The African diaspora refers to populations around the world descended from Africans who were dispersed via the slave trade. The slave trade caused millions of Africans to be taken against their will to places like North and South America and the Caribbean. This forced dispersion of Africans resulted in the establishment of African cultures outside of Africa and changed the cultures and ethnic makeup of places that received enslaved Africans. Today, studying the cultures of the African diaspora provides insight into how African traditions were maintained or adapted in new environments over generations.
1. Poverty in Africa Essay example
African nations regularly fall to the bottom of any list measuring economic activity, such as per
capita income or per capita GDP, despite a wealth of natural resources. The bottom 25 spots of the
United Nations (UN) quality of life index are regularly filled by African nations. In 2006, 34 of the
50 nations on the UN list of least developed countries are in Africa. In many nations, the per capita
income is often less than $200 U.S. per year, with the vast majority of the population living on much
less. In addition, Africa's share of income has been consistently dropping over the past century by
any measure. In 1820, the average European worker earned about three times what the average
African did. Now, the average European earns twenty...show more content...
On each of these occasions, my only thoughts have been that God did not destine poverty, wars and
suffering for Africans, else Africa would not have been richly blessed with abundant natural and
human resources.
As much as there are very genuine disadvantages hampering our progress economically like:
?Overpopulation, this is so with any society that largely depends on agriculture, African families are
often very large. Most of the elderly rely on their children for support, and as much agriculture in
Africa is labor–intensive, large numbers of children provide much needed labor for plowing,
planting and harvesting. However, overpopulation is a serious problem in urban areas, which have
grown enormously since the beginnings of African independence in the in the late 1950s and later.
For example, in 1960, 14.5% of Nigeria's population lived in urban areas, that number had grown to
43% by 2000, and is growing at an estimated 5.5% per year, compared to a 2.9% national population
growth rate. This is a trend that can be seen throughout the continent.
?Misused Money, Over $500 billion (U.S.) has been sent to African nations in the form of direct aid.
The consensus is that the money has had little long term effect. In addition, most African nations
have borrowed substantial sums of money. However, a large percentage of the money was either
been invested in weapons (money that was spent back in developed nations and
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
2. Essay On African American Education
Throughout history, African American weren't considered the smartest race on earth. With slavery
and being for bided to ever touch or learn to read a book, African American became the race that
envy having an education. Education became a prime factor in the African American culture. Having
an education to an African is having the one–way ticket out of the terrible streets. They believe that
if they don't know nothing they won't get nothing. In other word, if they aren't educated their life
would remain the same. Way back toslavery, African American would be beaten if they were to
open a book and dare to read it instead of cleaning it. For many years, African American had to
fought for the right to a proper education. From Havin to walk long walks to attend black only
school to being able to...show more content...
In each year from 1998 through 2000 there was a 1%–point decline in the graduation rate for black
men. But for the past 4 years the graduation rate for black men increase by a 1% point and now
stand at a 35%. This year the college graduation rate for black women rose by one percentage point
to 46%. With many years of hard work African American thrive for a better education ignoring the
statistic that states that 9.6% of African American would drop out of high school. African American
prove that they can achieve and will achieve. In America, we are told that it is the land where
everything and anything is possible. For many years, it wasn't like that for African American. With
many hard work, strength, and courage African American manage to earn the right to an education.
To the African American community education became more of a need than a want. We've learn
that education is such a powerful asset that with it you are unstoppable. You can do so much if you
put your time and energy to it. Having an education to African American is the one hope for a
brighter and better
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
3. African Cultures Essay
African Cultures
Africa has more than 800 languages native to its continent. African cultures are so diverse that they
are different from any other culture of the world. African cultures contain many different languages.
African languages range from common French to languages unheard of to most people such as
Swahili. African arts are much different than American arts. Their art involves much more creative
pottery, masks, and paintings. Africa has a very interesting culture. Reasons being the people are
very creative and like to express their individuality. The most diverse cultures in the world belong to
Africa.
There are more than 800 languages spoken in the continent of Africa. Most Africans speak two or
three languages, their...show more content...
