Traditional African Society Please save 20 mins at the end for the Modern Tribes Video… What we know in the west is often a very skewed as to the true cultures, languages, values, and diversity of the African Continent. Africa is often mistaken for a country where all people speak the same languages and look the same! In some ways Asia’s history also falls to this Western stereotype, not all Asians look the same and speak the same language. Adapted from Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY

1000 different languages; 1000+ different tribes Those who study languages, the linguists, estimate that there are over 1000 languages spoken on the African Continent with over 1000 different tribes… Not only does this continent have a tremendous diversity of languages, it also has a tremendous diversity of resources and climates. Everything from deserts, to mountains, to humid subtropics, to savannahs and great plains. The largest continent on the planet holds every major religious tradition and much of the worlds local religious diversity as well. Today there are over 1 Billion people on the continent and they aren’t all considered “black”! This unit will look at the diversity of the continent in languages, cultures, religions, and beliefs. 1000 different languages; 1000+ different tribes

An African’s “Search for Identity” 1. Nuclear Family 2. Extended Family 3. Age-Set 4. Clan African societies have historically struggled with the idea of social organization, unlike Europe and Islamic societies that had their social structure forced on them. Many socieites are based on the idea of a NUCLEAR FAMILY… mom-dad-kids Others are based on EXTENDED FAMILIES … where the ancestors, uncles, grandparents are an integral part of the household Some African societies are based on AGE SET… this is when common age groups our united together by common experiences, roles and values (much like the class of 2012 is an “age set”) Much of African society is based on the CLAN … this is a multiple family based system that is tied to a particular place, land, language, and culture. The clan is the fundamental unit of these societies, not the family The core of almost all african societies is based on the idea of the ANCESTORS OR LINEAGE… this is the idea that the ancestors have laid a path that is much easier to follow than if you have to blaze your own trail. Note this is not Ancestor worship, rather it is simply the idea that the wisdom of the ancestors is not dead with them but is celebrated. This is not unlike the role of ancestors in the Asian Confucian traditions No matter what the key unit… they are almost all based on the TRIBE… this is not a nation or state, rather what comes before that. People are connected and have ties to a common purpose and heritage that is the common unit in society. 5. Lineage (ancestry) TRIBE (communal living)

Mask With Headcloth, Zaire (19c) Tribal Mark  scarification While this mask is a ceremonial piece, it does represent how many West African socieites and those of the Congo would mark their bodies as a right of passage. These are not tatoos, but are instead artristic scaring that shows rank within a tribe… Tribal Mark  scarification

Kisokolo Initiation Costume, Democratic Republic of the Congo In African Socieiteis the right of initiation into manhood or womanhood is particularly important and is a community ceremony. Much like a bar or bat mitzvah is a family/cultural right of passage…. The African tradition of rights of passage is also of great importance.

Africa : :: America : Ethnic Group ? Tribe

Traditional Family Structures Nuclear Family: C H W W C C U Cs GP H= Husband W= Wife C= Cousin GP=Grandparents A/U=Aunt/Uncle In african socieities the extended family is of primary importance. Notice husband is the center, with multiple wives… but the care of and necessity of the extended family is of key importance to survival, rank, and power. C C Extended Family: C H W W C C GP Cs A

Woman & Child, Kongo Women, although not the center of the model before, do play an important role because they are the symbols of the creative force. They bear children like the earth mother had created the African people. Mothers provide care and nourishment and food for their children… a power symbol show here in the art piece form the Kongo

Family Group, Tanzania An idea of the extended family of Africa as reprsented in art

Traditional African Religion ANIMISM 1. Belief in one remote Supreme Being. 2. A world of spirits (good & bad) in all things. 3. Ancestor veneration. 4. Belief in magic, charms, and fetishes. 5. Diviner  mediator between the tribe and God.

African Diviner (Shaman)

Ancestors The ancestors’ spirits are present in these scultupres and are venerated by the families and tribes because of what they represent

Fetishes These are not fetishes in the sexual sense… a fetish is an object that is said to have actual spiritual power residing in it completely. It is worshiped, venereated and even feared… this is what gives rise to voodoo and voodoo dolls.

Fetishes

Other Religions in Africa ISLAM  25% * Nigeria  largest sub-Saharan Muslim countries. Note that native religion (animism) is not the only religion present on the continent… in fact Islam and Christianity play a major role as well. CHRISTIANITY  20%

Common Traits or Characteristics of Traditional African Tribal Life The good of the group comes ahead of the good of the individual. All land is owned by the group. Strong feeling of loyalty to the group. Important ceremonies at different parts of a person’s life. Special age and work associations. Deep respect for ancestors. Religion is an important part of everyday life. Government is in the hands of the chiefs [kings].

I = We I am because we are The ideology of I = We is a traditional African proverb… This is a deep and important understanding of community, family life, tribe…. Means simply… My identity is not mine alone, it is based on a community, a common history, an idenity that is tied to the circle not the individual.

What tribes are we a part of What tribes are we a part of? What tribes support the “I am because we are” mentality? How many times do we willingly add people to our tribes?

Video on “tribes” in today’s world