African traditions have numerous, solemn cultures that follow desired values, which are passed down over years. These strong customs shape these cultures to be cherished and privileged for their revered roots. African countries share divergent customs with their uncommon cultures. Even though Africa has so many cultures, they still share many common traditions that are still carried out today. Africa has over nearly 40 different cultures, all with unique life styles. Some common groups are the Ghana, Chad, and Kenya. Even though they are all different, some do contribute everyday lifestyle. Family is the most paramount view in African cultures. For example, in Chad, South Africa, the typical life you wake up to every morning is showed …show more content…
There are many different wedding and marriage traditions in parts of Africa. If a couple is planning on marrying, it is considered rude to not notify about the marriage to the community. Marriage to them is considered a privilege, not a right, which means they do not need a certificate to prove their love, or a license to be together. A woman, when about to get married, is respected and cherished, for she may one day carry a child that will be born to the community one day. Occasionally, the groom’s family will move out to the bride’s community to be with her, in hope of raising a strong family. Some popular wedding traditions are still even followed today. A favored wedding tradition is the traditional knock on the door. The groom knocks on the family of the bride’s door and waits for the acceptance of his knock. If the door is opened, they have a celebration of the couple and marry. Some other common ones include: jumping the broom's, crossing sticks, and tasting the four elements. Their weddings tend to be very flamboyant and energetic, but it really doesn't matter how dynamic the marriage is because the main focus is the spiritual and symbolic meaning the wedding has. Depending on what part of Africa you are in, bases how the African wedding will
Africanisms in America are a highly surveyed topic for the black community. Joseph E. Holloway describes Africanisms as “those elements of culture found in the New World that are traceable to an African origin” (Holloway 2). I believe, that africanisms are the traditions and cultural behaviors of African Americans that resemble the some of the same traditions and cultures in Africa. Which makes you ponder about what current elements does our culture use that ties back to Africa. Which in fact there are several africanisms that still exist. African Americans have retained an essence of Africa in their speech, hair care, clothing, preparation of foods, and music by over centuries of separation from the Dark Continent.
Africa, like many continents, have a variety of cultures and customs. These customs are unique and specific base on regions and religion. In this short document, “Africa: Will You Marry Me”, invites viewers to observe common practices and religions of Ethiopia, Mali, Niger, and Senegal. Through this forty-five-minute documentary, a family from each country is interviewed to portray the average customs in that particular part of Africa. The first interview was in Ethiopia with a young women named Rahel.
The African idea of the High God per Hopfe states that “there is a supreme High God who created the world and then withdrew from active participation.” (Hopfe, page 51, 20007), as well as that “there is a common belief that beyond all of the minor gods, goodness, spirits, and ancestors there is only one God who created and in some sense still governs the world.” African religions are generally considered polytheistic. In addition, it is also believed that this High God resides in a distant place and only returns when in time of need. Meanwhile the High God is so distant Hopfe states that the High Good is “too great to pay attention to prayers and petitions of human beings.” (Hopfe, pg. 53, 2007), therefore they rather pray to lesser spirits and ancestors.
Being a resident of South Carolina, African-American Culture was chosen as part of the applied learning project for the Intercultural Nursing class, because African-Americans make up more than a quarter of this state’s population. According to the 2010 United States Census Bureau, the total population for South Carolina (S.C.) is 4,625,364, with 27.9% being of African-American descent. The purpose of this paper is to develop an understanding and sensitivity to issues and cultural variances or phenomena that are unique to the African-American Culture. Another goal is to identify nursing interventions that are important for the nurse to consider in caring for this population. These phenomena’s include variances in social organization, communication, space, perception of time, environmental control, and biological variations associated with the African-American culture. (Giger, 2013 and South Carolina minority, n.d.)
the marriage. Polygamy: “A marriage form in which one individual has multiple spouses at the same time; from the Greek words' poly (“ many”) and Gamos (“marriage”)”. Examples of this would the whole history of Africa like no other continent in the world. African societies have managed to see children being a structure of prosperity and a family that has more children were considered to be more powerful.
In From Slavery to Freedom (2007), it was said that “the transition from slavery to freedom represents one of the major themes in the history of African Diaspora in the Americas” (para. 1). African American history plays an important role in American history not only because the Civil Rights Movement, but because of the strength and courage of Afro-Americans struggling to live a good life in America. Afro-Americans have been present in this country since the early 1600’s, and have been making history since. We as Americans have studied American history all throughout school, and took one Month out of the year to studied African American history. Of course we learn some things about the important people and events in African American history, but some of the most important things remain untold which will take more than a month to learn about.
