Explore Africa's rich cultural heritage: traditional ceremonies, festivals, indigenous practices, ethnic groups, diaspora identity, and the living traditions that define African peoples.
Most African families are traditionally patrilineal societies, there is the actual father as well as big and smaller fathers. The “big” father, who often plays a role similar to that
Different tribes in Africa pride themselves in their traditional attires, which are mostly worn in ceremonies and other special occasions. African attires often reflect the society and status of the
Africa is home to many cultures and languages. Although no single set of myths and legends unite this diverse population, different cultural groups and regions share common mythological elements. Similar
The institution of chieftaincy is one of the most enduring traditional institutions in Africa. In spite of many alterations, it continues to display remarkable resilience from colonial to post-colonial times.
In African culture, kinship is two-sided – it can be established either through bloodline or totems, and both are equally as important. A totem is a spirit, sacred object, symbol or
In many African societies, an important aspect of traditional education is concerned with teaching oral literature using folktales, riddles and proverbs, which aim at molding character and providing children with
Prior to the arrival of western, colonial Christianity, most African ethnicities made a clear distinction between a boy and a man. It was understood that a boy was an uncircumcised
Initiation rites are ceremonies performed when people take on a new role in life, ushering them into adulthood, secret societies or positions of leadership and so on. In traditional African
Choosing a name for an African child is a sacred event with overwhelming importance. Consequently, the arrival of a new baby or family member is a time when many African
Marriage is one of the most important institutions in society universally. This is no different in African culture, where marriage is widely seen as a way to assert one’s
In Setswana culture, practices like Botsetsi constitute a way of life upheld quite dearly and strictly. Botsetsi is the cultural practice in Botswana of placing a newborn baby and its
The custom of paying bride price is widely practiced in Africa and although the amounts and definitions vary based on the area, the practice is essentially the same. Bride price
