ANTH326 Peoples and Cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa Meeting 3, September 24, 2007

Toward critical thinking Consensus opinion from African studies Factoids again

Toward critical thinking

Consensus opinion from African studies

Empowerment OLPC Portal History Bantu Languages Wikipedia of Africa

Empowerment

OLPC

Portal

History

Bantu Languages

More Than 1000 Articles 77. Afrikaans : af (8281) (IE) 89. Swahili : sw (5982) (Bantu) 101. Yoruba : yo (4072) (Benue Congo) 113. Amharic : am (2989) (Semitic) In African languages

More Than 1000 Articles

77. Afrikaans : af (8281) (IE)

89. Swahili : sw (5982) (Bantu)

101. Yoruba : yo (4072) (Benue Congo)

113. Amharic : am (2989) (Semitic)

147. Lingala : ln (808) (Bantu) 152. Wolof : wo (444) (Atlantic) 154. Igbo: ig (418) (Benue Congo) 170. Malagasy: mg (291) (Malayo Polynesian) 172. Somali: so (288) (Cushitic) 176. Kongo: kg (270) (Bantu) Less than 1000 articles

147. Lingala : ln (808) (Bantu)

152. Wolof : wo (444) (Atlantic)

154. Igbo: ig (418) (Benue Congo)

170. Malagasy: mg (291) (Malayo Polynesian)

172. Somali: so (288) (Cushitic)

176. Kongo: kg (270) (Bantu)

Less Than 200 Articles 188. Oromo: om (184) (Cushitic) 189. Tigrinya: ti (177) (Semitic) 191. Ewe: ee (175) (Kwa/Gbe) 198. Bambara : bm (138) (Mande) 203. Zulu: zu (107) (Bantu)

188. Oromo: om (184) (Cushitic)

189. Tigrinya: ti (177) (Semitic)

191. Ewe: ee (175) (Kwa/Gbe)

198. Bambara : bm (138) (Mande)

203. Zulu: zu (107) (Bantu)

Particularism/Universalism Anthropology Fluidity Lack fixed boundaries Contacts Negotiate identity African Specificity

Particularism/Universalism

Anthropology

Fluidity

Lack fixed boundaries

Contacts

Negotiate identity

Alternative to votes Democracy Negotiation Argument Debate «Arbre à palabres» (“Talking Tree”) “Consensus culture”

Alternative to votes

Democracy

Negotiation

Argument

Debate

«Arbre à palabres» (“Talking Tree”)

Ecological concept Central/Eastern/Southern (more than North/West) Peaceful influence more than invasion Intermarriage Symbiosis

Ecological concept

Central/Eastern/Southern (more than North/West)

Peaceful influence more than invasion

Intermarriage

Agriculturalists/foragers State/bands Widespread religions, local belief systems Coexistence

Agriculturalists/foragers

State/bands

Widespread religions, local belief systems

Settlements Surplus Population City State Hierarchy Intensification

Settlements

Surplus

Population

City

State

Hierarchy

Similar to archeology Dark Continent Remnants Older African studies

Similar to archeology

Dark Continent

Remnants

Sculptures Architecture Textiles Languages Social structure Identifiable "cultures"

Sculptures

Architecture

Textiles

Languages

Social structure

Iron age as if stage Civilization (Game) Linear evolution ( Tech Tree ) Prerequisites Compete Technological Evolutionism

Iron age as if stage

Civilization (Game)

Linear evolution ( Tech Tree )

Prerequisites

Compete

Lamphear/Falola

Kingdoms/empires Forced confederacies Loose organisation History of states

Kingdoms/empires

Forced confederacies

Loose organisation

Small groups Not necessarily connected identity Nomadic groups Pastoralists (herders) Non-State

Small groups

Not necessarily connected identity

Nomadic groups

Pastoralists (herders)

Nilotes (Nilo-Saharan) Cushitic-speaking (Nilo-Saharan) Bantu-speakers (Niger-Congo) Mande speakers (Niger-Congo) San/Khoisan ("click") Sudanic languages (outdated classification) Large cultural groups

Nilotes (Nilo-Saharan)

Cushitic-speaking (Nilo-Saharan)

Bantu-speakers (Niger-Congo)

Mande speakers (Niger-Congo)

San/Khoisan ("click")

Sudanic languages (outdated classification)

Afro-Asiatic (including Semitic languages) Khoisan (including “click” languages) Niger-Congo (including Bantu languages) Nilo-Saharan (including Songhay, Maasai, Kanuri) Language families

Afro-Asiatic (including Semitic languages)

Khoisan (including “click” languages)

Niger-Congo (including Bantu languages)

Nilo-Saharan (including Songhay, Maasai, Kanuri)

Ease borrow language Trade languages Speech communities Not inter-communication Language families as cultures?

Ease borrow language

Trade languages

Speech communities

Not inter-communication

Next two weeks Age-Sets Age-Grades Lineages Queen Mother Artisans Social Structure

Next two weeks

Age-Sets

Age-Grades

Lineages

Queen Mother

Artisans

Cosmopolitan networks Urban life Local "Ethnic" Schools (Koranic, Missionary, National) Associations

Cosmopolitan networks

Urban life

Local

"Ethnic"

Schools (Koranic, Missionary, National)

Initiation societies Muslim brotherhoods (sufism) Tijaniyya Freemasons Secret societies

Initiation societies

Muslim brotherhoods (sufism)

Tijaniyya

Freemasons

Environment Crops Cash crops Food crops (subsistence farming) Intercontinental contacts Geography

Environment

Crops

Cash crops

Food crops (subsistence farming)

Intercontinental contacts

Gellar

Industrial revolution Capitalism Invasion Scramble

Industrial revolution

Capitalism

Invasion

Amadou Hampaté Bâ Colonials not seeing power Even recent Experience abroad Colonial Experience

Amadou Hampaté Bâ

Colonials not seeing power

Even recent

Experience abroad

Colonial past Fanon's critique Hegemony Egalitarian because Post-Colonial structures? Solway and Lee Anthropology's Critique of Colonialism

Colonial past

Fanon's critique

Hegemony

Egalitarian because Post-Colonial structures?

Solway and Lee

Created or reinforced by colonials Region Trade language Community of experience Spurious? Defining groups

Created or reinforced by colonials

Region

Trade language

Community of experience

Spurious?