AFAM unit 1

African American Studies

The study of people African descent, largely in the US. It emerges in the late 1960s as a response to the lack of university courses on African Americans. Disciplines include history, anthropology, econ, bio, etc.

Diaspora

the migration and spread of African American from their homeland. Happened through centuries of forced removal to become slaves in different countries.

Interdisciplinary studies

studies that analyzes the history, culture, and politics of people African descent. AFAM is an interdisciplinary study

emergence of AFAM classes

end of civil rights movement and black power movement in the 1960s and 1970s black students entered mostly white institutions. black students and other race students led protests at over 1000 colleges to study and experience black people’s history.

Complex societies

advanced social structures characterized by a high degree of organization, social stratification, and cultural development

Atlantic Slave Trade

occurred between the 16th and 19th centuries where millions of African Americans were taken from different parts of the world (mainly africa) to the Americas to work as slaves played a crucial role in shaping economic systems, cultural exchanges, and societal structures.

geographical features of africa

had 5 primary climate zones: desert, semiarid, savanna grasslands, tropical rainforests, mediterranean. location fostered global connections

Major water routes: movement of people and goods through trade

fertile land: expansion of agriculture and domestication of animals

sahel and savanna

connected trade between communities. Many African civilization emerged in the Sahel and grasslands of Africa due to major water routes, fertile agricultural land, and long distance trade

5 major rivers and seas & oceans

red sea, Indian ocean, mediterranean sea, atlantic ocean

Niger river, Congo River, Zambezi River, Orange River, Nile River

Climate

variations in climate allowed for diverse opportunities for trade

Bantu

general term united common languages of 500 ethnicities

Bantu People

Large group of over 500 ethnicities in Africa who share common linguistic and cultural traits. Migration across sub-saharan africa significantly influenced continent’s demographics, cultures, and economies (through agricultural practices and ironworking techniques)

Bantu migration/ Bantu expansion

Bantu people began to migrate out of the area and spread over africa. From southern african to west and central africa occurred between 1500 BCE and 500 CE

Technical development and agricultural innovation —> led to population growth of west and central

population growth triggered series of migration

Causes of bantu migration

exhaustion of local resources

overpopulation

more competition for local resources

warfare between different tribes

climate change

Effects of Bantu migration

spread of bantu languages

more technological advances

spread of certain foods

Egypt

earliest civilization in Africa, after hunting was replaced for agriculture Egypt united under the first Pharaoh (old kingdom 3200-2050 bc)

Ancient egypt was noteworthy because of:

1. no civilization lasted longer (500yrs)

2. achievements: writing, astronomy, geometry, etc

3. greatest influence of early cultures (situated between Africa, Asia, and Europe

Nubia/Kush

earliest complex society and had a lot of gold

Aksum

present day eritrea and ethiopia, close to the red sea trade with mediterranean and roman empire.

Achievements: currency

Nok

present day Nigeria

Achievements: sculptures (pottery), Stone instruments

Colonialism

Control of different populations by other people. impozing colonizer’s culture, language, and practices of indigenous peoples

Sudanic Empires

Ghana: 7th-13th century

Mali: 13th-17th century

Songhai:15th-16th century

Songhai

freed themselves from Mali. last and largest empire, after portuguese exploration along western coast of Africa, trade routes shifted —> trans-saharan —> atlantic which diminished their wealth

Ghana

their real power was commerce, their kings were rich through trade. They controlled Southern trans-saharan trade route. Ghana was conquered and became part of the Mali empire.

Exported: pepper, enslaved (war captives), gold

Mali Empire

after sunita defeated ghana and created mali and gained control of gold mines (mali converted to Islam)

Malis most important city —> Timbuktu

Mansa Musa

Mali reached its peak during reign of Mansa Musa, made him wealthiest ruler. Mansa Musa from Mali went on the hajj to Mecca in the 14th century, spreading stories of the wealth of the Mali empire which drew attention from European powers. After Mansa Musa died, Mali declined

Gold Salt Trade

was a significant economic system that involved the exchange of gold and salt between West african empires and traders from north african and beyond. Connected various cultures and fostered economic growth and political power

Gold drove wealth and salt was essential for preserving food and maintaining health.

