The oldest human genome outside Africa can be found in the Aborigines of Australia. Scholars estimate that the ancestors of modern Aborigines migrated from Africa more than 70 000 years ago after the earliest human remains discovered in Australia were dated and found to be approximately 50 000 years old.
Aboriginal tribes in Australia, similar to African nations, are very different from each other in terms of genetics, customs, cultures and languages. These tribes had evolved into separate and distinct social groups (or, nations to be precise) in isolation for thousands of years so that by the time contact was first made with Europeans, 250 distinct languages were spoken on the Australian continent.
European settlement caused a collapse in Aboriginal population sizes. Three years after the arrival of Europeans on the continent, a smallpox epidemic decimated healthy Aboriginal populations causing massive depopulation. The systematic massacre and genocide of Aborigines during colonialism further contributed to the significant decline in population. Today, the survivors of the aforementioned and subsequent institutionalised racist policies, account for just 3% of modern Australia's population, a bleak reflection of the culturally rich, resilient Aboriginal nations who once were.
Some ancient Aboriginal stories have fortunately survived and those of particular value are the 'dreamtime' stories. 'Dreamtime' in Aboriginal folklore, similar to the creation stories of monotheistic religions, refers to a time before time when Aboriginal ancestors, often in the form of animals or spirits, created the people and ordered the world as it appeared then and now. The remarkable thing about 'dreamtime' stories is that many were created to explain natural phenomena, similar to the African 'why' and 'how' fables, e.g. Why do lions roar?; How the elephant got his trunk, etc.
To illustrate the underlying sophistication of their social orders, the following 'dreamtime' story shows how important peace and harmony were for ancient Aboriginal communities and, interestingly, the dubious honour bestowed upon the crocodile as a predator of human beings (it lived among them once upon a time) and, simultaneously, as the physical manifestation of wicked spirits for Aborigines.
The sun set red-pink and beautiful across the sweeping plain. In the tribe's camp, all the little girls played, enjoying themselves. All the young boys were with their fathers, learning the ways of manhood. Their mothers were preparing for the evening meal. Fresh fish was cooking on the coals, with freshly-caught mud crabs and mussels. Everyone in the tribe was content, the season had been good for them. Plenty of fresh food. Everyone was happy, except little Min-na-wee.
Min-na-wee was different. Since a little girl, Min-na-wee liked to be the cause of trouble among the other little girls. Her face was hard, scaly-looking and it mostly revealed her hatred. The old people knew of Min-a-wee's habit of starting trouble, which led to fights, not only among the little girls, but also their mothers. The old people warned Min-na-wee's mother that if she did not stop Min-na-wee from making trouble, something terrible would happen to her.
Years passed and Min-na-wee grew into a young woman who still liked to cause trouble. On a certain day all the young women, including Min-na-wee, had to prepare themselves to be selected as wives. Min-na-wee stood in a line with all the other girls of marriageable age, and waited to be chosen. The old people were the matchmakers of the tribe and instructed the men which women to marry. By the end of the ceremony, Min-na-wee stood alone. She had not been chosen to become a wife.
Min-na-wee's hatred grew stronger and stronger. She caused more and more trouble for the tribe. Fights broke out every day among them while Min-na-wee sat back and watched. She was very pleased with herself.
The old people of the tribe agreed that Min-na-wee must be punished for her behaviour. Min-na-wee had little knowledge of the tribe's decision. As she approached the women to start another fight, she was grabbed by the men and rolled over and over and over in the dirt. She was covered in dirt.
Min-na-wee managed to jump up and ran away to the edge of the river where she called on the evil spirits to change her into a vicious animal so that she could stage a revenge attack on the tribe. The evil spirits changed her into a huge crocodile, instantly, and she slid into the muddy waters of the river to wait for prey.
The people of the tribe thought no more of Min-na-wee and carried on with their daily lives. As they wandered along the river's banks, hunting for mud crabs and mussels, Min-na-wee lay waiting and watching in the water. One of the men who had helped roll Min-na-wee over and over in the dirt, jumped into the river, one day. Mina-na-wee crept up and grabbed him between her scaly jaws. Over and over and over she rolled him in the water until she was satisfied he was punished enough.
To this day, Min-na-wee's spirit still remains with crocodiles because every every time a crocodile catches its prey, it rolls over and over and over in the water, just like Min-na-wee.
