African Society
It is night in a West African village. The villagers gather around the fire to listen to the
storyteller. Tonight he tells the story of why bats live apart from other animals.
The storyteller tells of a time long ago when Bat's poor mother was very ill. Bat went to
Antelope for medicine, but Antelope sent him to Joba, the sun. Each day for six days, Bat
asked for help and each day Joba refused. On the seventh day, Bat's mother died. Bat asked
the animals to help bury his mother. They refused. They said that because Bat's mother has
wings, she is obviously a bird. Bat asked the birds for help, but they turned him away too. They
told Bat that since his mother has teeth, she cannot be a bird. In the end, Bat announced to the
beasts and the birds: "I am not a beast and not a bird. I will live by myself and never look on
you in the daylight, for none will claim me and Joba, the Sun, refused to help me."
Through stories of animals, birds, and insects, young people in Africa learn many
things. They learn about bats and how they live. More importantly, they learn to have respect
for their parents. Bat's devotion to his mother is an important part of the story. Respect for
one's parents is one of the most important values of traditional African society.
The Importance of Family
Many African proverbs speak about families. A proverb is a short saying that expresses
some well-known fact or common experience. One African proverb says: "A man without kin is
as good as dead." It suggests that a person's family is one of the most important things in life.
In the United States and other Western countries, when we think of family, we usually think
about our immediate family: mother, father, and children. This group is called a nuclear family.
In traditional African societies, the immediate family includes the nuclear family as well
as all uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents. This larger immediate family is called an
extended family. In the extended family system, aunts and uncles share with the parent’s
responsibility for rearing the children. Cousins are regarded almost like sisters and brothers.
Grandparents are respected and looked up to as "parents" of the whole family.
Clans, Tribes, and Nations
The family is the basic unit of African society. The family works together for the good of
everyone. But relationships in traditional Africa do not stop with the extended family.
Each person is also a member of another group called a clan. A clan is made up of
many extended families that live together in a village. A third group that Africans typically
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belong to is called a tribe. There are more than 800 tribes in Africa today. Some have as few
as 200 members, while others have more than 20 million. The tribe is made up of a collection
of clans. The clans in a tribe usually speak the same language and share the same customs.
Finally, an African is also a member of a group called a nation. An African nation is an
association of tribes.
Responsibilities
Each person in an African village has a job to do. In most cases, the father heads the
family and makes most of the family's decisions. The mother, sons, and daughters obey the
father, but they also perform tasks that are essential to the family and the village.
Anna Apoko is a member of the Acholi tribe, whose home is in northern Uganda. The
Acholi people are mostly farmers. In this traditional society, the men plant the seeds. The
women tend the fields and harvest the crops.
Like other African women, Acholi women work very hard. Several times a day, Anna
goes to the well to fetch the water her family needs. All the water for cooking and washing
must be carried from the well.
Anna also grinds grain into flour and bakes bread for her family. Acholi women, like
women in most traditional societies, prepare the meals and do all the cooking. They are also
responsible for keeping the home clean.
The most important job of women in traditional societies is feeding and caring for the
children. The ideal woman is one who marries and has many children. Girls learn their
responsibilities at a very young age. When Anna was in elementary school, she already had
many chores to do. She cared for her younger brothers and sisters and helped her mother
fetch water. Anna helped spread out peas and grains to dry. By age eight or nine, she could
help grind the grains and collect firewood.
Girls, like Anna, are usually much less free to do what they want than boys are. Mothers
and fathers warn their daughters to stay close to home and to obey. Even Anna's older brother
can tell her what to do.
Traditional Religious Beliefs
Like family, religion has always played an important role in African life. In areas where
life has not changed very much, people still practice traditional African religions. It is hard to
make generalizations about African religions because there are so many. But there are certain
beliefs that almost all African religions have in common.
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The first is the idea of God as Creator of the world. The second is the belief in lesser
gods who live in rivers, caves, forests, mountains, or even animals. Traditional Africans believe
the forces of nature such as lightning, thunder, and floods are controlled by these gods.
A third shared characteristic is the belief in ancestral spirits. Many traditional Africans
believe that even when people die, their spirits linger on. According to believers, these spirits
can punish the living if they forget to honor the dead.
