Sub-sahara Africa Flashcards
Myth
Stories that explain the workings of nature and were associated with ritual sacrifice, prayer, and were about gods and goddesses.
They describe a particular kind of speculation that bears historical significance and constitutes patterns of belief. Goddesses outnumber gods in Egypt.
Legend
Usually the subject is a saint, king, famous person, or a war. Always associated with a particular time in history.
Always associated with a particular place and a particular time in history.
Folk tale
Pure fiction
Animals speak and act like humans
Show humans cope with the world in which they live.
What is the plot of “How Rivers Came on Earth?”
A guy and his wife bobcat are the only humans on earth but there is no water. They ask him for water and he gives them magical stones. Then they have 14 kids, 7 girls, 7 boys. They marry each other. The parents give them all magical stones. One of the boys is like “ if I put all of mine in one place I will have a bigger river than ALL of my siblings. But when he does this the whole earth floods. All of the people climb on top of a house and pray to god to make the waters subside. God does this. This is how we have oceans.
Who is Anansi?
A man who is very lazy and greedy.
Where is Anansi from? To whom do the stories belong?
West africa
What genre are Anansi stories?
Folk tale
What is the plot of “The Story of the Dress that Sang?”
Anansi was a rich man with many children to help him farm. The chameleon was poor and had to farm all alone. One year there was a drought on Anansi’s farm but the Chameleon’s farm got lots of rain. Anansi asked that Chamaeleon if he would sell his farm to him. That chameleon said no so Anansi was mad. There was no path from the chameleon’s house to his farm. Anansi built a road from his house to the chameleon farm. Anansi took vegetables from the chameleons farm. That chameleon was mad and told that chief. Anansi showed his road to the chief. The chameleon had no proof that the farm was his so the farm was given to Anansi.
The chameleon dug a large hole but covered it with mud so that only a small hole was showing. Anansi made the most beautiful cloak. Anansi agreed that he would buy the cloak from the chameleon for the chief. The chameleon said he could have it if Anansi could fill up his hole with food. Anansi said he would fill it up twice. He started to fill it but it never filled up. After a long time once Anansi was dirt poor, the chameleon said he would give him the cloak. He gave the cloak to Anansi but it was old and crusty and everyone laughed at him.
Songhay
What is it known for?
Who are important rulers?
Muslim culture
Sunni Ali, Askia Mohammad
Where is Kanem Bornu?
What is it noted for?
Important tribes or kings?
Central Africa
Horses and camels (cavalry), established Islam
King Salma
Where the empire of Mali?
Cities
Famous for
Important people
West Africa
Timbuktu
Wealth large landmass
Sundiata (ruled over multiple kingdoms) and Mansa Musa (drops value of gold)
Where is ancient Ghana?
Famous for
North of present day Ghana
Rich in gold, silent trade
Where is kush/Nubia
Cities
Famous for
Important people
South of Egypt
Napata and Meroe
Egyptian connections, military conquest
King Piankhy
Benin
Cities
Famous for
Important people
Benin city
Amazing art, huge trading centers, cowrie shells(currency)
Chiefs called obas, Queen Mother, Eware the Great
Griot
African storyteller
