FLY-WHISK

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]

Contents

Algeria incident

See also

References

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]

See also

★ Flyswatter

References

1. Shiva and Parvati, Rijksmuseum, accessed 14 November 2006
2. Dress codes and prestige staffs: constructing political authority with staffs in Tanzania, Fadhili Mshana, ''Ijele: Art eJournal of the African World'', 2002
3. Jabu Khanyile, Contemporary African Music and Arts Archive, accessed 13 November 2006
4. Thai Royal Regalia, Thailand Government Public Relations Department, accessed 15 November 2006
5. Fly Whisk Handle, Metropolitan Museum of Art, accessed 14 November 2006
6. History of Algeria, HistoryWorld, accessed 15 November 2006