Shona People-
The Shona people are farmers of sorghum, corn, millet, rice, beans, peanuts, and sweet potatoes. They are recorded to have begun in 600 C.E. and continue today. They are settled and have various villages that harvest their crops, sometimes even owning livestock. They specialize in ironwork and musicianship while also being known for stone sculptures, pottery, and textiles. They are divided into 5 major clans with leaders in each though each clan is very similar. Each clan held around 20,000 persons in it except Mozambique which holds 173,000.
Benin Empire-
From the 13th to the 19th century the Benin Empire was strong. They were lead in a hereditary order of chiefs, starting with Eweka as their oba (king). Located in what is now southern Nigeria, they speak Edo and also live in the capital called Edo. Their art was made of bronze, iron, and ivory and was used to create masks and other ritualistic pieces and plaques. The most famous piece is the FESTAC Mask. Their economy was based on harvest and then, after European contact, trade of ivory, palm oil, and pepper.
Mali Empire-
The Mali Empire was active from the time of 1200 C.E. to current day as small independent chiefdoms. It was first ruled by Sundiata Keita and was then ruled onward by an emperor or mansa. The empire had 400 cities, towns, villages, and other localities during the height of the reign. The economy predominantly ran through gold and salt trade and conquest. They also utilized the Niger River for fertile lands and trade. Their most famouse king was Mansa Musa, a famous haji. As an Islamic group, they built various mosques such as the Great Mosque of Djenne in Mali out of mudbrick and adobe plaster.
Asante People-
Emerged in 1600s in what we now as Ghana. After various rebellions against the British, they were exiled and predominantly dissolved in the early 1900s (though there is still some form of the state and peoples). They were predominantly a trading state and traded with the Portuguese which allowed them to acquire wealth and weapons. The also had a large amount of gold mines and in the early 1700s gold dust was the currency used. This then turned into participating in the European slave trade in the 1800s, leading to eventual war and downfall. Asante people have leadership roles in the form of chiefs such as the Asantehene (head chief) which are kings in a form of a Monarchy. Because of the immense wealth the people of Asante had a large artistic force. This was in the forms predominantly of verbal art such as illustrating proverbs through the use of gold and textiles.
Kuba People-
There are 16 Bantu-speaking groups in the Southeast of Congo that create the Kuba peoples. They were harvesters and cultivated corn, cassava, millet, peanuts, and beans. They also grow raffia and oil palms as well as hunt and fish. The government became very centralized due to new technology and models of leadership. It was run by a Monarchy and many people in power earned it through merit. The art of the time was owned by the higher class, things like textiles, fiber and beaded hats, and wooden cups and ornate containers.
The Shona people are farmers of sorghum, corn, millet, rice, beans, peanuts, and sweet potatoes. They are recorded to have begun in 600 C.E. and continue today. They are settled and have various villages that harvest their crops, sometimes even owning livestock. They specialize in ironwork and musicianship while also being known for stone sculptures, pottery, and textiles. They are divided into 5 major clans with leaders in each though each clan is very similar. Each clan held around 20,000 persons in it except Mozambique which holds 173,000.
Benin Empire-
From the 13th to the 19th century the Benin Empire was strong. They were lead in a hereditary order of chiefs, starting with Eweka as their oba (king). Located in what is now southern Nigeria, they speak Edo and also live in the capital called Edo. Their art was made of bronze, iron, and ivory and was used to create masks and other ritualistic pieces and plaques. The most famous piece is the FESTAC Mask. Their economy was based on harvest and then, after European contact, trade of ivory, palm oil, and pepper.
Mali Empire-
The Mali Empire was active from the time of 1200 C.E. to current day as small independent chiefdoms. It was first ruled by Sundiata Keita and was then ruled onward by an emperor or mansa. The empire had 400 cities, towns, villages, and other localities during the height of the reign. The economy predominantly ran through gold and salt trade and conquest. They also utilized the Niger River for fertile lands and trade. Their most famouse king was Mansa Musa, a famous haji. As an Islamic group, they built various mosques such as the Great Mosque of Djenne in Mali out of mudbrick and adobe plaster.
Asante People-
Emerged in 1600s in what we now as Ghana. After various rebellions against the British, they were exiled and predominantly dissolved in the early 1900s (though there is still some form of the state and peoples). They were predominantly a trading state and traded with the Portuguese which allowed them to acquire wealth and weapons. The also had a large amount of gold mines and in the early 1700s gold dust was the currency used. This then turned into participating in the European slave trade in the 1800s, leading to eventual war and downfall. Asante people have leadership roles in the form of chiefs such as the Asantehene (head chief) which are kings in a form of a Monarchy. Because of the immense wealth the people of Asante had a large artistic force. This was in the forms predominantly of verbal art such as illustrating proverbs through the use of gold and textiles.
Kuba People-
There are 16 Bantu-speaking groups in the Southeast of Congo that create the Kuba peoples. They were harvesters and cultivated corn, cassava, millet, peanuts, and beans. They also grow raffia and oil palms as well as hunt and fish. The government became very centralized due to new technology and models of leadership. It was run by a Monarchy and many people in power earned it through merit. The art of the time was owned by the higher class, things like textiles, fiber and beaded hats, and wooden cups and ornate containers.