Tribes of Africa
5/5
()
About this ebook
Genetic tests suggest that members of the San Tribe, also known as the Bushmen Tribe, are the closest living descendants of the first man on earth. Africas rich legacy was also the subject of research by anthropologists Mary and Louis Leakey. They believed that the skeletal remains they unearthed at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzanias Great Rift Valley in 1959 belonged to ancestors of the earliest human beings.
There is a variety and richness in the tribal cultures of Africa. Rarely is a culture able to hold on to the cherished past while dealing with a chaotic modern world. The tribes in this book are motivated by their pure roots and a respect for the ancient ways that define them.
Dr. Diana Prince
Dr. Diana Prince has a Master’s Degree in English and a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from California State University at San Diego. She has a PhD in Psychology from United States International University.
Read more from Dr. Diana Prince
Magnificent Morocco Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAntarctica Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSecret Lives: Real Lives in the World’S Oldest Profession Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGeology: The Living Earth Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMary: The Enigma of the Virgin Mary Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Long Road Home Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Majestic Mongolia Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWomen in World War Ii Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDinosaurs Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChildren of the World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBook of Sharks Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsZANZIBAR Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKENYA IN PICTURES Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAmerican Indian Tribes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Book of Lions Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSubmarines Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAnatomy of the Soul Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Mystery of the Old Shipwreck Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTouch the Sky: The History of Aviation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEgypt: An Adventure Book for Young Readers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWaiting for Mr. Moon Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Amazing Universe Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Secret of the Blue Mermaid: A Katy Woods Mystery Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Bird Book Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAdventures on Planet Earth Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWomen in Aviation Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJapan Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBeautiful New England Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDancing in Sunlight: Poems for Children Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Tribes of Africa
Related ebooks
The Unforgotten Bantu Princess Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSeven Amazing African Queens and Dynasties Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsZulu Terror: The Mfecane Holocaust, 1815–1840 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Kingdoms of Central Africa - History of the Ancient World | Children's History Books Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe New Yam Festival Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Redemption of Africa Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAfrica Reunite or Perish Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAfrican Visionaries Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWe Are Akan: Our People and Our Kingdom in the Rainforest - Ghana, 1807 - Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIbos of Nigeria and Their Cultural Ways: Aspects of Behavior, Attitudes, Customs, Language and Social Life Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Africans: The Pioneer Rulers of the World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAfrican Identities: a New Perspective Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Origins and Solutions to Africa’S Rebel Conflicts (The Seirra Leone Chapter): Politicians Centered Approach Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGift Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWith Wolseley to Kumasi A Tale of the First Ashanti War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Legend of the Walking Dead:Igbo Mythologies Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Nation, power and dissidence in third generation Nigerian poetry in English Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRe-Thinking Values in Africa: For Collective Wellbeing Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Pan-Africanism or Pragmatism: Lessons of the Tanganyika-Zanzibar Union Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Drawing the Map of Heaven: An African Writer in America Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnlocking Africa's Potential Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEthnic Diversity in Eastern Africa: Opportunities and Challenges Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMountains of Spirit: The Story of the Royal Bakwena ba Mogopa of the North West, South Africa Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5At the Back of the Black Man’s Mind Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnderstanding Nigerian Culture Through American Eyes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHigglers in Kingston: Women's Informal Work in Jamaica Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFemale Monarchs and Merchant Queens in Africa Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Travel For You
50 Great American Places: Essential Historic Sites Across the U.S. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Notes from a Small Island Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Travel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Kon-Tiki Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5RV Hacks: 400+ Ways to Make Life on the Road Easier, Safer, and More Fun! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSpotting Danger Before It Spots You: Build Situational Awareness To Stay Safe Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5South: Shackleton's Endurance Expedition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fodor's Best Road Trips in the USA: 50 Epic Trips Across All 50 States Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Lonely Planet The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5An Atlas of Countries That Don't Exist: A Compendium of Fifty Unrecognized and Largely Unnoticed States Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fodor's Bucket List USA: From the Epic to the Eccentric, 500+ Ultimate Experiences Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSpanish Verbs - Conjugations Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStar Wars: Galaxy's Edge: Traveler's Guide to Batuu Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Everything Travel Guide to Ireland: From Dublin to Galway and Cork to Donegal - a complete guide to the Emerald Isle Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFodor's New Orleans Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Fodor's Bucket List Europe: From the Epic to the Eccentric, 500+ Ultimate Experiences Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDisney Declassified Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tales from the Haunted South: Dark Tourism and Memories of Slavery from the Civil War Era Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Cool Japan Guide: Fun in the Land of Manga, Lucky Cats and Ramen Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rocks and Minerals of The World: Geology for Kids - Minerology and Sedimentology Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Native Mexican Kitchen: A Journey into Cuisine, Culture, and Mezcal Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVagabonding on a Budget: The New Art of World Travel and True Freedom: Live on Your Own Terms Without Being Rich Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRV Living: RV Repair: A Guide to Troubleshoot, Repair, and Upgrade Your Motorhome and Understand RV Electrical Safety Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Reviews for Tribes of Africa
1 rating0 reviews
Book preview
Tribes of Africa - Dr. Diana Prince
© 2017 Dr. Diana Prince. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.
