1. Family, Tribalism, & Beliefs
Africa
Family, Tribalism, & Beliefs

2. FAMILIES A man or woman without kin is as good as dead
Africans are very tied to family- much more so than Americans

3. Marriage Traditionally arranged by parents
Today- boy meets girl, boy asks father if he can marry her
Wife leaves her family to live with her husband’s family
Husband (and family) pay wife’s family a “bride’s price” to compensate losing her

4. Polygamy Possible for a man to have several wives
Only about 1 in 10 Africans have more than one wife
WHY?
Number of children is a status symbol
More workers for field/farm

5. Extended Family
Several generations of a family living in one house or group of houses
Provides for “social security”
No need for “nursing homes”/ “assisted living” or orphanages
Family can be relied on during famine, illness, and education

6. Families in Cites Similar to families around the world
Very little polygamy
Usually nuclear- mother, father, & children
Marriages usually not arranged

7. TRIBALISM
Tribe: a group of people who share the same customs and language and who may believe that descend from a common ancestor
Don’t call them tribes! Use nation, people, people group, or ethnic group.
About 1000 in ethnic groups in Africa
Africa stresses importance of the group, as opposed to the individual as in America

8. Tribal customs cover all the important aspects of life from birth to death
Each member of the group must make a daily contribution
Children go through an initiation ritual to become members of the group
“Chief” is in charge, show them loyalty
Decisions made by chief and Council of Elders, who are usually the oldest in the group
Typical punishment is to be thrown out

9. Modern Tribalism
To many, their people group is more important than their country
Europeans divided Africa and paid no attention to the ethnic groups
These borders create countries that have rivals ethnic groups in them
Borders all create problem with communication because people speak different languages

10. BELIEFS Some people are Muslim, Christian or other world religions
Most still believe in traditional African beliefs

11. god and spirits
Nearly all believe in the same god/ Supreme Being who created earth and life
Believe that god is distant and not involved in day-to-day happenings
Only seek god’s help in major circumstances- drought, epidemic, etc.
Between people and god are lesser gods and ancestor spirits

12. The Medicine Man
Africans turn to a Medicine Man when something goes wrong
Believe he has special powers to see why something’s happened
When they ask “Why me?”, it usually turns out that an ancestor spirit has been neglected and is punishing that person

13. Magic
Many cases, magic and religion are so closely linked, it’s hard to separate the two
Purpose is to give people confidence
Many people carry a charm with them to protect from danger