Is there such a thing as “Continental Identity”? American/North American European Asian Latin American African Middle Eastern

What about National Identity? American, Canadian British, French, German, Russian, etc. Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Thai, etc. Brazilian, Chilean, Mexican,Cuban, etc Nigerian, Kenyan, Ethiopian, Malawian, etc. Saudi Arabian, Israeli, Iraqi, Egyptian, etc.

Continental and National Identity American/North American (American, Canadian) European (British, French, German, Russian, etc.) Asian (Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Thai, etc.) Latin American (Brazilian, Chilean, Mexican,etc.) African (Nigerian, Kenyan, Ethiopian, Malian, etc.) Middle Eastern (Saudi, Israeli, Iraqi, Egyptian, etc.)

Anthropologist Jacques Maquet asks Can geographical unity be translated into cultural unity? What conceptual tools are necessary to grasp this unity?

Two anthropological concepts: Society A group of persons whose organized activities ensure that the material and psychological needs of each of its members will be satisfied. Its members regard themselves as forming a unit with well- defined boundaries.

Culture The complex totality of material objects, items of behavior, and ideas acquired in varying degrees by each member of a given society Shared values Society could not exist without Culture

Africanity A unique cultural face Totality of knowledge, behavior, ideas, and objects that constitutes a common heritage Transcends ethnic (tribal) and national specifics

Not mysterious Not an essence Not esoteric Not a body of knowledge Totality of cultural factors common to hundreds of societies

Content of Africanity Sources-- result of a double process of adaptation and diffusion Differs from other attempts – intellectual (Negritude) – political (Pan-Africanism)

Sources Similar experience Migrations Isolation Colonial penetration and industrialization Nationalization

Similar experience Use of the environment for livelihood Subsistence is hard, food scarcity Hunting and gathering (Bow) Shifting agriculture Herding (Spear)

Migrations Bantu migration Diffusion of ideas, techniques, and languages

Isolation Boundaries Rivers and coastlines limited transportation Valuables (gold and slaves) taken out Little technology brought in (until recently)

Colonial penetration and industrialization Arbitrarily cut up and turned into colonies and then countries Imposition of social, political and economic domination

Colonial penetration & industrialization Extractive and money economies Civil servants and bureaucracies

Nationalization During similar time periods Stress and political upheavals

Contents of Africanity Kinship and social aspects Political Daily Life Economic

Contents of Africanity: kinship Importance of the family, not individual Child has intimate and secure contact with the mother and many relatives Permanent groupings

Contents of Africanity: Kinship Ascribed status Importance of ancestors Focus on fertility Marriage is a group decision

Contents of Africanity: Daily life Little personal insecurity and loneliness Social sanctions Importance of small-scale, village life

Contents of Africanity-- Political State societies based on surplus Stateless societies attuned with nature Territorial power and sacred power of elders and chiefs Some class and caste societies