Africa has grown to be a complex continent with a long, enticing history. Much of this history defines how Africa functions today. By looking at the past economic, political, social, spiritual and cultural factors, we can determine why the continent operates the way it does currently.
Africa’s economy has always consisted of trade and crafting as its main factors. Most trade in early Africa was done locally, due to difficulties with transportation. Citizens would often trade fish for vegetables, for example. Iron and copper were also commonly traded. However, there were methods of long distance trade that allowed high value goods to be passed along. Long distance trade was carried out by caravans that mainly consisted of camels. Salt was one of the most traded goods. It was regularly traded for grain and gold. Humans were also traded to work as slaves throughout the continent. Since long distance trade was usually reserved for more high value goods, citizens had to become very innovative crafters. Metalwork, clothes and other crafts were often traded within communities. Crafting certain goods was often a hereditary skill, passed along within family groups.
Africa’s political system started with the formation of chiefdoms and kingdoms. Some kingdoms got their start by using long distance trade to tax the goods that passed through their territory. They used the wealth gained from taxes to build up armies, and chiefs were appointed to take control of neighboring villages, which eventually formed a kingdom. Other kingdoms were formed when village clusters appointed rulers who used their armies to conquer other villages. Some were formed around sacred shrines, which religious authorities used for political power. The remainder of these kingdoms were formed by pastoral groups who moved from place to place taking over certain populations of farmers.
Status and wealth were huge factors in African society. Heredity was the cause of most statuses. For example, if a father was well known and popular in his community, his high status would be passed down to his son. When a man successfully gained a high status, a following and great wealth, he could establish his own group in a society and become a “Big Man”. As a Big Man he would be required to host dinners where he treated his guests to food and drinks. Much of his status was based on a more material viewpoint. Overall, as in any society, status and wealth determined how enjoyable one’s social life was.
Despite the fact that there were thousands of different cultures and beliefs in early Africa, all Africans believed in higher spiritual beings. Some believed in there being one high God, while others worshipped many gods. “Spirits of the Land” were worshipped by agricultural societies. They were believed to be ancestral spirits that guaranteed good harvests. Other societies also believed in ancestral spirits that were basically middle men between them and the high God. These civilizations sacrificed cattle for the spirits. Some even worshipped a supreme God that was believed to bless them with protection and fertility. In some societies, village chiefs roles were appointed to the oldest living descendant of the villages’ founder. Though there were many different types of religious beliefs between the many societies of Africa, one common threat to them all was witchcraft. People believed that witchcraft was to blame for misfortune such as the infertility of women. Those suspected of practicing witchcraft were often attacked and even killed in some instances.