African derived magical traditions have had a significant influence in Latin America as a result of the transatlantic slave trade. During this period, millions of African slaves were forcibly brought to the Americas, including Latin America, where they brought with them their rich cultural and spiritual practices. These African diasporic traditions merged with existing indigenous and European belief systems, creating new and unique forms of magic and spirituality that continue to thrive in Latin America today. One of the most prominent African derived magical traditions in Latin America is Santeria, which originated in Cuba but has spread throughout the region. Santeria combines elements of Yoruba religion from West Africa with Catholicism, creating a syncretic fusion. Practitioners of Santeria, known as santeros or santeras, believe in a pantheon of deities called orishas, who are associated with different aspects of nature and human life.
Our unlikely hero is Atsuko “Akko” Kagari, who is basically Deku from My Hero Academia if he were a closeted lesbian with undiagnosed goober-itis. After she sees a magic show by the dazzling Shiny Chariot, she dreams to become a witch and attend the prestigious Luna Nova academy. The problem is, Akko sucks at magic! Her spells constantly backfire, and she can’t even fly on a broom without crashing hilariously. Like Harry, her youthful rebellious streak constantly gets her and her friends into trouble. But Akko has an ace up her sleeve: Chariot’s Shiny Rod, said to hold the secrets to the most powerful magic in the world. And her boundless energy and can-do attitude win over everyone, even the stuffy old teachers at Luna Nova.
Lotte is the bookish type and moral center of the group, but Sucy steals nearly every scene she s in with her ridiculous potions and constant experiments on her friends. Lotte is the bookish type and moral center of the group, but Sucy steals nearly every scene she s in with her ridiculous potions and constant experiments on her friends.
Practitioners of Santeria, known as santeros or santeras, believe in a pantheon of deities called orishas, who are associated with different aspects of nature and human life. Rituals and ceremonies involve drumming, dancing, offerings, and divination. Santeria is known for its powerful magical spells and rituals, which help practitioners connect with the orishas and seek their assistance in various areas of life.
Little Witch Academia: Reconstructing the Magical Girl Genre
Puella Magi Madoka Magica changed the game for magical girl anime. Long associated with cutesy fare like Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura, Madoka opened the floodgates for dark, deconstructive shows like Yuuki Yuna and Magical Girl Raising Project. To be fair, I love Madoka, and think it’s a nearly perfect show. But there’s only so many times I can watch cute little girls get brutally murdered before my brain short-circuits, especially when so many recent series are just Madoka rip-offs with less clever writing and direction.
Is it possible for a series to rip off itself? Because that’s how I feel about Magia Record.
That’s why 2017’s Little Witch Academia was such a breath of fresh air, both for Studio Trigger and for the genre as a whole. It’s not the most original story ever – it’s basically just Harry Potter as a magical girl anime. But the charming art and animation, adorable cast of characters, and relentless optimism make it a modern-day classic. Besides, JK’s transphobia ruined Potter for me, so I’m happy to replace it with a series with no tedious relationship drama and a much better ending!
It was funded by Kickstarter, which I think makes it clear how much the fans love this series!
Our unlikely hero is Atsuko “Akko” Kagari, who is basically Deku from My Hero Academia if he were a closeted lesbian with undiagnosed goober-itis. After she sees a magic show by the dazzling Shiny Chariot, she dreams to become a witch and attend the prestigious Luna Nova academy. The problem is, Akko sucks at magic! Her spells constantly backfire, and she can’t even fly on a broom without crashing hilariously. Like Harry, her youthful rebellious streak constantly gets her and her friends into trouble. But Akko has an ace up her sleeve: Chariot’s Shiny Rod, said to hold the secrets to the most powerful magic in the world. And her boundless energy and can-do attitude win over everyone, even the stuffy old teachers at Luna Nova.
One nice touch is that all the characters have different nationalities. The show takes place in England, but Akko is Japanese, Lotte is Finnish, Sucy is from the Philippines…
We also have our Ron, Hermione, and Draco analogues with Sucy, Lotte, and the pompous Diana respectively. Lotte is the bookish type and moral center of the group, but Sucy steals nearly every scene she’s in with her ridiculous potions and constant experiments on her friends. She’s one of the most chaotic neutral characters in any anime I’ve seen, and I’m here for it. And while Harry and Draco were rivals that became enemies, Akko and Diana eventually get over their differences and become best friends – and, okay, there are some subtle yuri undertones in there. Can you see it?
