STANDARDS:

SS7G4 Analyze the diverse cultural characteristics of the people who live in Africa. a. Explain the differences between an

ethnic group and a religious group. b. Describe the diversity of religions within

African ethnic groups.

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African

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Arab, Ashanti, Bantu, & Swahili

• This is a group of people who share a common belief system.

• A religious group is identified based on mutual religious beliefs and practices.

• They believe in the same god (or gods) and have a common sacred text with a specific set of rules about how to live.

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• Religious groups have many things in common:• God(s), prophets, prayers, history,

sacred text, religious laws, holy days, etc.

• People from different ethnic groups may share the same religion; however, they may be from different cultures.

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• Many Africans practice traditional religions that have been passed down for generations.

• Traditional religions are part of everyday life in Africa.

• These beliefs influence foods Africans eat, clothes they wear, how they marry, treat illness, bury their dead, etc.

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• There are spiritual leaders, kinds of priests or pastors in most traditional African religions. This person is essential in the spiritual and religious survival of the community. In the Zulu culture there are mystics or sangomas that are responsible for healing and 'divining' - a kind of fortune telling and counseling. These traditional healers have to be called by ancestors. They undergo strict training and learn many skills, including how to use herbs for healing and other, more mystical skills, like the finding of a hidden object without knowing where it is.

• Ancestor worship and belief is an extension of a belief in and respect for elders. Followers of traditional African religion believe that ancestors maintain a spiritual connection with their living relatives.

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• In some places, these beliefs have been integrated into Islamic or Christian practices, but in other areas they are still celebrated as their own unique religion. These traditional African religious traditions are most commonly found in the savanna regions, but even here, Christianity and Islam still dominate.

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• Following the conquest of North Africa by Muslim Arabs in the 7th century CE, Islam spread throughout West Africa via merchants, traders, scholars, and missionaries, that is largely through peaceful means whereby African rulers either tolerated the religion or converted to it themselves. In this way, Islam spread across and around the Sahara Desert. In addition, the religion arrived in East Africa when Arab traders crossed the Red Sea and, in a second wave, settled along the Swahili Coast.

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Long before colonialism and slavery, Africans were practicing Christianity. “We know that Christianity has had a long history in Africa itself, pre-dating any kind of European influence,” Mamiya says.Christianity reportedly arrived in North Africa in the latter part of 1st century AD/early part of the 2nd, while “the adoption of Christianity in Ethiopia dates to the fourth-century,” according to findings by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Bible also documents the conversion of an Ethiopian eunuch as the early church was forming. Likewise, Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta mentions Christians in Nubia (an area that covers present-day northern Sudan and southern Egypt) in his 14th century travelogue. But when Europeans penetrated Sub-Saharan Africa in the 16th Century, ultimately mining the region for Africans to enslave, the historical narrative shifts which is perhaps why many associate the religion most with Europeans to this day.

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• Most Africans today are either Muslim or Christian.

• Arabs from Southwest Asia brought Islam to Northern Africa around 700 CE.• They converted many Africans and Islam

slowly spread throughout Northern Africa over time.

• Christianity first came to Africa in the middle of the first century.• Since then, missionaries have continued to

spread their beliefs across sub-Saharan Africa.

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• This is a group of people who share common cultural characteristics.

• They are identified on the basis of religion, race, or national origin.

• Ethnic groups can have many things in common:• Shared history, common ancestry,

language, religion, traditions, beliefs, holidays, food, etc.

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• These characteristics have been part of their community for generations.

• All of these things make up a common culture that is shared by the members of the ethnic group.

• There are more than 3,000 ethnic groups in Africa, but some of the main ones are the Arabs, Ashanti, Bantu, and Swahili.

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Ethnic Groups in

Africa

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• Most of Africa’s Arab population is found in the countries of Northern Africa.

• While the majority of Arabs are in North Africa, the gold and salt trade spread the Arab culture beyond the Sahara into the Sahel region and beyond.

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• Arab people began to spread into North Africa in the late 600s, when the first Muslim armies arrived in Egypt.

• Arab armies, traders, and scholars soon spread across northern Africa all the way to Morocco.

• Wherever the Arabs went, they took Islam and the Arabic language with them.

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• Arabic was necessary to be able to read the Quran, Islam’s holy book.

• The Arabic language, the religion of Islam, and many other aspects of Muslim culture became part of Africa.

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• Most Arabs practice Islam, while small numbers of Arabs practice other religions.• Not all Arabs are Muslims, and not all Muslims

are Arabs.

• Islam consists mostly of two different groups.

• The majority of Muslims practice Sunni Islam, and most others practice Shi’a Islam.• Sunnis and Shi’a disagree about who is in

charge of the Muslim world.

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The mosque in Djenne, Mali is the oldest mud brick building in the world.

• Sunni Islam dominates in most Arab areas, especially in North Africa.

• Shi’a Islam is dominant among the Arab population in most of Southwest Asia.

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• The term “Arab” refers to an ethnic group made up of people who speak the Arabic language.

• Most Arabs, whether they are Muslim or Christian, speak Arabic.

