Gallopade Chapter 11 - West Africa

Village chiefs are...

• people who help settle disputes

• elected leaders who help oversee a village

Council of Elders are...

• people who help settle disputes

• elected leaders who help oversee a village

Lesser gods and divinities in West African culture represent

• forces of nature - rain, water, fire

• ancestors

• demons

• family

Select TWO that describe a Shaman.

• Shaman do not believe in spirits

• Shaman was a priest-like elder

• Shaman was the bishop of the African Christian church

• they believed a shaman could communicate with spirits

These descriptions are of:

1. Belief that deceased are nearby.

2. Food offerings to loved ones.

3. Carved statues in a special spot.

• ancestor worship

• story telling

• animism

• funeral ceremony

What is animism?

• Belief that gods infuence lives of people

• Belief that spirits - in animals and plants, help the living

• a religion where humans worship animals

• a religion where humans worship spirits

In West African culture, who might cause someone to become ill or sick?

• Their ancestors

• the shamans

• the spirits

• another family member

Select the THREE statements that are correct about Griots.

• Griots use the oral word to tell history.

• Most griots are male.

• Griots communicate with spirits.

• Griots learn how to play a muscial instrument.

What does this proverb show?

“When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground.”

—African proverb

• Griots are sources of information like libraries

• libraries are common in Africa

• all libraries and griots die

• griots worship large libraries

What did griots do to contribute to strong relationships with other villages?

• They helped promote trade and commerce.

• They helped villages share stories with one another.

• They heloped griots in other villages learn their craft.

• They served as diplomats and ambassadors. (Met other village griots)