Enduring Traditions in Enduring Traditions in AfricaAfrica

Families and VillagesFamilies and VillagesWays of LifeWays of Life

ReligionReligion

Families and VillagesFamilies and Villages

Many marriages Many marriages are arranged in are arranged in villagesvillages

Man gives family Man gives family of woman gifts of woman gifts of $, cattle, of $, cattle, goods —goods —bridewealthbridewealth

Family in AfricaFamily in Africa Extended Extended

familiesfamilies——

several several generations live generations live togethertogether

Muslim families Muslim families may have may have several wivesseveral wives

Family is traced Family is traced by by lineagelineage

PatrilinealPatrilineal ––through the through the husband, wife husband, wife moves inmoves in

MatrilinealMatrilineal ––through the wife, through the wife, husband moves husband moves inin

Village StructureVillage Structure

““It takes a village to raise a child.”It takes a village to raise a child.” Age grade systemAge grade system— kids grouped by — kids grouped by

similar ages, share jobs, ceremonies, similar ages, share jobs, ceremonies, projects for villageprojects for village

EldersElders—most respected, make rules—most respected, make rules Respect for age and experienceRespect for age and experience Many villages follow local laws rather Many villages follow local laws rather

than national lawsthan national laws

Ways of LifeWays of Life Most villagers are Most villagers are subsistence farmerssubsistence farmers

—grow just enough for needs—grow just enough for needs Shifting agricultureShifting agriculture– burn trees/brush, – burn trees/brush,

ashes provide fertilizer, farm for ashes provide fertilizer, farm for several years, then abandon land, several years, then abandon land, repeat process in another arearepeat process in another area

Major crops in Africa: yams, dates, Major crops in Africa: yams, dates, corn, wheat, grapes, soybean, peanutscorn, wheat, grapes, soybean, peanuts

Ways of Life--HerdingWays of Life--Herding

HerdingHerding– raise, – raise, tend, move, sell tend, move, sell livestocklivestock

Cows, camels, Cows, camels, goats, sheepgoats, sheep

When farming When farming is not possibleis not possible

Forces people Forces people to be nomadic to be nomadic during seasonsduring seasons

Tsetse Fly and Sleeping SicknessTsetse Fly and Sleeping Sickness Transmitted by Transmitted by

tsetse fly—bites tsetse fly—bites humans & animalshumans & animals

Parasite enters Parasite enters bodybody

Results in Results in head/body aches, head/body aches, fever, itchingfever, itching

Later confusion, Later confusion, sensory problems, sensory problems, sleeping issuessleeping issues

Can lead to deathCan lead to death Kill thousands of Kill thousands of

animals a yearanimals a year

Religions in AfricaReligions in Africa Hundreds of Hundreds of

religions in Africareligions in Africa Islam (Muslims) Islam (Muslims)

have a large # in have a large # in North AfricaNorth Africa

Christianity large Christianity large in sub-Saharan in sub-Saharan AfricaAfrica

Both have Both have blended with blended with tribal religionstribal religions

Basic Beliefs of Traditional Basic Beliefs of Traditional ReligionsReligions

A supreme being A supreme being who created the who created the worldworld

Lesser spirits who Lesser spirits who deal with humansdeal with humans

Many spirits are Many spirits are related to nature, related to nature, illness, luck, or illness, luck, or certain jobs certain jobs (fishing, farming)(fishing, farming)

AncestorsAncestors—family —family members in the members in the pastpast

Remembered Remembered through stories, through stories, folktalesfolktales

Ancestors are Ancestors are believed to believed to become spiritsbecome spirits

Healers used to Healers used to cure sickness, use cure sickness, use prayer and herbal prayer and herbal medsmeds