People of the Forest and Plains

Introduction Many sub-Saharan African societies were preliterate & transmitted knowledge, skills, & traditions orally These civilizations made great strides in arts, buildings, & statecraft – urbanized settings without a writing system

Artists & Kings: Yoruba & Benin A. Nok culture Nigerian forests Agriculture Iron tools Yoruba (1200 CE) Kings & kinship City-states Urbanized agricultural Yoruba speaking (non- Bantu language) Ogboni – secret societies Religious & political leaders

C. Ile-Ife Holy city of Yoruba Specialized in portrait heads Yoruba speaking D. Edo peoples Benin (14th century) City-state Eware the Great (oba aka ruler) Iguegha – artisean bronze casting Contact with Europeans

Central African Kingdoms Bantu close to Cape Horn by 1200 Beyond influence of Islam Form states Kingship rather than kinship Kantanga Luba peoples Divine kingship Hereditary bureaucracy

Kingdoms of Kongo & Mwene Mutapa A. Kongo Along lower Congo Agricultural Gender division of labor Mbanza Kongo – capital Hereditary kingship Federation of 8 States B. Mwene Mutapa (king) Shona-speaking people Zimbabwe (stone houses) that housed local rulers Great Zimbabwe – center of kingdom Control sources of gold – advantage in commerce By 16th century torn apart via rebellion and internal divisions