33Notes

November03,2016

3-3 African Culture and Society

Family
Family was the basis of society and people grouped
together with their extended families. This could be as
small as 10 people or as big as 100+.
African families were matrilineal so they traced their
descent through the mothers side of the family.
Children were very important because they made sure that
the family would carry on and a link between past and
present.
Education
It was the job of the family and village to educate the
young.
Children were taught about their family history and skills
they would need in life.
Griots told children about the history of the village and
passed on stories to the next generation.
Role of Women
Men had more rights than women, who were primarily wives
and mothers.
Yet, 2 famous African women served as rulers: Queen
Dahia al-Kahina and Queen Nzinga.
Slavery
The Portuguese were the founders of the African slave
trade in the 1400's.
They wanted slaves to do manual labor back in Portugal but
then shipped them overseas when they colonized The
Americas.
Slave trading becomes huge business and slaves are traded
along with salt and gold from Africa.
Muslims could not enslave other Muslims so they were taken
from non-Muslims places.
Slaves were used for hard labor on plantations such as
growing sugarcane, rice, cotton and tobacco.
African Culture Spreads
Due to slavery, African ideas and culture spread
around the world in what is called African Diaspora.
Art
Cave paintings showed people hunting, dancing and doing
everyday things.
Paintings were also used to show religious ideas.
Woodcarving was used to make masks and statues for
religious purposes.
Music and Dance
Music was an essential part of African life.
It was used to express religious ideas or to pass the time
doing chores. Typically, the singer calls out and others repeat
it back.
Everyone danced! It was a way to celebrate special occasions.
African music becomes the basis of today's music such as
rock and roll, rap, gospel, ragtime and jazz.
Storytelling
African slaves kept alive the storytelling traditions started
by griots.
Popular stories were about smaller animals outsmarting larger
ones and about their homeland back in Africa.