Despite the restrictions imposed by slavery, African Americans have made significant contributions to American culture in music, literature, and cuisine.
There are two main cultures in the movie “12 Years of Slave” (IMDB) that will be considered in this milestone. The first culture is the African American culture, who were mostly represented by the slave culture in the film. The culture is easily defined by the dark color of their skin, and the poor shabby clothes that they wear. The male slaves are dressed in beige shirts and pants, while the women wear beige hammy down dresses. Often female slaves wore head wraps, that is connected to the African tradition.
What is culture, one might ask? According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, culture is the “customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group or the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life} shared by people in a place or time” (Culture). Five major characteristics that define a culture include culture is learned, culture is shared, culture is symbolic, culture is all-encompassing, and culture is integrated. Culture depends on the human capacity for cultural learning that encompasses shared rules for conduct and that are dependent upon symbols. Cultures can be integrated by using “social and economic forces, core values, and key symbols” (Mirror for Humanity, 2002). This essay will elaborate on the physical geography and military history of Sub-Saharan Africa, an analysis of its weather, and an overview of the ASCOPE acronym.
There are traditions and or rituals that we participate in year after year, even though we have forgotten what the meaning is or where it has come from. Every one of us has experienced some type of ritual or tradition in some form or fashion. Wedding and marriage rituals and traditions also fall true to this. There are different cultures that celebrate in different ways all over the world. There is a tradition for Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and South America, North America and even Caribbean traditions and Oceania traditions. I suppose there is a tradition or ritual for every corner of our world and for every tribe. I have even seen weddings for animals. Everyone seems to be getting into a ceremony! Within all of these different ceremonies, traditions and rituals have changed over the years. To go back hundreds of years ago, some couples did not even know each other when they were to be married, or paired up by the tribes or royal parents to choose the couple that would best suite the family. Just imagine not even meeting the one that you are supposed to marry and spend the rest of your life with until the day of the ceremony. These traditions were kept sacred and carried out just because that is the way that it has always been done. Most wedding ceremonies would consist of the same rituals and traditions that would be carried on down from generations. Most people doesn’t even know what most of the traditions mean. Unfortunately with time, and more modern ways, these rituals are being changed.
African culture has a deep respect for music and rhythm. They feel that rhythm is life and signifies how human relationships create the very fabric of our meaning. Cross beats create tension but different parts working together can be a great way of creating the whole. When creating rhythm, African music often relies on shakers or the double bell - an instrument made of iron and creating two different tones.
...’s depictions of both traditional and modern beliefs in varying degrees illustrate the importance of both in contemporary Nigerian culture, as well as the greater Africa as a whole, and how both are intertwined and cannot exist without the other. In effect, she skillfully subverts stereotypes or single perceptions of Africa as backward and traditional, proving instead, the multifaceted culture of Africa. She further illustrates that neither traditional African nor western culture is necessarily detrimental. It is the stark contrast of the fundamental cultures that inevitably leads to clashes and disagreements. In the end, what holds African countries such as Nigeria together is their shared pride. Modern, western influences can bring positive changes to society, but new cultures cannot completely eradicate the foundational cultures to which a society is founded on.
European Culture vs. African: France occupied Africa and brought in the language and educational system, but the cultural traditions of marriage, living, and the place of woman is still under African traditions.
South Africa is a nation with a wonderful and varied culture. This country has been called “The Rainbow Nation”, a name that reflects the diversity of such amazing place. The different ethnic and cultural groups of the South Africa do, however, appreciate their own beliefs and customs. Many of these traditions, besides African culture, are influenced by European and Western heritage. The complex and diverse population of the country has made a strong impact to the various cultures. There are forty-five million people; about thirty million are black, five million white, three million coloured and one million Indians. The black population has a large number of rural people living in poverty. It is among these inhabitants that cultural customs are preserve the most.
Do you wonder what types of weddings are out there? There are actually many types of weddings like Gypsies, Indian, and Japanese etc. All of these weddings are different and unique, but the one that is the most vibrant and traditional is an Indian wedding. Indian weddings stand out because they have all these new and fun moments and parts to the wedding. These weddings also follow a very strict religion as well making the wedding more entertaining to watch. Marriage and wedding traditions emphasize the traditions of India because they value religion, respect tradition and, differ from American weddings.