African Ethnic Groups

Arabs, Ashanti, Bantu, & Swahili
AFRICAS ETHNIC GROUPS
AFRICAN ETHNIC GROUPS AND THEIR

RELIGIONS, CUSTOMS, AND TRADITIONS
Africa is made up of 54 different

countries and many ethnic
groups.
A groups customs and
traditions often come from
religion, from where the group
lives, or from the demands of
daily life.
For example, nomadic Bedouin
tribe must have customs that
can be practiced while traveling.
Most Africans today are either
Muslim or Christian, but
traditional religions and
customs still play a role in
African culture.
ARABS
ARAB
Arabs mostly live in North Africa and the Middle East.
Some Jews, Kurds, Berbers, Copts, and Druze speak
Arabic, but are not usually considered Arab.
The term Arab includes Arabic-speaking Christians in
Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan.
Overall, Arabs are
divided into two groups:
nomadic Bedouins and
settled Arabs.
ARABS
Mostly found in Southwest Asia and NORTHERN Africa

Speak Arabic
Usually practice Islam
THE SOUQ IN AN ARAB CITY IS THE MARKET AREA OR SHOP DISTRICT. THE MAIN SOUQ IN CAIRO
IS THE KHAN EL-KHALILI IN THE OLD CITY. THE WINDING STREETS ARE HOME TO A MULTITUDE OF
SHOPS SELLING EVERYTHING FROM FINE CLOTHING TO SPICES TO ANTIQUES. THE KHAN ELKHALILI SOUQ IS NEARLY SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS OLD. (CAIRO, EGYPT, OCTOBER 2006)
ASHANTI
ASHANTI
Large ethnic group found off the west coast of
Africa in Ghana
Speak mostly Twi as their main language
Live with extended family members
The Ashanti religion is a mixture of spiritual and
supernatural powers. They believe that plants,
animals, and trees have souls.
GOLDEN STOOL
They have many tribal ceremonies
The Ashanti people live in central Ghana.

The family, especially the mothers family, is most
important to the Ashanti.
The Ashanti believe that their kingdom was founded in
1701 with the help of a holy man who produced a Golden
Stool from the heavens and gave it to the first Ashanti
king.
The Ashanti people believe the strength of their nation
depends on this safety of this stool.
It represents the unity of the
Ashanti and the power of their chiefs.
The traditional Ashanti religion is centered on a belief in a

supreme god, or Nayme.
His many children, the Abosom, represent all the natural
powers and forces in the world.
The traditional Ashanti believe that all living things have
souls.
They also believe that witches, demon spirits, and fairies
have powers in the lives of men.
Ancestors are given great
respect, and there are a number
of family rituals associated with
birth, puberty, marriage, and death.
In many parts of rural Africa, the chore of collecting water

is time consuming and labor intensive. These women
and children walk about 2 miles (3.2 km) each way in the
morning and the evening to transport water for cooking,
cleaning, and drinking. (Ghana, 1999)
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COME TO GHANA'S CITIES FROM RURAL AREAS, HOPING FOR
EMPLOYMENT. THEY OFTEN FIND THEMSELVES LIVING IN SLUMS SIMILAR TO THESE. USING
SCRAP METAL, DISCARDED LUMBER, SALVAGED TARPS AND TIRES, AND MUD BRICKS, THIS
SMALL COMMUNITY HAS CREATED A PLACE TO LIVE. THE MEN AND BOYS CATCH FISH AND
SEARCH THE BEACH FOR ANY VALUABLE ITEMS. THE WOMEN SELL SOAP, SWEETS, AND OTHER
GOODS. (CAPE COAST, GHANA, 1999)
BANTU
BANTU
Mostly found in Central & Southern Africa
They speak Bantu as their main language
Bantu
is usually known more as a language than an

ethnic group
Bantu makes up over 400 different ethnic

groups combined
BANTU
The Bantu originally came

from southeastern
Nigeria that
spread east and south near
Zambia.
Around 1000 CE, the Bantu
reached presentday Zimbabwe
and South Africa.
From their earliest days, the
Bantu were known as
farmers and animal herders,
and they learned ironmaking crafts as well.
As they spread south and east across the continent,

following rivers and streams, they met many new people
and learned new skills, even as they shared their own.
Bantu-speaking people settled as far south as the
southern tip of Africa.
They intermarried with the people they met accepting
new traditions and blending them with Bantu culture.
The Bantu migration was one of the largest movements
of people in Africas history.
Today over 60 million people in central
and southern Africa speak Bantu-based
languages and share some part of
Bantu culture.
Many Bantu who settled in areas where there was a

