religious/ethnic groups of africa
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Religious/Ethnic Groups of Africa. Mr. Barrett 7 th SS. Overview. Most Africans are either Muslim or Christian. About 15% of Africans participate a traditional religion and worship sky gods or other spirits and ancestors. Missionaries. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Religious/Ethnic Groups of Africa
Mr. Barrett
7th SS
Overview
Most Africans are either Muslim or Christian.
About 15% of Africans participate a traditional religion and worship sky gods or other spirits and ancestors
Missionaries
Missionaries began spreading Islam and Christianity into Africa at their beginnings.
Christianity= 100 AD Islam=700 AD
Ethnic Groups
There are several thousand ethnic groups in Africa.
While each group has its own distinct history, art and religious customs, the groups have influenced each other.
Main groups are: Arabs, Ashanti, Bantu and Swahili
Arabs
Most northern Africans are Arab and practice Islam
They migrated to Africa from Arabia
Ashanti
Major ethnic group living in central Ghana in western Africa.
Their religion is a mixture of supernatural and spiritual powers
They believe that plants, animals and trees have souls
The family and the mother’s clan are most important
They live as an extended family in home or huts set up around a courtyard
Ashanti Weaving
Bantu Culture and Religion
50,000 BC is the earliest signs of Bantu culture in what is present day Cameroon
Today the Bantu are in countries from the equator to southern Africa
About 60 million modern day Africans can trace their language back to those Bantu of long ago
Apx 400 African languages have Bantu roots
Swahili Culture and Religion
The Swahili are all Muslims living in a narrow strip of land from the north coast of Kenya to the capital of Tanzania
Arab culture is a vital part of Swahili culture
The Swahili language reflects Bantu and Arab roots