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Cultural Legacy of West Africa

Cultural Legacy of West Africa. Mrs. Rand University Preparatory School Content Adapted from History Alive! Medieval World and Beyond , Teacher’s Curriculum Institute. West African Oral and Written Traditions. What written and oral traditions did West Africans create?. Proverbs Stories

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Cultural Legacy of West Africa

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  1. Cultural Legacy of West Africa Mrs. Rand University Preparatory School Content Adapted from History Alive! Medieval World and Beyond, Teacher’s Curriculum Institute

  2. West African Oral and Written Traditions

  3. What written and oral traditions did West Africans create? • Proverbs • Stories • Praise songs • Poems • Historical accounts and geneologies • folktales

  4. Why has the oral tradition been so important in West Africa? • For a long time, there was no written tradition in West Africa. • The oral tradition was used to pass down important information and traditions.

  5. What is a griot? Why were they important? • A griot is a verbal artist responsible for memorizing and retelling the history and traditions of West Africa. • Griots also helped advise rulers/leaders.

  6. How do West African written and oral traditions influence life today? • Preserved writings tell us about West African heritage and culture. • Some modern West African writers built on ancient written and oral traditions.

  7. West African Music

  8. What functions did music serve in West Africa? • Music communicated: • Ideas • Values • Feelings • Marked important events such as weddings and funerals.

  9. What does the term “call and response” refer to? • Call and response is a style of music in which a leader plays or sings a call and others play or sing a response.

  10. West African Visual Arts

  11. What functions did visual art serve in West Africa? Some visual art, such as fabrics and baskets, served everyday needs. Other art was used in rituals and ceremonies to honor spirits, ancestors, and royalty. africasartonline.com unclejers.com

  12. What forms of visual art did West Africans create? Sculptures, masks…. Textiles, everyday objects. liveauctioneers.com artbusiness.com

  13. What were some of the methods artists used? • Molded from clay • Fashioned from bronze, copper, and brass • Masks were carved from wood • Textiles were stamped with patterns, and sometimes pieces of fabric were applied to a larger piece (applique)

  14. How has West African visual art influenced modern art and culture? • Modern artists like Pablo Picasso were inspired by West African art. • Kente cloth is worn around the world. • West African basket-making techniques are still used in the American South.

  15. West African Music

  16. What instruments were used in West Africa? • Balafon – like a xylophone • Ngoni – a guitar-like instrument • Kora – another guitar-like instrument • Drums • Bells • Rattles coraconnection.com

  17. How does West African music and dance influence music today? • People still perform traditional West African dance. • West African music has influenced gospel, jazz, blues, rock and roll, and rap. • West African drum music and Afro-Cuban drumming are popular in world music.

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