The most common languages in South Africa are Xhosa, Tswana, Zulu, and Swahili (African
Languages).
Zulu is one of nine Bantu languages spoken in East Southern Africa. Approximately 8.8 million
people speak this language (African Languages).
Swahili is spoken as a mother language vast along the coast of East Africa. It is the national
language of Tanzania and the official language of Kenya (African Languages). It is also the official
in German East Africa (Reader 265). Approximately 50 million people speak this language (African
Languages).
Art is very important to the Africans. In fact it is part of their everyday life (Fetzer 106). South
African artists are active in many areas of art including sculpture, pottery, mask making, and
many more (African Arts Information). Like African paintings, poetry, and woodcarvings,
sculptures tell a tale and immortalize cultures and beliefs. Different artists have different styles
(African Arts Information). Materials and styles differ from village to village. Most sculptors
use green wood, copper, tin, zinc alloys, bronze, ivory, or terra cotta, a kind of earth ware. Most
sculpture figures are believed to contain ancestor's spirits. Others represent sacred ideas or events
(Fetzer 106). Some objects are said to be magical and believed to have magical powers (African
Arts). Africans carve figures, make masks, and decorate articles for ceremonies (Fetzer 106).
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
4. African Myths
Another myth is where all Africans are assumed to be black. To be African is to be black. And that
Africans are not culturally diverse. Africans share an in essence a unified culture. This myth is
false because the mainstream of Africans has a dark skin color, which in the US, would be
categorized as black. Africans come in a wide variation of skin colors and physical types that many
Africans find important among themselves. Africans range from an almost dark blue–black skin
color to a very light skin color that would pass in the US as socially white. Some immigrants to
Africa are ancient immigrants like Persians and Arabs among the Swahili of east Africa, Arabs in
north Africa, or Indonesians among the Malagasy.
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
5. The Importance Of African Identity In Africa
Throughout history, Africa has seen an extensive amount of change and many others passing
through. But what has always maintained is that of the African identity in the diversity of the people
and the variation they have. This paper explores upon that particular identity using John Parker's and
Richard Rathbone's African History A Very Short Introduction in which the history ofAfrica is
summarized. The paper itself argues on what Africans themselves find to be the most important
forms of identity being cultural, religious, and political. Examples of how Africans hold these forms
of identity at such value could be seen throughout their history from the pre– colonial, colonial, and
post–colonial times of Africa. Africa itself before the oncoming ofcolonialism had already been
holding many different kingdoms with differing backgrounds of origin. And with these differing
origins comes different ideas, values and most importantly cultures. In earlier times, Africans, trying
to form their own identity, showed to have held significant importance in one's culture. It was at this
point of history that oral tradition was held in great ideal in many areas of Africa to hold one
community's history and their beliefs. This old form of representing the culture of their land shows
how much value the people hold in that culture. What is being told in those stories maybe more
mythological than factual but its mythological elements are what highlights the aesthetics of that
certain part of
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
6. Women In Africa Essay
Women in Africa
Timothy Veneylo November 26, 1995 History 387
In many parts of Africa, there is a large discrepancy in who controlled the resources, access to the
economy, individual autonomy and central voice in the government between the men and the
women. African men, for the most part, have the largest say in the activities of the country. When
issues of concern arise, "men's issues" usually became the issues of national concern,
and those issues pertinent to women go to the back of everyone's mind. Women are forced to accept
the results of men's actions, and usually nothing gets accomplished that benefits them. Because
women continually were overlooked, they began to come together and...show more content...
The first year was rather non–violent for two reasons:
"It needed the shock of the first payment for people to realize what taxation meant in
practical terms" and the second reason was the large police presence and prosecutions of
opponents to the tax (Afigbo, 233). These two factors allowed for a relatively peaceful tax collection.
However, when year two arrived, so did the resistance. In September
1929, Captain John Cook was sent to Bende as the Acting District Officer, where he was
disappointed with the male roll counts. He instructed his Warrant Chiefs to conduct new counts, and
"added that the exercise had nothing to do with a tax on women" (Afigbo, 236). The
mere mention of "women" and "tax" in the same statement sparked
immediate disapproval. Rumors began to fly that the government had ordered a tax on women.
