African Music

African Music

Africa is known for their use and love for music and dance. They have made music for thousands of years, and it has been a part of who they are. One of the most important instraments used in African music is the drum, which is usually played with sticks or by hand. The drums throughout history have been a means of communication and have been passed down from generation to generation throughout history. Music has always been apart of African culture and their daily lives. Music has been used as a means of communication during religious or war times. And during story telling and celebrations. Singing in African music is also very important. One of the more known and unique ways of seeing is the "call and response", which is when one individual sings a phrase and a groud responds. This technique is still used today. Music will and always has been one of the most moving and inspiration aspects of African life. There is no doubt in my mind that music will never fade in their culture.

Sports in South Africa

South African Sports

There are many popular and interesting sports in South Africa. Some of the most popular sports are boxing, cricket, rugby union, football, and hockey. Although, there is a huge women inequality in Africa, women are still a huge factor and participate greating in African sports. One of the main sports that African American women participate in and succeed greatly in is track. African American women conquer many other countries in track and field. An increasingly popular sport is Australian rules football, which is a fast growing sport. Canoeing is also a very popular sport in Africa. A large number of canoe events happen annually in South Africa. Such events include the Dusi Canoe Marathone and the Fish River Marathon. Cricket is the second most popular sport in South Africa. The national team is known as the Proteas. South Africa is one of the leading cricket playing nations in the world. South Africa also has one of the strongest cycling scenes. There are many other sports that are noteable in South Africa's history, but here were just a few.

South African Foods

South African Foods
There are many delicious and traditional foods that are made in South Africa. Africa is known for their braais, which is barbeques. One of their favorite and traditional foods is called bitong, which is strips of dried meat that comes in various flavors and types. Also Potjiekos is a famous slowly cooked meat and vegetable stew. This is tradictionally cooked over a fire. Mielie Pap, which is a familiar diet in South Africa, is stiff corn meal mix. A popular food that is usually always cooked on the braais (barbeque), is the Boerewors, which is a spicy sausage. Some delicious desserts are the melktert and the koeksisters, which are doughy sweet treats. Some of the less familiar foods to us would be the Skop. This might sound appaling to the average American, but this is the head of cow, sheep, or goat. Before the head of these animals is boiled, they are first scrubbed to remove the skin and unneccary parts such as the ears and nose. Here are just a few of the traditional foods made in South Africa!

Here is an unnappetising picture of a cow head ready to be boiled to perfection!

2010 Africa Cup of Nations

The 2010 Africa Cup of Nations was the 27th Africa Cup of Nations. It is the biennial football championship of Africa. In began on January 10, 2010 and lasted until January 31, 2010. It took place in Angola, Africa. Angola was joined by 15 nations, which included 53 African national teams. A total of 29 games were played during the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. Egypt won this tournament, which was their seventh Africa Cup of Nations title in history. Ghana received second place, and Nigeria came in third.

Here is a picture of Algeria Vs. Eygpt during their game.

Here is a picture of the trophy Egypt received!

Aids Epidemic

I found an article called Africa University Cares in a Region Severly Infected by HIV/AIDS. In Zimbabwe, where the Africa University is located, has one of the highest HIV infection rates. Within a very short distance of the beautiful campus are several small towns and villages that are highly infected with HIV/AIDS. It is estimated that that out of the 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the world, 30 million are located in sub Saharan Africa. It was found that about 3.4 million men, women, and children acquired the HIV infection in 2003 alone. It was also found that in 2003 that an estimated 2.4 million individuals died from the HIV infection. No less then 26.8 percent of young individuals in Zimbabwe have the HIV infection. Most of these individuals are women as well. A very scary and disturbing fact is that an estimated 90% of these individuals are unaware of their infection. A disturbing 33% of infacts are infected with HIV through transmission. Thats about 50,000 infants each year. And 70% of infant deaths are aids related. It is clear that something needs to be done to help these people receive a better life. More adequete health care needs to be given to these individuals!

African Dance History

I found an interesting website about African Dance History. The website is called History of African Dance. African dances have always been a very important factor in African history and culture. It expressed many different things for African tribes. It was used in times of need to help ward off danger to the tribe. It was also used to ask for prosperity, to express feelings and emotions, and most importantly during celebrations. Some important celebrations would include birth and marriage. One of the most important things dance was used for was for religion and beliefs.

One of the main differences and significant importances of African dance compared to other cultures dances was that African dance was polycentric, which meant that the dancers body is not treated as one single unit, but as several centers, or segmented areas. In each area, the movement of the dance was able to move to different rhythems within the music. These movements can move throughout the shoulder, arms, chest, pelvis, and legs.

Drums are extremely important in African music and dance because the drumbeat is the heartbeat of the dance. It helps to set the beat, and bring everyone together as one. During the Twentieth century there were many different dances that dominated the African culture. These dances included the Charleston, Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, the Twist, and the Jazz dance.

It is clear today that African dance has always and always will be one of the most influential and important factors in African society and culture throughout the world.

The Yoruba People

The Yoruba People


I found this website that informs briefly on all of the different tribes in Africa. A tribe that I found interesting was teh Yoruba tribe. They are located in the southwest of Nigeria and Benin. The Yoruba people are well known for their variety of different artistic forms such as pottery, weaving, beadwork, metal work, and mask making. For the most part, many of these artistics forms are created to honor their Gods and ancestors, which means there is much art created due to the fact that there are more then 401 known Gods. The Yoruba have been compared to the Greeks due to the similarities in the amount of Gods and meanings. In Africa the Yoruba have started to become very popular to the African society because many Africans are claiming them as their family roots and following Yoruba's religion.





The Yoruba originated from a group of people called the Oyo, whom were very popular due to their trading with the Portugeuse who they received many guns from. However a group called the Fulani invaded them and Yoruba was unable to push them back. In the 1800's the Yoruba and Fulani formed a treaty and in 1901 were colonized by Britian. In general, the Yoruba are an agriculture society, with 15 % of it's people as merchants, artists, and craftmans.

The Bobo Tribe

The Bobo Tribe

There is a tribe of African Americans located in the western Burkina Faso and Mali. This tribe is called the Bobo people. They are known for their mask that they wear with extremely elborate outfits for celebrations. The Bobo people are primarily an agricultural society. There population includes about 100,000 individuals. Since the Bobo have lived in this area of Africa for centuries the Bobo have their own primary language, which is simply called "Bobo" or "Mande."

The main goal of the Bobo culture is the restore the nature in which man has destroyed. The people attempt to restore nature through sacrifices and ceremonies. The Bobo believe in a couple different Gods. Their primary God in which they believe in and worship is Wuro whom is responsible for ordering the land, or in other words ordering all things in the world into two. Wuro is also the creator of Bobo. He is never physically represented and according to the Bobo is unable to be described in words. Their second main God is Dwo, whom is revealed during masking ceremonies. The God Dwo is said to choose to live in a mask until worn. once his spirit lives in the wearer, the wearer is then said to be able to communicate to others Dwo's wills.