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Arab Girls’ School in Egypt

• The majority of Arab people are found in Southwest Asia and northern Africa.

• The language of the Arab people is Arabic.

• Most Arabs, but not all, practice Islam.

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• Prior to European colonization, the Ashanti people developed a large and influential empire in West Africa.

• Today, they live predominately in Ghana and Ivory Coast.

• The total Ashanti population is over 7 million.

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• In 1701, a meeting of all the clan chiefs in the region was held.

• In this meeting, it was said that a Golden Stool was produced from the heavens by a priest and landed on the lap of Osei Tutu, the first king.

• The Golden Stool was declared to be the symbol of the new Ashanti kingdom.

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Golden Stool of the Ashanti (Replica)

• The Golden Stool is sacred to the Ashanti, as it is believed that the kingdom will last as long as it remains in the hands of the Ashanti king.

• The Golden Stool is an Ashanti legend and has only been seen by the tribe's royalty.

• Only the king and trusted advisers know the hiding place of the stool.

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Bells are attached to the side to warn the king of impending danger.

• Ashanti religion is a mixture of supernatural and animist powers.

• Animism is the belief that plants, animals, and trees have souls.

• Ashanti believe in a supreme god who takes on various names depending upon the region of worship.

• They believe lower gods, like spirits, are on earth to assist humans.

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• The major dialect of the Ashanti language is called ‘Asante’, or ‘Twi’.

• It is spoken in and around Kumasi, the capital of the former Ashanti empire, and within the current sub-national Asante Kingdom in Ghana.

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• They live predominately in Ghana and Ivory Coast.

• Most speak Twi (or Asante).

• The Ashanti religion is a mixture of spiritual and supernatural powers. • They believe that plants, animals, and trees

have souls (animism).

• The Golden Stool legend is very important to Ashanti culture.

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• Bantu generally refers to nearly 600 ethnic groups in Africa who speak Bantu languages.

• The Bantu people are distributed throughout central and southern parts of the continent.

• Bantu make up about two-thirds of Africa’s population and cover the southern half of the continent.

• The word “bantu” means “the people”.

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• In Angola, archeologists have uncovered scratches on rock, massive stone pillars, and tools that place the Bantu people there about 50,000 BCE.

• From there, they evolved and spread eastward and southward.

• As they spread across the continent, they met many new people, learned new skills, and shared their customs and beliefs.

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• They intermarried with the people, accepting new traditions and blending them with Bantu culture.

• Bantu-speaking people settled as far south as the southern tip of Africa.

• The Bantu migration was one of the largest movements of people in Africa’s history.

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• Many Bantu people settled in areas where there was a strong Arab presence and are now Muslim.

• Other Bantu people were influenced by missionary efforts in Africa and are now Christian.

• Whether Muslim or Christian, many Bantu retain their beliefs that precede both those religions.• They believe in the power of curses and

magic.

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• There are over 650 different Bantu languages and dialects.

• Today, close to 70 million people across the southern half of Africa speak Bantu-based languages and share some part of Bantu culture.

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High School Classroom

• The Bantu people are found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.

• Bantu is a mixture of nearly 600 different ethnic groups combined.

• There are over 650 different Bantu languages and dialects.

• Bantu practice Islam, Christianity, & traditional African religions.

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• The Swahili people mostly inhabit a narrow strip of land along the southern coast of East Africa (in Kenya, Tanzania, & Mozambique).

• Members also live on several nearby islands in the Indian Ocean, including Zanzibar.

• The total population is 1,328,000.

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• The Swahili community developed along the coast of East Africa when Arab traders began to settle there and intermarry with the local Bantu-speaking population.

• The group’s name comes from the Arabic word “Swahili,” which means “one who lives on the coast”.

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• Islam established its presence in the region during the 9th century, when Arab traders made contact with the Bantu people.

• The Swahili are all Muslims and Islam has been one of the factors that helped create a common identity for such a diverse group of people.

• Since Islam is a way of life, and religious holidays are very important, the Arab culture is a vital part of Swahili culture.

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• The Swahili speak the Swahili language as their native tongue.

• While the Swahili language is considered a Bantu language, there are many Arabic words and phrases included as a result of interactions with early Arab traders.

• Many also speak English.

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Swahili Islamic School

• The Swahili people are found in eastern Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, & Mozambique).

• The language they speak is Swahili, which reflects Bantu and Arab roots.

• The majority practice Islam.

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TEACHER INFO: Africa’s Culture Foldable

• Print off the foldable for each student.• The students will cut the template out along the thick, outside

lines.• Next, they will cut along the thin lines that divide each word,

stopping at the gray rectangle.• They should attach the side of the template (gray rectangle) to

their notebooks.• They will now be able to open up each flap and write

information about the similarities and differences of ethnic and religious groups underneath.

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Ethnic Groups

Religious

Groups

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• Share a common culture• Identified based on religion, race, or

national origin• Things in common: history, ancestry,

language, religion, traditions, beliefs, holidays, food, etc.

