West african culture pdf

West africa is one of the most intriguing gatherings of cultures on the planet. Death rituals and the mourning practices of africans are varied because of the existence of so many religious and cultural practices. The supreme god, the sky gods, the mother earth, and other divinities. While insisting that western civilisation and culture has precariously contaminated the traditional values of africa, the paper contends that africa.

The heavy pot, hanging in front of him, made hi s ascent almost impossible. African traditional religions in some parts of africa, have had an elaborate pantheon of divinities. The united nations defines western africa as the 16 countries of benin, burkina faso, cape verde, the gambia, ghana, guinea, guineabissau, ivory coast, liberia, mali, mauritania, niger, nigeria, senegal, sierra leone and togo, as well as the united kingdom overseas territory of saint helena, ascension and tristan da cunha. West africa is west of an imagined northsouth axis lying close to 10 east longitude, bordered by the atlantic ocean and sahara desert. African culture 16 most interesting traditions africa facts. These differences can be noted for the most part in peoples behavior and attitudes. Located at the cutting edge of new scholarship on the social, cultural, economic, and political history of west africa, jwah fills a representational gap by providing a forum for. Traditional african cultural practices paved the way for foreign way of doing things as africans became fully westernised. Africa has been late in joining the rest of the world in the indigenous movement. Pdf this chapter examines africaneuropean interaction in historical perspective, placing emphasis on variation in the contact setting and the. May 24, 2016 the african culture of communal living, lack of awareness of advance care directives, fear of death and grief, physician lack of initiative, and the african belief system are potential barriers to the utilization of advance care directives in the african setting. West african literature was part of an oral tradition that passed from generation to generation.

As a traveller, understanding even a little about the complicated issues that west africans deal with on a daily basis the role of traditional culture in modern life, the position of women in society and the. Overall the polygamy in africa is a very common practice that you are going to find all over africa, but it tends to be more popular especially in the west african countries. God, divinities and spirits in african traditional religious ontology rev. These ideas helps also in the preservation of african cultural values. Their efforts compelled the united nations to launch action to safeguard indigenous peoples rights in 1982 with the advent of the.

The concept of god, divinities and spirits in african traditional religious ontology has been so misunderstood by many scholars to the point of seeing africans as people who did not know the supreme being nor worship him. The region may be divided into several broad physiographic regions. In discussing african culture and values, we are not. African food a regionally diverse, globally inspired cuisine. West african drums are made of hollowedout logs or pieces of wood. Traditions, clothing, art, food, tattoos africa is a continent made up of 54 independent countries as well as a rich mixture of cultures, native people, history, and economy. History economic community of west african statesecowas. The differences between east and west in terms of culture. But west african literature was also a folk art that expressed the views of the common people. Pdf culture contact and change in west africa researchgate. Culture, tradition, custom, law and gender equality mj maluleke culture is like an umbrella under which some people like to hide from rain, and also to shade themselves from the sun. African cultural concept of death and the idea of advance.

Ghana, west africa and signs of progress in the greater accra region. It was the persecuted, oppressed, and sometimesdestroyed nations on the american continent that forced the the socalled modern world to recognize the rights of indigenous peoples. With africa subjugated and dominated, the western culture and european mode of civilisation began to thrive and outgrow african cultural heritage. The atlantic ocean forms the western and southern borders of the west african region. Senegals capital dakar, with its african sophistication and role as regional air hub, serves both as a starting point and a base for the first part of your journey. God, divinities and spirits in african traditional religious. West africa tours including ghana, togo, benin africa. Nok culture 1 nok culture for the water spirits, see nokke. In this lesson, students will explore the role of oral traditions in the african culture. As a traveller, understanding even a little about the complicated issues that west africans deal with on a daily basis the role of traditional culture in modern life, the position of women in society and the complicated mosaic of multicultural relationships, for. Parrinder 1975, in his book west african religion, discusses the beings under four headings.

