West African Culture
Culture is what a particular society believes in and the way of life they lead. It is deeply defined by what a society believes in for example their traditions, customs and religion as well as other defining factors. “A people’s culture can be seen in the food they eat, the kind of clothes they wear, their music, dance, values (what is acceptable to them as a people) and to some extent, their perception of life. (Saka)”
West Africa’s culture and history starts from nearly fifteen thousand years ago. The first people to come to the area were from East Africa. They migrated over because they needed to expand their hunting and gathering areas. They were then later on joined by cattle ranchers from North Africa who needed
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This is also why the area has suffered through so many wars and other conflicts—because all of the different ethnic groups that have moved into the surrounding areas. The most common group of people that you will find in West Africa are the Africans that come mainly from the Sub-Saharan area. They make up the majority of the population and are the ones whom have been there longest. Within this group are many different tribes, therefore many different cultures and religions. Over the years the Europeans have brought their own culture and religion to the area as the colonized Africa. (Atlas West- …show more content…
“Storytelling is when a male or female, also known as griots, use music to pass on tales about ancient ancestors, military battles, or events. These stories usually carry some kind of moral, theme, or value with the intention to teach the listener. Religion, marital morals and theological observances are often a big part in the stories, which can be sung at village gatherings or important events.” (Suds)
The music that is native to West Africa is called Afrobeat. “This style of music combines drums, chanted vocals and jazz instruments to create polyrhythmic arrangements. This genre of music is enjoyed at casual get-togethers, clubs and marriage ceremonials. Mbalax is another African style of music that is most prevalent in the nations of Senegal and Gambia. Mbalax involves the use of electric guitars, high-pitched voices and drum beats that form a rock and pop sound
In summary, Davidson successful traces Africa’s earliest origins and demonstrates that this is a civilization far from having no arts, technology, sophistication and unique culture. Culture and civilization as we know it today can be traced back to Africa, and modern science has verified the early perceptions of Europeans to be wrong. He provides more than adequate evidence of Africa having a history complete with vast and rich civilization, including archaeological finds and specialized interviews with distinguished scholars and philosophers. Despite the fact that society possesses a more positive attitude towards African civilization today in terms of recognition, equality, and acceptance than in the past, negative stereotypes are still acknowledged and modern day racism unfortunately exists. I believe that the existence of Davidson’s work and videos such as Different but Equal are crucial to challenging these stereotypes and discrimination in order to create a more accurate image of Africa and its history. Overall, Davidson proves that the continent of Africa is home to a history that is just as meaningful, comprehensive, and progressive as that of any other civilization in the
Woods, K (2008), ‘The Art of the Benin: Changing Relations between Europe and Africa I: The Art of the Benin’, in Brown, R (ed.), Cultural Encounters (AA100 Book3), Milton Keynes, The Open University, pp.4-16
Africa has an incredibly rich and complex history. Unfortunately, and for a variety of reasons, the west has a highly skewed and inaccurate perspective of Africa. In his “Myths About Africa, Africans, and African History: The Student’s ‘Ten Commandments’” Pier Larson critiques some of these perspectives and discusses where these western ideas of Africa come from. While these myths certainly are false, it is still interesting to see them and ponder why they exist and what that, in turn, reflects on western society. These reflections are very negative and limits western society’s perspective and ability to relate and identify with what is a vast and diverse continent.
Brief History From the 1500s to the 1700s, African blacks, mainly from the area of West Africa (today's Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Dahomey, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Gabon) were shipped as slaves to North America, Brazil, and the West Indies. For them, local and tribal differences, and even varying cultural backgrounds, soon melded into one common concern: the suffering they all endured. Music, songs, and dances as well as traditional food, helped not only to uplift them but also quite unintentionally added immeasurably to the culture around them. In the approximately 300 years that blacks have made their homes in North America, the West Indies, and Brazil, their highly honed art of the cuisine so treasured and carefully transmitted to their daughters has become part of the great culinary classics of these lands. But seldom are the African blacks given that recognition.
