African Tribe Culture

When you think of Africa, ancient and modern alike, you probably think of tribes. African tribe culture is characterized by a diverse set of social values and traditions. Some of these traditions center around a set of religious ideals, others are as old as the land itself. Whatever the case, Africa is certainly a complex place which is sometimes hard to understand. Let us help you get to know the area a little more.

African tribe culture includes a wide variety of religious values and ideals. While paganism was essentially the earliest religion of Africa with the focus on ancestor worship and spirituality, many modern religions have made their way into individual tribes over the last couple of thousand years. These religions include Christianity and Judaism. Islam has taken root as well, especially in the country of Egypt. The religions adopted by each area and tribe help define different tribes throughout Africa even today.

African tribe culture has a vast variety of art forms as well. The music of Africa is especially well-known and beautiful and varies from tribe to tribe. In addition to the popular choral singing of Africa, the rhythms adopted by early African tribal life through ceremonial and celebratory music and dance helped to influence modern day samba, blues, jazz, rap, rock and roll, and reggae. As people from other countries have moved into Africa through the years, they have also influenced the highly eclectic art of the continent.

African tribe culture is full of a wide variety of languages as well. In the early days of tribal life, simple, native languages were spoken. Zulu and Swahili are just a couple of the languages that survived into modern times. These languages are still spoken today by many tribes, especially by more isolated tribes. In recent years, however, European, Middle Eastern, and South American languages have become more common in many parts of Africa. In many countries, English has become the most-used language.

We can learn a lot from African tribe culture. The dynamic within each individual tribe is something to be admired. People living together and helping out other members of the tribe made for a more efficient society. One can only wonder what incorporating some of these techniques would mean to our own western culture today. We may not need these methods for survival, but perhaps it would benefit us in a more spiritual way to be connected to and truly invested in the lives of our neighbors.

Find authentic African tribal masks, art and artifacts - use these beautiful pieces of African culture to decorate your home, garden or office. The African decorating theme is gaining in popularity. This is due to its neutrality and versatility, as well as its warm and natural beauty. You can get in on the trend with African art. Art with African themes is a great option for anyone looking to start small with the African decorating theme or anyone who wants to add to an already Africa-themed room. For more on cultural and traditional art of the world visit Asian Furniture.

The Roots of Stepping-African Dance

African dance's central trait is that it is diffused. This means that the body is infused with the entire rhythm of the dance and movement may start with any part of the body (shoulders, chest, pelvis, arms, legs etc.) and naturally integrate the rest of the body, very unlike other dances of the world wherein the body is treated as a "stiff" unit. Unlike the movement through space of the whole body that plays the most important role in many European dances (e.g. Classical Ballet), the resulting complex movements that seem to come from "inside" the body is what makes African dance distinct.

African American "vernacular dances" are characterized by ongoing change and development and places great value on improvisation. Vernacular dances are dances which have developed 'naturally' as a part of 'everyday' culture within a particular community. This kind of dancing is very organic in the sense that it adapts to changes in the environment. Because they exist in social spaces the main purpose of African American dance is self-expression, they are continually changing to reflect the needs, interests and personalities of their participants. Because these dances are vernacular, they have a tendency to incorporate steps from other dance traditions and any particular African American dance shows clear evidence of its relationship to other, earlier dances.

African American dance was a response to the conditions of slavery in the United States in the early 1600s. Life for African slaves in America was controlled mainly by slave owners or "masters" and local communities in which these slaves were made to work. African slaves in America were forbidden by their white masters to express their religion, social and cultural practices and were made to follow practices that were entirely alien to them. The influence of their master's culture combined with their indigenous culture and produce new hybrid forms.

African American dance is normally not learned in formal dance schools. Very young African American children often learn to dance as they grow up, developing not only a body awareness and coordination but also learning the soul and rhythm of the dance which are particular to their community. These children learn to dance in a natural and social manner, by mimicking what they hear and see around them. Children learn specific dance steps or 'how to dance' from their families - most often from older brothers and sisters, cousins or other older children.

The natural progression from African Dance in Africa to African American Dance in America is a distinct and inevitable process of infusion of a culture meeting another culture. The variety of dances that came out of this infusion can be seen in different regions of the United States. Stepping is a direct product of that infusion and the movements developed are uniquely African American.

