tree. His friend
Nyangoli referred to this as Malidoma losing and finding his Si. The incorporation
phase relates to the portion of the Baor where the children enter a portal, where
they are sent to spend time with all of themselves, both the earthly body and soul.
This portion is different from the other portion of the Baor because it collaborates
two cultural aspects, body and spirit, into one test.
A portion of the ritual that relates closest to the womb to the tomb concept is the
live-burial portion. In a literal relationship, being buried alive is the closest an
individual can to the tomb. The womb portion can directly relate to the heavenly
experience Malidoma describes after he gets through his excruciating pain of the
weight of the dirt. He begins to see familiar faces in, shaped in bodies of smoke
indicating his new established sight acquired through his near death experience.
4. Analyze the concept of destiny and naming in Somes culture. Use
Malidoma as an example. Has he met his destiny as far as you can tell?
Provide 2-3 detailed examples to support your answer. How do ancestors
and reincarnation fit into this scheme of things? Provide at least one
detailed example to support you answer.

Jayon Woodard
December 8, 2016
Global Connections
Naming children after specific destinies within the Dagara family solidifies an
individuals fate. Malidomas name means befriending the enemy, and throughout
his story he conveys exactly how he was introduced to a foreign identity and his
journey back to his roots. Malidoma fulfilled his destiny, although through several
unfortunate events initially, by him being kidnapped from his village as a child and
being forced to assimilate into another culture, then returning home bringing back
the knowledge of his enemies. The two events of being kidnapped and then
returning a changed individual both align with the progression of Malidoma destiny.
The enemy to the Dagara culture refers to the white man as a whole, and their
ability to disrupt culture and destroy so frequently. Many of the elders say that the
reason for this was because of their poor relations to their ancestors. By being
forcible integrated into the enemys society, Malidoma in a way befriended the
enemy. The journey as a whole encompasses his struggle as he befriended the
enemy and struggled returning back to his roots. The fate sealed within Malidomas
name was indicated by his grandfather shortly before his death, and has lead
Malidoma into a life between two worlds.