Unit: Early West African Societies
Lesson Title:
Early Society and Culture in West Africa
(See textbook pages 116-117)
The modern society and culture of a place and
its peoples hold clues about their history.
But what do these two terms mean?
Start with culture. What things do you think
about when you hear the word?
Definition - Culture: the knowledge, beliefs, values,
attitudes, meanings, religion, and material objects
acquired by a group of people over generations.
How would you describe our American culture?
Ancient Egyptian Society
What do we mean by society?
Look on pages R64 and 10 for an answer.
How is society organized?
(What are its parts?)
In class reading activity
Read “Families, Religion, and Daily Life” on
pages 116-117.
Answer these questions:
1. How did changes in climate lead to the creation
of villages in West Africa?
2. What were two important types of groups in
early West African society?
3. What were two important types of spiritual
beliefs in early West African society?
Society in Early West Africa
Thousands of years ago West Africa had a damp
climate. Then 5,000 years ago the land started to
turn to desert. This caused people to live closer
together in communities on the smaller amount
of land that had water and vegetation.
A village in Mali
Key Groups in early West African Society
The first communities were small family-based
hamlets with 15-20 members. The community
units were extended families that included the
parents, children, grandparents, and other
relatives. The families mostly farmed to survive.
Members of the communities also organized into
“age-sets” – groups of men or women around the
same age who worked together and supported
each other.
Villages
The family-based communities grew larger (100200 members) and became villages with chiefs
and councils of elders.
Religion
The organization of villages helped develop the culture
of the West African peoples. Religion became very
important. Two forms became common in early
times.
Traditional belief: the spirits of ancestors stay nearby.
Families carved special status and made special
places for them. Families offered food to the spirits
to keep them happy. They believed the spirits would
protect the village.
Animism: the belief that bodies of water, animals, trees
and other natural objects had spirits.
Spiritual beliefs and values like family loyalty
are part of a people’s culture. A good way to
learn about the culture of a people is to study
their artifacts.
What is an artifact?
(Look on pages R56 and 8 for the answer.)
What are artifacts of our American culture?
Scientists who study historical societies and
cultures by examining artifacts are called
archeologists.
Archeology can be hard and exciting work!
Right Side Notebook Activity
Artifact Analysis Challenge
Complete the artifact analysis chart (handout) for the West
African objects around the classroom. Trim and paste the
chart into your notebook.
Artifact sketch
3 details
Materials used Function & meaning
Artifacts from Ghana
Adinkra symbols of the
Asante and Akan peoples
Twi word - Translation - Cultural meaning and saying
Akoma - the heart – patience and tolerance
(a person who has heart in the stomach is tolerant)
Denkym – crocodile – adaptability
(a crocodile lives in water, walks on land, and
breathes air)
Gye Nyame – except for God
(God is supreme and all powerful)
Artifacts from Ghana
Masks
Masks represent the spirit of a deceased person,
mythical hero, or of an animal. Each tribe has its
own unique style of mask. They are worn at
important celebrations like weddings and feasts at
harvest time.
Masks help connect people to their ancestors.
Artifacts from Ghana – Stools and Chairs
The Asante have a golden stool that they believe floated
out of the sky and landed on the lap of their first king
(Osei-tutu) in the 17th century. They believe the soul of
the Asante tribe rests on the stool.
Village chiefs have a stool
that represents their authority.
People keep wooden chairs in their homes to hold the
soul of their family and deceased relatives.
Asante Kente Cloths
Kente cloth was first worn by royalty in
Ghana hundreds of years ago. The cloth has
weaving that resembles a basket. (“Kenten”
means basket.)
The colors in the cloth depict beliefs and
values. For example: green reflects newness
and vitality; white reflects purity and
honesty; black reflects maturity and age.