Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Dioramas are three-dimensional creative projects made to represent or depict a snapshot in time. They are similar to miniature scenes, and can be used to teach children about important historical moments and concepts. Whether you are celebrating Black History Month or are studying African-American culture, a diorama project about African-American history is an effective way to engage kids in the subject matter while crafting something creative.
African art is a very personal expression of culture and self. Patterns reflect a language of geometric shapes and symbols that identify individuals according to age, gender and linage. Bright, expressive paint colors are applied to decorate leather clothing, walls and masks. African people have traditionally adorned themselves with paint in patterns of beauty and intrigue. Traditional symbols are traced back thousands of years.
The age of European exploration lasted from roughly the 15th to the 17th centuries. The age of colonialism lasted from roughly the 15th to the 20th centuries, but peaked in the early 19th century. It was followed by the age of imperialism in the 19th century. The goals of imperialism were not primarily about acquiring new lands, but about acquiring new markets. The advantages in status to imperial countries came in the form of captive markets for import, export and investment as well as tactical military advantages.
African helix is an African beading stitch technique similar to a DNA helix. The African helix uses a tubular technique in which weaving occurs by looping under the bead's string. According to Deviant Art, the African helix stitch is similar to the Saraguro and brick stitch. Deviant Art also notes that the African helix stitch is ideal when using beads with small holes. To use the African helix stick supplies, you will need: two different color beads size 10 or 11, jewelry clasps, bead thread, bead or sewing needle, pen or other circular object. All supplies needed to use the…
Many different techniques for creating hairstyles are not only attractive but also don't require a lot for you to maintain them. Braids and twists that people of African descent wear are versatile, and people of other races have adopted those styles because of their appeal.
Royalty is not the exclusive domain of Europe, and the continent of Africa has historically been ruled by its own kings and queens. Throughout Africa's history, in fact, a number of remarkable princesses led their people through some extraordinary times. In addition to the historical accounts of the lives of these women, African princesses have also been the subjects of fictional novels and even a proposed animated film.
The role of Africans in the slave trade was substantial. Much is known about the role that the United States and European powers such as England, Portugal and Spain played in the intricacies of this dark trade. However, less is available about the role the African people played in profiting from and perpetuating it. In fact, this role was so great that some kingdoms of western and central Africa were known as slave-trading kingdoms.
Both ethnography and ethnomethodology are terms found in the sociological and anthropological fields of study and can refer to methods of research. Ethnography a method of research, while ethnomethodology is a subdivision of sociology that focuses on the way that human beings in different societies construct their social orders.
There are are only nonspecific traditional legends of the rainstick and the gentle sound of rain it makes when used in ceremony. While several cultures claim its ancient beginnings, the rainstick appeared first in music in the 1960s. Some storytellers have given the rainstick a rich folkloric history by creating ancient-sounding legends about its uses in the tasks and ceremonies of native peoples.
Slavery began in the North American colonies in 1619. Since that time, 500,000 Africans were enslaved and forcibly removed from the western and central areas of Africa and brought over to America by ship in what was known as the Atlantic slave trade. These ships would sometimes stop in the Caribbean before going to what is now the United States or sail directly to the American colonies. The Atlantic slave trade has had both direct and indirect effects on today's African Americans.
South Africa has a rich history that is marked by challenges, trials and tribulations. Before the arrival of Europeans, the people of South Africa thrived on herding animals, hunting and gathering. Eventually, the arrival of Europeans would carry the dark cloud of slavery and war to the country. Despite these obstacles, South Africa has become a thriving part of the world in 2011.
Ethnography is a method of research that studies human groups through field study, including interviews, questionnaires, and participant observations. Ethnography is the fundamental research method of cultural anthropology. The way you consider ethnography in the study of African history is to look at the data collected by those who traveled to Africa for interviews and observation. Your job in research is not just to believe everything that the ethnographer's research tells you, but to weigh it according to your other knowledge of African history.
The East African Community is an organization made up of five African countries with the united purpose of improving the quality of life of its residents.
Africa has become increasingly inhospitable to the people living there. In some regions, due to drought, , food is life-threateningly scarce. These intermittent famines have garnered international attention, and dozens of organizations exist to help those in more agriculturally stable regions aid the people of Africa. Although many of these programs offer direct assistance, some focus on education and infrastructure building to help stabilize Africa's own agricultural systems. Since most programs do not allow you single out specific projects or help one tribe, if you have a specific initiative you wish to fund, it's important you choose a program that…
People on the African continent have been creating and designing fabrics for thousands of years. The type and style of fabric is dependent upon the culture of the people, the geographic location and the availability of resources.
The West African slave trade began during the 15th century. Over the next several centuries the slave trade grew into a massive operation fed by the constant demand for labor in the New World.
Organized formations coupled with synchronized chants and clapping characterize African stepping. The inspiration for the modern form of African stepping is bleak, but fraternities and other community groups have infused new energy into the dance form.
Calypso is a unique genre of music that originated on the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Calypso music is characterized by infectious rhythms, socially conscious lyrics and harmonic vocals.
Throughout the diverse continent of Africa, weddings have two things in common: the centrality of family and the importance of the bride as a link between any unborn children and the ancestors of both sides of the family. Some weddings take place over days, some are arranged before the bride-to-be is even born. Whatever the case, tradition and custom play a vital role in every aspect of African weddings, including the bride's attire.
