I am currently working in advance on my final for one of my classes. With a group we need to do several things in researching and presenting a nation or tribe. Me and my group have chosen the Zulu tribe of Africa. One of the requirments is to do some sort of visual besides the powerpoint. Such as a ethnic food from what we are researching.

I said I could probably come up with a magic routine of African origin. However I can't recall of any African magic. I know their is the original egypt, french, and italian magic. Along with indian, oriental, and american magic. Anybody know of any african magic? I thought of looking into Magic of The World by I forget who but I figured I could ask hear as well.

Check Anthropology sources for your Tribal Groups and learn what their Medicine Men did/do. Many mix conjury and divination with spiritual and medicinal "magic." Often you can figure out what effects are done with sleights or gimmicks -- but in demonstrating these things there is alwasy the possibility of disrespecting religious traditions -- so check that also.

J. G.,

For inspiration, take a look at the magic & characters performed by Hiawatha. He performs on the PBS documentary The Art of Magic (1998). Hiawatha is the cover story of Genii Magazine Vol. 58, #2, Dec. 1994.

Post how your final project is received at the end of this term.

I will gradually look into it for fun. Yet for the project I realize it is too time consuming. I found information on things that I cannot do in a clasroom. Not even exactly giving hints on the method. For me to find anything I would half to dig way to deep. Someone in the class said they could make some food. That would work better. I need to focus on the whole project. Thanks for the help and feel free to still post replies. P.S. I looked into Ms. Merizing suggestions and Genii Magazine is under construction but the PBS documentary was found. I should check it out. Thanks

Is Hiawatha still performing these days? As a storytelling magician myself, I really enjoyed his appearance on the PBS special, but I have never seen him elsewhere. That was the first and last time I had heard of/from him. I would like to see more of his effects backed by his oh, so natural talent for weaving them intricately into a wondrous, thought-provoking and poetic web of stories.

Look at some of jeff McBride dvd.on the edge and other of his dvd.

Cool