DOCSLIB.ORG

Chapter 3: Medieval Africa

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Chapter 3: Medieval Africa C13-57P 440–441 Peter Adams/Getty Images 440–441 Peter Medieval Africa Islamic mosque and marketplace in Djenne, Mali A..D..300 A..D.7.700 1100 1500 c. A.D. 300 c. A.D.750 1324 c. 1441 Axum Arab Muslim Mansa Musa First enslaved conquers traders settle travels to Africans arrive Kush in East Africa Makkah in Europe C13-48A-NGS Chapter Overview Visit ca.hss.glencoe.com for a preview of Chapter 3. The Rise of African Civilizations Physical geography plays a role in how civilizations develop. Africa’s geography influenced the rise of its civilizations. The growth of trade led to the exchange of goods and ideas. Africa’s Religion and Government Religion influences how civilization develops and how culture spreads. Traditional religions, Christianity, and Islam shaped early African culture. African rulers developed different forms of government. African Society and Culture Different social, economic, and political classes can exist in a society. The family was the foundation of African society. A growing slave trade, however, disrupted African society. View the Chapter 3 video in the Glencoe Video Program. Categorizing Information Make this foldable to help you organize your notes about medieval Africa. Step 1 Draw a map of Step 3 Unfold, turn the Reading and Writing Africa on one side of a paper over (to the clean As you read about the sheet of paper. side), and label as shown. civilizations of Africa, write down three main The Rise of African questions under each Civilizations heading. Then write an answer to each question. Africa’s Government and Religion Step 2 Fold the sheet of paper into thirds from top to bottom. African Society and Culture C13-56A 203 Summarizing Summarizing helps you organize information, focus on main ideas, and reduce the amount of information to remember. To summarize, restate the important facts in a short sentence or paragraph. Be brief and do not include too many details. Read the text on page 223 labeled Traditional African Religions. Then read the summary below, and look at the important facts from that passage. Important Facts For centuries, Europeans believed Africans did not have a religion. Summary Traditional African reli- Most African groups shared the gions shared certain Igbo belief in one supreme god. beliefs and provided a guide for living together. Even though Africans practiced their religion differently in differ- ent places, their beliefs served similar purposes. Many Africans honored their As you summarize, be ancestors. careful not to change the author's original mean- ings or ideas. 204 With a partner, read about African Culture on pages 235–237. Each of you should then summarize the important facts. Compare Read to Write your summaries to see which details you and your partner chose to Read Section 1. Then include or exclude. write a one-paragraph summary that includes what you remember about Africa’s When you are finished with geography and the rise your summary, look at the fol- of African civilizations. lowing list to see if you included all the important ideas. • Enslaved Africans devel- oped rich cultures that influenced many other cul- tures, including our own. • Early African art was often religious in nature, told stories, and also served practical purposes. • Music and dance played important roles in almost C13-49P-824133 all aspects of African life. • Africans preserved their storytelling tradition. African women wearing kente cloth Practice summarizing as you read this chapter. Stop after each section and write a brief summary. 205 Werner Forman/Art Resource, NY The Rise of African Civilizations Looking Back, Looking Ahead Meeting People Egypt and Kush were Africa’s first Sundiata Keita (sun•dee•AH•tuh History great civilizations. In this section, you KY•tuh) Social Science will learn about African civilizations Mansa Musa (MAHN•sah moo•SAH) Standards that developed later. Sunni Ali (sun•EE ah•LEE) WH7.4 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, Focusing on the Content Vocabulary religious, and social • Africa has a vast and varied plateau (pla•TOH) structures of the sub- landscape made up of shifting sand griot (GREE•OH) Saharan civilizations of Ghana and Mali in dunes, rain forests, sweeping dhow (DOW) Medieval Africa. savannas, large deserts, and coastal plains. (page 