The continent of Africa is rich in its culture and diversity. According to africaguide.com, Africa was the birthplace of the human species sometime between eight million and five million years ago. The history of the inhabitants is distinctive and much of their history and traditions are passed down to the next generation through music and dance.
In Africa, masks play an important role in the lives of its people, regardless of which part of the continent they live in. These masks are made from a variety of materials such as stone, wood, metal, ivory and, commonly, clay. Whatever the materials used, these masks hold a consecrated place in the lives of tribes and individuals.
African head wraps have been a part of both the African and the African American culture for centuries. The colorful cloths represent the history of the African people and are worn proudly by both men and women. African Americans who wish to preserve their heritage typically choose to wear head wraps even today. The head wrap has a different meaning when worn by men than it does when worn by women. Even the colors of the head wrap have a different meaning.
Across Africa, children face many similar challenges and successes with their education. Public education varies by country depending on the stability of government and the resources allocated for schools. Private schools exist in many forms throughout the continent. Many children have difficulty accessing schools and educational resources such as books, and teacher-student ratios tend to be too large for effective learning to take place. However, many children still do have access to traditional modes of education through their families and communities. Overall, education, in both pan-African and Western styles is a multi-faceted issue for Africa.
Since the late 1700s, shotgun houses have provided a unique house design for people in the United States. With the smaller interior and closeness of the rooms, the shotgun house offers a smaller living space that is utilized efficiently.
Modern percussion instruments used in jazz, rock, and even disco derive from West African tribal dance drums. Religious ceremonies, rituals, and communications center on the rhythm of the drum, so its role in tribal life and culture is more than just music. Drums differ from tribe to tribe in their build and timbre, representative of local resources.
Recognized for its beautiful natural colors, strong shapes, detail and spiritual significance, handmade African jewelry remains stylish and highly sought after all over the world. Jewelry from this continent began thousands of years ago in Egypt, and over the years evolved from beads crafted from eggs and other simple materials to working with metals, stones, glass and other materials that symbolized wealth and spiritual standing in a tribe or African community.
The first evidence of human tattooing was found 5,000 years ago in Egypt when a tattoo was found on a priestess who was mummified in a tomb. The practice of tattooing has continued in Africa, and was picked up by African-Americans in the United States.
African stools are one to two foot stools carved from wood or stone. Unlike most stools, African stools are not used for sitting. Instead, they serve an important spiritual and social purpose for the owner. African stools are most common in Sub-Sahara Africa, particularly amongst West Africans.
In Africa, both men and women participate in agricultural production. While women traditionally worked primarily on subsistence crops, they have become increasingly important to cash crop production and are now struggling for equal economic and land-holding rights.
Jamaica is an island in the North Caribbean that is a common tourist destination. Jamaican music has become popular in many different countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Africa.
Bimini is a small island located 50 miles off the east coast of Florida. Once a favorite retreat destiny for Ernest Hemingway, the location is divided into two main islands.
African slavery existed before Europeans began exporting slaves to the Americas. In the 16th century, the Portuguese were the first to have formal agreements to trade people for goods.
Throughout the history of Africa, imperialism and colonization from outside sources kept the continent in upheaval. This colonization began at the end of the Middle Ages and continued until the 20th century. Overall, Africa was subject to a number of atrocities, most notably slavery. War and conflict also spread across the continent for hundreds of years.
West African dance is an essential component of West African culture. Over time, traditional dances incorporated new moves, rhythms and ideas. Through the slave trade, and through national production of traditional dance forms, West African dance has found it's way around the globe. West African Dance has influenced many popular American dance forms, such as hip-hop, salsa and jazz dance. Traditional dances are still practiced by many people today.
The drum is perhaps the oldest musical instrument in the world, with every society employing it in varying degrees. However, it is most revered among the people of Africa, where it comes in various forms and fulfills various functions. The drum is the most important musical instrument in Africa.
Traditional West African ornaments formed a visual language that spoke to the observer about status, beliefs, family, accomplishments and life experiences of the wearer. Each bead, knot, pendant or bracelet was formed with spiritual care, and the materials themselves each had special powers and their own stories. For example, at Ghanan weddings, a bride wore a belt of beads purchased by her husband, and continued to wear them each day to indicate her marital status. Coming-of-age ceremonies were an occasion for young women to dance in many strands of beads. Mothers of twins wore special amulets that celebrated the magical…
The idea of African clothing inspires images of rich colors and ceremonial dress but, the fact is, African clothing is as diverse as the African continent. Africa's ancient civilizations demonstrate the continent's long history of creating clothing for utilitarian as well as celebratory and symbolic purposes. Despite its many variations, there are several unifying features of and facts about African clothing.
African jewelry can be traced back to the very first homo sapiens. The first jewelry came with the first humans, and the first humans came from Africa.
An African gong is a type of percussion instrument used on a daily basis. In Africa, music has a role in everyday life as well as in special events. It's used in activities related to labor, religion and cultural ceremonies. Africans make musical instruments from bronze, iron and other materials they find. They often make drums, rattles, gongs and bells from roofing metal, oil drums and soup cans.
