Why were extended families and age-sets important in early West African cultures?
interdependence on each other to share in the work of building, harvesting, and raising families.
Why were extended families important in early West African cultures?
Elders in the extended family
had great power over the economic and social lives of its members
. In contrast with ancient Egypt, strictly enforced incest taboos prohibited people from marrying within their extended family.
Why was family important in West Africa?
During slavery
, the family remained a principal base for social affiliation, economic activity, and political organization. Family traditions in Western Africa served as the model for family life during the period of slavery.
Why is family so important in African culture?
Family is very important throughout Africa. Families, not individuals, are the building blocks of African society. … Family members act as
both an economic and emotional network
and provide individuals with a sense of who they are and where they belong.
What role did families play in traditional West African culture?
What role did families play in West African society? Families were
the foundation for all social, economic, and government activity
. What was the relationship between kings and trade in West Africa? King control trade.
What were the most important characteristics of West African society and culture?
What were the key characteristics of West African society? West African societies varied in size from small kingdoms to large empires.
Most people lived by farming
, but there were also many skilled artisans. Religion and family ties were central to West African life.
How did the legacies of West African society and culture influence the way African American lived?
What did the legacies of West African society and culture influence the way African Americans lived? They
were farmers, that lived in hamlets or village called lineages
. Each extend family descend come from a common ancestor, come from matrilineal- Descent traced through the female line.
What is the most important structure in ancient West Africa society?
Probably the most famous class of structure in all Africa,
the Pyramids of Egypt
remain one of the world’s greatest early architectural achievements, regardless of practicality and origins in a funerary context.
Do people in Africa live in extended or nuclear families?
“What I miss most about Guinea is the extended family structure. … Family is very important throughout Africa. Most people live in households that include
not only the nuclear family
(mother, father, and children) but also members of their extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and so on).
What role did families play in African society?
Family plays a central role in African society. It
shapes such daily experiences as how and where individuals live, how they interact with the people around them
, and even, in some cases, whom they marry. It can determine a person’s political identity and the way money and property are transferred.
What are the main religious traditions in African culture?
The three main religious traditions—
African traditional religion, Christianity, and Islam
—constitute the triple religious heritage of the African continent. This heritage, though contemporarily more dynamically evidenced, has a long history and influence.
What are the importance of extended family?
Extended family members, especially grandparents, can
assist in passing on cultural teachings and traditions
, including language. For example, grandparents can share stories, skills and teachings during their time with the grandchildren. This is also connected to the children’s healthy self-esteem.
What cultures live with extended family?
The extended family model is often found in
collectivist cultures and developing countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa
, as well as in Hispanic and American Indian cultures. In this model, the extended family – including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins – are an intimate part of the familial network.
What role did kinship groups play in West African society?
Kinship groups
formed the government of many African societies
. In kinship groups, decisions were often made by a council of the eldest members. Members of a kinship group felt strong loyalty to each other.
What was the importance of griots in African society?
The griot profession is hereditary and has long been a part of West African culture. The griots’ role has traditionally been to
preserve the genealogies, historical narratives, and oral traditions of their people
; praise songs are also part of the griot’s repertoire.
What two main reasons made West Africa’s Niger River so important?
One feature, the Niger River, has been particularly important in the region’s history,
providing water, food, and transportation for people
. In addition, salt and iron deposits can be found in the region. Such resources were the basis for a technology that allowed people to create strong tools and weapons.
