1. Topic: Chapter 5.1: West African Culture and Daily Life

2. PowerPoint Focus Question: What was daily life and culture like in West Africa?

3. Family Life

4. Most people felt greater sense of loyalty to village and family
Powerful empires controlled West Africa, but rulers did not greatly affect average people
Most people felt greater sense of loyalty to village and family
Kinship very important to Africans
Kinship = A connection among people by blood, marriage, or adoption

5. Work

6. Mostly farmers
Some labor specialization (Various people who do a specific type of work) :
Animal herders
Metal workers – Iron technology allowed for stronger agricultural tools and weapons
Traders – Traded throughout West and Northern Africa

7. Growth and Trade

8. Population growth and trade lead to formation of West African cities
West Africans traded gold, slaves, and crops with North Africa for salt
West African cities became important centers of trade, politics, religion, and education because of trading

9. Oral Traditions

10. Oral Traditions For centuries West Africa had no written language
This meant early Africans had no written histories
Recorded their culture using oral history
Storytellers, known as griots, memorized important village histories and cultural values and shared them through stories and songs

11. Musician (Troubadour)
What is a Griot ?
Musician (Troubadour)
Genealogist
Storyteller
Tribal “Historian”

12. Summary
Using 3-6 sentences answer the Power Point Focus Question using DETAILS!!
Remember the FQ is:
What was daily life and culture like in West Africa?
How is this the same or different as your own life?