African Traditions

Governing of African Villages

• Age grade system
– Trains young people to become leaders
• Divided into groupings of boys and girls of same
age with specific responsibilities

• Elders
– Respected older leaders who make laws for
the village
– Rule by elders is common system of
governing in rural Africa
 The Family’s Role
• Family is the foundation of traditional
African society.

• Needs of family put before needs of

individual

• Each family member has a duty to look out

for one another
 The Family’s Role-cont.
• Families live with extended family

• Includes several generations of relatives

living together

• Fewer African societies have arranged

marriage where the parents decide whom
their children will marry.
 The Family’s Role-cont.
• Every person belongs not just to a family,
but a larger lineage group.

– Lineage: tracing of descent from a single

ancestor

• Patrilineal: descent through the father’s family

• Matrilineal: descent through the mother’s family

 African Agriculture
• Farming remains main way people make living

• Subsistence farming: growing just enough food

for your own needs
– Grow crops suited for where they live

• Shifting agriculture: burn and use ashes to

fertilize the soil
– When soil is worn out, farmers move to new land
 African Agriculture-continued
• Women in Sub-Saharan Africa do much of
the farming

– Grow nearly ¾ of food, plant, weed and

harvest crops
– Sell raw or cooked foods in marketplace
 Spread of Christianity
• Christianity

– First came to Africa through Egypt

– Spread of Christianity began when Europeans

missionaries followed European explorers into
the interior of Africa.

– Missionaries translated Bible into African

languages
 Spread of Islam
• Islam spread quickly into North Africa.

• Muslim traders introduced Islam to West

Africa and East African coastlines.
 Religions Gain Followers
• Both religions allowed Africans to continue
their traditional African culture.

• Traditional practices have been blended

with Christianity.
– Many Africans still turn to healers to find
causes of misfortune.
– Blend Christianity with drumming and dancing
Religions Gain Followers-continued
• Islam did not require Africans to reject all
their religious practices

• Africans ignored Islamic practices that did

not fit their customs
– Veiling of women
 Ancestors and African Religious
Beliefs
• Traditional African religions share common
beliefs

• Most believe in a Supreme Being

– Supreme Being created all world, but does

not actually direct what happens in the world
 Ancestors and African Religious
Beliefs-cont.
• Most believe in spirits

– Spirits listen to concerns of humans and pass

the on to Supreme Being

• Most believe in nature spirits who are

thought to bring good or bad luck
 Ancestors and African Religious
Beliefs-cont.
• Ancestors hold a special place in African
religions.

• Ancestors are both family members who have

recently died and those who have died in the
distant past.

• Ancestors become a spirit with powers greater

than the living and continues to be involved in
the life of the community.
 Vocabulary
• Bridewealth

– Gift of money, goods, cattle, or services by the

husband to his wife’s family
– Given before marriage to show groom is serious
about marrying bride and that he can care for her

• Masai

– Nomads who moved from place to place so their

animals have fresh land to graze
– Live East Africa