The northern portion of western africa is composed of a broad band of semiarid terrain, called the western sudan, stretching from the atlantic ocean on the west to the area of lake chad on the east, a distance of about 2,500 miles 4,000 km. The social and cultural aspects of mental health in. Everywhere the basic family unit is the elementary or nuclear family, a small domestic group made up of a husband, his wife, and their children. From the precolonial to the modern day toyin falola and tyler fleming department of history, university of texas at austin, usa. As a traveller, understanding even a little about the complicated issues that west africans deal with on a daily basis the role of traditional culture in modern life, the position of women in society and the complicated mosaic of multicultural relationships, for example can go a long way towards gaining a. Some people especially africans, who have not fully experienced the indigenous culture believe that to be too culturally aware makes one backward and or ancient. West african english as said in the article which uses words like chop to mean eat and dash is not actually what it is. The journal of west african historys logo, together we can move mountains and attain great heights was designed by nigerian artist jane c.

African american presbyterians and originally intended to celebrate 175 years of their ministry in the united states. The history of west africa at a glance cultures of west. May 23, 20 african society has undergone profound changes surrounding various aspects underlining its understanding of traditional life, in particular family life. Aug 11, 2016 4 what public misconceptions about african cuisines are you finding. We shall try to illustrate that african culture and values can be appraised from. The social and cultural aspects of mental health in african societies. Moreover, the centrality of the place of values in african culture as a heritage that is passed down from one generation to another, will be highlighted. For some of the most unique and traditional cultures still intact today, west africa is a must see and do. There, he thought, wisdom would indeed be beyond the reach of every one but himself. As conventionally understood, however, west africa is primarily a political and economic designation and comprises all the areas considered. African cuisines particularly west african have influenced the food of the americas since the slave trade. The highly developed society flourished on the jos plateau, overlooking the confluence of the niger and.

French expansionism in west africa 343 culture change in west africa 348 igbo receptivity to change 348 culture change in fante cults 350 conclusions 354 chapter 14 colonialism in action 357 the bene. God, divinities and spirits in african traditional. Rather than see this as an impediment to development, the continent should take advantage of this rich cultural diversity in its quest for economic development and should change the attitudes of its people. Looking specifically at the development trajectory of africa, we are forced to conclude that, while there are many aspects of african culture that can be used positively for the development of the continent, some aspects of african culture have delayed progress. The northern border is the sahara desert, with the ranishanu bend generally considered the northernmost part of the region. With regards to african culture, people perceive most of its practices as something which is devilish in the sense that a lot of its practices are attributed to gods. African cultural values african cultural values have been discussed by j. Beautiful illustrations and messages make these books great picks for homeschooling or introducing different cultures to your kids. Herskovits challenged this interpretation in his 1941 book. The concept of family is one of universal precedence amongst all africans, whether they belong to the west, east, central or southern regions. Pdf west african literature katrin berndt academia.

May 30, 2018 finally, music plays a huge role in west african culture. The music of european settler communities and that of arab north africa are not included in the present. The authors of the first issues of this journal were. This site is like a library, use search box in the. Janice hocker rushing 1983 has argued, for example, that an enduring myth in u. East and west may have myriad differences based on culture and education. And adherents of the perspective either suggest that a hybrid culture is emerging in africa or admit that both african and western cultural patterns are coexisting in.

Sierra leone, east africa ethiopia, kenya, tanzania, and zambia and south africa see. Oct 05, 2011 the family is a universal group throughout africa, with many different forms and functions. The construction, validation, and application of a device constructed in terms of indigenous. The culture and kingdoms of west africa bringdajuice. But historians have pieced together a broad understanding of the way the people of west africa lived at the beginning of the atlantic slave trade. Africa is a vast continent with diversity of cultures. Western culture now is regarded as frontline civilisation. Every year, the sabolai radio music festival boasts the best in indie african beats and. Leo africanus provides a glimpse of 16thcentury west african life. Thus they want contemporary africa to revert to its precolonial roots in order to extract itself from the influence of western culture. Click download or read online button to get culture tradition and society in the west african novel book now. It is home to the three major language families on the african continent. From asantehene osie tutu i to the british colonization, the ashanti empire saw its people united in victory and defeat through common traditions that persist to this day. Unfortunately the literature surrounding the topic was not at all what i had expected.

