Cultural Legacy of Africa

Early Peoples/Government First hunter-gatherers Settled Farming communities- Slash and burn agriculture Villages develop: power shared; no central authority

Family Some families patrilineal: inheritance passed through father’s side Some matrilineal: inheritance traced through mother’s side Belonged to a lineage: group of household who claimed a common ancestor. Several lineages formed a clan

Religion Polytheistic Used rituals and ceremonies to influence nature and sprits Spirits of ancestors could affect people on earth Islam moves into West African Kingdoms

African Written and Oral Tradition Griots: Record keepers Before West Africa had written histories griots would memorize everything and recite to the people Very important in West African culture Folktales: a story that is usually passed down orally and becomes part of a community’s tradition Folktales pass along history and teach young people morals and values Famous folktale about the “trickster” hare-Brer rabbit

Proverb: Popular sayings that use images from everyday life to express ideas or give advice Ex: “Every time an old man dies it is as if a library has burnt down” Written tradition: After Islam spread to West Africa written tradition became more important. West Africans used Arabic to write

West African Music Music: Communicates ideas, values, and feelings. Celebrates historic events and important occasions Call and response: A leader sings a short phrase then the group repeats the phrase Enslaved Africans brought call and response to America

Instruments Balafon: Original Griot instrument. Wooden bars laid across a frame like a zylophone Ngoni: Small stringed instrument Made of hollowed out piece of carved into the shape of a canoe

Kora: Harplike instrument with 21 strings Made out of gourd that is cut in half and covered with cow skin

Drums: Important part of West African culture Used during parties, meetings, ceremonies, and religious gatherings Made out of hollowed out logs and covered with animal skins

Dance Dance very important Used for rituals, ceremonies, important events, celebrate success, educate children, seek help of spirits, and connect with ancestors Dance movements reflect the conditions people live in

Masks Masks made of wood: very detailed Very important for ceremonies, performances, and sacred rites Used to summon spirits of the gods and ancestors Inspired artists such as Picasso

West African Visual Art Sculpture-used to call upon spirits and honor leaders. Used ivory, wood, bronze Turned practical objects into things of beauty-storage containers, utensils, furniture, baskets

Textiles Kente Cloth: most famous Sew together narrow strips of fabric Colors and design have symbolic meaning Seen today around the world especially in quilts