This document discusses the differences between ethnic groups and religious groups in Africa. It provides examples of four major ethnic groups found in Africa - Arab, Ashanti, Bantu, and Swahili - and describes the religious diversity within each group. The Arab ethnic group predominantly follows Islam, while the Ashanti practice a mixture of traditional spiritual beliefs and Christianity/Islam. The large Bantu group practices a wide variety including animism, Islam, and Christianity. Most Swahili people adhere to Islam along with traditional beliefs in spirit possession.

1. Africa Culture
SS7G4
What are the differences between an
ethnic group and a religious group?

2. What is an ethnic group?
• Group of people who share cultural ideas
and beliefs that have been a part of their
community for generations
• Examples: languages, religion, shared
history, types of food, traditional stories,
beliefs, or rituals
Which would be an example of an ethnic group?
a. People who grow a similar food
b. People who share a language or religion
c. People who share a belief in god or gods
d. People who like to read the same literature

3. What is an religious group?
• Shares a belief system in a god or gods,
with a specific set of rituals and
literature.
Which would be an example of a religious group?
a. People who grow similar food
b. People who share a language or religion
c. People who share a belief in god or gods
d. People who like to read the same literature

4. African Culture
SS7G4
What is the diversity of
religions within the Arab,
Ashanti, Bantu, and Swahili
ethnic groups?

5. Ethnic group: Arab
• Live in North Africa; found throughout
Africa today
• Follow Islam religion
• Embrace Muslim traditions and linked to
the Middle East
• Africans learned to speak Arabic
language to be able to read the Quran
• Arab traders spread the Islam religion
while trading gold and salt to Africans

6. Ethnic group: Ashanti
• Majority live in Ghana
• Religion: mixture of spiritual and
supernatural powers, worship a golden
stool that represents power, worship
one supreme god called Nayme
• other Ashanti people practice
Christianity and Islam along with the
traditional Shanti religion

8. Ethnic group: Bantu
• Many different African people who
share a related language and some
cultural characteristics that covered a
large expanse of Africa
• Over 60 million people today are part of
the Bantu culture
• Bantu practice a wide variety of
religions such as Animism, Islam, and
Christianity

10. Ethnic group: Swahili
• Majority are found in the Eastern part of
Africa
• Speak a language that is a mixture of
Bantu and Arabic
• In Arabic Swahili means “one who lives
on the coast”
• Religion most common to Swahili’s is
Islam
• Believe in “mila”: a belief that spirits can
possess a person