African Cultures
BY: Sharon Morris
American Intercontinental University
12-02-12

Abstract African cultures are very different from most other cultures in the world. Africa is the second largest continent in the world with a lot of different cultures. I will be explaining how the African cultures were before the westerners brought their cultures to the Africans. Also, the ways the Africans cultures have changed and how the Westerners cultures have affected them.

Africans live in the second largest continient in the world. Africans are the oldest human species known to man. There has actually been evidence that Africans were one of the oldest human species out there. Africans can live in many different diverse areas jungles, deserts, mountain regions, plains, and tropical rainforests. This just shows how Africans can adapt to different areas. Also, it shows why they are the oldest living human species alive. African cultures vary because of the different areas in which they live. A lot of people believe that everyone that lives in Africa comes from a tribe. However, that is not always the case in different areas in Africa. The effects that the Western and European cultures had on African cultures lead to a major change for Africans. For starters Europeans began to force Africans to leave their own homes to work and force them into slavery. Before the later 19th century African cultures had many different tribes and social groups. African cultures varied throughout the different tribes in Africa. Some cultures in Africa have traditions where they tattoo one another. The men in some tribes go through many different rituals they have to pass in order to become a man. Some of the things the young men have to do are cutting themselves and many other strenuous tasks. Also, you can learn many different things by the different tribal colors of the clothing, beading work, and jewelry. The leaders in the African tribes can be identified by different methods. You can usually spot the leaders by their markings or the different headgear that they wear. People can learn many different things about African cultures by seeing their different traditions for celebrations Such as; weddings, funerals, and men becoming warriors. So, in conclusion we all can learn quite a few things from the ways Africans lived and how they have been around so long. It is amazing how they lived just fine until the Europeans and Westerners came along. I believe their cultures have and always will impact us all. Also, they can teach us all a valuable lesson. I do not think I could live on a mountain top, rainforest, or a jungle.

\\