Linguist Staffs
Linguist
staffs are tall wooden sticks that African leaders use as an emblem of their
position. They derive from the European tradition of cane holding and were originally
referred to as messenger sticks. As a means of deferring to his authority, someone
in Ghana first carried a European cane when speaking to a chief. Eventually,
this use of the cane became associated with the role of the linguist, or spokesperson,
and spread beyond Ghana.
The staffs themselves are carved out of wood and covered with gold leaf. The Ghanaians embellished the traditional staffs by topping them with sculptural decorations that represented proverbial messages. These messages were intended to remind the staff holders of basic values and morals and thus prevent power from going to their heads. For example, a sculpture that depicted a king holding an egg meant that the king must take care of his people. A representation of a bush cow and an elephant referred to a traditional proverb: "The bush cow says that if the elephant is not around, the bush cow is the mountain." In other words, when a more important person is absent, the lesser person thinks of himself or herself as great.
You may want to share with your students these additional African symbols and the sayings associated with them.
Scorpion: "The scorpion exists in thunder." (Persevere in the face of difficulty.)
Key: "If I lock it, nobody can open it." (A message from parents to children meaning the parent has the final say.)
Chameleon: "The world is a chameleon's skin." (A warning to someone of great wealth of thinks he or she will never lose it.)
How to make a Linguist Staff
Objectives:
1. Students will understand how linguist staffs were used in African culture
(historical and cultural understanding).
2. Students will learn about the materials, methods and techniques used to create
linguist staffs (perceiving, analyzing and responding).
3. Students will find their own solutions in the process of creating a linguist
staff by exploring materials and forms to express their ideas (creating and
performing).
New Mexico Content Standards
Arts 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
Social Studies 1,4,5,6,11
Materials
Sticks, dowels, or broom handles,
clay ball, 3 - 4 inches in diameter, for each student,
yellow or gold tempera or acrylic paint (optional)
Motivation
1. Discuss the way that leaders present themselves to the public. Look at images
of world leaders and analyze what they wear and what they carry.
2. Look at images of linguist staffs and/or discuss the way that they have been
used. Sometimes the decorations on top of the staffs were used as decorative
motifs on clothing as well.
3. Have the students read the proverbs about leaders and power. What do they
think about them? Have them make up their own sayings and words of wisdom for
the world leaders.
4. Tell the students that they will be making their own linguist staffs. They
can think about what it means to be a good leader, what values they need to
remember and how to symbolize those values with shapes.
Procedure
1. Roll the pieces of clay into balls.
2. Insert one end of each stick into a ball of clay.
3. Form the clay into a shape or figure that would be a good reminder or inspiration
for a leader. Let dry.
4. Paint the staff with yellow or gold paint. Let dry (optional).
Evaluation
1. Have your students make up proverbs or symbolic sayings and illustrate them.
2. Hold a parade of linguists with their staffs. Have the students wear African
dress and regalia as well.