Aim: How did tribalism organize ancient African society?

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• Aim How did tribalism organize ancient African
  society?
• Do Now Who are the people in your immediate
  family? Are they related to you?
• HW Create your family tree.

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Traditional African Society

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1000 different languages 1000 different tribes
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An Africans Search for Identity
1. Nuclear Family
2. Extended Family
3. Age-Set
4. Clan
5. Lineage (ancestry)
TRIBE (communal living)
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Mask With Headcloth, Zaire (19c)
Tribal Mark ? scarification
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Kisokolo Initiation Costume, Democratic Republic
of the Congo
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Kisokolo Initiates, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, 1990
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?
Tribe
Africa America Ethnic
Group
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Traditional Family Structures
C
C
Nuclear Family
C
H
W
W
C
C
U
Cs
GP
C
C
Extended Family
C
H
W
W
C
C
GP
Cs
A
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Woman Child, Kongo
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Family Group, Tanzania
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Problems of Tribalism Today
1. The tribe is more important than the nation.
2. Communication problems.
3. Inter-tribal warfare ? civil wars.
4. Tribal favorites for government jobs
Nepotism
Breaks down tribal traditions.
Urbanization
Tribal intermingling on the job.
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Traditional African Religion
ANIMISM
1. Belief in one remote Supreme Being.
2. A world of spirits (good bad) in all
things.
3. Ancestor veneration.
4. Belief in magic, charms, and fetishes.
5. Diviner ? mediator between the tribe
and God.
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African Diviner (Shaman)
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World of the Spirits
Dogon Spirit House
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Ancestors
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Fetishes
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Fetishes
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Rubbing Oracle, wood
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Other Religions in Africa
ISLAM ? 25 Nigeria ?
largest sub-Saharan Muslim
countries.
CHRISTIANITY ? 20
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Common Traits or Characteristics of Traditional
African Tribal Life

• The good of the group comes ahead of the good of
  the individual.
• All land is owned by the group.
• Strong feeling of loyalty to the group.
• Important ceremonies at different parts of a
  persons life.
• Special age and work associations.
• Deep respect for ancestors.
• Religion is an important part of everyday life.
• Government is in the hands of the chiefs kings.

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My Family Tree
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Sample Trees