African culture has experienced rapid change since the colonial invasion. In view of that african cultural values as far as parenting is concerned are being forgotten and the western practice is rather adopted. The complexity, diversity and significance of west african culture is well worth exploring. Cultural facts about swahili people in kenya the diverse and rich african culture varies not only within each nation but from one nation to another as well. Within the less commonly taught languages program, ldc created multiple resources for yoruba, including bidirectional parallel texts in english. Students will read articles about the daily lives of people living in a variety of african countries, and. Nwakoby was born in nigeria in 1970, and lives and works in mississauga, ontario, with her husband and four children. West africa s story is one of historys grand epics. Contemporary african culture is a mixture of traditional elements and alien features. Among the neolithic and iron age societies of west africa, the nok culture is perhaps the earliest and best known, dating back to bc. Traditional versus western attitudes in west africa wiley online. Africa, christianity, civilizations, colonialism, imperialism, independence, islam, sahara, transatlantic slave trade. The major difference between eastern and western culture is that people in the east are more conservative and traditional than the general population in the west.

Jun 15, 2018 the ashanti, an akan people, migrated to presentday ghana, and through a skillful balance of trade and warfare, established a powerful empire. Culture tradition and society in the west african novel. The term west africa is also often used to refer to this part of the continent. African music, the musical sounds and practices of all indigenous peoples of africa, including the berber in the sahara and the san bushmen and khoikhoin hottentot in southern africa. European colonialism, chiefdoms, traditional beliefs in sorcery and witchcrafts celebration after midnight, cultural heritage, how women secret societies operate and their initiation. This is a place where the great issues and contradictions of africa s past resonate through the present. This book focuses on the modern cultures of africa, from the consequences of. African societies are communalistic and do not acknowledge advance care directives which according to many africans encourage atomistic individualism. The role of culture in africas development pambazuka news.

Oct 28, 2010 there are so many myths and beliefs surrounding twins in west african culture that i really wanted to learn more about it. In ghana british english is the only kind of english accepted though it is becoming a practice among the youth on a very tiny basis to speak in pidgin english, a behaviour in emulation of what ia a norm in nigeria, liberia. Dating back to precolonial times, west africans have been among the worlds most mobile populations although much of the migration had been intraregional. The first issue was published in 1982 to mark the 175 years since the founding of the first african presbyterian church. We suggest twelve days to truly discover these amazing countries, which are among the richest and most interesting of west.

A brief west african history, its past civilization and tourist attractions. At its most formal, this was a literature developed by specially trained poets and musicians who served kings and nobles. Pdf the effects of western civilisation and culture on africa. The culture of every ethnic group is centred on family and can be observed in the music, oral literature and peculiar art to each group. Since culture is often seen as the sum total of the peculiarities shared by a people, a peoples values can be seen as part of their culture. Sierra leone culture to measure traditional versus western attitudes. A brief history of the indigenous peoples of west africa. The western culture has tremendously impacted on african traditional society in a very positive and negative dimension. This practice is very common among the animist and the muslim communities. This lesson explains in detail how the cultural legacy. Languages west africa language families few regions of the world boast as diverse and dense a collection of language families as west africa. West african folktales 6 looking tree, he began to climb.

Japan was successful because it built its economy on its own homegrown values. To the north, saintlouis is like stepping back into precolonial. The first is that the context of this article is subsahara africa. Drummers perform at parties, religious meetings, and ceremonies, such as weddings and funerals.

From this region of africa, and particularly from the west and west central coastal areas, would come millions of people brought to the americas as slaves. Traces of african food can be found in southern cuisine, particularly lowcountry, and in most of south america like mexico, brazil, and ecuador. Ldc has also collected yoruba audio and written texts in preparation for treebank annotation, and a new. It is largely a plateau of modest elevation and borders the sahara desert on the. West africa s great ethnic and cultural diversity makes it hazardous to generalize about the social and cultural background of the first african americans.

Western scholars who may be tempted to use their cultural categories in judging other distinctively different people as primitive, often. Culture of ghana history, people, clothing, traditions. Igbo traditional worldview reveals that the journey that man makes in a lifetime and after his death is cyclical. Local african culture was oppressed for many years by white south africans, who find their cultural roots in. This group is formed by a marriage and ends either with the. Conflicts between african traditional religion and. When i grew up, all of my picture books starred white kids or animal characters. West africa combine the sounds of the kora with electronic music. Before the 1940s historical interpretations of slavery suggested that the experience of the long and brutal voyage across the atlantic ocean and the humiliating and dehumanizing effect of enslavement destroyed the enslaved africans identity and severed them from their culture. If we are going to speak of traditional african concepts and customs regarding marriage and the family, a few clarifications are called for.