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Loa: Difference between revisions
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The term ''Loa'' refers to a very broad collection of groups unified by a general sense of Loa nationalism, language and broad cultural features. These groups include the Isi Loa who are the progenitors of Loa culture and civilisation, the Loa influenced cultures such as the various mainland Polynesians that were assimilated into the Loa and the many elements of the Loa diaspora. These groups combined constitute the Loa, though all generally recognize the Isi Loa as being the 'ethnic' Loa and the other groups considering themselves as culturally Loa. | The term ''Loa'' refers to a very broad collection of groups unified by a general sense of Loa nationalism, language and broad cultural features. These groups include the Isi Loa who are the progenitors of Loa culture and civilisation, the Loa influenced cultures such as the various mainland Polynesians that were assimilated into the Loa and the many elements of the Loa diaspora. These groups combined constitute the Loa, though all generally recognize the Isi Loa as being the 'ethnic' Loa and the other groups considering themselves as culturally Loa. | ||
The Loa tend to be identified by speaking [[Insuo Loa]], which has historically been considered as a primary characteristic of being Loa, as well as matriarchal cultural elements, mystical religious practices and wet rice agriculture. The Loa themselves are considered separate but descended from the Polynesians, with a general retention of Polynesian material culture such as bark cloth and advanced sailing techniques, as well as strong social hierarchy and a close connection to nature with the view that people are tenants of the land. However, the view of ''mana'' being the guiding energy of the universe is not present in the Loa. Occidental scholars assume that the Loa idea of [[Kapuhenasa|''Me'eaala Moliae'', or 'Eternal Witness']] as being descended from ''mana'', but Loa scholars rejecting this, considering ''Me'eaala Moliae'' as being their own unique cultural trait. The Loa in general have a very distinct religious tradition from most Polynesian groups, focusing on divination of the dead, entomancy and cosmic predetermination, concepts that do not have the same focus or are not even present in other Polynesian groups. | |||
==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||