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.
Bushmen/San __ A brief overview of San history and culture. - From The Africa Guide - http://www.africaguide.com/culture/tribes/bushmen.htm
Bushmen Driven From Ancestral Lands in Botswana __ "Few are left of the many San who once roamed southern Africa, for a period believed to go back at least 20,000 years. Their sad fate has recently been brought starkly to mind by a furore that has erupted over the removal of two small remaining communities from Botswana's sprawling Central Kalahari Game Reserve." Read the whole story. - From National Geographic Society - http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0416_030416_san2.html
San People __ "The term San is commonly used by scholars to refer to a diverse group of foragers living in southern Africa who share historical and linguistic connections. This same group of people was formerly referred to as "Bushmen," but this term has since been abandoned because it is considered racist and sexist." You will find material related to art, culture, history, religion, political structure and more. - From University of Iowa - http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/toc/people/San.html
Specimens of Bushman Folklore Index __ Several click-to-read myths and legends of the Bushmen. - From sacred-texts.com - http://www.sacred-texts.com/afr/sbf/index.htm
Tribes of Africa, NamibiaThe Bushmen (San) __ "The 45.000 San, one of the most intriguing people in this world, are the region's earliest inhabitants (it is estimated that they have been living here for the last 30,000 years)and are still settled in many parts of southern Africa where game and veld food used to be plentiful more than three centuries ago." An overview. - illustrated - From gateway-africa.com - http://www.gateway-africa.com/countries/namibia/bushmen.htm
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