Fly-whisk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A fly-whisk is a tool to swat or disturb flies. It is used as a regalia in some cultures.
In Indonesian art, a fly-whisk is one of the items associated with Shiva. The fly-whisk is frequently see as an attribute of both Hindu and Buddhist deities.[1]
Fly-whisks appear frequently in traditional regalia in many parts of the African continent. This use has sometimes carried on into modern contexts: Kenyan leader Jomo Kenyatta carried a fly-whisk, a mark of authority in Maasai society,[2] as did Malawian leader Hastings Banda, while South African jazz musician Jabu Khanyile also used a Maasai fly-whisk as a trademark when on stage.[3]
A fly-whisk forms part of the royal regalia of Thailand. It consists of the tail hairs of an albino elephant.[4] Fly-whisks were also used in Polynesian culture as a ceremonial mark of authority.[5]
[edit] Algeria incident
In 1827, the last Ottoman ruler of Algeria, Hussein Dey, struck the French Consul in the face with a fly-whisk during a dispute over unpaid French debts to Algeria. This insult became a pretext for the French invasion of Algeria in 1830.[6]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Shiva and Parvati, Rijksmuseum, accessed 14 November 2006
- ^ Dress codes and prestige staffs: constructing political authority with staffs in Tanzania, Fadhili Mshana, Ijele: Art eJournal of the African World, 2002
- ^ Jabu Khanyile, Contemporary African Music and Arts Archive, accessed 13 November 2006
- ^ Thai Royal Regalia, Thailand Government Public Relations Department, accessed 15 November 2006
- ^ Fly Whisk Handle, Metropolitan Museum of Art, accessed 14 November 2006
- ^ History of Algeria, HistoryWorld, accessed 15 November 2006