Suddenly, the women reacted and agreed to resist by the end of October, 1929.
Captain Cook did not want to conduct the count himself, so he sent a mission school teacher to
administer the count. When he arrived he asked a woman whom he met outside to go and count
"'her people'" (Afigbo, 237). Within hours, women in mass numbers had gathered to
discuss the tax, and went from there to the mission teacher's home to ask them why they were being
taxed. The women equated being counting with taxation. "They also sent messengers 'armed'
with
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
7. Ethnic Diversity In Africa
Almost 75% of all Africans are black, yet Africa is one of the most diverse continent in the world.
The amount of Melanin a person determines skin color, yet people use this to define a person. With a
continent that has so much history, people still assume everyone in the continent have the same
color skin. Africa has a wide range of ethnicities and colors due to the different regions of Africa, the
Indigenous Africans, and the immigrants in Africa. Although Africa has a majority of dark
–skinned
people, Africa has the largest range of ethnic diversity in the world.
Commencing with Africa's many diverse regions, is the most effective way to illustrate Africa's
range of ethnicity. For Instance, Egyptians, Libyans, and Moroccans are a part of North Africa, and
are considered white. This is because Egyptians, Libyans, and Moroccans were confused with a
blonde haired, blue–eyed Swede, having lighter skin tones and straighter hair (Diamond). As clearly
executed, these white people who live in Africa prove that not all Africans are black. In another case,
South Africa, called "rainbow nation," is known for their wide range of diversity. More specifically,
in Southern Africa Cape, Coloureds is the name given to an ethnic group composed primarily of
persons of mixed race, including one of the lighter races in Africa (Nurock). If South Africa is
known for its diversity, it should hardly be considered that all Africans are black. To put in another
way, tribes and regions that are closer to the equator have darker skin than those farther from the
equator, having more melanin than others. In this instance, East Africa is closest to the equator and
houses the darker tribes, whereas North Africa has lighter skinned Africans, including the lightest
African ethnic group, Bebers (O'Neil). As elucidated, It is unjust to call all Africans black, when
there are clearly different ethnicities and races all throughout the large continent of Africa.
Africa's diversity can also be illustrated by the indigenous Africans, or the Africans who originated on
this Continent. To elaborate, the Africa encountered by the first European explorers in the fifteenth
century had already been home to five human races: blacks, whites, Pygmies,
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
8. Essay on Africa
Europe tried to take many countries, Africa being one of them. The European countries had an
effect on Africa today throughout all the primes. Europe had an effect on the African way of life,
that in some ways were good, and in some ways bad.
Imperialism is defined as the extension or rule or influence by one government, nation, or society
over the political, economic, or cultural life of another. European nations decided they wanted land
in the mostly unexplored continent, and they took it, without the consent of the African people.
Europe brought Christian ideas into Africa. Religion was changed from what it would have been to
Christianity today. If you look at most of the countries in Africa such as Angola, Congo, Ghana or
Zimbabwe...show more content...
European Imperialist Policies made Africa lose history of their culture and brought racism to Africa.
Europeans wanted to change Africans to be more like them, changing their religion, changing their
life style and making them slaves. Slavery led to the loss of culture because after a while Africans
began to think of themselves as lower class; since that's what they were treated like. The Westernized
minority, influenced by European culture and Christianity, first rejected African traditional culture.
Slavery lead to people hating Africa, Africans and the African culture. Which leads to the Africa
culture and traditions being diminished. Why would anyone want to practice a certain religion or
traditions if they were labeled as wrong, or unethical.
Traditionally, the majority of Africans have been farmers and herders who raised crops and
livestock. When Europeans started colonizing they demanded agricultural and mineral products.
Safer technology and ways of farming were learned and brought to Africa. European technology and
crops were introduced and a modern exchange economy started. The technology was starting to
grow, there were new machines and easier ways to do things Africans never thought of.