Trans-Saharan Trade

moved gold, salt, slaves, ideas, technologies, and religions. Was a possibly dangerous highway to connect mediterranean world with the wealthy kingdoms of West Africa

Hajj

pilgrimage to Mexxa

Timbuktu

Timbuktu: major hub for trade: gold, enslaved, and salt. Sankore mosque (1st African university), and leading center of islamic learning

Griot

prestigious historians, storytellers, and musicians who maintained and shared a community’s history, traditions and cultural practices

Gender played a role in griot traditions, African women and men who preserved knowledge of community’s with deaths, marriages

Mande griots —> passed oral traditions

Epic of Sundiata

narrative Mali Empire that tells the story of Sundiata Keita, founder of the empire. reflects the social and plitical structures of one of Africa’s greatest empires. emphasized the importance of oral tradition in preserving history.

religious syncretism

merging of different cultures, religions, and languages. Africa participated in different trade routes which led to many groups adopt islam, christianity, and other outside influences.

Syncretic practices

blending or merging of different belief systems or practices to create something new

indigenous beliefs

crucial element of African and African-descended spiritual traditions and practices, shaped diverse communities across the African diaspora

Animism

belief system that attributes spiritual essence to all entities (including animals, plants, and inanimate objects). Nature is seen as alive and interconnect which influences social structures and cultural practices

Voodoo

syncretic religion. resilience and creativity of enslaved Africans and their descendants as they retained and adapted African traditions in the Americas

Vodun

originated during the transatlantic slave trade. Blends African traditions with elements of Catholicism and indigenous beliefs —> unique cultural synthesis that reflects the experiences of enslaved people.

Santería/Regla de Ocha

afro-carribean religion in cuba blends west african traditions (Yoruba religion) with roman catholicism

Candomble

afro-brazil religion blended with the Yoruba, Fon, and Bantu peoples. emerged as enslaved africans sought to preserve their spiritual beliefs and practices while adapting to the new cultural context imposed by European colonizers

Great Zimbabwe

center of a powerful and influential kingdom in Southeastern Africa (11th-15th centuries). known for large stone architecture, reflected advanced architectural skills and social organization of its people. Was a political and economic hub, controlled trade routes that linked interior africa with coastal trading cities.

Swahili Coast

Stretched from somalia to mozambique. coast that linked africa’s interior to Arab, persian, indian, and chinese trade. united by shared language and religion. Portuguese invaded major cities and established settlements to control indian-ocean trade. Europeans then concentrated where the portuguese were. Independence from portuguese achieved in 1975.

The Great Enclosure

(11th-15th centuries) characterized by walls of granite which showcased advanced architectural skills of the society. not only served as royal residence but also reflected wealth and power of the leaders. played significant role in social hierarchy and economic activities of Great Zimbabwe

Shona people

became wealthy through trade of gold, ivory, and cattle with trading neighbors

Indian Ocean trade

Linked east africa, arabia, india, and southeast asia which enabled commerce in spices, textiles and precious metals. coast states flourished with trading hubs

Kongo

became a major source of enslaved africans for european markets and developed a complex political structure with a centralized monarchy and extensive trade networks.

Enslaved People

People were forced into labour and dehumanized people of African descent, often for profit and exploitation

enslavers

people who forcefully brought enslaved people to the americas and used them for profit

King Nkuwu [jao I]

was the ruler of the Kongo Kingdom who converted to Christianity and played a significant role in fostering European trade relations during the 15th century.

Nzinga Mbemba [Afonso I]

was the successor of King Nkuwu and known for his efforts to strengthen and expand the Kongo Kingdom, as well as his outreach to the Portuguese for trade and military alliances.

kinship

a social system based on family relations that plays a crucial role in organizing society and maintaining social bonds.

kingdom of Benin

a powerful West African state known for its advanced governance, art, and trade networks, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries.

kingdom of Ndongo-Matamba

a prominent kingdom in present-day Angola, known for its resistance against Portuguese colonization and its role in regional trade and politics during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Guerilla warfare

a form of irregular warfare that involves small groups engaging in hit-and-run tactics against larger, traditional military forces, often used in revolutionary or resistance movements.

sovereignty

the authority of a state to govern itself or another state, reflecting its independence and political power.

Queen Njinga

a powerful leader of the Ndongo and Matamba kingdoms, known for her resistance against Portuguese colonization and diplomatic strategies during the 17th century.

Queen Idia

became the first iyoba (queen mother). political advisor to her son, the king. relied on spiritual power and medicinal knowledge to bring victories. She became and iconic symbol of black women’s leadership throughout the diaspora when an ivory mask of her face was adopted as the symbol for second festival of black arts and culture.

transatlantic slave trade

the forced transportation of enslaved Africans to the Americas from the 16th to 19th centuries, This brutal trade was driven by the high economic demand for labor on plantations, particularly in the cultivation of sugar, tobacco, and cotton. Shaped the economies and societies of the Americas but also had lasting impacts on African societies and the African diaspora.

sub-saharan africa

the region of Africa located south of the Sahara Desert, characterized by diverse cultures, languages, and histories.