The Interplay of Human and Physical Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa

1. SSWG4The student will describe the interaction of physical and human systems that have shaped contemporary Sub-Saharan Africa.e. Analyze how the migration of people such as the Bantu and Zulu have impacted the economic cultural and political aspects of Sub-Saharan Africa.f. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses in the development of Sub-Saharan Africa including factors such as linguistic, tribal, and religious diversity, literacy levels, and the colonial legacy.g. Describe the ethnic and religious groups in Sub-Saharan Africa including major customs and traditions. Unit 7 African Culture

2. Ethnic Groups West & Central Africa: • Follow African, Islam, and European culture East Africa: • 100’s of different ethnic groups • Different languages, traditions, & religions • A reason for so much conflict in area

3. Ethnic Groups continued South Africa: • Mixture of Africans and Afrikaners • Africans include Zulu and Bantu ancestry • Afrikaners: white South Africans with European ancestry • Speak own language

4. Language West & Central Africa: • 100’s of different African languages spoken • English and French are spoken East Africa: • Many different African languages including Bantu

5. Language continued South Africa: • Many different African languages • Many people speak Bantu • White population speaks English and Afrikaans • Afrikaans: version of Dutch • Official language of South Africa

7. Religion West & Central Africa: • Christianity, Islam, and traditional African religions • African religion: believe in the power of their ancestor’s spirits—ancestor worship • Seek advice and help from sickness from spirits • African religion led by a shaman • Shaman: acts as link between the natural and supernatural worlds, uses magic to cure illness, foretells the future, and controls spiritual forces

8. Cannibalism • Cannibalism: eating of human flesh by humans • Found in West & Central Africa • Believed that eating the organs or pieces of the person would absorb their abilities and talents • Also related to sorcery and witchcraft

9. African Art • Originally meant to serve a religious purpose • Earliest forms of African art were rock paintings • Later forms of African art would be wooden sculptures/carvings • Carvings would represent gods, spirits, ancestors

10. Oral History • most African civilizations kept oral histories • stories of events & families that people memorized & passed from one generation to the next • much of the information was lost over time • Storytellers were usually called griots • Griots were able to keep many African traditions/stories alive

11. African Dance • Originally intended for religious purposes • Heavy rhythmic beats have strongly influenced Western music • Movements in African dance were meant to represent spirits expressing themselves through humans • Examples: • Dances of Love: usually performed at weddings • Rites of Passage Dances: usually performed by young men/women to show their entrance in adulthood

12. African Music • Served religious purpose/social purpose • Used to pass on to young people information about the history of different communities • Words in song served to transmit folk legends/religious traditions from generation to generation • Important feature was strong rhythmic patternsachieved through either drums, bells, harps, sticks beating together or hand clapping

13. African Music continued 3 Features of music: 1. Strong rhythmic patterns • Used drums, bells, harps, sticks beating together or hand clapping 2. Mixture of voice and music 3. Leader would sing a short piece and people would repeat it back to the drum beat

14. African Music continued • African music brought to North America through slavery • Slaves would use songs/music as a way to make their work seem less burdensome • Also used to lament the loss of their freedom and homeland • African music led to other forms of Western music such as rock, rap, blues, jazz, gospel