Africa today has changed a lot from European countries and the imperialist policies. The Europeans
tore into the African continent and succeeded in destroying the Africanway of life. Thousands of
people were
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
9. The dynamic natural environment and abundant wildlife are the most prominent features of the
African continent. Due to its wide variety of biomes ranging from tropical forests to arid deserts,
Africa consists of bountiful wildlife diversity. However, because of environmentally harmful human
interactions, the variety of biomes is shrinking to all–time lows, which causes wildlife to die out.
These detrimental human interactions, particularly livestock overgrazing and desertification, occur
partly because the native people who depend on the land for daily life do not realize the potential
benefits of wildlife and the unsustainability of their current ways. Poaching for horns and other
valuable animal parts has also contributed to the...show more content...
Herding allowed people to extract previously unobtainable nutrients from their environment. Since
humans could not directly digest the grasses that existed in the savannas, the only way for them to
take in the nutrients was to use cattle, which are capable of grazing or consuming grass, to convert it
into edible forms. By consuming the milk and meat that the cattle produced the people were able to
fully exploit the resources available. This pastoralist lifestyle was symbiotic with the agriculturalist
lifestyle because the two communities traded goods with each other to maintain healthy diets.
Therefore, many civilizations, like Mapungubwe in southern Africa, depended on the mutual
relationship between humans and domestic animals to survive. This system was widely accepted
due to its effectiveness and eventually became ingrained in African social and economic life.
However, because of the rapid increase in population in Africa over the last several centuries has
led to severe overgrazing, which occurs when the grass doesn't have sufficient time to recover before
being consumed. This has led to desertification, one of the major causes of the decrease in African
wildlife populations. (Child Physical Environment, 2013)
Desertification is a process that degrades the natural environment to an unproductive state that cannot
support the native wildlife communities. More specifically, desertification involves land degradation
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
10. African Diaspora Essay
African Diaspora The study of cultures in the African Diaspora is relatively young. Slavery and the
trans–Atlantic slave trade brought numerous
Africans, under forced and brutal conditions, to the New World. Of particular interest to many recent
historians and Africanists is the extent to which Africans were able to transfer, retain, modify or
transform their cultures under the conditions of their new environments. Three main schools of
thought have emerged in scholarly discussion and research on this topic. Some argue that there are
no significant connections between Africans and African American communities in the Americas.
Others argue that Africans retained significant aspects of their cultures. Similar to this...show more
content...
He contends these arguments stating that opportunities existed for viable communities to be formed,
that there were prospects for passing on "changing cultural heritage to a new generation through
training of offspring" and that there existed opportunities for Africans to associate with themselves
(153).
Thornton finds much more evidence for cultural transformation than cultural "transplantation." He
notes the tendency of researchers to focus on specific "Africanisms" rather than the cultural totality
and stresses the fact that "cultures change through constant interaction with other cultures..." (209,
207).
I agree with Thornton's analysis. As stated in a passage from our paper:
It would be naГЇve to think that after being enslaved and transported across the sea to a foreign
continent African slaves were able to physically transplant their cultures in this new environment.
It would be equally naГЇve to believe no elements of African culture made their way to this region...
Africans were interacting with
Europeans and other Africans of different ethnic groups, adapting to the realities of their new
environments and transforming elements of both old and new into their own African–American
culture. (Bright &
Broderick 10).