207) Academic Vocabulary • African empires grew rich from fee trading gold and salt. (page 209) diminish (duh•MIH•nihsh) prime Locating Places Reading Strategy Benue River (BAYN way) • Summarizing Information Create Ghana (GAH•nuh) diagrams showing the accomplish- Mali (MAH•lee) ments of medieval African civilizations. Timbuktu (TIHM•BUHK•TOO) Songhai (SAWNG•HY) Axum (AHK•SOOM) Accomplishments A..D..300 A..D..900 A..D..1500 c. A.D. 450 c. A.D.750 1468 Kingdom of Arab Muslim traders Sunni Ali Ghana begins settle in East Africa captures Timbuktu 206 CHAPTER 3 • Medieval Africa WH7.4.1 Study the Niger River and the relationship of vegetation zones of forest, savannah, and desert to trade in gold, salt, food, and slaves; and the growth of the Ghana and Mali empires. Africa’s Geography trade route connecting western Africa to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The “death Africa has a vast and varied landscape road” crossed more than 1,500 miles (2,414 made up of shifting sand dunes, rain forests, sweep- km) of the Sahara, the world’s largest desert. ing savannas, large deserts, and coastal plains. To get lost meant certain death. Reading Connection How can geography discourage Only nomads living in the region knew people from exploring another place? Read to learn the way, but Vischer hoped to map the route. about the geographic features that made it difficult for Like the desert nomads, his life depended people to travel across parts of Africa. upon finding oases. Upon his return, Vischer amazed people with stories of the Sahara. He In 1906 a teacher named Hans Vischer told of swirling winds and shifting sand explored what he called the “death road,” a dunes. Geography and Climate Zones in Africa 40°N 0° 20°W Strait of 40°E Gibraltar NTAINS MOU Mediterranean Sea AS ATL L I B Y A N R N il SAHARA e e R d D . E S ARABIAN 20°N S e AHAGGAR a PENINSULA E 20°N MOUNTAINS TIBESTI R Mediterranean T Se MOUNTAINS ne ga l R N ig en . e d r Lake f A R lf o . Chad Gu AMHARA Lake PLATEAU Volta Lake Turkana Gulf of Y Guinea E L EQUATOR L Mount Kenya ° . CONGO Lake A 0 Desert R V o BASIN Victoria g T n F o I N C Lake R Kilimanjaro ATLANTIC Tanganyika T INDIAN A OCEAN WE E OCEAN R G S Lake Malawi N mbezi R A a . Z R M A I C B S D A E E G G Savanna S popo R A N 20°S E im . D R L A A R T M KALAHARI G R DESERT E Orange R B 0 1,000 mi. 1. Region Which type of physical . S N E feature covers the largest area of K 0 1,000 km A R Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection Africa? D 2. Human/Environment Cape of Good Hope Interaction How might Africa’s 20°E40°KEYE60°E geography have affected trading Desert Rain forest patterns there? Mediterranean Find NGS online map resources @ Rain forest www.nationalgeographic.com/maps Savanna 207 (l)DiMaggio/Kalish/CORBIS, (r)Kevin Fleming/CORBIS A Vast and Diverse Continent Africa is What Is the African Plateau? Almost all the world’s second-largest continent. The of Africa, except the coastal plains, rests on United States fits into Africa three times, with a plateau (pla • TOH)—an area of high flat room to spare. The Equator slices through the land. In the east, movements of the earth’s middle of the continent. Hot, steamy rain crust millions of years ago cracked the con- forests stretch along each side of it. Yet the tinent, and parts of the plateau’s surface rain forests cover only 10 percent of the land. dropped. This formed the Great Rift Valley, Most of Africa lies in the tropics. Here dry, where some of the earliest human fossils sweeping grasslands reach for thousands of have been found. miles. Most of the tropical grasslands, known Africa has many long rivers. You have as savannas, have high temperatures and already learned about the Nile River and the uneven rains. These wide-open grasslands civilizations of Egypt and Kush along its are perfect for raising herds of animals. For banks. In West Africa, the Niger River is very much of Africa’s history, the people of the important. The rich soil along the Niger grows savanna were hunters and herders. many crops and gave rise to several civiliza- North and south of the savannas are the tions in West Africa. The Niger also helped deserts—the Sahara to the north and the unite the region. Merchants and travelers Kalahari to the southwest. For many years, spread goods and ideas up and down the river. these unmapped seas of sand blocked Cause and Effect Why is travel. People had to follow the coastline if the Niger River important? they wanted to get past the deserts. Areas of mild climate, good for growing crops, are found along the Mediterranean Sea in northwest Africa and in the south. UNITED STATES Comparing Africa to the U.S. Africa United States Size 11,667,159 square miles 3,794,085 square miles (30,217,894 sq. km) (9,826,680 sq. km) AFRICA Population about 891 million about 291 million Today people people Longest Nile River Missouri River River 4,160 miles (6,693 km) 2,565 miles (4,130 km) Largest Sahara Mojave Desert 3,500,000 square miles 15,000 square miles (9,065,000 sq.