African Culture

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African Culture

• Family, Religion, and Society

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Kings

• African Kings had more interaction with subjects
• Not held on as high pedestals as Egypt, Rome, Asia

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Family Groups

• Called lineage groups or clans
• Lived in large extended families
• Elders held great respect and influence

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Women

• In most societies the women did the majority of
  the work
• Raising the children
• Farming
• Gathering
• Men tended the herds, and hunted

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Matrilineal

• Descent is traced through the mother
• Mens inheritance was passed to his sisters sons
• Men were expected to live with their wifes
  family

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Slavery

• Captives taken in war were made slaves
• Slaves were the property of the community
• It did not pass on through birth
• Men and women often married their slaves
• Making them part of their lineage group

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Religion

• Focused on ancestors
• Polytheistic
• Diviners
• Witch doctors/priests
• Could communicate with the ancestors
• Knew hoe to perform ritual ceremonies
• Beliefs are changed by, not replaced by Islam

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Culture

• Most of their arts literature, music, dance,
  painting, and carving served religion
• Griots
• Storytellers carried a musical instrument
• Keepers of history and oral traditions
• Sundiata

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