While the presentation is fairly straightforward, it still has that zany “Trigger-ness” that makes the studio so distinctive. The animation is a fluid mix of anime and Western cartoon styles, and they really let loose for the wacky Tex Avery-style gags. My favorite early episodes are when they go HAM on the weird comedy. Like when Akko takes a surreal mushroom trip inside Sucy’s deranged mind, or a magic “love bee” gets loose inside a fancy party, causing all the guests to spontaneously fall in love with each other.
This isn’t even the weirdest part of the episode
The second half of the series is ramps up the drama thanks to the heavy, Croix, taking center stage. Her ominous techno-magic makes Luna Nova obsolete by comparison, but it can easily be used to manipulate the ignorant masses. Yup, this series has some weird Black Mirror vibes, of all things! But unlike Trigger’s BNA, it doesn’t let the social/political message take over the story. The best part of Little Witch is still the characters, especially as we find out more about Croix’s relationship with Chariot and Akko’s place in their long, secret chess game.
They definitely have a history together
Magical girl anime has always centered around hope and idealism. Even the darker shows set up that idealism early and crush it with death and despair. But what makes Little Witch Academia great is that it never tries to be anything other than what it is. There is a thematic/meta aspect to it, as the young witches learn to respect their ancient traditions and the older generation realizes they need to change and adapt to survive. But mostly, it’s about the timeless themes of determination and not letting your disadvantages define you. Even if Akko’s unflinching belief in herself is sometimes dumb and gets her into trouble, she’s still a great witch for inspiring her friends to do better. The tagline of the show is “A believing heart is your magic”, and Little Witch does a great job selling it.
I’m so obsessed, I watched the OVAs and read the manga. They’re not as good as the series, but the manga has some gorgeous artwork!
One nice touch is that all the characters have different nationalities. The show takes place in England, but Akko is Japanese, Lotte is Finnish, Sucy is from the Philippines…
Another African derived magical tradition in Latin America is Vodou, which is practiced primarily in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Vodou combines elements of West African religions with Native American and European traditions. Vodou is often misunderstood and misrepresented, but it is a complex and diverse spiritual system that encompasses healing, ancestral worship, and magical practices. Vodou ceremonies involve music, dancing, and possession by spirits, known as loas. In Vodou, magic is seen as a means of communicating with the spirit world, seeking guidance and assistance from the loas, and maintaining relationships with ancestors. Candomble is an African derived magical tradition that emerged in Brazil. It is influenced by the Yoruba and other African religious practices, as well as Brazilian indigenous and European traditions. Candomble practitioners, known as Candomblecistas, believe in a pantheon of deities called orixas, who are associated with different natural elements and forces. Rituals involve singing, dancing, and offerings, and divination is also an important part of Candomble. Like Santeria and Vodou, Candomble incorporates magical practices to connect with the orixas and seek their blessings and assistance. These African derived magical traditions in Latin America not only provide a spiritual framework for many people but also serve as a way to preserve and celebrate African cultural heritage. They continue to evolve and adapt in response to changing social and cultural contexts while retaining their essential core. The immense influence of African traditions on Latin American culture and spirituality is a testament to the resilience and enduring power of these magical practices..
Reviews for "Sacred Plants and Herbs in African Derived Magical Traditions of Latin America"
1. John - 2 stars: I found "African derived magical traditions in Latin America" to be lacking in depth and substance. The book seemed to skim over important historical and cultural aspects, and instead focused too much on providing a basic overview. I was hoping for a more comprehensive analysis of these traditions, but I felt disappointed with the lack of information. It left me wanting more and ultimately left me uninformed about the subject.
2. Sarah - 1 star: I was extremely disappointed with "African derived magical traditions in Latin America." The writing felt disjointed and inconsistent, making it difficult to follow the author's train of thought. Additionally, I felt that the book relied too heavily on generalizations and stereotypes, without delving into the complexities and variations within these traditions. Overall, the lack of depth and thorough research made it an unsatisfying read for me.
3. Michael - 2.5 stars: While "African derived magical traditions in Latin America" touched on an intriguing subject, I found the execution of the book to be underwhelming. The author seemed to lack a clear focus, jumping from one topic to another without providing enough context or analysis. The information presented felt surface-level and left me craving a deeper understanding. Overall, I believe this book could have been much more informative and engaging with better organization and research.
4. Emily - 1.5 stars: I was hoping to learn more about African derived magical traditions in Latin America, but this book failed to deliver. The writing style was dry and lacked the necessary enthusiasm to engage readers. Furthermore, it seemed as though the author relied too heavily on secondary sources rather than conducting their own research. This resulted in a lack of original insights that could have made the book more intriguing. Overall, I found "African derived magical traditions in Latin America" to be a disappointing and unremarkable read.