African Society and Culture Chapter 7, Section 3

Aspects of African Society As African towns developed they need a means to protect themselves As African towns developed they need a means to protect themselves Therefore they built walls Therefore they built walls Once they had walls the towns developed into larger communities Once they had walls the towns developed into larger communities These towns served as the center of government, trade and learning These towns served as the center of government, trade and learning

King and Subject In most African societies the King and his family were isolated from the regular people In most African societies the King and his family were isolated from the regular people In Africa though the gulf between the king and the people was almost non-existent In Africa though the gulf between the king and the people was almost non-existent It was very common for African kings to hold weekly audiences to allow people to voice their problems It was very common for African kings to hold weekly audiences to allow people to voice their problems

The King was held in high esteem however The King was held in high esteem however Just because the people could get close to the king did not mean that the king was unimportant Just because the people could get close to the king did not mean that the king was unimportant

Family and Lineage At the basic level of African society was the extended family At the basic level of African society was the extended family The extended family included parents, children, grandparents, and other family members The extended family included parents, children, grandparents, and other family members Families lived in closely built houses Families lived in closely built houses

These house groups became known as lineage groups These house groups became known as lineage groups Lineage groups – large communities of closely related people Lineage groups – large communities of closely related people

Lineage groups served as the basic building blocks of African society Lineage groups served as the basic building blocks of African society Family became a way people identified Family became a way people identified Lineage groups provide mutual support for each other Lineage groups provide mutual support for each other

Role of Women In Africa, women traditionally were subordinate to men In Africa, women traditionally were subordinate to men Women would work in the fields while the men tended the cattle or hunted Women would work in the fields while the men tended the cattle or hunted However, in Africa women’s roles were different However, in Africa women’s roles were different

In Africa, lineage was based on the mother rather than the father In Africa, lineage was based on the mother rather than the father This creates a matrilineal society This creates a matrilineal society Inheritance was passed on through the mother’s side of the family Inheritance was passed on through the mother’s side of the family

Religious Beliefs Early religious beliefs varied from place to place Early religious beliefs varied from place to place Most however, shared a least some common religious themes Most however, shared a least some common religious themes There was a single creator god, called Yoruba There was a single creator god, called Yoruba

Yoruba was joined by a whole group of lesser gods Yoruba was joined by a whole group of lesser gods The Ashanti people of Ghana believed in many of these lesser gods The Ashanti people of Ghana believed in many of these lesser gods However, these gods could not always be trusted However, these gods could not always be trusted

Humans needed to appease the gods to avoid their anger Humans needed to appease the gods to avoid their anger While gods could be angry, they could also be merciful and could be pacified by proper behavior While gods could be angry, they could also be merciful and could be pacified by proper behavior

The way to communicate with the gods was through ritual The way to communicate with the gods was through ritual This process was carried out by a diviner This process was carried out by a diviner Diviner – person who believes they have the power to foretell events Diviner – person who believes they have the power to foretell events Ancestors were also a important part of African religions Ancestors were also a important part of African religions

Islam v. African Beliefs African beliefs were challenged but not necessarily replaced by Islam African beliefs were challenged but not necessarily replaced by Islam