AFRICA’S RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC GROUPS

Arabs, Ashanti, Bantu, Swahili

Arabs

In 632 AD the Arab Muslims invaded North Africa which belonged to the Persians. The Arabs controlled Egypt and other parts of North Africa.

The Arab Muslims began to spread Islam throughout Africa. This violence by Muslims is known as a Jihad.

http://www.historyofjihad.org/africa.html

Arab Impact on Africa

Much of North Africa was once occupied by the Byzantine Christians and an indigenous group called the Berbers.

After the conquest by Muslim Arabs, North Africa would become Islamic.

Arab Impact on Africa

They conquered Palestine (635-636), Syria (638-640), and Egypt (639-642) from the Byzantines and first Iraq (635-637) and then Persia itself (637-642) from the Persians. Wherever they went, most of the people were forced to become Muslims and Arabic-speakers.

The converted people forgot their language and identity and started considering themselves to be Arabs.

This happened with Palestine (today’s Israel), Syria, Levant (today’s Jordan), Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and also partly with Sudan, and Somalia.

This trend was reversed only in Persia, where the people, in spite of the brutal Arab conquest, re-asserted their pre-Islamic Persian language after three hundred years of Arab tyranny.

Christianity in Africa

Christianity reached sub-Saharan Africa in the 1400’s by the Portuguese.

When Europe partitioned much of Africa, Christianity grew more rapidly and today is many African countries are Christian.

Ethnic Groups of Africa

SS7G4 The student will describe the diverse cultures of the people who live in Africa. a. Explain the differences between an ethnic group and a religious group.

b. Explain the diversity of religions within the Arab, Ashanti, Bantu, and Swahili ethnic groups.

Ethnic Groups of Africa

Arabs which are mainly located in North Africa of which religious group?

The Bantu are the oldest ethnic group in Africa.

Many languages have developed from the Bantu over thousands of years.

The religion of the Bantu varies, some are Muslim or Christian, while others still practice the old beliefs of magic and curses.

Islam

Ethnic Groups of Africa

The Ashanti are located in western Africa around Ghana.

What type religion do the Ashanti practice?

The Swahili belong to what religious group?

The Swahili came from the Arab and Bantu ethnic groups.

Traditional religious beliefs.Supernatural and spiritual powers.

Islamic

Ashanti and Swahili

Swahili

Governments

SS7CG2 The student will explain the structures of the modern governments of Africa.

a. Compare the republican systems of government in the Republic of Kenya and the Republic of South Africa, distinguishing the form of leadership and role of the citizen in terms of voting and personal freedoms.

b. Explain how political, economic, and social conflicts resulted in the independence of South Sudan.

Government of Kenya

In 1963 Kenya gained independence from the British.

The new constitution guaranteed the citizens many freedoms including speech, movement, and freedom from discrimination.

Kenya is a constitutional republic. Citizens take voting very seriously once they turn 18.

Government of Kenya

Kenya has three branches of government. What do you think they are called?

The people elect their legislature and their president. This makes Kenya a _____________?

executive, legislative ,judicial

Republic

The Republic of South Africa

1996 a new constitution was signed giving new rights to all South Africans particularly blacks.

Black South Africans now had personal freedoms such as privacy, speech, religion, assembly and many others.

The Republic of South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a parliamentary democracy.

The parliament of South Africa known as the National Assembly, elects the president.

The president answers to the legislature and may only serve up to 2 five year terms.

Elects

Independence for South Sudan

Sudan was mainly an Islamic nation influenced by Egypt.

Christian missionaries converted much of the southern people.

In 1956 Sudan gained independence with the promise that southerners would be able to participate in the government.

Independence for South Sudan

When the Muslim government went back on the deal, civil war erupted. 2.5 million people died as a result.

In 2009 South Sudan became an independent country from Sudan. Conflict still exist today between rebel groups and the government.

Economically, oil could be used to restore the country but conflict with Sudan has slowed progress.