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Leadership in Pre-Colonial Africa: a Case Study of Sundiata Keita (Mari Jata) C
    ISSN 2394-9694 International Journal of Novel Research in Humanity and Social Sciences Vol. 5, Issue 1, pp: (28-36), Month: January - Feburary 2018, Available at: www.noveltyjournals.com Leadership in Pre-Colonial Africa: A Case Study of Sundiata Keita (Mari Jata) C. 1217-1255 and Mansa Musa Keita (Kankan) C. 1312-1337 of Mali 1B. E. Awortu, 2Michael, T.B 1,2 PhD, DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY AND DIPLOMATIC STUDIES, IGNATIUS AJURU UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, RUMUOLUMENI P.M.B. 5047 PORT HARCFOURT Abstract: Africa is one of the continents in the world that is bedeviled with leadership challenges since the colonial era. Prior to the colonial era, African states that were independent and sovereign of each other had visionary leaders who piloted the affairs of their domains to enviable heights. These crop of leaders were determined to protect and preserve the territorial integrity of their kingdoms. In recent years, leadership is categorized as one of the bane of Africa underdevelopment. This paper therefore examines leadership in pre-colonial Africa with reference to Mansa Sundiata Keita and Mansa Musa of Mali Empire. The researchers generated the needed data through primary and secondary sources of information. The interdisciplinary approach was also adopted in generating data for the study. As regards theory, the trait and transformational leadership theories were adopted to guide our study. From the analysis it was observed that the pre-colonial societies of Africa had good leaders who were committed to empire building, development, rule of law, equity and fairness amongst others. Furthermore, the paper revealed that Mansa Sundiata and Mansa Musa were visionary leaders who contributed through their selfless service to the growth and development of Mali Empire.
    [Show full text]
  • The Traditional Juju for the Punishment of Adultery Among Yoruba Natives
    Originalni naučni rad UDK: 343.241(=432.561)(669-15) Matthias Olufemi Dada Ojo1 Department of Sociology Crawford University of the Apostolic Faith Mission Igbesa, Ogun State, Nigeria MAGUN: THE TRADITIONAL JUJU FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF ADULTERY AMONG YORUBA NATIVES Abstract: This paper addresses the issue of traditional method of punishing adultery among the Yoruba natives of the Western part of Nigeria. Magun is a Juju which is applied to punish adulterers in Yoruba land. Using qualitative research methods, the paper identifies two categories of Magun and the varieties subsumed under them. The paper argues that the application of Magun for the punishment of adultery is no longer a common phenomenon as a result of westernization and modernization. Yet, there are rural areas where the application of Magun to punish adultery are still found. It is recommended that extensive researches to be conducted on Magun and other ways of punishing crime and deviant behaviour among the Yoruba people. Furthermore, the adequate documentation of the findings in order to preserve the culture of the people in area of Penology and Criminal Justice System is also highly recommended. Keywords: Magun, adultery, adulterers, adulteresses, Yoruba natives, Juju Introduction The problem of adultery is as old as the history of mankind itself. Adultery and sexual immorality featured from generation to generation of the human race since the creation of this world. According to Christian in Relationship (2012), the Hebrew law prohibits adultery likewise the religion of the Christi- ans the world over. In the Greco-Roman world, there were stringent laws aga- inst adultery, even though it was applied to a married woman.