Evidence exists that shows Africans were allowed enough associational time to form
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
11. Feminism In African Feminism
According to Naomi Nkealah who considers diverse streams of African feminisms as something
which strive to create a new, liberal, productive and self–reliant African woman within the
heterogeneous cultures of Africa. Feminisms in Africa, ultimately, aim at modifying culture as it
affects women in different societies. Thus taking the multifarious nature of African experience into
consideration, African Feminisms explore the possibilities of embracing the magnitude of their
collective experiences. Assorted patterns of feminisms, that deviate from the conceptual equations of
(western) feminism and construed after indigenous models emerged in African backdrop– such as
Womanism, Stiwanism, Nego–feminism, Motherism, Femalism and Snail–sense feminism. Being
indigenous blueprints these variegated modes were attempts to demarcate African female at the
centre of entire contentions and to explore in the cultural chronicles for material to initiate further
elaboration. For Adichie the label 'feminist' is not something derogatory but an umbrella where every
woman should find shelter in. Adichie's pronouncements are completely against the preconceived
notions on gender are not meaningful but (universally) arbitrary. In "We All Shall Be Feminists"
she says: But that is not what this conversation is about. Gender and class are different. Poor men
still have the privileges of being men, even if they do not have the privileges of being wealthy. I
learned a lot about systems of
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
12. The African Queen Essays
THE AFRICAN QUEEN Short Summary: "The African Queen" is the tale of two
companions with different personalities who develop an untrustworthy love affair as they travel
together downriver in Africa around the start of World War I. They struggle against the climate,
the river, the bugs, the Germans and, most of all, against each other. In the course of much
misery, they develop love and respect for each other. Detailed Summary: In September 1914, the
German occupying forces hold East Africa. The story starts in a small village that is overlorded by
a stuffy British missionary, Reverent Samuel Sayer and his spinster, prudish sister Rose Sayer, who
is utterly devoted to her brother. Rose is also very naive and pious. She...show more content...
In front of the lake, the Germans occupy a fort at Shona. And all along the way there are many
rapids. Rose, who is now resolute and strong–willed, wants to strike back against the Germans. She
plans to destroy the German warship by using the explosives that are still on board of the
"African Queen". At first, Charlie doesn't want to support that patriotic plan. Rose
tries to change his views by accusing him permanently of not helping their country. That shows
effects and Charlie agrees to her plan. They start their travel down to the river. At first they are
polite and tolerant to each other. After Charlie has drunk his gin, he suggests that they each could
take a bath in the river. During the night, a rain storm soacks Charlie, who must sleep on the open
deck, while Rose sleeps on the lower deck. After they passed a series of dangerous rapids, Charlie
expects that Rose will think over her plan, but it turns out that this was not correct. On the
contrary: Rose wishes more dangerous rapids because she wants to learn how to steer the
"African Queen". She is developing a kind of love for the "African
Queen". After some drinks Charlie reneges on his promise to destroy the German warship.
He says that it is an absurd idea because the fort at Shona has sharpshooters and snipers, which
they have to pass during the day. Rose accuses him of being a liar and a coward. Charlie gets
nervous and begins to sing. He takes one
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
13. African Indigenous Religions Essay
Introduction
African traditional religions were the first recorded religions to grace the plains and coasts of
Southern Africa and possibly even the world. The earliest group of people living in Southern
Africa has been named the San people. It was thought that San etchings and implements found in
caves dated back to between 10 000 and 20 000 years ago (Deacon, 1999). However in 2008 the
oldest art to date was found in a cave in Still Bay in Cape Town, called the 'Blombos' cave. It was
named by Christopher Henshilwood and dates back to 77,000 years (Wits, 2014). This rock art is
the earliest depiction of religious experience and belief.
A later group of indigenous people that existed in Southern Africa were the 'Bantu Speaking
Farmers'....show more content...
The San are polytheistic. They believe in one supreme god, "who lives in the Eastern sky and one
lesser god who lives in the western sky" (UNISA, 2010:138). They believe that this supreme god had
instituted at world order, thus working the soil is seen to be contrary to that order. The most
important god is a trickster god called 'Kaggen' who offers wisdom, plays tricks and plays tricks. He
is believed to come in many different guises, from an Eland (the most revered animal for the San), to
a snake or a bird, but he could also live as a San man. Traditionally a boy had to kill an Eland before
he could be considered a man.
The San had many phenomenological beliefs; they believed that their faith and offerings through
song and dance could affect the will of the gods. They often performed Trance dances to bring rain
and depicted these experiences by painting them on cave walls (Deacon, 1999).
Rock Art
This incredible art is found throughout Southern Africa in caves and rocky out crops which were
believed to hold power. The figures illustrate trance states, men in forward or backward bending
motions to show the discomfort that taking on supernatural powers brought . Who were the Bantu
speaking farmers and what did they believe?