• 4 major ethnic groups in SW Asia: Arabs, Ashanti, Bantu, Swahili

• Share a common belief system• Identified based on common religious

beliefs and practices• Believe in the same god (or gods),

common sacred text, have a specific set of rules to live by

• People from different ethnic groups may share the same religion;

however, they may be from different cultures

• 2 major religious groups in Africa: Muslims & Christians

TEACHER INFO: Ethnic Group Chart

• Print off the Ethnic Group graphic organizer for each student.

• Students will complete the graphic organizer after discussing the presentation. You can choose to let students work in pairs.

• Check answers as a class to be sure that all charts are completed correctly.

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Location Ancestry Language Memory Device

Arab

Ashanti

Bantu

Swahili

Directions: Complete the chart below after jigsaw discussion.Name:

TEACHER INFO: Ethnic Groups Map

• Print off the Ethnic Groups map for each student.

• Students should color the location of each ethnic group on the map of Africa. They will need to create a Map Key with the colors they chose.

• Check answers as a class to be sure that all maps are completed correctly.

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Directio

ns: Lo

cate and

colo

r the eth

nic gro

up

s of A

frica: Arab

, Ash

anti, B

antu

, and

Swah

ili on

the m

ap

of A

frica belo

w. B

e sure to

make a co

lor-co

ded

key for th

e map

.

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Arab

-yello

w

Ash

anti -

blu

e

Ban

tu -

red

Swah

ili -green

TEACHER INFO: 4 Perspectives Poetry

• Print off the Poetry Brainstorm handout for each student.

• You can have the students choose their ethnic group, or you can assign them one.

• Each student should complete the graphic organizer as if he/she is a member of the ethnic group. *This is the rough draft.

• Next, the student should write out the full poem on white paper.

• Finally, put the students in groups of 4—each ethnic group should be represented. They should cut out their poems and glue all 4 onto construction paper.

• *These make excellent hallway displays!

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Directio

ns::Im

agine th

at you

are a mem

ber o

f on

e of A

frica’s ethn

ic grou

ps (A

rab, A

shan

ti, Ban

tu, o

r Sw

ahili). C

om

plete th

e graph

ic organ

izer belo

w w

ith in

form

ation

relating to

you

r grou

p. Th

is is the

rou

gh d

raft. You

will n

eed

to rew

rite you

r po

em

on

a sheet o

f cop

y pap

er. If time, illu

strate you

r po

em

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I am (eth

nic gro

up

) ____________________

______

______

______

______

__

I believe _______________

______

______

______

______

______

______

____

I wo

nd

er________________

______

______

______

______

______

______

___

I see ____________________

______

______

______

______

______

______

__

I hear ________________

______

______

______

______

______

______

_____

I feel _________________

______

______

______

______

______

______

_____

I tou

ch ________________

______

______

______

______

______

______

_____

I am (eth

nic gro

up

) ____________________

______

______

______

______

__

I wo

rry abo

ut _______________

______

______

______

______

______

______

I cry becau

se __________________

______

______

______

______

______

___

I un

derstan

d ______________

______

______

______

______

______

______

_

I say __________________

______

______

______

______

______

______

____

I dream

___________________

______

______

______

______

______

______

I ho

pe ________________

______

______

______

______

______

______

_____

I am (eth

nic gro

up

) ____________________

______

______

______

______

__

TEACHER INFO: Comprehension Check

• Print off the Comprehension Check for each student.

• The students will complete this handout at the end of the lesson. You can count this as a quiz!

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1. W

hat is a co

mm

un

ity of p

eop

le sharin

g a com

mo

n cu

lture, an

cestry, cu

stom

s, and

langu

age kno

wn

as?Eth

nic gro

up

2. W

hat d

o m

emb

ers of a religio

us gro

up

have in

com

mo

n?

Share a b

elief in th

e same go

d3

. Wh

at are the tw

o m

ain religio

us gro

up

s in A

frica?M

uslim

& C

hristian

4. W

hat religio

n d

id A

rab trad

ers brin

g with

them

to A

frica?Islam5

. Mo

st African

langu

ages can b

e traced to

wh

ich eth

nic gro

up

?B

antu

6. W

here d

o m

ost A

shan

ti live?G

han

i and

Ivory C

oast (w

est Africa)

7. A

bo

ut h

ow

man

y peo

ple in

Africa to

day are p

art of th

e Ban

tu cu

lture?

Ab

ou

t 70

millio

n8

. Wh

ich eth

nic gro

up

has a sacred

“Go

lden

Stoo

l”?A

shan

ti9

. The m

ajority o

f the Sw

ahili p

eop

le practice w

hich

religion

?Islam1

0. Th

e Swah

ili langu

age has ties to

wh

at oth

er langu

ages?B

antu

and

Arab

ic

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rain W

rinkles

TEACHER INFO: TICKET OUT THE DOOR

• Print off the exit slip page for each student. (There are two-per-page.)

• Have students write 3-5 “clues” about one of the ethnic groups (but don’t write the group’s name).

• The next day, begin class by having students share their clues and have their peers guess the ethnic group. You can do this in partners, groups, or with the entire class.

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