Transcript Islam.
SS7G4 The student will describe the diverse cultures of the people who live in Africa. a. Explain the differences between an ethnic group and a religious group. b. Explain the diversity of religions within the Arab, Ashanti, Bantu, and Swahili ethnic groups. African Ethnic Groups Website http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www. africaguide.com/images/library/culture/ashanti.jp g&imgrefurl=http://www.africaguide.com/culture/t ribes/ashanti.htm&h=468&w=300&sz=35&tbnid= yqMk8SLTPyvyqM:&tbnh=128&tbnw=82&prev=/i mages%3Fq%3Dashanti%2Bpeople%2Bof%2B africa&usg=__YhKl4De9UXPGUf4vFYwLJHiVzg=&ei=z9-oS8zmH5OYtgfjcGdAQ&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=4&ct=i mage&ved=0CCsQ9QEwAw African Ethnic Groups Arabs Ashanti Bantu Swahili African Religious Groups Traditional Beliefs Christianity Islam Arab Ethnic Group • The Arabs migrated across the Sinai peninsula into Egypt. From there they spread their culture and religion, Islam. • The largest majority of Muslims live in Northern Africa • 5 pillars of faith • God- Allah • Prophet-Mohammad Tuareg- The Blue Men • Warriors • Artwork • Sword most prized possession • Nomadic herders • Camels, goats, cattle, chickens • Live in tribes of 30-100 people Ashanti Ethnic Group 1. The majority of Ashanti are Christians 2. Traditional religious beliefs are the second largest religious group. Traditional beliefs are a mixture of spiritual and supernatural powers. 3. The smallest percentage of Ashanti is Islamic. Traditional Religion • The Ashanti religion is a mixture of spiritual and supernatural powers. They believe that plants, animals, and trees have souls. They also believe in fairies, witches, and forest monsters. There are a variety of religious beliefs involving ancestors, higher gods, or abosom, and ‘Nyame’, the Supreme Being of Ashanti. The Ashanti also practice many rites for marriage, death, puberty, and birth. • The Ashanti hold to an ancestor belief system, with the idea that there is a soul in every living thing, and also the belief in lower and higher powers. • The head of the household is usually the oldest brother, the family units themselves are usually very tight knit with divorce being very rare. Ashanti Leaders Traditional Government King with Christian calendar in the background Gold Coast The Ashanti live in a communal society and family units live all together. Many different huts with a courtyard in the Middle for each family unit The Golden Stool • The golden stool is sacred to the Ashanti. There is an elaborate legend surrounding it that is told by the old men of Ashanti. The golden stool is very carefully protected. No one has ever sat on it and since its arrival, it has not touched the ground. As an Ashanti symbol, the golden stool represents the worship of ancestors, well-being, and the nation of Ashanti. The Golden Stool Kente Cloth • Kente is an Asante ceremonial cloth handwoven on a horizontal treadle loom. • Cloths come in various colors, sizes and designs and are worn during very important social and religious occasions. • A visual representation of history, philosophy, ethics, oral literature, moral values, social code of conduct, religious beliefs, political thought and aesthetic principles Bantu Ethnic Group • Bantu is the language and ethnic group from which the Swahili language and ethnic group developed. • The Bantu migration, which spanned many centuries, influenced the development of many ethnic groups and languages in subSaharan Africa. .Around 3000 years ago, the Bantu people started to spread throughout subSahara Africa. They spread throughout the lower part of the African continent for more than 1000 years in what is believed to be the largest migration of people in history. Bantu Ethnic Group • Bantu practice traditional religions • They focus on the power of ancestors. • However, there are many who are Christians or Muslims Swahili Ethnic Group • While the Swahili language is spoken by over 90 million people, the Swahili ethnic group numbers about 1.3 million. • They primarily live in East African countries like Kenya and Tanzania. • The primary religion practiced by the Swahili ethnic group is Islam. • Traditional Beliefs Children recite the Quran Swahili Economy • The deep harbors along the east African coast have long sustained a profitable fishing and shipping economy. • The lush coastal plain provides a fertile environment for growing coconut palms, fruit trees, spices, and mangrove in swamp areas fishermen • Swahili art is magnificently expressed in the design of carpets, rugs, porcelain, and jewelry, all of which reflect some Asian influence. • The Swahili also incorporate unique architecture into the design of their homes and mosques.