1. Early African Societies

2. Hunting-Gathering Societies
Early Africans travelled in small hunter-gathering groups.
Each group had its own language, customs, and beliefs.
Some of these groups still exist today.

3. Social Structure The oldest male of the group served as the leader.
Although a leader, he is not a chief, and individual families within the band make decisions.
They are not governed by formal written laws and instead rely on discussion and the wisdom of the elders.

4. Stateless Societies
The societies do not have a centralized system of power.
Instead, power is shared and balanced between families of similar prestige and respect.
The eldest family member has the final say in all disputes.

6. Family Descent Descent determines a person’s inheritance (2 types)
Patrilineal where inheritance is passed from father to son. (Like in Europe)
Matillineal where inheritance comes from the mother’s side (Men however still hold the positions of authority)
Africa has both of these.

8. Age-Set System
Age-Sets are groups of people who were born during the same time period and in the same region.
Many African tribes emphasize these groups because they are going through the stages of life together.

9. Griots and Story-Telling
Few Early African Societies had written languages.
Griots are story-tellers who are responsible for passing down the stories and history orally from generation to generation.

10. Africa Must Wake Up
Africa must wake up The sleeping sons of Jacob For what tomorrow may bring May a better day come Yesterday we were Kings Can you tell me young ones Who are we today

11. Africa Must Wake Up
The black oasis Ancient Africa the sacred Awaken the sleeping giant Science, Art is your creation I dreamt that we could visit Old Kemet Your history is too complex and rigid For some western critics They want the whole subject diminished But Africa's the origin of all the world's religions We praised bridges that carried us over The battle front of Sudanic soldiers The task put before us
Chorus

12. Africa Must Wake Up
Who are we today? The slums,deceases, AIDS We need all that to fade We cannot be afraid So who are we today? We are the morning after The make shift youth The slave ship captured Our Diaspora, is the final chapter The ancetral lineage built pyramids Americas first immigrant The Kings sons and daughters from Nile waters The first architect, the first philosophers, astronomers The first prophets and doctors was

13. Africa Must Wake Up
Now can we all pray Each in his own way Teaching and Learning And we can work it out We'll have a warm bed We'll have some warm bread And shelter from the storm dread And we can work it out Mother Nature feeds all In famine and drought Tell those selfish in ways Not to share us out What's a tree without root Lion without tooth A lie without truth you hear me out

14. Africa Must Wake Up
Africa must wake up The sleeping sons of Jacob For what tomorrow may bring May a better day come Yesterday we were Kings Can you tell me young ones Who are we today Ye lord Africa must wake up The sleeping sons of Jacob For what tomorrow may bring May some more love come Yesterday we were Kings I'll tell you young blood This world is yours today

15. Oral Story Telling Activity

16. Islam and Africa

17. Founding of Islam
Founded by the Prophet Muhammad who is believed to have received teachings from God through the angel Gabriel. (640 AD in Mecca)
Islam in a monotheistic religion.
People living in the Middle East really related to a prophet who was like them and related to their culture.

18. Beliefs of Islam
Beliefs and worship in Islam revolve what is called the 5 Pillars.
1. Faith – to recognize there is one God and Muhammad is his prophet.
2. Prayer – 5 times a day towards Mecca
3. Alms – Support the less fortunate
4. Fasting – During the Month of Ramadan to remind them that spirit is more powerful than body
5. Pilgrimage: All must go to Mecca at least once on their lifetime.

20. Split of Islam Two Major Sects: Sunni and Shi’a
Split over a dispute over who should succeed Muhammad as political leader of the Muslim Community.
Today the majority of Muslims are Sunni

24. Islamic Society
Muslim Cities became centers of learning and innovation in areas such as art, architecture, literature, math, and science.
Women have a limited role with men mainly in charge of all affairs.
Islamic Law became the law of the land in these nations.

25. Muslim States
While stateless societies existed south of the Sahara, North Africa was being conquered and ruled by Muslim leaders.
As these Muslim nations grew, more and more African leaders began to convert to Islam.

26. The Almoravids
A group of Muslim Scholars who created an Islamic Empire that controlled a large part of North Africa and Spain.
They also spread Islam to Spain and African Empires south of the Sahara.

28. The Almohads
Group of Muslim Reformers who seized power from the Almoravids because they believed that the Almoravids were not following the teachings of Islam strict enough.

30. Islam Reading and Jigsaw
In groups of 3 you will read a little bit about the origins of Islam. Pgs. 263 to 268
1. Divide the reading into three parts, one for each person.
2. Read your part only and take notes summarizing the key points.
3. You will then meet with people who read the same part but are in other groups and you will share and refine what you wrote.
4. Finally you will come back to your original group and present your part of the reading to your group members as they take notes.

31. Suggested Split 1. Deserts, Towns, and Trade Routes
2. The Prophet Muhammad
3. Beliefs and Practices of Islam

32. Travels of Ibn Battuta