Mysterious and wild Africa excites the imaginations of scientists and researchers from all over the world. After all, it is here, at the origins of the cradle of mankind, that natural spaces untouched by civilization and original African tribes have been preserved. The ancient peoples of Africa observe sacred cultural traditions and lead a primitive way of life. Their rites, rituals, behavior and appearance can shock a modern European.
Pygmies, Bantu and Masai are one of the most interesting and unusual tribes inhabiting the hot and exotic mainland of the planet. In the article, we will get to know these ancient peoples better: we will learn about the details of their daily life and cultural traditions.
Pygmies are small inhabitants of the big mainland
Pygmies are one of the shortest representatives of African tribes: the height of an adult male rarely exceeds 150 cm. The first mention of them is found in ancient Egyptian inscriptions of the third millennium BC, and later in ancient Greek writings. It was the Greek language that served as the source of the modern name of the tribe: the word pygmy literally translates as a man with a fist.
These little people live in African forests, lead a calm and peaceful life, gather, fish and hunt. Pygmies relatively recently learned how to make fire, but they still do not know how to make stone tools. But they can deftly and skillfully hunt with the help of a bow, for which arrows with poisoned tips are made with their own hands.
Daily way of life and traditions of the Pygmies
Dance of the Boom. Every day, the pygmies gather around the fire and dance boomu (a dance in honor of the gods, the forest and animals) to the sound of the indumu drum. Such a ritual is performed to invoke Bobe - the spirit of the forest. At the end of the dance, one of the members of the African tribe changes into an outfit made of leaves and appears as Bobet.
Getting your favorite treat. During the rainy season, the people of the tribe collect honey. Pygmies smoke bees out of hives with the help of coals from a fire, but if the hive is too high, they cut down the tree with primitive axes. The miners look for delicacy only on dilapidated and old trees: if the young undergrowth is harmed, then the spirit of the forest will surely punish every inhabitant of the tribe.
Fishing. From a young age until old age, women are engaged in catching fish, and they do it very skillfully. With the help of logs and clay, the river is blocked - a kind of dam is obtained. With their hands or improvised means, women scoop out excess water so that the prey is stranded. Clams, crabs or catfish left at the bottom are collected in a vine basket.
Bantu is the mostharmless African tribe
The Bantu tribe includes a whole group of peoples: Rwanda, Shona, Makua and others. All peoples have similar not only languages, but also customs, for this reason they are united into one big tribe. Bantu live in separate groups in small villages that are found throughout Africa.
This African nation is famous for its high level of development and harmless way of life: people do not practice cannibalism and cruel traditions associated with the killing of fellow tribesmen.
Bantu do not live in primitive huts at all, but in full-fledged mud houses with thatched roofs.
Daily, the inhabitants of the tribe are engaged in agriculture, cattle breeding and gathering. The Bantu are far from perfect in the art of hunting and do not know how to navigate in the forest, therefore they devote all their strength to housekeeping.
Close communication between Bantu and Europeans
The Bantu people have a friendly and peaceful nature. This allows explorers, scientists and tourists from Europe to communicate directly with the newly feral African tribe. Such interaction was the reason for the sharp and rapid "cultivation" of local residents. Whether this is good or bad is a complex and ambiguous question.
The Bantu themselves believe that communication with Europeans brings them many benefits and even some benefit. For example, the inhabitants of the tribe offer all guests not only tours of the village, but also a traditional dinner with an overnight stay. African tour guides provide suchthe service is not at all for money, but for clothes, dishes, jewelry and even cosmetics.
The influence of civilization "kills" the ancient culture of the tribe
Bantu are gradually losing their identity due to close contact with the civilized world. Until recently, they wore loincloths made of animal skins, and today their clothes are no different from the European standard: jeans, shorts, shirts and T-shirts. A recent photo of the African Bantu tribe is an excellent confirmation of this fact.
In the foreground, members of the tribe perform a dance for guests in traditional attire, exactly the kind that culture ascribes to them. And in the background are people in ordinary clothes. And these are not tourists at all, but the inhabitants of the tribe. And if you take a closer look at the dancers, you can see that the man on the right decided to fix the bandage with a modern leather belt.
Unfortunately, most Bantu dances and rituals are only for the entertainment of foreign audiences. You can get acquainted with the real cultural life of an African tribe only in remote villages, where the foot of a European rarely sets foot. Here, the locals observe all the traditions attributed to them:
- live according to the strict rules of patriarchy and revere the leader;
- participate in rituals and sing original songs to invoke the spirits of the forest and sky;
- decorate their homes to protect them from evil spirits;
- carving and making forgeries out of straw.
Masai - a tribe kissed by the gods
Unlike the peaceful and hospitable Bantu, the Maasai are famous for their ferocity and contempt for other tribes. After all, they are convinced that they are the best people in Africa: incredibly beautiful, spiritually developed and gifted. The main reason for the high conceit of this African people was the scriptures, according to which the Masai are messengers of the highest forest and heavenly gods, and the inhabitants of other tribes are worshipers of evil and unclean spirits. Because of this, the tribe quite often lives at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, as it unites the sacred earthly people with the heavenly rulers. The Masai are nomadic and can be found throughout East Africa, mainly along the borders between Kenya and Tanzania.
Rebellious spirit and militancy are the hallmarks of the Masai people
Despite the active intervention of Western civilization, the Masai are one of the few African tribes that to this day unquestioningly observe sacred traditions. Cultural and religious injunctions call on them to steal livestock from every tribe in Africa that they meet on their way. After all, the old legend says: "The rain god Ngai gave all the cattle of the world to the Masai people, because the enemies who own the cattle once stole these animals from the great tribe." In this regard, the Masai are convinced that they do not steal at all, but restore historical injustice.
The so-called return of once stolen pets, as well as the protection of the village, is carried out exclusively by men. The elders of the tribe teach very young boys to be great and powerful warriors, ready to give their lives at any moment, fighting for the honor and greatness of their people.
Maasai daily life and traditions
The entry of children of an African tribe into adulthood. All juveniles are required to be circumcised. This painful procedure is not only a sacred ritual, but also a real holiday. After all, it is after circumcision that boys become great warriors and mature men of the African Masai tribe, and girls become full-fledged women ready for marriage. 4-8 months after the procedure, young people find their mate in the traditional adumu dance. The best "steeds" get enviable brides and grooms.
Polygamy. Men can have several wives, but all must be provided with housing and care. Moreover, the women's parents claim a ransom in the form of three or four cows. Because not everyone can afford a harem of young African beauties.
Prosperity of the patriarchy. The Maasai girls had a hard time. While men take care of the safety of the people and herd livestock, women take care of the household, raise children, prepare dinner, gather and grow crops, chop wood, fetch water, and even build huts!
By the way, men who have reached a respectable age are not at all obliged to bother themselves with any worldly concerns of the tribe and have the righttake a well-deserved rest, as they are being replaced by the younger generation.
A peculiar burial. The Masai bury their fellow tribesmen in a rather unusual way: the body of the deceased is left in a deserted place to be eaten by predators. A more humane burial (burying the body in the ground) applies only to children.
