Africa, African Anthropology - General Resources
By peoples
The peoples of Africa are often described in terms of their ethnic background or their languages. There are several thousand ethnic groups in Africa, ranging in physical stature from the short Pygmies to the tall Maasai, each with its own cultural traditions. Here are only a few of them.
Akan Akuapem Akye Anyi Aowin Asante Babanki Baga Bali Bamana Bamileke Bamum Bangubangu Bangwa Baule Beembe Bembe Berber Bidyogo Bobo Bushoong Bwa Chokwe Dan Diamande Dogon Eket Fang Fante Fon Frafra Fulani Hausa Hemba Holoholo Ibibio Idoma Igbira Igbo Ijo Kabre Karagwe Kassena Katana Kom Kongo Kota Kuba Kusu Kwahu Kwere Laka Lega Lobi Luba Luchazi Luluwa Lunda Luvale Lwalwa Maasai Makonde Mambila Mangbetu Manja Mbole Mende Mitsogo Mossi Mumuye Ngbaka Nkanu Nok Nuna Oron Owo Pende Pokot Punu San Senufo Shambaa Shona Songo Songye Suku Swahili Tabwa Tuareg Urhobo We Wimiama Wodaabe Wolof Woyo Wum Yaka Yombe Yoruba Zaramo Zulu
Please note: Some of the peoples and associations presented here are so closely related that more than one topic heading may apply. For example, The Akan people are given a page of their own, yet the Asante ( Ashanti ) are also an Akan people, as are the Akuapem. So, a full search for the 'Akan' may involve looking at pages dedicated to sub-groups as well. Some sub-group pages may contain only a link or two, but they are still part of a much larger picture.
You will find a similar relationship among some of other peoples listed here. This is a case where a little advanced knowledge of the subject may be an advantage when using these pages.
ArtWorld AFRICA - Dan __ "The Dan are the principle people of a culturally interrelated group of tribes and sub-tribes occupying parts of Liberia and the Ivory Coast. Dan villages were politically independent of each other but linked by the power of secret societies responsible for the social order and ritual observance." - illustrated - From University of Durham - http://artworld.uea.ac.uk/teaching_modules/africa/cultural_groups_by_country/dan/welcome.html
Dan __ "Dan people, who are also known by the name Yacuba, live in the western part of the Ivory Coast and into Liberia where the land is forested in the south and bordered by a savannah in the north. The 350,000 Dan people make their living from farming cocoa, rice and manioc." History, culture. - illustrated - from ethnographica.com - http://www.ethnographica.com/pages/Dan1.php?project_id=1
Dan Mask Tribal Art history and culture __ "African art history - Dan people from the Ivory Coast, cultural, ceremonial and traditional significance of art." - illustrated - From rebirth.co.za - http://www.rebirth.co.za/Dan_tribal_art_history_and_culture.htm
Dan People __ "Oral traditions describe the Dan society of the 19th century as lacking any central governing power. Social cohesion was fostered by a shared language and a preference for intermarriage. Generally, each village had a headman who had earned his position of advantage in the community through hard work in the fields and through luck as a hunter." You will find material relating to art, history, political structure and more. - From University of Iowa - http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/toc/people/Dan.html
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