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Get all the latest episodes, breaking news, opinions, weather, traffic, and more…Um, minus the weather and traffic and add a lot of laughs. 7Robots Fantastically Terrible Podcast

Episode 27: The Invention of the African Sub-Continent

How many times have you heard the term – “black Africa”? Or the sub-continent? Africa is at a disadvantage by how we describe it. Northwestern Africa, also known as the Maghreb, includes Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia. “North Africa” is often removed from the continent or treated as fundamentally different from “black” Africa. Let’s point out some obvious facts. Arabs are not indigenous to Africa. Being muslim doesn’t make you Arab. And speaking Arabic doesn’t mean you don’t also speak your own local language. King Masinissa of Numidia, whom we mentioned as being an ally of Rome in the 2nd Punic War said, “Africa for Africans.”

Would you call people from Hong Kong or Ireland British? Would you call Brazilians Portuguese or Mexicans Spaniards? Of course not. So why do we do that to North Africa? Why do we constantly associate them with Arabs?

Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature: Hungry Ghosts

The Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature this week are Hungry Ghosts from Buddhist legends. “Hungry ghost” is one of the six modes of existence. Hungry ghosts are pitiable creatures with huge, empty stomachs. They have tiny mouths with necks that are so thin they cannot swallow, so they remain hungry. Hungry ghosts are also associated with addiction, obsession, and compulsion.

How do you become a hungry ghost? It is believed that hungry ghosts can arise from people whose deaths have been violent or unhappy. Other stories point to desire, greed, anger and ignorance are all factors in causing a soul to be reborn as a hungry ghost because they are motives for people to perform evil deeds [Read more…]

Many schools of Buddhism leave food offerings on altars for hungry ghosts. In the summer there are hungry ghost festivals throughout Asia that feature food and entertainment for the hungry ghosts.

I’m sad to say that I was unaware of a huge month long festival that takes place in many Asian countries that sounds amazing. The 7th month on the lunar calendar is “Ghost Month”. It reminds of the Mexican Day of the Dead on November 1st and 2nd, but for a whole month! The Hungry Ghost Festival takes place every year on the evening of the 15th day of Ghost Month. In 2021, you can celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival on August 22. So, mark it on your calendars to have fun telling ghost stories and learning a bit more about different cultures.

Links

★ “Hungry Ghosts” by Barbara O’Brien

★ Chinese Ghost Month – The Taboos You Must Know

★ Hungry Ghost (wiki)

★ What’s the story behind the Hungry Ghost Festival?

★ How to Celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival

★ Ancestor Worship in Ancient China

★ Hungry Ghost Festival

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7Robots Fantastically Terrible Podcast ep27: The Invention of the African Sub-Continent