Africa The Cultures of Africa Arabs The region

Africa The Cultures of Africa

Arabs • The region of North Africa includes the following countries: – – – Egypt Libya Tunisia Algeria Morocco Sudan

The Arabs People • A. D. 600’s, Arab armies from Southwest Asia entered into North Africa (Egypt) • Brought the Arabic language and Islam • Today most Africans are Muslim and speak Arabic • Muslim leadership allowed North African cities to become major centers of learning, trade, and craft making.

The Arabs People • Culture – the way of life of a group of people who share similar beliefs and customs. • Culture includes: – – – – Food Clothing Homes Jobs Language Religion How people view the world, etc…

The Arabs People • The Influence of Islam • Islam forms a common bond of culture among the people of North Africa • More than 95% of North Africans practice Islam and are called Muslims. • Islam and the Arabic language unify the different peoples of North Africa.

The Arabs People • Cultural Diffusion occurs when people travel, bringing their customs and ideas with them AND picking up new ideas and customs along the way. • In this way, customs and ideas are spread (or diffused) from one place to another. • The location of North Africa has contributed to the diffusion (spreading) of culture there.

The Ashanti People • Reside in central Ghana, kingdom was founded in 1701 • The Golden Stool is the center of their spiritual practices. (represents the unity of the Ashanti people and the power of their chiefs) • Belief in a supreme god, or Nayme, traditional Ashanti believe that all living things have a soul • The mother’s family is important. (Flesh & Blood) • Children get their spirits from their father. • Heritage celebrated with festivals and ceremonies. • Other religions practiced by Ashanti are Christianity and Islam

The Ashanti People • West Africa is famous for its cultural diversity (or variety of cultures). • Why does West Africa have a wide variety of cultures? – There are many ethnic groups living in West Africa. Because West Africa has hundreds of different ethnic groups, it has a variety of cultures.

The Ashanti People • One important change affecting family life in West Africa is urbanization, in other words, people are moving from villages to the cities. • The Ashanti people • live in West Africa

The Ashanti King: notice his gold jewelry and kente cloth

The Swahili People • Swahili means “one who lives on the coast. ” • Swahili is also a Bantu language with Arabic influence. • Reside on the East African Coast from southern Somalia to northern Mozambique • Practice a strict form of Islam mixed with beliefs in spirits that can possess a person (mila) and herbal healing medicines • Men wear charms/amulets for protection. They contain verses from the Koran

The Swahili People • East Africa has great cultural diversity because its location is along the Indian Ocean.

The Swahili People • Due to frequent trade with the Middle East, East Africa has developed a culture, called Swahili, that is a mixture of African and Arab influences. • The Swahili language is important in East Africa because it is used for business and communication.

The Bantu People • Originally from Southeast Nigeria • Reached Zimbabwe around 1000 CE • The Bantu Empire controlled trading routes from South Africa to the Zambezi River. • Traded gold, copper, precious stones, animal hides, ivory, and metal goods. • Many Bantu are Muslim, Christians and follow traditional animist religions (spirits in natural objects and surroundings)

The Bantu People • The struggle for majority rule in South Africa lasted so long that it inspired similar movements in Namibia and what is now Zimbabwe. • The important result of the formation of the National Union of Mineworkers in South Africa was that the workers led a movement for equal rights.

The Bantu Migrations • Around 2, 000 years ago, a group of people who spoke Bantu languages began to migrate, or move, out of West Africa. • They moved to Central and Southern Africa perhaps looking for new land to farm. • They introduced farming, herding, and iron tools to these regions.

The Cultures of Africa Region Culture North Africa Islam and the Arabic language unite the peoples of North Africa West Africa Hundreds of ethnic groups that speak different languages The Ashanti people are here. East Africa Central and Souther n Africa Swahili a mix of African and Arab cultures. Hundreds of ethnic groups that speak different forms of the Bantu languages South Africa is still largely economically divided by skin color.