Finally, followers of traditional African religions believe that certain people in the clan
have special powers. Some people believe the medicine man or woman has the power to heal.
Healers usually know a lot about herbs and fruits and use them to cure the sick.
Although many people in Africa still practice traditional religions, many Africans today
are either-Christians or Muslims. Christianity came to northeast Africa in about A.D. 300. It did
not come to the rest of Africa until Spanish and Portuguese explorers and missionaries arrived
in the 1400s and 1500s. Today, there are over 300 million Christians in Africa.
More than 278 million Africans are Muslims. Islam was introduced in North Africa during
the 600s and 700s. Traders brought the new religion across the Sahara. By the 1000s, most of
West Africa was controlled by Muslims.
Leadership in Traditional Africa
In many African states today, there is an elected head of state, usually a president. This
person has the formal power to govern. Most countries are democracies with elected
representatives who make the law. Nevertheless, traditional leadership still exists. Kings and
chiefs still hold considerable power. The new African governments are located in the capital
cities of the nation. In the rural areas, people tend to look toward their traditional chiefs for
leadership more than to the officials of the national government.
The Council of Elders
Almost every African village has a Council of Elders. The council is made up of older
people from different families of the clan. The Council of Elders shows that older people are
valued and respected in traditional African society. The 'elders are the wisest members of the
village. They solve most of the village's everyday problems. The council generally rules by
consensus. This means that council members discuss and debate an issue and reach a
decision together.
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Economic Patterns in Traditional Africa
Today, about 80 percent of all Africans live in villages. Some' make their living as craft
workers, but most farm or' raise livestock. A typical African village is built around a central
square. The square is the center of village activity. It is used as a meeting place. Important
business such as settling disputes and collecting taxes is conducted there.
The square is surrounded by small homes. The houses are built of materials that are
available locally. In some parts of Africa, houses are built of bricks made of sun-dried mud.
The roofs are often made of metal.
Larger villages have community facilities. For example, in drier regions there may be a
large tank to collect and store rainwater. There may also be a medical clinic. A few small shops
may also be found.
Surrounding the village are farmlands. The Wolof people of Senegal plant their crops in
three ring-shaped areas with the village in the center. The innermost circle contains vegetable
gardens and other small plots. The middle circle is used to grow peanuts. The outermost ring
contains fields for such grains as millet and sorghum. Millet and sorghum are often grown in
areas with limited amounts of rain.
In places, with wetter climates like Sierra Leone, rice is a major crop. Another crop
which can be found in wetter climates is cassava. Cassava is a little like a potato. Before it can
be eaten, it must be peeled and soaked in water. Then, it is pounded until it looks like a lump
of dough. It is eaten in place of bread or potatoes. You may be familiar with tapioca. Tapioca is
made from the cassava plant.
Subsistence Agriculture
The type of agriculture practiced in most areas of Africa is subsistence farming.
Subsistence farmers grow food on small farms for their own families use. If more food is
produced than is needed, the surplus may be traded or sold. In subsistence agriculture, tools
are usually simple hand tools like hoes. Machinery like tractors and combines (a machine that
helps farmers harvest grains) are too expensive and too large for traditional farms. In many
areas of Africa, subsistence farming is the village's main economic activity.
Livestock Herding
The traditional way of life for some people in Africa is not farming, but herding. The
Maasai people of Africa's Great Rift Valley are nomadic. They move from place to place in
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search of food for their cattle. The Maasai believe "you cannot be a Maasai unless you have
cattle."
The Maasai measure their wealth not by how much money they have, but by how many
animals they own. They depend on their cattle for survival. Milk is an important part of the
Maasai diet. They use the animal's hides in building their homes as well as for clothes. and for
mats to lie on
Many Maasai live in Kenya. The Kenyan government would like the Maasai to settle
down and become farmers. Most, however, prefer their traditional way of life and do not want
to change. The Maasai believe after God created the world, he gave the Maasai "all the cattle
upon the Earth." Many believe that it is a sin to "turn the land upside down" to plow it.
.
Of course, the Maasai are not Africa's only herders. In the desert regions of Africa,
people raise camels. In other parts of Africa, goats and sheep as well as cows are raised.
Village people usually have a pen to keep the animals from roaming at night.