    [Show full text]
  • Vindicating Karma: Jazz and the Black Arts Movement
    University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014 1-1-2007 Vindicating karma: jazz and the Black Arts movement/ W. S. Tkweme University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_1 Recommended Citation Tkweme, W. S., "Vindicating karma: jazz and the Black Arts movement/" (2007). Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014. 924. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_1/924 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. University of Massachusetts Amherst Library Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014 https://archive.org/details/vindicatingkarmaOOtkwe This is an authorized facsimile, made from the microfilm master copy of the original dissertation or master thesis published by UMI. The bibliographic information for this thesis is contained in UMTs Dissertation Abstracts database, the only central source for accessing almost every doctoral dissertation accepted in North America since 1861. Dissertation UMI Services From:Pro£vuest COMPANY 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106-1346 USA 800.521.0600 734.761.4700 web www.il.proquest.com Printed in 2007 by digital xerographic process on acid-free paper V INDICATING KARMA: JAZZ AND THE BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT A Dissertation Presented by W.S. TKWEME Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY May 2007 W.E.B.
    [Show full text]
  • Africans: the HISTORY of a CONTINENT, Second Edition
    P1: RNK 0521864381pre CUNY780B-African 978 0 521 68297 8 May 15, 2007 19:34 This page intentionally left blank ii P1: RNK 0521864381pre CUNY780B-African 978 0 521 68297 8 May 15, 2007 19:34 africans, second edition Inavast and all-embracing study of Africa, from the origins of mankind to the AIDS epidemic, John Iliffe refocuses its history on the peopling of an environmentally hostilecontinent.Africanshavebeenpioneersstrugglingagainstdiseaseandnature, and their social, economic, and political institutions have been designed to ensure their survival. In the context of medical progress and other twentieth-century innovations, however, the same institutions have bred the most rapid population growth the world has ever seen. The history of the continent is thus a single story binding living Africans to their earliest human ancestors. John Iliffe was Professor of African History at the University of Cambridge and is a Fellow of St. John’s College. He is the author of several books on Africa, including Amodern history of Tanganyika and The African poor: A history,which was awarded the Herskovits Prize of the African Studies Association of the United States. Both books were published by Cambridge University Press. i P1: RNK 0521864381pre CUNY780B-African 978 0 521 68297 8 May 15, 2007 19:34 ii P1: RNK 0521864381pre CUNY780B-African 978 0 521 68297 8 May 15, 2007 19:34 african studies The African Studies Series,founded in 1968 in collaboration with the African Studies Centre of the University of Cambridge, is a prestigious series of monographs and general studies on Africa covering history, anthropology, economics, sociology, and political science.