Western attitudes to African people and culture have always affected how their art was appreciated and this has also coloured the response to the art from Benin. Over time, concepts of ‘Race’, defined as a distinct group with a common lineage, and ‘Primitive’ which pertains to the beginning or origin,, have been inextricably linked with the perception of Africa. The confusion of the two in the minds of people at the end of the 19th century, and some of the 20th, caused a sense of superiority amongst the ‘White Races’ that affected every aspect of their interaction with ‘the Black’. The ‘Civilisation’ of Africa by conquest and force is justified by these views.
Trupin, James E. West Africa - A Background Book from Ancient Kingdoms to Modern Times, Parent's Magazine Press. New York, 1991.
...’s depictions of both traditional and modern beliefs in varying degrees illustrate the importance of both in contemporary Nigerian culture, as well as the greater Africa as a whole, and how both are intertwined and cannot exist without the other. In effect, she skillfully subverts stereotypes or single perceptions of Africa as backward and traditional, proving instead, the multifaceted culture of Africa. She further illustrates that neither traditional African nor western culture is necessarily detrimental. It is the stark contrast of the fundamental cultures that inevitably leads to clashes and disagreements. In the end, what holds African countries such as Nigeria together is their shared pride. Modern, western influences can bring positive changes to society, but new cultures cannot completely eradicate the foundational cultures to which a society is founded on.
Before Imperialism, African’s lived very differently. Their education, towns, styles, and religion were unique to their own civilization. Education was based on things like finding food and serving their community (working). The towns were not large and fancy, but small and rickety. There were not paved roads, but dirt paths at best. The styles of the African people depended on the tribe, usually consisting of crafted jewelry, body paintings, and animal skins for clothing. Religion was also very different, depending on a specific tribe. Skwirk.com states that “There are many
The culture of Africa is impacted by the way that the West had total ignorance of sub-Saharan Africa. The West was unaware of sub-Saharan Africa because of the geographical, political, religious and economic differences. Africa is isolated geographically where early communication would have been a problem, but the West was still ignorant as of relatively recent times.
What is culture, one might ask? According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, culture is the “customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group or the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life} shared by people in a place or time” (Culture). Five major characteristics that define a culture include culture is learned, culture is shared, culture is symbolic, culture is all-encompassing, and culture is integrated. Culture depends on the human capacity for cultural learning that encompasses shared rules for conduct and that are dependent upon symbols. Cultures can be integrated by using “social and economic forces, core values, and key symbols” (Mirror for Humanity, 2002). This essay will elaborate on the physical geography and military history of Sub-Saharan Africa, an analysis of its weather, and an overview of the ASCOPE acronym.
Dance was also a big part in the music of West Africa. Dance was performed at ceremonies surrounding fertility, death, worship, adulthood, and other kind of certain concerns of the village.
Africa is the place where you would think that it is all about animals,farming,and very hot climates. Actually Africa is a very interesting and historic place. It has many regions, two of them are North and West Africa. Even though West Africa is a little smaller than North Africa. West Africa is still an amazing place to visit on an vacation. In North and West Africa there are many differences and comparisons of each other such as:the climate,the rivers,the major physical features,and the history.
There is no doubt that European colonialism has left a grave impact on Africa. Many of Africa’s current and recent issues can trace their roots back to the poor decisions made during the European colonial era. Some good has resulted however, like modern medicine, education, and infrastructure. Africa’s history and culture have also been transformed. It will take many years for the scars left by colonization to fade, but some things may never truly disappear. The fate of the continent may be unclear, but its past provides us with information on why the present is the way it is.
Africa is home to a great and thriving art culture. Until recently, African art hasn’t had enough attention, due to scholars’ and art collectors’ emphasis on traditional art, while being part of the most diverse legacies on Earth. Although some people consider African art ‘traditional’, the art actually consists of hundreds of different people groups, cultures, and civilizations. The artwork favors abstraction rather than naturalistic representation because the artwork represents objects or ideas rather than depict them.
Culture is the totality of learned, socially transmitted customs, knowledge, material objects and behavior. It includes the ideas, value, customs and artifacts of a group of people (Schaefer, 2002). Culture is a pattern of human activities and the symbols that give these activities significance. It is what people eat, how they dress, beliefs they hold and activities they engage in. It is the totality of the way of life evolved by a people in their attempts to meet the challenges of living in their environment, which gives order and meaning to their social, political, economic, aesthetic and religious norms and modes of organization thus distinguishing people from their neighbors.