African Culture

African Culture

African Culture

Family groups made up villages. A lineage group was everyone in the family: parents, children, grandparents, cousins, and more. They took care of each other. They farmed and raised animals. Everyone helped care for the children. Each family had their own home. Each village was ruled by a chief or a group of older men. The chief was not rich.

Multiple Choice

Who ruled the village?

• President

• chief or group of older men

• Women

• Storytellers, called griots, told the history of the people. Language was not written. We know about the African ways of life from stories written by visitors.

Multiple Choice

How do we know about the African ways of life?

• Books

• Newspapers

• stories written by visitors

• Later, kings ruled areas. Kings helped the people, and the people paid taxes to the kings. Men hunted and riased cattle. Women worked in the fields and cared for the young children. Men ranked higher than women, but women could own property. Africans had slaves. Slaves were people who broke the law or were captured in war.

Multiple Choice

What did men do?

• worked in the fields

• took care of children

• hunted and raised cattle

Religion did not have strict laws. Most Africans believed in one main god. Many gods or spirits were in charge of daily life. Dancing and singing with masks and drums were ways to make the gods happy. People believed in life after death. Ancestors are family members who were dead. Ancestors talked to the gods to get help for the living people. Later, Christianity and Islam became important religions.

Multiple Choice

Who was in charge of daily life?

• Kings

• Gods or spirits

• Priests