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 GETTING TO
KNOW AFRICA!
 AFRICA-contains an
enormous wealth of
mineral resources,
including some of the
world’s largest reserves
of fossil fuels, metallic
ores, and gems and
precious metals.
African folklore tales about
animal tricksters often
describe how helpless
creatures manage to outwit
fierce animals
African Culture

There is a Xhosa proverb that is common to

all African cultures and language, “Umuntu
Ngumuntu ngabantu” (“ A person is a person
through person”)

Language - Arabic, Swahili and Hausa the most

prominent language spoken.
Some interesting African Cultures

To protect their skin from the sun, the Himba

people of Northern Namibia cover themselves
with a mixture of red soil and milk fat, and so
they appear to have reddish skin. They also
use wood ash for cleansing the hair because
water is scarce.
African Art
African arts and crafts include sculpture,
weaving, breading, painting, pottery, jewellery,
headgear and dress.
Masks are usually a representation of religious
and spiritual beliefs. They are used for
traditional ceremonies to honour deities of
ancestors.
Clothing

The type of clothing worn across Africa

varies from to north to south, and by
religious beliefs and traditional customs.
Some cultures wear colourful attire, while
others wear less colour but include shiny
threads in there dressing with minimal
jewellery.
African Food
Most cuisines include fruit, grain, vegetables, milk and
meat products.

Music of Africa
Traditional music in South Africa usually involves
drums and singing, and such instruments as the thumb
piano accompanied by rattles made from some dried
fruit or vegetable with seeds inside.
5 taboos across Africa that
modernism failed to take
away.
Consummating with relatives
Having sex with one’s relative is a taboo
considered as the worst form of sin in most
of African communities.

Disrespecting the elderly

One of the core fabrics of African
customs is “RESPECT” hence,
disrespecting an elder is considered
misgivings to the young person.
Family and staying in-laws
Relating to one’s in-laws or marriage
relatives. For instance, it is un acceptable for a
father-in-law to visit while the husband is not
around.

Pot breaking- accidental or intentional

This object made of clay and considered as
the uterus of women which have to be handled
with care.
5. Food taboo
consumption of some fruits is
strongly discouraged for women
during pregnancy. In some Central
African countries , eating off eggs is
forbidden for children.
 ABOUT THE
AUTHOR

Gabriel Imomotimi Gbaingbain Okara- Nigerian

poet (born on April 21, 1921, Burmodi,
Nigeria__died March 25, 2019, Yenagoa Nigeria)
A largely self-educated man, became a bookbinder
after leaving school and soon began writing
plays and features for radio.
1953 his poem “The of the River Nun” won an
award at the Nigerian festival of Arts
By 1960 he was recognized as an accomplished
literary craftsman.
Notable works:
The voice
The Fisherman’s Invocation
Gabriel Okara- the first significant English-language
black African poet, the first African poet to write in
a modern style and the first Nigerian writer who
joined the editorial staff of the influential literary
journal Black Orpheus.
 Once upon a time

Once upon a time, son,

They used to laugh with their hearts
An with laughed with their eyes:
But now they only laugh with their teeth,
While their ice-block-cold eyes
Search behind my shadow.
There was a time indeed
They used to shake hands with their hearts:
but that’s gone, son
Now they shake hands without hearts
while their left hands search
my empty pockets.

‘Feel at home!’Come again’:

they say, and when I come again and feel
at home, once, twice
there will be no thrice-
for then I find doors shut on me
So I have learned many thing, son.
I have learned to wear many faces
Like dresses-homeface,
officeface , streetface, hostface,cocktailface,
with all their conforming smiles
Like a fixed portrait smile

‘And I have learned too

To laugh with only my teeth
and shake hands without my heart
I have also learned to say, goodbye,
When I mean ‘good-riddance’: to say ‘Glad to meet
you’,
without being glad; and to say ‘it’s been
nice talking to you’, after being bored.

But believe me, son.

I want to be what I used to be
when I was like you. I want
to unlearn all these muting things.
Most of all, I want to relearn
How to laugh, for my laugh in the mirror
Most of all, I want to relearn
How to laugh, for my laugh in the mirror
Shows only my teeth like a snake’s bare fangs!

So show me, son.

how to laugh and smile
Once upon a time when I was like you.
• jb

1. What is the mood of the poem?

2. What are the possible poetic devices
used by the author in the poem?
3. Give your own theme of the poem?
4. Who is the author of the poem Once
upon a time?(the real name)
5. How did the colonizing of Britain
culture affects to the African culture
now?