Pink Noise - Leonid Korogodski [61]
Singing in isicathamiya is based on four-part harmony but with many Zulu elements. Polyphony tends to converge like horns of buffalo. There is usually one high soprano voice, and many basses.
ixhanthi [Zulu]
The “snake of diviners,” a fabuous animal that can only be perceived by the izangoma. In the common language, the word ixhanthi means the upper row of dorsal vertebrae. Not so to the izangoma.
izangoma [Zulu]
The plural form of isangoma.
K
kalarippayatt [MALAYALAM: ]
An ancient South Indian martial art, kalarippayatt (aka kalari ppayattu) is the oldest martial art in the world, rooted in the poetic, martial culture of the Dravidian South India.
Kalari, in both Tamil and Malayalam, means the combat pit. Payatt is practice, in the latter. In Tamil, the same martial art is also known as varma kalari or varma ati—the art of vital points. Varmam in Tamil—marmam in Malayalam—are special points in one’s physical and “subtle” bodies that regulate the flow of cosmic energy, prana. When such a point is harmed, the victim can become severely ill, disabled, or can even die—immediately or by slow decay. The same points can be used to heal.
See also Chekavar, Kali, Kerala, and Unniyarcha.
Kali
The Hindu goddess of war and death, Kali is perhaps the only nonvegetarian in the pantheon, requiring blood sacrifice of animals. She is likely to be of a Dravidian origin, at least to a great extent, although traits of several deities, both Dravidian and Arian alike, must have merged in Kali.
There are also many Christian and Muslim kalari.
In her furious manifestation, Bhadrakali, she has always been venerated by the martial-minded people, especially in South India. Every Hindu kalari, a place for practicing the martial art of kalarippayatt, has an idol of Bhadrakali. She is also popular in Bengal, where her “mother goddess” quality is emphasized, although clearly both aspects of the deity are found, to a varying extent, throughout India. The famous Bengali poet Ramprasad Sen (1720–1781) devoted most of his work to Kali.
In the 19th century, the followers of Kali were accused by the British of the so-called Thuggee (the origin of the English word “thug”), a supposed cult practice of killing innocent travelers and using them as human sacrifices. The idea was concocted in 1830 by then Captain W. Henry “Thuggee” Sleeman and provided an excellent pretext for the British to crack down on the warlike groups in India.
Kerala
A state in South India, Kerala occupies a strip of land between the Malabar coast in the west and the mountains separating it from Tamil Nadu in the east. Its native language is Malayalam, a member of the Dravidian family and a close relative of Tamil. The Malayalee culture is one of the offshots of the ancient Tamil culture.
Throughout much of its history, Kerala was the site of the ancient Chera kingdom and then of the medieval Chera kingdom. It was many times invaded by the Tamil. The struggle to maintain independence from the powerful Chola empire to the east lasted many centuries, fostering strong martial traditions.
Kerala is home to a large and thriving Christian community with ancient roots. It was established in the 1st century ad by Saint Thomas, the apostle sent to convert India. The first Portuguese travelers in the 16th century were surprised to discover strong Christian churches that were totally unlike any brand of Christianity they knew. Kerala’s Jewish community goes even further back in history, to the establishment of a permanent Hebrew trade colony during the reign of King Solomon—including members of all tribes.
See also Chekavar and kalarippayatt.
keratin
A very strong, tough protein that makes nails and hair in humans, as well as claws and all sorts of carapaces in other animals, so hard to break. Also found in skin, where it complements the elastic collagen.
See also collagen.
kwaito
A popular genre of electronic music in South Africa, kwaito