Adapted from Aboriginal Dreamtime Stories.
Article written by Anya Links for Book Buddy Namibia.
Aboriginal tribes in Australia, similar to African nations, are very different from each other in terms of genetics, customs, cultures and languages. These tribes had evolved into separate and distinct social groups (or, nations to be precise) in isolation for thousands of years so that by the time contact was first made with Europeans, 250 distinct languages were spoken on the Australian continent.
European settlement caused a collapse in Aboriginal population sizes. Three years after the arrival of Europeans on the continent, a smallpox epidemic decimated healthy Aboriginal populations causing massive depopulation. The systematic massacre and genocide of Aborigines during colonialism further contributed to the significant decline in population. Today, the survivors of the aforementioned and subsequent institutionalised racist policies, account for just 3% of modern Australia's population, a bleak reflection of the culturally rich, resilient Aboriginal nations who once were.
Some ancient Aboriginal stories have fortunately survived and those of particular value are the 'dreamtime' stories. 'Dreamtime' in Aboriginal folklore, similar to the creation stories of monotheistic religions, refers to a time before time when Aboriginal ancestors, often in the form of animals or spirits, created the people and ordered the world as it appeared then and now. The remarkable thing about 'dreamtime' stories is that many were created to explain natural phenomena, similar to the African 'why' and 'how' fables, e.g. Why do lions roar?; How the elephant got his trunk, etc.
To illustrate the underlying sophistication of their social orders, the following 'dreamtime' story shows how important peace and harmony were for ancient Aboriginal communities and, interestingly, the dubious honour bestowed upon the crocodile as a predator of human beings (it lived among them once upon a time) and, simultaneously, as the physical manifestation of wicked spirits for Aborigines.
The sun set red-pink and beautiful across the sweeping plain. In the tribe's camp, all the little girls played, enjoying themselves. All the young boys were with their fathers, learning the ways of manhood. Their mothers were preparing for the evening meal. Fresh fish was cooking on the coals, with freshly-caught mud crabs and mussels. Everyone in the tribe was content, the season had been good for them. Plenty of fresh food. Everyone was happy, except little Min-na-wee.
Min-na-wee was different. Since a little girl, Min-na-wee liked to be the cause of trouble among the other little girls. Her face was hard, scaly-looking and it mostly revealed her hatred. The old people knew of Min-a-wee's habit of starting trouble, which led to fights, not only among the little girls, but also their mothers. The old people warned Min-na-wee's mother that if she did not stop Min-na-wee from making trouble, something terrible would happen to her.
Years passed and Min-na-wee grew into a young woman who still liked to cause trouble. On a certain day all the young women, including Min-na-wee, had to prepare themselves to be selected as wives. Min-na-wee stood in a line with all the other girls of marriageable age, and waited to be chosen. The old people were the matchmakers of the tribe and instructed the men which women to marry. By the end of the ceremony, Min-na-wee stood alone. She had not been chosen to become a wife.
Min-na-wee's hatred grew stronger and stronger. She caused more and more trouble for the tribe. Fights broke out every day among them while Min-na-wee sat back and watched. She was very pleased with herself.
The old people of the tribe agreed that Min-na-wee must be punished for her behaviour. Min-na-wee had little knowledge of the tribe's decision. As she approached the women to start another fight, she was grabbed by the men and rolled over and over and over in the dirt. She was covered in dirt.
Min-na-wee managed to jump up and ran away to the edge of the river where she called on the evil spirits to change her into a vicious animal so that she could stage a revenge attack on the tribe. The evil spirits changed her into a huge crocodile, instantly, and she slid into the muddy waters of the river to wait for prey.
The people of the tribe thought no more of Min-na-wee and carried on with their daily lives. As they wandered along the river's banks, hunting for mud crabs and mussels, Min-na-wee lay waiting and watching in the water. One of the men who had helped roll Min-na-wee over and over in the dirt, jumped into the river, one day. Mina-na-wee crept up and grabbed him between her scaly jaws. Over and over and over she rolled him in the water until she was satisfied he was punished enough.
To this day, Min-na-wee's spirit still remains with crocodiles because every every time a crocodile catches its prey, it rolls over and over and over in the water, just like Min-na-wee.
Adapted from Aboriginal Dreamtime Stories.
Article written by Anya Links for Book Buddy Namibia.
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