Bantu Speaking farmers moved down toward Southern Africa bringing their herds of life stock and
settling most notably in KwaZulu Natal (UNISA, 2014). The two
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
14. Essay about The Culture of African Cuisine
The forest not only hides man's enemies but it's full of man's medicine, healing power and food.
~African Proverb.
Africa is a continent that is rich and diverse in terms of culture and traditions. The continent is also
considered to be the agricultural hub in the world. Due to this, most of African culture is ultimately
intertwined with the foodstuffs that the land has to offer. In general, most of the inhabitants of Africa
live within the rural areas and rely on subsistent farming to meet their day to day food needs. Fast
food restaurants and supermarkets where processed and packaged food is sold are usually frowned
upon and considered a waste of money and resources (AIG, 2011).
CHARACTERISTICS OF AFRICAN FOOD
African foods are...show more content...
Beans, cassava, groundnuts, maize, tomatoes and sweet potatoes thus were introduced to Africa as a
direct cause of the European exploring of the American continent. Asian seasonings like pepper,
cinnamon, clove, curry and nutmeg were introduced as well. More often than not, the ingredients
used to prepare an African dish are fresh, very cheap and easily used to make a quick meal.
Common vegetables include kale, spinach, cabbage, tomatoes, beans, potatoes, avocados and
other leafy greens, while beef and goat meat are the common meats served in an African meal.
Fish, chicken, and mutton are also available but are more expensive (AIG, 2011). Meat is often
used merely as one of a number of flavorings, rather than as a main ingredient in cooking. Tropical
fruits such as mangoes, oranges, pineapples, bananas, papaws, and pears are cheap, plentiful and
popular among the people of Africa, because they are not available all year round and are dictated
by seasons. Other ingredients used in typical dishes include rice, corn meal or maize, wheat and
millet flour.
Yams, plantains, green bananas and cassava are the essential staples in Africa. These vegetables
are grown and used all over the continent, either on their own or combined with others. Cassava is
an important source of dietary carbohydrates in the tropical and subtropical areas of the world, with
its roots providing food for over 500 million
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
15. China in Africa Essay
news from the Nordic Africa Institute from the Nordic Africa Institute numBer 3 novemBer 2007
from the contents
china and Africa
Fantu Cheru
theme: AfricAn Agriculture Agriculture and the World Bank
Atakilte Beyene
Property rights
Kjell Havnevik
Tor A. Benjaminsen & Espen Sjaastad
inequality and climate change
contents to our reAders AfricAn Agriculture
1 3
november 2007
Carin Norberg
African agriculture and the World Bank: development or impoverishment?
Atakilte Beyene
5 8
Property rights formalisation in Africa
Tor A. Benjaminsen & Espen Sjaastad
the relationship between inequality and climate change
Kjell Havnevik
commentAries intervieW
11 14
decoding the evolving china–Africa...show more content...
16. In our interview section we present one interview with Martha Qorro, professor in English language,
on the question about the language of instruction in Tanzania. She is of the opinion that the best way
to teach English is not to use it as the language of instruction. She also responds to the question why
the question of language of instruction has become such a sensitive political issue in Tanzania. In
our second interview Jerome Verdier, chairman of the Liberia Truth and Reconciliation Commission,
points to the fact that the TRC's part of the conflict resolution is nothing new. Liberia has a history
of resolving community conflicts at the round table. But in the past there were no prolonged
conflicts, such as the recent 4 year period of massive human rights violation. In the research section
we present the result of a conference which took place at NAI, Uppsala, in September 2007 regarding
the ongoing discussions between EU and the ACP countries on Economic Partnership Agreements.
The discussion at the conference highlighted the lack of connection between the poverty alleviation
goal and the reality of the negotiations, despite numerous political declarations on both the EU and
ACP sides. Key decisions on EPAs will soon be made by EU and ACP ministers. The Africa Europe
Group of Interdisciplinary Studies, AEGIS, of which NAI is an active member, is presented through
three contributions.
Photo by Susanne Linderos
News from the Nordic
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
17. South Africa Essay
South Africa is a nation with a wonderful and varied culture. This country has been called "The
Rainbow Nation", a name that reflects the diversity of such amazing place. The different ethnic and
cultural groups of the South Africa do, however, appreciate their own beliefs and customs. Many of
these traditions, besides African culture, are influenced by European and Western heritage. The
complex and diverse population of the country has made a strong impact to the various cultures.