Stepping, as an art form, can not be anything but African American. The loose limbed movements and rhythmic poundings of the dancer's body are indigenous to African culture. The factors (history, religion and culture) that influenced stepping in its early stages of development have made it the unique, exciting dance it is now.

MyStepShow.com is a free video sharing community website that features step team performances. Members can post and share video footage of their stepteam performances. Visit http://www.MyStepShow.com to learn more about the tradition of stepping.

Nefertiti

Nefertiti

This ancient Egyptian queen was famous throughout the ancient world for her outstanding and unusual beauty. She was married to the legendary king Akhenaten, and is the most well known queen of Egypt. Her face is one of the most recognizable icons from this period in history.

Hardly anything is known about the origins of Nefertiti but it is highly unlikely that she was of royal blood. Her father was possibly a high official Amenhotep III. Akhenaten and Nefertiti had six daughters, although the succession after his death is not certain and there is no record of a male heir. After queen Nefertiti's death her body disappeared and has since never been found. The mysterious icon of her face is worn in jewelry throughout Africa in recognition of her reign. Some Africans believe that since her body disappeared and was never found that she was taken up to heaven with God and never in fact died. Because of this they will wear her pendant in hopes that the same fortune will be theirs.

Kwanzaa

Discover a perfect way to celebrate the African heritage with Kwanzaa! This famous holiday was founded in 1965 by graduate student Maulana Karenga. He believed that the African American people needed an annual holiday to celebrate their differences, so that they could grow strong as a whole, strengthen their collective self-concepts as a people, honor their past, critically evaluate their present, and commit themselves to a fuller, more productive future.

Kwanzaa literally means “first fruits of the harvest” in the African language Kiswahili. This holiday is a time when Africans and African Americans can get together to give thanks, and to enjoy the blessings of living and acting together as a family. The celebration starts on December 26th and continues through January 1st.

One of the important acts of Kwanzaa is to arrange all the Kwanzaa symbols on a table on the 19th of December. The steps are as follows:

Step #1 - Spread the Mkeka (A straw mat)

Step #2 - Place the kinara (candle stand) in the center of the Mkeka.

Step #3 - Place the muhindi (ears of corn) on either side of the Mkeka. One ear of corn for each child in the family.

Step #4 - Creatively place the zawadi (gifts), kikombe cha umoja (unity cup), tambiko (water and soil), and a basket of fruit on the mkeka.

Step #5 - Hang up bendera ya taifa (flag of the black nation). It should be facing the east.

Step #6 - Place mishumaa saba (Seven candles) in the kinara. Remember the mishumaa should be red, black and green. Use any creative match you desire. Examples - three red, three green; one black; two red; two green; three black. The most common practice is to have One black candle in the center; three red candles to the left of the black candle; and the three red candles to the right of the black center candle.

Afterwards it is suggested that you fast for one week to cleanse the body, discipline the mind and uplift the spirit.

On the first day of Kwanzaa all members of the family unite in Harambee (Let’s pull together), it is a call for unity. Each member of the family raises up the right arm with an open hand and while pulling down, closes the hand into a fist. Harambee is done in sets of seven in honor and reinforcement of the Nguzo Saba (seven guiding principles), one for each day of kwanzaa. The Nguso Zaba, seven principles are as follows:

Day 1 - Umoja: Unity

Day 2 - Kujichagulia: Self-Determination.

Day 3 - Ujima: Responsibility

Day 4 - Ujamaa: Cooperative economics.

Day 5 - Nia: Purpose.

Day 6 - Kuumba: Creativity

Day 7 - Imani: Faith.

One of the most vital parts of Kwanzaa is the lighting ceremony, which is normally performed by the youth. The youth light one candle on each day of Kwanzaa until all seven have been lit. After the ceremonial lighting, the principle of the day is discussed. The discussion is focused on each member’s understanding one of the seven guiding principles and their commitment and responsibility to practice that principle for the better of self, family, and African American people.

Kwanzaa is a spiritual, festive and joyous celebration of the unity and goodness of life, which claims no ties to any religion. Kwanzaa is a way of life; not just a celebration. It is a week of remembering, reassessing, recommitting, rewarding and rejoicing.