Published by AuthorHouse 05/27/2017
ISBN: 978-1-5246-9399-2 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-5246-9400-5 (hc)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017908432
Getty Photos
Cover and all photos
except Author Photos
Author Photos
Samburu Tribe
Herero Tribe
Damara Tribe
Maasai Tribe
10588.pngCONTENTS
Swazi Tribe (Swaziland)
Mursi Tribe (Ethiopia)
Shona Tribe (Zimbabwe)
Rendille Tribe (Kenya)
Himba Tribe (Namibia)
Dogon Tribe (Mali)
Batwa Tribe (Uganda)
Zulu Tribe (South Africa)
Samburu Tribe (Kenya)
Afar Tribe (Eritrea)
Herero Tribe (Namibia)
Hausa Tribe (Nigeria)
Berber Tribe (Morocco)
Tuareg Tribe (Mali and Niger)
Bedouin Tribe (Egypt)
Mandingo Tribe (Senegal and Mali)
Damara Tribe (Damaraland and Namibia)
Dassanach Tribe (Kenya and Ethiopia)
Maasai Tribe (Kenya)
San Bushman Tribe (Namibia)
Hamar Tribe (Ethiopia)
Bakongo Tribe (Congo)
Ndebele Tribe (South Africa)
Watutsi Tribe (Rwanda)
Karo Tribe (Ethiopia)
List of Illustrations
Swazi Tribe (Swaziland)
One of the king’s warriors in the traditional costume of the Swazi tribe.
Mursi Tribe (Ethiopia)
Young woman from the Mursi Tribe in South Omo Valley, Ethiopia.
Shona Tribe (Zimbabwe)
Witch doctor from the Karanga clan of the Shona tribe in a village near Masvingo, Zimbabwe.
Rendille Tribe (Kenya)
Young girl of the Rendille tribe in native dress.
Himba Tribe (Namibia)
Nomadic Himba man near the Skeleton Coast in Namibia.
Dogon Tribe (Mali)
Dogon dancers, wearing Kanaga masks, perform the Dama ritual dance in Mali.
Batwa Tribe (Uganda)
Village elder named James from the Batwa Tribe in Uganda.
Zulu Tribe (South Africa)
Zulu warrior at Kwa Zulu-Natal in South Africa.
Samburu Tribe (Kenya)
Samburu warrior in Kenya.
Afar Tribe (Eritrea)
Young girl of Afar tribe in the Danakil Desert of Eritrea.
Herero Tribe (Namibia)
Herero in traditional clothing for a ceremonial dance.
Haussa Tribe (West Africa)
A Haussa man wearing the traditional red tribal headdress.
Berber Tribe (Morocco)
A Berber horseman in a traditional equestrian performance at Rabat in Morocco.
Taureg Tribe (Mali)
A man in the traditional blue robes of the Tauregs near Timbuktu, Mali.
Bedouin Tribe (Egypt)
A Bedouin on horseback in front of the Pyramids on the Giza Plateau.