There are forty–five million people; about thirty million are black, five million white, three million
coloured and one million Indians. The black population has a large number of rural people living in
poverty. It is among these inhabitants that cultural...show more content...
Many black musicians who sang in Afrikaans and English during the apartheid period began to
sing in traditional African dialects developing a singular style called Kwaito. This is a music
genre that became the favorite way of representing social and economic issues. I believe that in
certain way, Kwaito is a political power that shows activism in its apolitical actions. In the other
hand white and coloured South African singers were strongly influenced by European music.
African Indigenous Churches were the largest of the Christian groups during the apartheid period.
It is argued that many of the people who claimed no relation with any religion were part of
indigenous religions. This is a religion that combines Christian and indigenous influences. Many
South African Muslims are described as Coloureds, especially those whose ancestors were slaves.
Others are described as Indians including those whose ancestors came as traders from South Asia.
Religion plays such an important fact in South Africa giving an special taste to the culture.
The culture during the apartheid time is still powerful in much of South Africa countryside. For
example, across the many ethnic groups, marriage traditions are different, but all the beliefs are
based in a masculine deity, ancestral spirits and supernatural forces. Usually, plural marriages are
permitted and a lobolo (dowry) is usually paid. Cattles play an important part in many of
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
18. africa Essay example
African Cultures
Africa has more than 800 languages native to its continent. African cultures are so diverse that they
are different from any other culture of the world. African cultures contain many different languages.
African languages range from common French to languages unheard of to most people such as
Swahili. African arts are much different than American arts. Their art involves much more creative
pottery, masks, and paintings. Africa has a very interesting culture. Reasons being the people are
very creative and like to express their individuality. The most diverse cultures in the world belong to
Africa.
There are more than 800 languages spoken in the continent of Africa. Most Africans speak two or
...show more content...
It is the national language of Tanzania and the official language of Kenya (African Languages). It is
also the official in German East Africa (Reader 265). Approximately 50 million people speak this
language (African Languages).
Art is very important to the Africans. In fact it is part of their everyday life (Fetzer 106). South
African artists are active in many areas of art including sculpture, pottery, mask making, and many
more (African Arts Information).
Like African paintings, poetry, and woodcarvings, sculptures tell a tale and immortalize cultures
and beliefs. Different artists have different styles (African Arts Information). Materials and styles
differ from village to village. Most sculptors use green wood, copper, tin, zinc alloys, bronze, ivory,
or terra cotta, a kind of earth ware. Most sculpture figures are believed to contain ancestor's
spirits. Others represent sacred ideas or events (Fetzer 106). Some objects are said to be magical and
believed to have magical powers (African Arts). Africans carve figures, make masks, and decorate
articles for ceremonies (Fetzer 106).
Masks were created to be placed over the face, on the top of the head, or even over the head. Most
masks represent spirits of ancestors (Fetzer 106). Some villages make masks with full costumes and
use them with music to dance in ritual performances. They used masks for social control,
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
19. African Art Essay
African Art African Art does not have specific date to which it evolved because most early African
Art was carved in wood, which perished quickly. This is why most art dates from the 19th and early
20th century. Many 20th century artists admired and collected pieces of African Art. They enjoyed
the bold color, expression, and form that produced a new beginning in art history.African Art was
mostly dedicated to life affirming activities such as healing, pleasure, protection, and transformation.
The first African Art that made a sustained impact on Europe occurred with the bronze casing and
ivory seized in 1897 by the British Royal Army. It was then that African Art began to become in
demand, and seen by all areas of the world....show more content...
African masks were to establish a different identity for the wearer in order to amuse, teach, or
sacrifice. A great example of an Africanmask is Bayaka Mask. This mask is used for a form of rite.
