ETHNIC GROUPS OF AFRICA

Arabs

Ashanti

Bantu

Swahili

ETHNIC GROUP Group of people who share cultural

ideas and beliefs that have been a part of their community for generations.

Common characteristics would include:LanguageReligionHistoryFoodsbeliefs

RELIGIOUS GROUP Group that shares a belief system in a

god or gods, with a specific set of rituals and literature.

People from different ethnic groups may share the same religion, though they may be from very different cultures.

ARABS A group in the Middle East that believe

themselves to be descendants of Abraham from the Old Testament of the Bible, through his son Ishmael.

They are the majority ethnic group in North Africa.

Arabs are very diverse within their ethnic group.

Most practice the religion of Islam.

ARABS Some Arabs do practice Christianity. Most Arabs speak the “Arabic” language.

ASHANTI The Ashanti people primarily live in

modern day Ghana. They are a powerful group in this part of

Africa and have been for 300 years. They have also influenced the countries

around them, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Togo.

The primary language spoken among the Ashanti people is known as Twi (pronounced tree)

Twi - Ashanti.asxTwi - Ashanti.asx

ASHANTI The Ashanti believe their kingdom was

founded in 1701 when a holy man produced a Golden Stool from the heavens and gave it to the 1st King.

The stool became a symbol of Ashanti power and the belief is that as long as the stool is in the hands of the King the Ashanti will be powerful.

ASHANTI - RELIGION The traditional Ashanti religions is

centered on a belief in one supreme god, or Nayme.

His many children represent all the natural powers and forces in the world.

Traditional Ashanti believe all living things have souls.

They also belief 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 regarding birth, puberty, marriage and death.

RITUALS

Gold is sign of wealth Dress for ritual

YAM FESTIVAL The Yam Festival is usually held in the

beginning of August at the end of the rainy season. 

  A popular holiday in Ghana and Nigeria, the Yam Festival is named after the most common food in many African countries. 

Yams are the first crops to be harvested. People offer yams to gods and ancestors first before distributing them to the villagers. This is their way of  giving thanks to the spirits above them

YAM FESTIVAL A yam is large root vegetable that looks

like a tube.  People often confuse a yam with a sweet potato.  Yams come from Africa while sweet potatoes are from Asia.  Yams can be stored for 2 months in dark and cool areas.  They can also be dried and turned into flour for longer storage.

YAM FESTIVAL Yams are an important crop in Ghana. During

Homowo, they are taken from the ground and are carried to the village. Then they are blessed by the chief. Special foods made from yams are served. Mashed yams with hard boiled eggs are an important part of the festival. People also eat Kpekpele which is made from corn meal and palm oil.

During homowo people wear a kind of toga made from kente cloth which is brightly colored. The festival ends with a big feast. People dance and sing to the sounds of drums. When a child is born into the society of Ghana, a meal of yam and other ingredients is prepared for relatives and the midwife who delivers the baby.

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