Religious/Ethnic Groups of Africa

1. Religious/Ethnic Groups of Africa Mr. Barrett 7th SS

2. Overview • Most Africans are either Muslim or Christian. • About 15% of Africans participate a traditional religion and worship sky gods or other spirits and ancestors

3. Missionaries • Missionaries began spreading Islam and Christianity into Africa at their beginnings. • Christianity= 100 AD • Islam=700 AD

4. Ethnic Groups • There are several thousand ethnic groups in Africa. • While each group has its own distinct history, art and religious customs, the groups have influenced each other. • Main groups are: Arabs, Ashanti, Bantu and Swahili

5. Arabs • Most northern Africans are Arab and practice Islam • They migrated to Africa from Arabia

6. Ashanti Ashanti Weaving • Major ethnic group living in central Ghana in western Africa. • Their religion is a mixture of supernatural and spiritual powers • They believe that plants, animals and trees have souls • The family and the mother’s clan are most important • They live as an extended family in home or huts set up around a courtyard

7. Bantu Culture and Religion • 50,000 BC is the earliest signs of Bantu culture in what is present day Cameroon • Today the Bantu are in countries from the equator to southern Africa • About 60 million modern day Africans can trace their language back to those Bantu of long ago • Apx 400 African languages have Bantu roots

8. Swahili Culture and Religion • The Swahili are all Muslims living in a narrow strip of land from the north coast of Kenya to the capital of Tanzania • Arab culture is a vital part of Swahili culture • The Swahili language reflects Bantu and Arab roots