Early African Societies

Early Africans travelled in

small hunter-gathering groups.

Each group had its own language, customs, and beliefs.

Some of these groups still exist today.

Hunting-Gathering Societies

The oldest male of the

group served as the leader. Although a leader, he is not

a chief, and individual families within the band make decisions.

They are not governed by formal written laws and instead rely on discussion and the wisdom of the elders.

Social Structure

The societies do not have a centralized

system of power. Instead, power is shared and balanced

between families of similar prestige and respect.

The eldest family member has the final say in all disputes.

Stateless Societies

Descent determines a

person’s inheritance (2 types)

Patrilineal where inheritance is passed from father to son. (Like in Europe)

Matillineal where inheritance comes from the mother’s side (Men however still hold the positions of authority)

Africa has both of these.

Family Descent

Age-Sets are groups

of people who were born during the same time period and in the same region.

Many African tribes emphasize these groups because they are going through the stages of life together.

Age-Set System

Few Early African

Societies had written languages.

Griots are story-tellers who are responsible for passing down the stories and history orally from generation to generation.

Griots and Story-Telling

Africa must wake up

The sleeping sons of JacobFor what tomorrow may bring

May a better day comeYesterday we were Kings

Can you tell me young onesWho are we today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfdAJxUXgYI

Africa Must Wake Up

The black oasisAncient Africa the sacred Awaken the sleeping giant

Science, Art is your creationI dreamt that we could visit Old KemetYour history is too complex and rigid

For some western criticsThey want the whole subject diminishedBut Africa's the origin of all the world's

religionsWe praised bridges that carried us over

The battle front of Sudanic soldiersThe task put before us

Chorus

Africa Must Wake Up

Who are we today?The slums,deceases, AIDSWe need all that to fade

We cannot be afraid So who are we today?

We are the morning afterThe make shift youth

The slave ship capturedOur Diaspora, is the final chapter

The ancetral lineage built pyramidsAmericas first immigrant

The Kings sons and daughters from Nile watersThe first architect, the first philosophers, astronomers

The first prophets and doctors was

Africa Must Wake Up

Now can we all prayEach in his own way

Teaching and LearningAnd we can work it outWe'll have a warm bed

We'll have some warm breadAnd shelter from the storm dread

And we can work it outMother Nature feeds allIn famine and drought

Tell those selfish in waysNot to share us out

What's a tree without rootLion without toothA lie without truthyou hear me out

Africa Must Wake Up

Africa must wake up

The sleeping sons of JacobFor what tomorrow may bring

May a better day comeYesterday we were Kings

Can you tell me young onesWho are we today

Ye lordAfrica must wake up

The sleeping sons of JacobFor what tomorrow may bring

May some more love comeYesterday we were KingsI'll tell you young blood

This world is yours today

Africa Must Wake Up

Oral Story Telling Activity

Islam and Africa

Founded by the Prophet

Muhammad who is believed to have received teachings from God through the angel Gabriel. (640 AD in Mecca)

Islam in a monotheistic religion.

People living in the Middle East really related to a prophet who was like them and related to their culture.

Founding of Islam

Beliefs and worship in Islam revolve what is called

the 5 Pillars. 1. Faith – to recognize there is one God and

Muhammad is his prophet. 2. Prayer – 5 times a day towards Mecca 3. Alms – Support the less fortunate 4. Fasting – During the Month of Ramadan to remind

them that spirit is more powerful than body 5. Pilgrimage: All must go to Mecca at least once on

their lifetime.

Beliefs of Islam

Two Major Sects: Sunni

and Shi’a Split over a dispute over

who should succeed Muhammad as political leader of the Muslim Community.

Today the majority of Muslims are Sunni

Split of Islam

Muslim Cities became

centers of learning and innovation in areas such as art, architecture, literature, math, and science.

Women have a limited role with men mainly in charge of all affairs.

Islamic Law became the law of the land in these nations.

Islamic Society

While stateless societies

existed south of the Sahara, North Africa was being conquered and ruled by Muslim leaders.

As these Muslim nations grew, more and more African leaders began to convert to Islam.

Muslim States

A group of Muslim

Scholars who created an Islamic Empire that controlled a large part of North Africa and Spain.

They also spread Islam to Spain and African Empires south of the Sahara.

The Almoravids

Group of Muslim Reformers who seized power from the Almoravids because they believed that the Almoravids were not following the teachings of Islam strict enough.

The Almohads

In groups of 3 you will read a little bit about the origins

of Islam. Pgs. 263 to 268 1. Divide the reading into three parts, one for each

person. 2. Read your part only and take notes summarizing the

key points. 3. You will then meet with people who read the same

part but are in other groups and you will share and refine what you wrote.

4. Finally you will come back to your original group and present your part of the reading to your group members as they take notes.

Islam Reading and Jigsaw

1. Deserts, Towns, and Trade Routes 2. The Prophet Muhammad 3. Beliefs and Practices of Islam

Suggested Split

Travels of Ibn Battuta