Tribal african society

Overview of African tribal societies

1. Bell Ringer 9/29/15
1. Write a few sentences describing
what you think the word “tribal”
means.

2. If you finish early, draw an image
of something tribal.
3. Extra Challenge: What is animism?

2. I can analyze the importance of community in
African culture and compare it to my own life.
7.16 Analyze the importance of family, labor
specialization, and regional commerce in the
development of states and cities in West Africa.
OBJECTIVE & STANDARD

5. 1000 different
languages +
1000 different
tribes
Partner Chat:
What are some
possible issues with
having so many
languages and so
many tribes?

6. Characteristics of a
Tribe:
•Language
•Clothing
•Religion
•Behavior
•Tradition

7. Common Traits or Characteristics
of Traditional African Tribal Life
1.The good of the group comes ahead of the good
of the individual.
2.All land is owned by the group.
3.Strong feeling of loyalty to the group.
4.Ceremonies to celebrate each person’s life.
5.Deep respect for ancestors.
6.Religion is an important part of everyday life.
7.Government is in the hands of the chiefs/kings.

8. Tribal Villages

9. African Society
•African towns and villages
evolved over time becoming
larger communities that
served as centers for trade
and government.
•Many of these cultures did
not have a written language.
Most knowledge of these
cultures comes from oral
tradition.hat served as
centers for trade and
government.
•Many of these cultures did
not have a written language,
and so, most of our
knowledge of these cultures
comes from oral tradition.

10. King & Subject
•In African cultures the kings had a much
closer relationship with the people than in
Asian and other cultures.
•The king still held a high position among
the people, but he took a much more
personal interest in the everyday people.

11. Family and Lineage
Family and extended family extended family were very
important.
These extended families evolved into
lineage groupslineage groups.
 All the members could claim to be
descended from a common ancestor and
it gave a sense of identity.
Why is it important to belong to a group?

12. The Role of Women
•Women were usually
subordinate to men in
Africa.
•Although, in many
African societies lineage
was traced through the
mother’s side. This
makes the matriarch of
the family (the mother)
the central figure.

13. Community & Education
Both boys and girls were raised by their mothers
until the age of six.
After that boys and girls were educated in the
areas in which they would be involved.
Girls learned to be wives and mothers while
boys learned how to hunt and farm.

14. The African Mask
•African masks are part of a ceremonial
costume.
•They are used to represent the spirits of
ancestors or to control the good and evil
forces in the community.
•They come to life possessed by their spirit in
the performance of the dance with music.

15. Traditional African
Religion
ANIMISM
1. Belief in one Supreme Being.
3. Ancestor veneration.
4. Belief in magic, charms, and fetishes.
5. Diviner/Shaman  mediator between
the tribe and God.
2. A world of spirits (good & bad) in all
things.

16. African Diviner (Shaman)
•

17. Animism to Islam
Eventually the animistic beliefs were
replaced in many places by Islam.
This process occurred slowly through
trade and conquest.
Islam combined with native beliefs to
form unique African forms of Islam.

18. Oral Tradition
In the absence of a written language
music and storytelling took on a large role
in African society.
These people kept the history of Africa
alive.
What are possible issues that could
arise because of oral tradition?

19. Partner
CHAT
Based on
this map,
what are
the
potential
problems
created by
tribalism?

20. •Create a graphic organizer that
shows how the culture and society
of West Africa is similar to and
different from today.