    [Show full text]
  • Crowns and Mantles: the Ranks and Titles of Cormyr Bands
    Crowns and Mantles The Ranks and Titles of Cormyr By Brian Cortijo Illustrations by Hector Ortiz and Claudio Pozas “I give my loyal service unfailingly to the with ranks or titles, or with positions of authority and command, especially as they rise to national impor- Mage Royal of Cormyr, in full obedience tance and take on threats to the kingdom. of speech and action, that peace and order Descriptions of the most important of these titles shall prevail in the Forest Kingdom, that appear below. Each bears with it duties, privileges, magic of mine and others be used and not and adventuring opportunities that otherwise might be closed off to adventurers with less interest in serv- misused. I do this in trust that the Mage ing Cormyr in an official capacity. Because few heroes Royal shall unswervingly serve the throne might wish to be weighed down by such responsibility, of Cormyr, and if the Mage Royal should the option exists to delay an appointment or investiture of nobility until after one’s retirement. fall, or fail the Crown and Throne, my obedience shall be to the sovereign directly. REGISTRATION AS Whenever there is doubt and dispute, I ITLE shall act to preserve Cormyr. Sunrise and T moonfall, as long as my breath takes and Even in the absence of a rank of honor or a title of nobility, most adventurers are already registered, in my eyes see, I serve Cormyr. I pledge my one form or another, with the Crown of Cormyr if life that the realm endure.” they wish to operate within the kingdom.
    [Show full text]
  • The Impact of the Second World War on the Decolonization of Africa
    Bowling Green State University ScholarWorks@BGSU 17th Annual Africana Studies Student Research Africana Studies Student Research Conference Conference and Luncheon Feb 13th, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM The Impact of the Second World War on the Decolonization of Africa Erin Myrice Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/africana_studies_conf Part of the African Languages and Societies Commons Myrice, Erin, "The Impact of the Second World War on the Decolonization of Africa" (2015). Africana Studies Student Research Conference. 2. https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/africana_studies_conf/2015/004/2 This Event is brought to you for free and open access by the Conferences and Events at ScholarWorks@BGSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Africana Studies Student Research Conference by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@BGSU. The Impact of the Second World War on the Decolonization of Africa Erin Myrice 2 “An African poet, Taban Lo Liyong, once said that Africans have three white men to thank for their political freedom and independence: Nietzsche, Hitler, and Marx.” 1 Marx raised awareness of oppressed peoples around the world, while also creating the idea of economic exploitation of living human beings. Nietzsche created the idea of a superman and a master race. Hitler attempted to implement Nietzsche’s ideas into Germany with an ultimate goal of reaching the whole world. Hitler’s attempted implementation of his version of a ‘master race’ led to one of the most bloody, horrific, and destructive wars the world has ever encountered. While this statement by Liyong was bold, it held truth. The Second World War was a catalyst for African political freedom and independence.
    [Show full text]
  • Sudan a Country Study.Pdf
    A Country Study: Sudan An Nilain Mosque, at the site of the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile in Khartoum Federal Research Division Library of Congress Edited by Helen Chapin Metz Research Completed June 1991 Table of Contents Foreword Acknowledgements Preface Country Profile Country Geography Society Economy Transportation Government and Politics National Security Introduction Chapter 1 - Historical Setting (Thomas Ofcansky) Early History Cush Meroe Christian Nubia The Coming of Islam The Arabs The Decline of Christian Nubia The Rule of the Kashif The Funj The Fur The Turkiyah, 1821-85 The Mahdiyah, 1884-98 The Khalifa Reconquest of Sudan The Anglo-Egyptian Condominium, 1899-1955 Britain's Southern Policy Rise of Sudanese Nationalism The Road to Independence The South and the Unity of Sudan Independent Sudan The Politics of Independence The Abbud Military Government, 1958-64 Return to Civilian Rule, 1964-69 The Nimeiri Era, 1969-85 Revolutionary Command Council The Southern Problem Political Developments National Reconciliation The Transitional Military Council Sadiq Al Mahdi and Coalition Governments Chapter 2 - The Society and its Environment (Robert O. Collins) Physical Setting Geographical Regions Soils Hydrology Climate Population Ethnicity Language Ethnic Groups The Muslim Peoples Non-Muslim Peoples Migration Regionalism and Ethnicity The Social Order Northern Arabized Communities Southern Communities Urban and National Elites Women and the Family Religious
    [Show full text]
  • Political Units in the History of West Africa.]