Mandingo Tribe (Senegal and Mali)
Shepherd near Douentza in Mali, West Africa.
Damara Tribe (Damaraland/Namibia)
Young Damara man wearing traditional animal skins.
Dassanach Tribe (Ethiopia)
Dassanach men wearing ceremonial clothing and Traditional headdresses made of ostrich feathers in the Omo River Region of Southwest Ethiopia.
Maasai Tribe (Kenya)
Maasai warrior near Mount Kenya.
San Bushmen Tribe (Namibia)
San Bushman with bow and arrow in the Kalahari Desert.
Hamar Tribe (Ethiopia)
Young Hamar villager in Ethiopia.
Bakongo Tribe (Congo)
A member of the Bakongo Tribe in native dress.
Ndebele Tribe (South Africa)
Woman in Kwaggfonten, South Africa in the traditional attire for married women.
Watutsi Tribe (Rwanda)
Watusi man performs a traditional dance in Rwanda.
Karo Tribe (Ethiopia)
A young Karo woman in traditional dress.
CHAPTER ONE
Swazi Tribe
Swaziland
The Swazi Tribe, also known as the Swati, originated over 500 years ago in Central Africa, as a sub-group of the Nguni tribe, to which most of today’s Swazis are still closely related. Outside the Kingdom of Swaziland, the greatest number of Swazi people now live in the country of South Africa. The current Swazi population is about three million people.
The primary religion among the Swazi tribe is Christianity. This is often, however, blended with vestiges of the traditional tribal culture. Most notably, this involves a strong reverence for ancestral family spirits. With prayer and ritual the deceased ancestors are integrated into the everyday lives of Swazi families.
The language of the Swazi people is called Siswati
, and is native to the Kingdom of Swaziland. For the Swazi population in South Africa, both English and Afrikaans are more prominent.
There are two primary monarchs ruling the Kingdom of Swaziland. These are the King and the Queen Mother who rule jointly. They are given the title of the Ingwenyama
which means the Lion
, and the Ndlovukati
which means the She-Elephant.
If the King’s mother is no longer alive, another significant woman will rule in her place. Both share the political rule, but the Queen Mother also has the role of the spiritual leader who oversees and ensures that national rituals are carried out.
The common ancestry of the early leaders of the Swazis goes back to Chief Dlamini I, whose family produced a long line of strong kings, well loved by the Swazi people. The name Swazi, however, did not officially come into being until the mid-1800’s when Mswati II became their king. He is the origin of their name.
Beginning 500 years ago, they moved into southern Mozambique, in what was then called Tongaland. By 1600, they had established their own kingdom in what is now Swaziland. A coalition of some other tribes like the Sotho and the San occupied the new kingdom, and the name Swazi was given to any citizen who lived in the country regardless of tribe. The Swazi people were open and friendly, and interacted well with neighboring tribes. Ngwane III was the first modern king of the country, ruling for 35 years in the late 1700’s.
At the time of the Boer Wars, first the Dutch and then the British sought special authority over mining, commerce and land, and took over much of what was called the Transvaal
region. The seizing of native lands by foreigners caused the Swazi natives to leave their own country by the thousands, and many migrated to South Africa. The British ruled Swaziland for over sixty years beginning in 1903.
The Swazis are resilient and known for their dances and tribal songs which have a buoyant and joyful energy. They have rich cultural traditions which are among the most interesting in Africa. Swazi marriages are one example. Most marriages are usually held around July during the dry season. The family of the bride is welcomed to the home of the groom, where a ritual animal is served, and where festivities include dancing and singing. The following day, in a symbolic gesture, the bride thrusts a spear into the ground, as an initiating point of the marriage. She is then smeared with paint made of red ochre, and she presents gifts to her new husband’s family.
Another colorful traditional ritual is the Incwala
a long extended celebration at the end of the year which can often span both December and January. The objective is to recognize the power of the king. The Bemanti
who are the king’s men, go among the many villages of the country, and are given beer. However, the pretense is maintained that they are stealing
the beer,