strong Arab presence are Muslim.
Others, living in parts of Africa influenced by missionary
efforts are Christian.
Still others follow traditional animist religions. Animists
believe that sprits are found in natural objects and
surroundings.
They may feel a spiritual presence in rocks, trees, a waterfall or

particularly beautiful place in the forest.
A TEACHER INSTRUCTS STUDENTS AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA'S BIGGEST TOWNSHIP.
TEACHERS ARE POORLY PAID, SO SCHOOLS STRUGGLE TO ATTRACT THEM. AFRICANS RECEIVE INSTRUCTION
IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE UNTIL THE SEVENTH GRADE, AND THEN THEY USUALLY ARE TAUGHT IN ENGLISH
AFTER THAT. AFRIKAANS IS ALSO OFFERED AS A LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION. IN URBAN AREAS, AN
INCREASING NUMBER OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS TEACH IN ENGLISH. (SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA, 16 JANUARY
2008)
SWAHILI
SWAHILI
Mostly found in East Africa (especially in Kenya)
The language they speak is Swahili
-This
is a mixture of Arabic &

Traditional African Languages
Most Swahili people are strict Muslims
SWAHILI
The Swahili people live on the East
African coast from southern
Somalia to northern
Mozambique.
Swahili is a mixture of Bantu and Arab culture
Men wear amulets around their necks that contain
verses from the Koran, which they believe will
protect them.
Only teachers of Islam and prophets are permitted
to become spritual healers.
The Swahili community developed along the coast of East

Africa when Arab and Persian traders looking for
profitable markets began to settle there and intermarry
with the local Bantu-speaking population.
While the Swahili language is considered a Bantu
language, there are many Arabic words and phrases
included as well.
The word Swahili comes from
the Arabic word Swahili, which
means one who lives on the coast.
Most Swahili today are city
dwellers rather than traditional
farmers and herdsmen.
Many are engaged in fishing
and trade, as their ancestors were.
Because contact with Arab traders was such a big part of

their history, most of the Swahili today are Muslims.
Islam has been one of the factors that helped create a
common identity for such a diverse group of people.
Many among the Swahili also follow local beliefs that
have been part of the culture of eastern Africa since
before Muslim traders arrived over a thousand years ago.
Many Swahili also see a close link between their religious
beliefs and the practice of
medicine and healing.
Herbal medicines are often
given along with prescribed
prayers and rituals that are all
thought to be part of the cure.
WOMEN OF THE SAMBURU ETHNIC GROUP PROVIDE A DEMONSTRATION OF

TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND DANCE FOR TOURISTS IN NORTHERN KENYA. THE DANCE
INCLUDES STOMPING THE GROUND WITH THE FEET AND WITH WOODEN STICKS.
SAMBURU TRADITIONAL CLOTHING INCLUDES LARGE COLORFUL SARONGS AND
BEADED NECKLACES NORMALLY WORN FOR SPECIAL CEREMONIES OR
PERFORMANCES FOR TOURISTS. (KENYA, 2004)
AFRICAN LITERACY
The literacy rate in Africa is 50%.

This means that half the population
of African cannot read or write.
Literacy is good for individuals as well as their
communities.
More developed countries tend to have a higher literacy
rate.
Sudan and Egypt both have a literacy rate of only 51%.
South Africa, the most developed country in Africa, has a
literacy rate of 83%.
IN THEIR ONE-ROOM SCHOOL, STUDENTS TAKE PART IN A LESSON.

IN RECENT YEARS, SCHOOLS IN GENERAL (AND ESPECIALLY
RURAL SCHOOLS) HAVE SUFFERED FROM CONSIDERABLE
UNDERFUNDING.
(KENYA, AUGUST 2001)

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Arabs, Ashanti, Bantu, & Swahili

AFRICAS ETHNIC GROUPS

AFRICAN ETHNIC GROUPS AND THEIR

Africa is made up of 54 different

Mostly found in Southwest Asia and NORTHERN Africa

The Ashanti people live in central Ghana.

The traditional Ashanti religion is centered on a belief in a

In many parts of rural Africa, the chore of collecting water

is usually known more as a language than an

Bantu makes up over 400 different ethnic

The Bantu originally came

As they spread south and east across the continent,

Many Bantu who settled in areas where there was a

They may feel a spiritual presence in rocks, trees, a waterfall or

is a mixture of Arabic &

Most Swahili people are strict Muslims

The Swahili community developed along the coast of East

Because contact with Arab traders was such a big part of

WOMEN OF THE SAMBURU ETHNIC GROUP PROVIDE A DEMONSTRATION OF

The literacy rate in Africa is 50%.

IN THEIR ONE-ROOM SCHOOL, STUDENTS TAKE PART IN A LESSON.

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