The Village Market
From the smallest villages to the largest, the market plays a central role in the lives of
Africans. Most villages have markets every few days. They are usually held outside. People
buy, sell, and trade factory-made goods, food products, and livestock. Also for sale is art,
jewelry, cloth, and pottery. The market is also the traditional meeting place. People can
socialize and catch up on the news. It is a place where young people looking for marriage
partners can meet.
Thoroughly answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper.
1.
Compare and contrast the ideal woman in traditional African society with
the ideal woman in U.S. society.
2.
What kind of political structure does traditional Africa have? Is it effective?
3.
The Council of Elders rules by consensus. What do you think are some
advantages of ruling by consensus?
4.
How do the beliefs of the Maasai conflict with those of the Kenyan
government?
5.
Why are extended families in traditional African societies so important?
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The Changing Role of Women
The lives of many women in Africa, like the lives of women everywhere, are changing.
In Egypt, women make up 40 percent of the work force. Egypt has women doctors, scientists,
and teachers. In some African countries, women are well-represented in the government.
These women hardly fit the traditional image of African women. Allover Africa, but
especially in the cities, many women look and live very much like women in the United States..
Some women own their own homes. They dress in Western fashions. They drive cars. They
work at a variety of jobs. Some work in factories. Others work in such fields as photography,
electronics, dry cleaning, construction, and machine repair. A few own their own businesses.
The selling of food and other goods in Ghana is controlled and operated primarily by women.
This is in sharp contrast to rural Africa. Here the role of women has changed only a
little. In rural areas, women are considered a lifelong source of free labor. They walk miles
every day to gather firewood and water. They cook the food, clean the house, and wash the
clothes. Of course, they also bear arid raise the children. Africa has the highest birthrate in the
world. In some countries, the average woman has eight children.
As many countries shift from subsistence farming to cash-based economies, the men in
rural areas often take jobs far away from home. This has increased the burden on women.
According to the United Nations, women perform up to 75 percent of all the farm work in Africa.
Their average workday may be as long as 18 hours.
More Than One Wife
Many African societies practice polygamy. Under polygamy, a person may have two or
more spouses. In African cultures, as in many cultures that practice polygamy, it is the men
who take more than one wife. Since most families have incomes of less than $500 a year,
wives are very valuable. A family's economic survival may depend on the income of all of the
wives. In rural areas, a man and all of his wives may live within the same compound.
A wealthy man may have a farm in the country and a house in the city. He may then
have one wife who attends social functions with him while another wife takes care of the farm.
The editor of a magazine for Kenyan women tries to explain polygamy from a woman's point of
view. She says that some "women would rather marry a man who has some money and be
one of his wives than to be the only wife of a poor man. The poorer the man the less likely it is
that he will have more than one wife."
Despite the tradition of polygamy, more and more men are opting for just one wife. For
example, in Kenya, nearly two thirds of all married men have just one wife.
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The Role of Education
In many parts of Africa, especially in remote villages, education is still very traditional.
Children learn the skills they need to survive by watching their parents and other adults. Like
children everywhere, African children play "house" and "store." They learn by playing the roles
they will perform as adults.
During the age of imperialism, Europeans introduced Western-style education. At first
this kind of education was offered to only a few people. In 1960, when much of Africa gained
independence, only 9 percent of the people were literate, or able to read .and write. After
independence, many countries began literacy programs. They needed to train people to take
over the jobs in industry and government that had been filled by Europeans. The governments
built many schools, trained teachers, and developed job training programs for adults.
Today, education is still a high priority. More than half of all African children attend
primary - school. More high schools and universities are being built. In 1990, the literacy rate in
Africa was over 40 percent.
Parents often have to make great sacrifices to send just one child to school. They must
work hard to earn enough extra money to pay school fees. The lucky child who is chosen to
receive an education is usually a boy. As a result, nearly two thirds of the people in Africa who
cannot read or write are women.
Young Africans who attend school receive an education that stresses work-related
skills. African nations suffer from a shortage of skilled workers. This means that receiving an
education almost guarantees a good job.
Growing Cities
In most African countries people live mainly in villages. They depend on farming for a
living. It is a way of life that has not changed much in hundreds of years. Even today, 70
percent of African people live in rural areas. That way of life, however, is rapidly changing.