    Sample General Training Reading Summary Completion (Productive) [Note: this is an extract from a General Training Reading text on the subject of political units in the history of West Africa.] Read the text below and answer Questions 1-5. Political units in the history of West Africa Ife, perched at the edge of Nigeria’s forest, is thought to have come to prominence through its control of local products – including ivory, gold and pepper – in external trade. By AD 1300, its walled capital was at the peak of its wealth, with many shrines featuring elaborate pavements made of pieces of pottery, and a rich tradition of creating brass and terracotta sculptures, including ones of people richly adorned in ceremonial regalia. Many of these have survived. Subsistence for the large elite and artisan population appears to have been based upon small livestock and the cultivation of vegetables. Around AD 1500, the city of Ife declined, and the region’s center of power shifted to Benin without any appreciable break in cultural tradition. Questions 1 – 5. Complete the summary below. Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet. Ife The state of Ife adjoined the 1 ………… in Nigeria, and traded a variety of goods, including metals such as 2 ………… . Floors in religious buildings were made from bits of 3 ………… . There are many surviving examples of 4 ………… made of brass or terracotta. The population lived on animal products, and crops such as 5 ………… . Sample General Training Reading Summary Completion (Productive) Answers 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Book Summary – African Religions and Philosophy
    Book Summary – African Religions and Philosophy Africa is unique among the continents. It has the longest river (Nile), the biggest desert (Sahara), and a vast wealth of natural resources. Many archeologists and other scientists argue that Africa was the birthplace of mankind. Yet Africa is also the poorest (measured by per capita GDP), most colonized, and least developed continent. As a result, Africa and its people have long been disparaged by commentators from the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Native peoples have been called “savages” and native beliefs have been called “primitive”. John S Mbiti, a Kenyan priest of the Anglican Church and Christian philosopher, portrays a different picture of these people and their beliefs in African Religions and Philosophy. Mbiti begins by discussing the pervasive influence of religion in Africa. To the African, everything is religious. There is no demarcation between sacred and secular or material and spiritual. African tribal religions exist for the community, although they support and protect the individual, and promulgate a corporate identity, “I am because we are.” He continues by correcting misconceptions and mislabeling of African beliefs. He objects to the evolutionary paradigm of religion, in which animistic religions (such tribal beliefs in Africa) evolve into polytheism and eventually into monotheism. Characterizing African religions as nothing more than “magic” is also superficial and unfair. The African concept of time is fundamental to tribal religions. Time is not an independent entity, moving forward independently of man’s activities, but a compilation of events. For example, as I write, the clock in front of me ticks. It will tick no matter if I am sleeping and unaware of its movement, or staring at it and concentrating on every move of the pendulum.
    [Show full text]
  • Global Extremism Monitor
    Global Extremism Monitor Violent Islamist Extremism in 2017 WITH A FOREWORD BY TONY BLAIR SEPTEMBER 2018 1 2 Contents Foreword 7 Executive Summary 9 Key Findings About the Global Extremism Monitor The Way Forward Introduction 13 A Unifying Ideology Global Extremism Today The Long War Against Extremism A Plethora of Insurgencies Before 9/11 A Proliferation of Terrorism Since 9/11 The Scale of the Problem The Ten Deadliest Countries 23 Syria Iraq Afghanistan Somalia Nigeria Yemen Egypt Pakistan Libya Mali Civilians as Intended Targets 45 Extremist Groups and the Public Space Prominent Victims Breakdown of Public Targets Suicide Bombings 59 Use of Suicide Attacks by Group Female Suicide Bombers Executions 71 Deadliest Groups Accusations Appendices 83 Methodology Glossary About Us Notes 3 Countries Affected by Violent Islamist Extremism, 2017 4 5 6 Foreword Tony Blair One of the core objectives of the Institute is the promotion of co-existence across the boundaries of religious faith and the combating of extremism based on an abuse of faith. Part of this work is research into the phenomenon of extremism derived particularly from the abuse of Islam. This publication is the most comprehensive analysis of such extremism to date and utilises data on terrorism in a new way to show: 1. Violent extremism connected with the perversion of Islam today is global, affecting over 60 countries. 2. Now more than 120 different groups worldwide are actively engaged in this violence. 3. These groups are united by an ideology that shares certain traits and beliefs. 4. The ideology and the violence associated with it have been growing over a period of decades stretching back to the 1980s or further, closely correlated with the development of the Muslim Brotherhood into a global movement, the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and—in the same year—the storming by extremist insurgents of Islam’s holy city of Mecca.
