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Pre-Islamic Africa: Diversity and Traditions

Explore Africa's rich heritage pre-Islam, from lack of political unity and secret societies to diverse cultural practices and religious beliefs. Learn about Bantu migration, animism, and the unique societal structures that shaped the continent. Discover the arrival of Islam and its impact on African societies, including interactions with Arab traders and the spread of Muslim rulers.

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Pre-Islamic Africa: Diversity and Traditions

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  1. Islam in Africa Chapter 8

  2. Prior to Islam • Lack of political unity Secret societies handle disputes • No need to tax b/c don’t have to support a bureaucracy • Social—organized by lineage and age • Unifying force • Religion—animism and ancestors • Language--Bantu

  3. A Satellite View

  4. Vegetation Zones

  5. Natural Resources

  6. Bantu Migration

  7. Unifying aspect Bantu-speaking peoples provided a linguistic base across Africa 1000 different languages; 1000+ different tribes

  8. An African’s “Search for Identity” 1. Nuclear Family 2. Extended Family 3. Age-Set 4. Clan 5. Lineage (ancestry) TRIBE (communal living)

  9. Traditional African Religion ANIMISM 1. Belief in one remote Supreme Being. 2. A world of spirits (good & bad) in all things. 3. Ancestor veneration. 4. Belief in magic, charms, and fetishes. 5.Diviner mediator between the tribe and God.

  10. African Diviner (Shaman)

  11. Ancestors

  12. Prior to the Arrival of Islam • North of the Sahara had been part of classical civilizations (Phoenician, Greek outpost, Carthage Roman province)

  13. Arrival of Islam 640-700 CEAttraction • Abbasid’s provided some political stability • Equality within a community of believers made it easier to accept new conquerors and rulersegalitarian • Unite state & religion under 1 helped reinforce the authority of African kings—caliph • BUT locally divided by social, ethnic and gender

  14. Divisions • Berbers—North Africa into Spain stopped from taking over France by Charles Martel in 711 CE • Almoravids—puritanical reformers launched jihads (purify, spread or protect faith) into the South and West • Almahadis—also puritanical reformist

  15. Christian: Nubia & Ethiopia • Reached Africa before Rome’s conversion • Coptic (Egypt & Nubia) translated the gospels into their language & were tolerated • Ethiopia—Remained isolated and independent King Lalibela—11 churches carved from stone Later Dynasty—traced lineage back to Solomon & Sheba

  16. Bet Giorgis, a 12th century Rock-Hewn church in Ethiopia

  17. Kingdom of Grasslands Sudanic State—Mali Mansa Musa 1312-1337 *pilgrimage *brought back scholars *trade protection *cosmopolitan court life *tolerant *gold, salt, dates— Camel caravans couldn’t survive in the forests so the Sahel became a point of exchange The hoe and the bow—symbols of the common

  18. Mosque of Jennea “port” city on the Niger River

  19. Matrilineal & patrilineal • Arab slave trade—women and children

  20. Ibn Battuta & Mansa Musa

  21. Sundiata, Lion Prince of Malias told by griots

  22. Sudanic Grasslands Daily Life • 80% farmers: millet, rice, sorghum, wheat • Polygamy • Crop rotation

  23. Swahili Coast of East Africa • Indian Ocean trade • Contact with China, India, SE Asia, Middle East • Class Division Merchants tended to be Muslim Rulers tended to speak Arabic

  24. Peoples of the Forest & PlainsZimbabwe

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