Discussion - The African Background

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PowerPoint_African_Background1.pptx

AFRICAN background

G. J. Giddings, Ph.D.

AFRICA?

PERCEPTION/IMPRESSION …

Rev. Jesse Jackson, “African American”

AFRICA

Africanisms

oral, communal, spiritual & matrifocal

African immigrants

Globally

1.3-2 billion (20% of 7 billion world population)

POLITICAL MAP

POLITICAL MAP

Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Senegal;

Sahara desert,

Rift Valley

Size & Significance

Africa’s Significance

Birth of humanity

2nd largest continent

Largest mineral industries in world

65% of world’s diamond

40% of world’s gold

3 of 5 fastest growing economies are in Africa

Rwanda, Senegal, Ethiopia.

Always leading on lists of poorest countries.

AFRICA’S Significance

Birthplace of Humanity

Homo habilis

H. erectus

H. sapien-sapien

200,000 years ago

AFRICA’S Significance

Proofs

Archeology

Biology

Mitochondrion

AFRICAN CULTURE

Unity in Diversity

2,000 languages

4 groups

Niger-Congo 75%

Afro-Asiatic

Nilo-Saharan

Khoisan

AFRICA’s Achievements

Arts & Technology

Metalargy

Benin Bronzes

Black/gold-smith …

Lost wax process

Ceramics

Ifa terra cotta

Trade networks

Bantu migration

AFRICAN Political Systems

Centralized States

Versus

Acephalous States

Ghana, 700-1240 C.E.

Mali, 1230-1670

Songhai, 1464-1592

Kongo,1390-1914

Ndongo, 16th cent.

AFRICAN Politics

GHANA

700-1240 C.E.

AFRICAN Politics

MALI

1230-1670

AFRICAN Politics

SONGHAI

1464-1592

AFRICAN Politics

GHANA Empire

Tunka Manin

Soninke

1062-1076

Trans-Sahara trade

AFRICAN Politics

MALI Empire

Mansa Musa

Mandinka

“Kankou Musa”

1307-?

10th Mansa

El Hajj (1324)

M. Abubakar(i) II

AFRICAN Politics

SONGHAI

Sonni Ali (Ber)

Sorko (Sunni)

1464-’92

AFRICAN culture

Kongo crucifix

Queen Njinga

Ndungo

AFRICAN culture

Bride wealth

Versus “dowry”

Queen Mother

(Ghana) Nana Dokua of Akropong-Akuapem

AFRICAN culture

spiritual

Ifa (Yoruba)

Islam & Christianity

communal

Land ownership

Humane slavery

oral

Djeli or Griot

“Epic of Sundiata”

matrifocal

Queen Mother

Matrilineal decent

Polygamy

AFRICAN Culture/Slavery

Slavery

dynamic

A continuum

land is sacred

Temporary

Caravan laborers

Debt

War captives

Soldiers

Women preferred

Agriculture, etc.

Child care