    [Show full text]
  • Trajectories and Transitions Among Rural Capitalists in Senegal
    Journal of Agrarian Change, Vol. 7 No. 4, October 2007, pp. 453–493. BlackwellOxford,JOACJournal1471-0358©XXXOriginalStoriesCarlos The Author.Oya UKofArticles Publishing AgrarianRural Journal AccumulationStories Change Ltd compilation © Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Henry Bernstein and Terenceof J. Byres. Rural Accumulation in Africa: Trajectories and Transitions among Rural Capitalists in Senegal CARLOS OYA This paper analyzes primary qualitative evidence from life histories of rural capi- talists in contemporary Senegal. Various common themes in the declining literature on rural capitalism in Africa are discussed with reference to the specific individual trajectories of rural farm capitalists in Senegal. The themes include the emergence of rural capitalism in the context of protracted, uneven and gradual rural social differentiation and the various processes that have accompanied it; the condition of ‘entrepreneurship’ in such changing historical contexts; the symbiotic relation- ship between different spaces (loci) of accumulation, especially trade, transport and farming and the historical context in which they take place; the crucial but sometimes contradictory role of the state in spurring or constraining rural capitalist accumulation; and the variety of ‘idioms of accumulation’, which reflect tran- sitions and synthesis between non-capitalist and capitalist forms of labour surplus appropriation at the level of individual capitalists, despite some uniformity in the general logic of capital and the spread of capitalist relations of production and exchange. The paper also discusses the methodological power and limitations of oral narratives as a method to gather evidence on long-term processes of agrarian change and accumulation in rural Africa. Finally, the life histories shed some light on the origins of rural capitalists and show that there is a combination of instances of ‘capitalism from above’ and ‘from below’ but that no dominant pattern can be clearly discerned at least in the space of one or two generations.
    [Show full text]
  • Kaiciid Builds Cooperation with African Union
    AFRICAN UNION UNION AFRICAINE UNIÃO AFRICANA Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA P. O. Box 3243 Telephone : +251 115-517 700 Fax : +251 115-517844 www.au.int KAICIID BUILDS COOPERATION WITH AFRICAN UNION A delegation from the KAICIID Dialogue Centre, an international organization, will travel to Ethiopia in November 2014 to meet diplomats at the African Union and with the African Union Commission, a next step in the close cooperation between the two organisations. In 2013 KAICIID began work with the African Union and other partners in the region to promote a culture of dialogue among followers of diverse religions and cultures in Africa. This visit is a further step in the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concluded between KAICIID and the African Union. The MoU was signed on behalf of the African Union Commission at the KAICIID Global Forum in November 2013 by Dr. Jinmi Adisa, Director of the African Citizens Directorate (CIDO). Advancing Interreligious and Intercultural Education Within the framework of the MoU, KAICIID and the African Union will collaborate on identifying and connecting partners among the African Union’s Member States, including universities and seminaries, experts and educators, faith leaders and institutions to advance the field of interreligious and intercultural education. KAICIID has launched a Global Policy Network to support working-level policymakers and curriculum developers in the field of interreligious and intercultural education. African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum KAICIID will also partner in the convening of the African Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum, a permanent steering committee consisting of senior religious leaders and policymakers, tasked with advancing cooperation between the AU and Africa’s religious communities to reduce conflict and coordinate peace and development efforts.
    [Show full text]