Thousands of Africans are flocking to the cities. This movement of people from the countryside
to the cities is called urbanization. In 1950, only two African cities had more than a million
people. Experts believe that by the year 2000, there will be 37 African cities with populations
over a million.
North Africa is the most urbanized part of Africa. In countries that border the
Mediterranean Sea, most people live in cities of 20,000 or more. West Central Africa is not as
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urbanized. For example, only 8 percent of Burkina Faso's people live in cities. Yet in Guinea,
nearly 60 percent live in urban areas. East Africa is the least urbanized part of Africa.
In most African countries, there is usually only one main city. It is the center of
government and the hub of transportation and communication. Often, it dominates the
economy because it is a major market as well as a manufacturing and financial center. Dakar,
the capital of Senegal, is a good example. Nearly 75 percent of Senegal's business people and
manufacturing workers work in Dakar. Over half the country's transportation and administrative
workers work there, as well. While only 16 percent of Senegal's people live in Dakar, the city
uses 95 percent of all the electricity in the country.
Why People Move to Cities
People move to cities for many economic and social reasons. One economic cause of
urbanization is the lack of opportunity in the countryside. In many rural areas, the farmlands
have been overused and are no longer productive. In addition, large families do not have
enough land to give to each child. Once children grow up, there is very little land for them to
farm.
Another economic cause of urbanization is the desire for money. In the villages, most
people raise all the food they require. If a person needs something his neighbor has, he would
trade goods or services for it. This system is known as bartering. Today, many young people
want electronic goods such as radios and televisions. Buying these goods requires money.
Cities offer the best hope of earning money.
There are also social reasons that explain why young Africans are streaming to the
cities. Some wish to break the strict bonds that traditional rural society places on them.
Farming in the village is hard work. There is little time for fun. City life, in contrast, seems to be
exciting. Cities offer amusements like movies and sporting events that are not available in rural
villages.
The Effects of Urbanization
The movement of people off the land has had some serious effects on African countries.
Generally, food production has declined. In Africa, having fewer farmers generally means less
food. In the early 1990s, nearly 150 million Africans in 22 countries faced hunger and
malnutrition. The situation is getting worse. In 1970, sub-Saharan Africa produced nearly all
the food it needed. Today, the same region has to import nearly 20 percent of the grain it
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needs. However, urbanization is only one reason for the shortage of food. Disease, civil war,
and drought are other reasons.
Another effect of urbanization is high unemployment. The lure of the city is strongest for
young men. Unfortunately, there are not enough jobs for all of them. Many African countries
have a high male unemployment rate. People who are unable to find jobs often become
desperate. Some turn to alcohol and crime.
Urbanization also puts a great strain on family life. To provide for their families, men
often seek jobs in the cities. Long periods go by before family members see each other again.
As a result, women often have to learn to support themselves. Children grow up without
fathers. Strong family ties are broken.
Tradition is often lost as people move to cities. Children who are born and raised in
cities live very differently from those who grow up in traditional villages. City dwellers have little
regard for the authority of their elders. They lose contact with their family's ancestral home.
On the other hand, the movement to the cities has, had one positive effect. As more and
more people move to urban areas, they come in contact with people of different clans and
races. In this way, they learn about the customs and beliefs of other people. This has
sometimes helped to lessen tribal conflicts.
Much of Africa in the late 1990s has become more westernized. If you were to travel to
most African capitals today, you would find tall buildings, big department stores, and heavy
automobile traffic. African city dwellers are concerned with many of the same things we are.
They worry about their jobs, and -they work hard to try to buy a home or a car. They are very
concerned about their children's education. At night, they may sit down to watch television, just
as westerners do.
Thoroughly answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper.
1. What are the roles and responsibilities of women in traditional African
families?
2. How do most traditional Africans earn their living? Would this support an
allegiance to their tribe or nation?
3. Why are more Africans moving to the cities and what effect will this have on
Africa?
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4. Define:
a. Subsistence farming
b. Urbanization
c. Bartering
d. Literate
5. In the 1960’s, when most African nations gained their independence, only
about 9% of population could read and write. Why might European nations
NOT want an educated African population before (and even after) granting
the nations independence?
6. Using evidence from the readings. Would the loyalty of most Africans lie
with the National Government or their tribe?
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