When a boy reaches puberty he is circumcised. After this is done, the boy is removed from the
village for one year of seclusion from women. During this time, the boy is taught to hunt and
protect by fellow men from the village. To end the one year confinement, a ceremony is held when
the boy and his teachers return in the Bayaka Masks. Sculptures are another form of African Art
that is very important to its history. Sculptures came in a variety of shapes and sizes. They were
often made of wood, metal, cloth, or clay. These sculptures served as personal protection figures,
symbols for supernatural powers, and representation of ancestors. Most sculptures were made to
represent the human body, but some cultures never carve human faces so it resembled any
individual in fear of accusations of witch craft. A great example of one such sculpture is Cango
and Zaire. This sculpture is of a women breast feeding her child. The face of the two people is
elongated, as well as the breasts of the mother. This is common to all African Art because they
wanted representation of what is being expressed. In this particular sculpture, a supernatural power
is being called upon. The power has been asked to protect the mother and child, and to
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
20. Visit To South Africa Essay
Visit Africa: Discover Southeast
There is something magical in cities like Paris, New York or Rome, and there's a reason why many
of us dream to visit them at least once in our lifetime. Charm, history and culture of these attractive
destinations are inviting us to travel there and to explore them. On the other hand, be sure that in
these destinations you are going to meet a large number of tourists, full hotel capacities and
overwhelming crowds in the city. So, maybe it is the right time to choose something different,
maybe it is time to discover Southeast Africa.
South African Republic
When we think about region of South Africa, this is the first destination that comes to our mind.
South Africa is visually breathtaking. It is a land of vast plains, mountains, golden beaches and
barren deserts. Cities of South Africa are as diverse as its landscape is. Johannesburg is bustling
heart of the country; a cosmopolitan Cape Town is an enclave of European chic at the Atlantic coast.
...show more content...
African elephants, white and black rhinos, giraffes, hippos, different kinds of antelope, leopards are
just some of many animal species that you will find there.
Mozambique
Although neighboring South Africa has a much more developed tourism, Mozambique is home to
beautiful long beaches, beautiful culture, and safaris. In coastal areas, the water is turquoise with
the rich underwater world, so it is a great place for divers and nature lovers.
In Tofo Beach you can find amazing beaches and many opportunities for diving. Vilanculos is
another great option and one of the best places that you can visit if you want to enjoy the numerous
water sports. From here you can access the beautiful Bazaruto archipelago paradise that has remained
intact and has retained its original appearance.
Once you get tired of the beach, you can visit Gorongosa National Park to enjoy the true African
Get more content on HelpWriting.net
21. African Diaspora Essay
In simple terms, the Diaspora as a concept, describes groups of people who currently live or reside
outside the original homelands. We will approach the Diaspora from the lenses of migration; that the
migration of people through out of the African continent has different points of origin, different
patterns and results in different identity formations. Yet, all of these patterns of dispersion and
germination/ assimilation represent formations of the Diaspora. My paper will focus on the
complexities of the question of whether or not Africans in the Diaspora should return to Africa. This
will be focused through the lenses of the different phases in the Diaspora. The historical Diaspora
confirms...show more content...
According to (Harris 2001), "the importance of the historical Diaspora was that Africans like other
people have traveled abroad as free people, settled down and made important contributions to many
Europeans and Asian countries." The Historical Diaspora was mainly the dispersion of Africans in
the world and their settlements. They maintained a consciousness of Africa and their Identity while
adapting and making positive contributions to their adopted homelands. This made them create an
identity of who they want to be because in the historical Diaspora there was "free fluidity" and that
enabled them to do whatever they wanted for that reason there was no constraints. Prior to when
the Europeans conducted slave trade, Arabs conducted a slave trade across the Mediterranean Sea
and Red Sea taking Africans to Arabia, India and the Far East. Due to this Arabian slave trade, in
our present day, several discrete communities of African descent can be found in cities, towns and
regions of Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and India. The great dispersion of Africans however did not occur
until the European Exploration in the fifteenth century that "led to the greatest Expersion of Africans
in the world and in history." The well–known "Slave Coast" of West Africa was the area where most
Africans were captured and sent to Europe and America to be sold and enslaved. Most of the slaves
worked
Get more content on HelpWriting.net