LESSON 2 THE CULTURES OF WEST AFRICA

Bellringer: What is one pillar of Islam?

Diversity

What is diversity?

What kind of diversity exists in America?

Open books to page 69

Read first paragraph on page 69

Cultural Diversity

Cultural Diversity of West Africa 17 countries Hundreds of

ethnic groups Lots of different

languages and cultural diversity Not united by one

religion like Northern Africa

Languages

Languages Neighboring

villages speak different languages

Many people are multilingual speaking 4-5 languages

Making a Living

Making a Living Rural = cash crops Sahara = herding Cities = hospitals and offices

Strong Kinship

Strong Kinship Kinship; family relations

Nuclear family; parents and children

Extending = other family members

Many West African families live with their extended family Work together and take care

of each other Collective decisions

“It takes a village to raise a child”; strong sense of community

Lineages and Clans

Lineages and Clans Lineage; a groups of families who trace

their descendents back to a common ancestor

Clan; several lineages Can trace lineage through mother

(matrilineal) or through the father (patrilineal) Sometimes a man comes and lives with the

wife’s clan Usually a woman moves with the husband

though Most clans are patrilineal

Changes

Changes Traditional life is

changing Urbanization Young men head off to

the cities for work Preserving tradition

through story-tellingGriot; story teller Oral tradition Family stories, fables,

proverbs

Culture Spreads

Culture Spreads Most

slaves came from Western Africa

Brought culture to US

West African Cultural Influence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVk22fjN6AE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JtD_YpyXYU

EXIT CARD

Answer in packet How are West African family dynamics

different from our family dynamics?

Your Family

Make family tree

Label nuclear and extended