African culture

African culture

African Culture is a term that encompasses the various cultures of the people of Africa. With over 2000 distinct ethnic groups and approximately 2000 languages spoken, African culture is diverse, rich, and varied.

Overview

African culture is a blend of indigenous, foreign, and blended elements. The continent's cultural regeneration has been an integral aspect of post-independence nation-building on the continent, with a recognition of the need to harness the cultural resources of Africa to enrich the process of education, requiring an overhaul of the colonial system and its underlying assumptions.

History

The history of Africa begins with the emergence of Homo sapiens in East Africa, and continues into the present as a patchwork of diverse and politically developing nation states. The history of Africa is filled with social and political systems that were formed in response to a variety of environmental and cultural challenges.

Languages

Africa is home to thousands of languages. These include those of the Afro-Asiatic, Nilo-Saharan, Niger-Congo, and Khoisan families, as well as several major languages of Europe and Asia.

Religion

Religion in Africa is multifaceted and has been a major influence on art, culture, and philosophy. The majority of Africans are adherents of Christianity or Islam. African people often combine the practice of their traditional belief with the practice of Abrahamic religions.

Music

Music of Africa is as vast and varied as the continent's many regions, nations, and ethnic groups. The African music is often functional in nature, and includes the widespread use of drums.

Art

African art encompasses both traditional art and the contemporary art of Africa. Traditional African art is typified by sculpture and masks, with the human figure being the most common subject matter.

Cuisine

African cuisine is a generalized term collectively referring to the cuisines of Africa. The continent is the second largest landmass on Earth, and its cuisine reflects its many native plants, animals, and cultural influences.

Clothing

African clothing is the traditional clothing worn by the people of Africa. These are typically made from animal skin, grass, and other materials. In some instances, traditional garments have been replaced by western clothing introduced by European colonialists.

See Also

• Culture of Asia
• Culture of Europe
• Culture of North America
• Culture of South America
• Culture of Australia

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