African Culture: THE Africa it is the second largest continent in the world and the only continent that spans the northern and southern hemispheres. Colonized and plundered for over 300 years, Africa is a rich and diverse place. Africa has more than 50 independent countries and represents around 16% of the world's population. That translates to more than 1.2 billion people.
Now, while it's easy to homogenize and talk about “Africans”, the truth is that within these 54 separate and unique countries, there are over 3000 different tribes! Perhaps South Africa best reflects this diversity through its constitution, with all 11 official languages recognized by law. I've chosen six of my favorite African tribes to showcase Africa's fascinating tribal traditions and Africa's vibrant cultures.
Index
Population: +/- 840 000
Savannas, lions, safari vehicles and a red-robed Maasai, elegant and slender against the horizon infinite … The red-clad Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania are synonymous with the Great Plains and savannahs from Africa. They are renowned warriors and shepherds who have roamed the jungle of East Africa for hundreds of years.
Maasinta, the first Maasai, received a gift of cattle from Ngai – the sky god – who lowered them to earth on a leather strap. Since that time, cattle have been seen as sacred and their value is rivaled only by the value of their children, in fact, a large flock and a large family are the mark of a truly Maasai Successful.
The savanna land that makes up the famous parks of Ngorongoro, Amboseli, Serengeti, Masai Mara and Tsavo was once the nomadic mountain range of the Maasai people. Despite the pressures of the modern world, the Maasai struggled to preserve their way of life and, as a result, any safari in the East Africa is awash with the sight of colorful Maasai, herding their cattle, walking the roads or dancing the adumu.
Among the most famous Maasai traditions are jumping dancing, using colorful shuka, spitting and drinking blood.
Adamu is the bouncy dance that is performed as part of the initiation right when young adults become men. Accompanied by music, pairs of men take turns to see who can jump higher. The ritual is performed to show dexterity and fitness and is part of the celebration when boys become eligible bachelors. The one who jumps the highest attracts the best bride.
The vibrant colored cloth used by the Maasai is known as shuka. Red is considered a sacred color and represents blood and is the basic color for all shuka. In addition to these qualities, it also protects the Maasai from wild animals. Orange is for hospitality, warmth and friendship, blue is for the sky that provides rain for cattle. Green is for food and production and yellow is for fertility and growth. Together, these vibrant African clothes are what make the Maasai so distinctive in East Africa.
While in Western traditions saliva is a strictly private and personal matter, in Maasai culture and tradition it is considered extremely good luck to be shared. When shaking the hand of an elder, it is important to spit in the palm of the hand and to ward off evil spirits, it is necessary to spit on the head of a newborn. Spitting is one thing, drinking blood completely another.
That's right, the Maasai are hematophagous, which means they drink blood to feed themselves. It is curious because while they drink cow's blood, often mixed with milk, they are opposed to eating wild animals, and meat consumption is reserved for special occasions only. The Maasai revere their cattle and, for that reason, the release of blood does not cause lasting harm to their bovine companions.
Population: +/- 50 000
The desolate Kunene region of northwestern Namibia is home to a resilient people called the Himba. Hunter-gatherers and herders, the Himba descend from the south, migrating Herero from Angola.
Life for the Himba revolves around the sacred fire called Okuruwo. Okuruwo, through smoke, symbolizes a connection with your ancestors, who are in direct communication with their God Mukuru. The fire burns in the center of the village and it is never allowed to go outside and each family has a fireguard whose job it is to take care of the sacred fire.
The Himba are a nomadic African tribe and traditionally travel from pond to pond, tending to their herds and goats. Day-to-day tasks are traditionally divided between the sexes, with women carrying out the difficult tasks of carrying water, milking the cows, building houses and raising children while the men deal with politics and take care of the cattle. This division even extends to the use of water for bathing, reserved exclusively for men. Women use herbal smoke from fire to clean pores and maintain personal hygiene.
Interestingly, the traditional Himba clan structure is bilateral – evident in only a handful of traditional peoples across the world. Bilateral descent means every clan member by two clans, the mother and the father. Under this unique arrangement, the children live with the father's clan as the wives, however, the inheritance passes from the maternal uncle. Living in such a harsh environment, this bilateral descent is believed to provide a better chance of survival.
The most distinctive feature of the Himba is its unique adornment. The distinctive red ocher body paint and elaborate hairstyles have become synonymous with any safari in the Kunene region of Namibia. Hairstyles signify status, age and social status. From small children with shaved heads to braids and braids facing back and forth and finally to the Erembe – a Sheepskin ornament – worn by women who have had children, the often red hairstyles are out of this world and beautiful.
Himba's red ocher body ink – called otijze – is made from butter, animal fat and a natural pigment that contains iron oxide. Himba women apply this mixture to their skin to protect them from the strong sun and insect bites, trap moisture and beautify themselves. Because of the striking appearance this red paste creates, the Himba tribe of Namibia has become known as the “Red People of Africa”.
Population: between 10 and 13 million
The Zulu people are the largest ethnic group in South Africa. They are descendants of East African origins and over the centuries have migrated south during what is called the Great Bantu Migration. Zulu grew into a formidable empire under Shaka's leadership in the early 19th century. Under his leadership, the Zulu kingdom expanded and played an important role in the history of South Africa. Over time, Zulu developed a frightening reputation that is still evident today.
Today's Zulus are modern and progressive. While traditional clothing is reserved for special occasions, Zulus maintain strong connections with their ancestral and historical roots. As a people, Zulu is considered warm and hospitable and it is to them that we owe the concept of Ubuntu. Ubuntu claims that we are people, not because of our individuality, but because of our connections with other people, therefore underlying the importance of relationships.
The Zulus, though predominantly Christians, held to their belief in their supreme being, Unkulunkulu, who is the creator of all life. While Unkulunkulu is remote and independent, all fortune, misfortune, good or bad luck is attributed to ancestral spirits or amadlozi. Simply put, ancestral spirits are the spirits of the dead, specifically, those respected and successful in life. By giving sacrifices to ancestral spirits, the Zulu people seek to influence their daily lives and every marriage or birth is marked by sacrificial offerings.
The Zulus are also known for their craftsmanship, from clay pottery to weaving, but most notably their beadwork. Bright colored beads are woven into intricate patterns that are highly decorative, but also functional. Patterns and colors have meaning. For example, a triangle is the symbol used for a girl while an inverted triangle indicates a boy. Joined triangles, end to end, indicate a married man, while triangles joined from base to base are married women.
Each color is filled with the duality of life and has both negative and positive connotations. For example, red is for love and passion, but it can also represent anger and hurt; in the same way, blue is the color of fidelity and request, but also of hostility and dislike. Symbolism is complex and unique, at the same time it is functional and beautiful. It's no wonder, then, that curio shops from airports to cultural villages and tourist attractions across the country are stocked with Zulu beaded curiosities.
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