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Comments

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  Eva Baby September 25, 2011 at 9:03am

  this is interesting, they have the same figures in Mali. But I don't know which ethnical tribe - or if they are imported.
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  Ann Porteus September 25, 2011 at 12:36pm

  The region is geographically large in comparison with Europe but also so different when comparing the Mali and Asanti empires.
  The Akan or Twi speaking people have a history built on their proverbs. Crossed crocodiles -shared stomach. It is one of the adinka symbols showing their symbol for shared food in the community. This is part of the Asante community as they are also Twi and Akan people. (maybe I have expressed this wrongly and it will come back to bite me on the bum as Aussies say) but the adinka symbols dictated their cultural rules. Very similar to the Christian proverbs the missionaries found it very easy to move into their territory..
  If you see this symbol in Mali it is borrowed from their neighbours. Westerners call this breach of copyright but tell me of any community that has not used good ideas from their neighbours.
  Have you heard of the sacred crocodiles in Paga, Northern Ghana. It is an amazing place.
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  Eva Baby September 25, 2011 at 12:47pm

  @Hi Anne, thanks for all the interesting information. Yes, probably it was taken over...from the neighbours, some of Malis ethnical groups overlap anyway into other countries. I have definitely seen this in Mali! I have not heard of the sacred crocodiles in Ghana, but there used to be a place with  sacred crocodiles in  - Mali! I almost went to see it, but gave it up in favour of another excursion....