LECTURE NOTES 3.3 AFRICAN SOCIETY AND

CULTURE

LECTURE NOTES 3.3 AFRICAN SOCIETY AND

CULTURE

I. LIFE IN MEDIEVAL AFRICAI. LIFE IN MEDIEVAL AFRICA1. Africans often lived with

extended families of many generations.

2. Many African villages are matrilineal, tracing ancestors through the mother.

3. Children were highly valued. 4. Education was responsibility

of the village. Griots (storytellers) passed on oral history, usually about life lessons.

5. Some women were rulers and soldiers. Dahia al-Kahina was a queen who fought against a Muslim invasion in Northwestern Africa. Queen Nzinga in the Congo battled Portuguese slave traders for nearly 40 years.

II. SlaveryII. Slavery

II. SlaveryII. Slavery1. Slavery existed in Africa before arrival of the

Europeans. Families could stay together, and slaves could get freedom.

2. The slave trade grew as trade with Muslim merchants increased. Muslims were not allowed to enslave other Muslims.

3. Then, Europeans armed with guns arrived.

4. The Portuguese brought enslaved Africans to Europe, the Atlantic islands, and the Americas as farmers and laborers. They farmed cotton, rice, sugarcane and tobacco.

'Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, cannot long retain it. ' - April 6, 1859 - Abraham Lincoln, U.S. President

III. African CultureIII. African Culture1. The African Diaspora

is the spreading of African people and culture throughout the world by enslaved Africans.

2. African art included cave paintings, masks, and ivory or bronze statues.

3. Weavers wove colorful cloth (kente)

African

Proverbs

5. Africans believed dance allowed spirits to express themselves.

6. Enslaved Africans used music to remind them of their homeland, express hardship and religious faith, and hopes for freedom.

7. Griots told stories, history, fables, and proverbs (wise sayings).