African Culture: How Africans Preserve Their Culture

If there is one thing Africans love to respect and protect is their culture. Culture is one intrinsic value of Africans. Not only is the African culture of notable value but it has lovely traits and practices. The African culture seems to have practices that mark every aspect of life, for example, practices that mark the beginning of puberty, marriage, etc. It is because of these values that they sought to preserve these cultural practices for their generations yet unborn.

What is Culture?

Culture refers to the arts and practices manifested by humans as a way of life. Culture also refers to the total way of life of a group of people. It is a submersion of collective traits, beliefs, behaviors of a particular group of people.

Here are some ways Africans preserve their cultures;

Folklore/folktales

Folklore or folktales are common amongst Africans. These tales are usually common amongst the people- folk. Folklores are an expressive body of culture shared by a particular group of people. These folklores encompass the traditions that are common to the culture and may include oral traditions. The major characteristics of folklore/tales are that it is spoken aloud rather than written down as stories. It is one culture preservation technique that Africans have adopted in order to pass down information from generation to generation.

Music

Music is very essential to African culture. Africans like everyone else sing about everything. Whether there is a dirge, ode or whatever form it is, Africans also adopt the use of music in preserving their culture. Most of the folktales are accompanied by music. The songs usually have simple melodies and the tales can be used to make up the stories.

Storytelling

Storytelling is also another way in which Africans preserve their culture. On the other hand, storytelling can be oral or written with the use of creative techniques. Stories can be made up or coined from actual events that are used to describe social or cultural activities as well as teach morals.

Oral traditions

Oral tradition is a means whereby Africans receive, preserve and transmit orally the knowledge and art of cultural materials. The transmission process is through songs, speech, folktales, chants, prose, proverbs, etc.

Language

Language is a major instrument in preserving African culture. Right from when the child is born, he/she is given instructions in their mother tongue. Other mediums of preserving the culture would be done using language.

Myth or Truth: Contents Common amongst African

Due to the fact that the basic medium by which Africans tend to preserve their culture is through storytelling or some tale, the issue of myths is actually common amongst them.

What is a Myth? A myth is a traditional story that consists of narratives that are usually pointers to the early history of a people or explaining a natural /social phenomenon. It is mostly about supernatural beings or gods. Some people term myths to be false but the fact that these mythologies are a means of preserving culture is unavoidable.

Whether or not these myths are real or not, the transmission of African culture from generation to generation through different mediums has eradicated any form of falsity that can be attributed to them. The stories our forefathers told about origins are the facts we still hold on to till today. The history penned down by the historians and academia is collected from the elderly whose knowledge is built around these myths. Truth or Myths only history can tell.

5 Aspects You Would Love to Look out For in African Culture

The African culture has some lovely aspects you ought to look out for. These are 5 things you should look at for in African languages;

Food

The food is to die for. We are sure that we have special delicacies all around the world, but African food is that each culture is showcased through them. Recipes and spices are passed down from generation to generation. Whether it is Ghanaian Jollof or Nigerian Jollof, African food leaves you begging for more.

Music

Over the last decade, African music has crossed beyond their borders and unto international shores. Afropop or afro tunes showcase the language and beliefs of Africans. An example is a way Nigerian pidgin has crossed over the Nigerian borders. It is usually accompanied by instruments such as drums,zuchi flutes, etc. African music would keep you on your feet all night long.

Dressing

African dressing may not be your broadway show kind of fashion but is unique in its own way and has also made it across the borders. Whether it is aso ebi or senegalise, campala, adire, etc., Africans know how to bring on the vibe. Not to mention that dressing is an important factor in culture.

Arts and craft

Arts and culture are also a phenomenon that showcases our culture. The arts and crafts we engage in is evidence of either our geographical location or practices. These arts and crafts may include; bead making, pottery, basket weaving, weapon making, etc.

Language

Language has a way of making it to every list. This is because language and culture have an intricate relationship. If you really want to enjoy the African culture, have a peek of their language.

Festivals Celebrated in Africa

One interesting fact about the African culture is the aspect of celebrating festivals. This is an important aspect of culture. These festivals are not just times for celebrations but a way of preserving and transmitting the cultures. Some festivals celebrated in Africa include;

Afrochella celebrated in Ghana
Argungu fishing festival celebrated in Nigeria
Bouake festival celebrated in Ivory Coast
Cairo film festival celebrated in Egypt
Calabar carnival celebrated in Nigeria
The crossing of the cattle celebrated in Mali
Felebration celebrated in Nigeria
FESTAC 77 celebrated in Nigeria
Festival of the dancing mask celebrated in Burkina Faso
Festival of the Dhow countries celebrated in Tanzania
Fez Festival of world sacred music celebrated in Morocco
Gaborone international music and culture week celebrated in Botswana
Gidi culture celebrated in Nigeria
Harare international festival of arts celebrated in Zimbabwe
Igogo festival celebrated in Nigeria
Knysna Oyster Festival celebrated in South Africa
Kwita Izina celebrated in Rwanda
Nupe Day festival celebrated in Nigeria
Panafest celebrated in Ghana
Sauti Za Busara celebrated in Tanzania
The Gerewol festival celebrated in Chad
The Schweppes east African concours d’ elegance celebrated in Kenya
Timkat/Epiphany celebrated in Ethiopia
Yam festival celebrated in Nigeria

35 Languages Spoken in Africa

There are diverse languages that are spoken in Africa as a whole. Here is a list of some languages spoken in Africa;

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Afrikaans
Amharic
Arabic
Berber
Chewa
Comorian
English
Fiote
French
Fulani
Hausa
Igbo
Ijo
Kinyarwanda
Kirundi
Malagasy
Ndebele
Oromo
Portuguese
Sepedi
Sesotho
Setswana/Tswana
Seychelles creole
Shona
Sindebele
Somalia
Swahili
Swati
Tigrinya
Tsonga
Umbundu
Venda
Xhosa
Yoruba
Zulu

Different Dances Famous Amongst Africans

Dance is another aspect of culture that is culturally relative. Africans take pride in their dance and it is performed with so much enthusiasm and skill. Different dance styles are performed for different reasons and these reasons may include; courtship, celebration, gaze, harvest, fertility ritual, rituals, worship, etc. These are some dances famous amongst Africans;

Adowa performed in Ghana by the Ashanti tribe
Agahu performed in ketonu by the Egun people
Agbaja performed in Ghana by the Ewe tribe
Agwara performed in Uganda by the Alur tribe
Atilogu performed in Nigeria by the Igbo tribe
Bikutsi performed in Cameroon
Bwola performed in Uganda by the Acholi tribe
Gombey performed in Senegal
Ingoma dance performed in South Africa by the Zulu tribe
Kakilambe performed in Mali by the Baga tribe
Kukere performed in Nigeria by the Efik tribe
Lamban performed in Guinea, Senegal, and Mali
Makossa performed in Cameroon
Muchongoyo performed in Zimbabwe
Penge performed in Nigeria by the Ijo tribe
Umteyo performed Amakhwenkwe of the Xhosa tribe
Yankadi and Macru performed in Guinea

African Countries and Pidgins

Most African countries have pidgins that they speak. This as a result of language contact. When there is no means of communication, people find a way and oftentimes pidgin results. This is the case of some African countries that were colonized. Some pidgins spoken in Africa include;