1. “West Africa Culture and Daily Life”
©D. Girkin

2. I. Main Ideas
A. Culture
1. Strong family relationships and agriculture
shaped life for most people in West Africa.
2. Oral traditions preserved the history of West
African village societies.
B. Government
1. Powerful kings helped expand trading
networks that included slavery.

3. II. Village Life in West Africa
A. The Importance of Family
1. From 300–1500, powerful African rulers had
little impact on daily life
a) court cases, taxes were primary
involvement

4. II. Village Life in West Africa
2. Kinship: connection among people through blood, marriage, adoption – kinship members were loyal; governed by council of elders 3.Clans: large groups formed by kinship groups with common ancestors

5. II. Village Life in West Africa
B. Work
1. Farming was center of family, village life
a) women cared for children, cooked, made
pottery, worked in fields
b) men built houses, cleared farm land for
cattle, camels
c) children gathered firewood, helped
mothers and fathers

6. II. Village Life in West Africa
2. Labor Specialization: specific types of work—
led to diverse economy - metal work, tool-
making, trade created wealth; population grew

10. III. Trade and Regional Commerce
A. Cities and States Develop
1. By 300, West African cities such as Djenné
grew
a) inland city along Niger River was regional,
international hub
b) Djenné was also political, religious,
education, and trade center

11. III. Trade and Regional Commerce
2. West, North Africans traded salt, cloth,
metal, gold, slaves, ivory

12. III. Trade and Regional Commerce
B. Rise of Kings 1. Kings took control of trade system a) maintained order, gained loyalty 2. Kings had religious role a) expected to pray for rain, fertile land, and wealth

13. IV. The Oral Tradition in West Africa
A. Storytellers
1. No written history in ancient West Africa
2. Culture, values, history passed on through
rich, elaborate stories
3. Griots: storytellers of history and spiritual
kinships

14. IV. The Oral Tradition in West Africa
B. Stories and community
1. Griots performed for kings, commoners; oral traditions built community

15. Lesson Summary
Kinship groups and farming shaped the lives of West Africans.
Trade with North Africa brought wealth to West Africa where kings rose to power by controlling trade.
Oral tradition preserved the history and culture of West Africans.

16. Why it Matters now
Many West Africans today still place a strong emphasis on their kinship group, and through storytelling children learn the stories of their ancestors.

17. This is a connection among people by blood, marriage, or adoption
Kinship
Clan
Labor
griots

18. These people were responsible for gathering firewood
Women
Men
Elders
Children

19. Kinship Clan Labor griots
Villagers whose only job is to make tools and weapons are part of this.
Kinship
Clan
Labor
griots

20. What is one thing that kings were not expected to pray for?
Rain
Victory
Fertile land
Wealth

21. These people were important in the transmission of African history.
Kinship
Clan
Labor
griots

22. These people are storytellers.
Kinship
Clan
Labor
griots

23. Kinship Clan Labor griots
People who are focused on specific types of work are engaged in this process
Kinship
Clan
Labor
griots

24. Kinship Clan Labor griots
These groups are families related by blood or marriage who have a common ancestor.
Kinship
Clan
Labor
griots