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Africa and

Beliefs

 The African and has many long established Christian churches.  There is a large number of new churches in , and ‘black churches’ , or Pentecostal churches in the UK, which reflect African traditions of spirituality and worship.  In some , particularly in northern Africa, plays a dominant role in society, but in others it is less common.  In Egypt, and Ethiopia there are a significant number of Coptic who trace their faith back to early .  There are notable Muslim and Hindu communities on Caribbean (especially ), and Rastafarianism has developed strongly from .

Language

 English is the most common language for Africans not born in the UK.  widespread amongst African nations, such as Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.  Significant numbers speak French  including Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Rwanda, Burundi, Mali, Niger, Mauritania and Ivory .  Portuguese is spoken by those from Angola and Mozambique.  is widely spoken in northern Africa in countries of the  such as Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Sudan and Egypt.  Do not presume that coming from a means sharing a language with others from that country.  Many nations have several dialects and languages.  For example, we cannot simply record someone as speaking ‘Nigerian’ or ask for a Nigerian translator, but may need to ask whether they speak a certain language or dialect (in this case it may be Yoruba, Hausa or Igbo).  For not born in the UK, the main language spoken is English.  There are distinctive dialects known as ‘Creole’ or ‘patois’, which include older words and speech patterns.  Some Caribbean islands primarily use a French Creole or Patois.

Service-related issues

 Naming systems vary greatly with names sometimes having great meaning.  Surnames may or may not be passed on.  Health concerns about the HIV situation in Africa, highlighted by the media, might be of concern to staff when someone is recently arrived.  A balanced approach to this issues is needed, one that neither rejects this fear out of hand but sees the risk in proportion and acts accordingly. Cultural considerations  All African and Caribbean countries have experienced a colonial past and have suffered from the slave trade.  African and Caribbean people are therefore multi-ethnic or multicultural, having a great many religions, languages, foods, art forms, music and social institutions.  There is an amalgamation of African, Asian, and European influences.  Many , and African-Caribbeans, who have original African ancestry, have migrated to Britain from the .  The largest number is from Jamaica  The experience of being African-Caribbean is dependant on the life a person has led and the era they grew up in. So while an ‘’ such as ‘African -Caribbean’ may be defined as one which shares a common past or history, it is important to remember that the past has different meanings for different age groups. Personal care  Vital that attention is given to hair and skin care  improper care can lead to dry skin and hair  should involve the use of specific hair and skin products.  It is also important to recognise that an individual’s self-confidence can be greatly affected by their appearance. Food  Distinct dishes associated with traditions are passed down through families.  There is a strong influence from Africa in , with much use of , cornmeal, , yams, plantains and okra.  Food is highly spiced and seasoned and rice may form a staple part of the diet. Focus for community  The place of worship is usually the focal point for most community activities.  Isolation of elders from the African and Caribbean community has been reduced thanks to black church organisations providing them with a social, cultural an educational focus.  However these benefits may be available to churchgoers only. Health  Inherited blood disorders, such as sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia, are significant health problems in this community.  Diabetes and heart disease are also common.