Re: Regarding Africa -- Mende Migration 2

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--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kpmoseley2@aol.com
Date: Sat, 6 Feb 1999 19:51:34 EST
Subject: Fwd: Mahei Mojisi: Re: What's up with the Mende "kpa mende"

 
 
 
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From: "kohuneh" <kohuneh@PDQ.NET>
To: <leonenet@lists.umbc.edu>
Date: Thu, 4 Feb 1999 02:02:12 -0600
Subject: Mahei Mojisi: Re: What's up with the Mende "kpa mende"
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	  Thu, 4 Feb 1999 03:33:58 -0500 (EST)
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Mahei Mojisi,
Tohnyei loh bi nemahunlewei na hun bi sehwei.  I have deliberated excluded=
 a
discussion of the rich military tradition that informs most of Kpa Mende
history. To buttress your point, yes, the Kpa introduced innovative/cuttin=
g
edge military technology and this explains their military success in
subjugating the indigenes of the sub-region and holding off counter-attack=
s
from hostile northern groups.  I'd hesitate though to say that the Kpaa-bl=
a
of the Mehni armies were synonymous with the settled peoples of the area.
Koi Mojisis, in addition to the Just to discuss some weapons of choice
amongst the Mehni -- there was the kpaa-vai -- long bow and arrow, the
Sohlii -- spear; Kafa-loi -- shield, Koh bowei -- sword; Kpohnei -- club a=
nd
much later kpandei -- musket, and dugbei -- cannon. They also introduced t=
he
stockade/ fortress/fortress towns -- mboeh and mbohyililei with narrow,
single overgrown tracks leading up to the towns (for ambushes) and the
houses so intricately built in the town that enemies would easily get lost
in the labyrinths. Of course they introduced military ranks which remain
very important in the most important Kpa-Mende organisation for cultural
induction --the Wondei.  Wua nya mohli a wondei yehpeh.  Basaabaama loh a
nge.
Nga yiingoi,
Nya le, Koi Kagbeni.


>Morie Saffa,
>Lugbu mahei na gbiani Kailahun - Kagbene wrote very excellent mende and i
do
>agree with most of what he wrote. However I offer a different version of
his
>interpretation of kpa Mende. "Kpa" is a weapon (arrow) The mende man that
>carried that special weapon was called "Kpa mende". Remember at the time
that
>particular group entered sierra leone the arrow was a very advanced weapo=
n.
>Other groups had and used arrows but the difference was that the Kpa mend=
e
>arrow was very effective. It pierced and killed the enemy instantly. The
tip
>was laden with metal. An art only they had mastered at that time.  When
they
>enetered Sierra Leone their initial settlement  in Ngorama was between tw=
o
>very hostile or ruthlessly war like  tribes. Temnes and Konos. However ne=
ws
of
>who and what Kpa mende represented preceeded them. In their advancement
other
>groups either had to pack and leave or submit to their rule. Note the
>chiefdoms of the kpa mendes is like a belt or fence standing face to face
with
>what was then the enemy and also provide protection for those others behi=
nd
>them like -   the lugbus, tikonko bumpes and of course ko mende all of wh=
om
>started advancing west after they heard that their brothers have entered.
>Gbei na boiji ,
>Ke tamia
>M.H.James




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