Bantu
When did Bantu migrations start?
2000 BCE
Where do the Ashanti people usually live?
The forested interior of south-central Ghana (city of Kumasi)
How does the environment affect the people?
The environment strongly influenced architecture, clothing, food, and settlement patterns
Where do the Swahili people live?
On the East African coast
Welcome
Did you know Christianity is widespread in many African ethnic groups?
How many people speak the Bantu languages?
More than 200 million people
What did the Ashanti have that made them very wealthy?
Gold, timber, cocoa, and fertile farmland
Why are the Amazingh unique?
They maintain distinct identities and languages
What's so special about the Swahili language?
It's considered as the lingua franca
To
Many people in Africa blend many beliefs into one because of the sheer number of religious and cultural diversity there is
What is the focus of Bantu religious ceremonies?
Ancestor veneration and maintaining harmony between physical and spiritual worlds
How is leadership organized in Ashanti society?
Women lead societies because it is a matrilineal society
What significant event occurred in Arab inhabited areas?
The Sub-Saharan Trade where multiple riches were traded throughout the Mediterranean and Africa
How did Islam reach the Swahili coast?
My
Animism is the belief of spirits that inhabit natural landscapes
What technological innovations have the Bantu done?
Ironworking, cattle herding, farming techniques, and social organization
What is kente?
Ceremonious regalia that can have specific designs on them to reflect who you are
Why are the Arabs considered to be rich in knowledge?
Multiple cities were dedicated to learning because of scholarly traditions based on the Quran. Also, many caravans expanded this knowledge to different places in Africa
How do the Swahili people govern?
Each city-state has their own laws, culture, and economic language. However, their language, religion, and cultural traditions are mostly the same
Amazing
Mountain peaks are believed to be the resting places of multiple gods
What rivers did the Bantu use to grow their crops (list the crops, too)
Rivers= Congo, Zambezi, and Limpopo
Crops= Millet, sorghum, and maize
What religion are the Ashanti and how is the religious system set up?
The Ashanti mix in Christian and Animistic beliefs when worshipping. They believe there is one supreme god, and the smaller deities represent all the rivers and landscapes of Ghana
What foods and clothing are prevalent in Arab communities?
Head coverings and robes= Clothing Couscous, lentil stew, flatbread, olives, and pastries= Food
What are the most famous Swahili cities and how did they get wealthy
Kilwa Kisiwani and Stone Town made significant wealth through ivory, gold, spices, tortoise shells, and porcelain
Common Swahili Words and Phrases
Swahili — English
Jambo — Hello
Habari? — How are you?
Asante — Thank you
Karibu — Welcome / You're welcome
Kwaheri — Goodbye
Maji — Water