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Tiv:
The Tiv are a non-advanced, stateless society, with no formal government, on both sides of Bengue River in Nigeria (Britannica, 2019). They originated in what is now the Democratic-Republic of Congo, near the Bantu speaking people. As advances in agriculture and discovery of iron and copper, the groups split up and migrated throughout Africa (234Foundation, 2019). Currently, they occupy Benue State, which is a southern state in Nigeria; they live their with the Idome and Igede people as well. The Tiv settled in Benue valley in 1750, in a guinea savanna/rainforest, where the alluvial soil is very fertile. Tiv itself is a language, but various languages are spoken between groups (Britannica, 2019). They are subsistence farmers, who grow just enough food to feed themselves, and have no surplus for trading. They raise goats and chicken, but have very few cattle because of the infamous tsetse fly (234Foundation, 2019). Their social organization is founded in the bloodlines of males. The Tiv’s diet consists mainly of yams, millets, and sorghum, a crop often used for cereal. They typically turn these plants into their own sauces, stews, and porridges (Britannica, 2019).
The Tiv are a non-advanced, stateless society, with no formal government, on both sides of Bengue River in Nigeria (Britannica, 2019). They originated in what is now the Democratic-Republic of Congo, near the Bantu speaking people. As advances in agriculture and discovery of iron and copper, the groups split up and migrated throughout Africa (234Foundation, 2019). Currently, they occupy Benue State, which is a southern state in Nigeria; they live their with the Idome and Igede people as well. The Tiv settled in Benue valley in 1750, in a guinea savanna/rainforest, where the alluvial soil is very fertile. Tiv itself is a language, but various languages are spoken between groups (Britannica, 2019). They are subsistence farmers, who grow just enough food to feed themselves, and have no surplus for trading. They raise goats and chicken, but have very few cattle because of the infamous tsetse fly (234Foundation, 2019). Their social organization is founded in the bloodlines of males. The Tiv’s diet consists mainly of yams, millets, and sorghum, a crop often used for cereal. They typically turn these plants into their own sauces, stews, and porridges (Britannica, 2019).
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Igbo:
The Igbo are groups who live in the rainforest(s) of Southern Nigeria. Another stateless society, the government resolves disputes by having elders from different lineages meet (Britannica, 2019). It’s a very large group, with around 32 million members -- that’s around 20% of the country’s population (Udeze, 2019)! Before the European colonization, the Igbo people weren’t not united as a single group, but rather many smaller ones; by the mid 20th century however, they had developed a sense of ethnic identity, and tried to split from southern Nigeria.
Today, the Igbo are known as the most dispersed ethnic community in Nigeria, and have seen many migrations around the world. Much of this migration took place because of the slave trade. Their land is owned communally, and is shared among families (Britannica, 2019). Their high literacy rates have also helped many members -- both men and women -- become government workers and business people. The Igbo use their livestock for sacrifices to gain respect. They’re also mainly subsistence farmers, who mainly grow cassava, taro (a tropical plant with edible roots), and yams; their main staple, a yam festival is held at the end of the rainy season. In addition to the new yam festival, the Igbo hold masquerades of masked dancers during many celebrations, which evolved from the simple need for protection. Their large export is palm oil and palm kernels, but the groups make money off of local crafts and small scale trading (Udeze, 2019).
The Igbo are groups who live in the rainforest(s) of Southern Nigeria. Another stateless society, the government resolves disputes by having elders from different lineages meet (Britannica, 2019). It’s a very large group, with around 32 million members -- that’s around 20% of the country’s population (Udeze, 2019)! Before the European colonization, the Igbo people weren’t not united as a single group, but rather many smaller ones; by the mid 20th century however, they had developed a sense of ethnic identity, and tried to split from southern Nigeria.
Today, the Igbo are known as the most dispersed ethnic community in Nigeria, and have seen many migrations around the world. Much of this migration took place because of the slave trade. Their land is owned communally, and is shared among families (Britannica, 2019). Their high literacy rates have also helped many members -- both men and women -- become government workers and business people. The Igbo use their livestock for sacrifices to gain respect. They’re also mainly subsistence farmers, who mainly grow cassava, taro (a tropical plant with edible roots), and yams; their main staple, a yam festival is held at the end of the rainy season. In addition to the new yam festival, the Igbo hold masquerades of masked dancers during many celebrations, which evolved from the simple need for protection. Their large export is palm oil and palm kernels, but the groups make money off of local crafts and small scale trading (Udeze, 2019).
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Pygmy/BaMButi:
*BaMButi/Efé ( BaMButi is a term used for all of the people in a section of the Ituri rainforest, including Efé)
The Pygmy are also stateless subsistence farmers and hunter-gatherers located in the Ituri rainforest in the modern-day Democratic Republic of Congo, who hunt for blue duiker with spears and nets. This biome imposes many hardships for the groups who live there: the blood-sucking Tse-Tse fly and the sweltering heat make it harder to obtain and keep/grow food. There is little to no trading as well. They are some of the earliest inhabitants of Africa, their earliest records being from 2250 B.C. There are actually many pygmy tribes throughout central Africa, such as the Baka and the MButi. They are characterized by their shortness - the average person is less than 4’5 inches on average, and their average life expectancy is only 16 to 24 years. Scientists attribute the average stature to a lack a human growth protein in their bones. Today, the Pygmy inhabit rainforests, but many are getting displaced due to deforestation in Africa (New World Encyclopedia). They believe in a god named Tore, who created the world and the rainforest they live in. During times of crisis, the groups call to Tore for help; they imitate his voice by using a trumpet. When a pygmy dies, they believe that their spirit will be taken to Tore by a fly (Joshua Project, 2019). They are generally very short, averaging around 4 foot 6 inches - hence the name “pygmy.” In modern day, the groups are constantly in a bad relationship with nearby Bantu villagers. Recently they fought a battle in which 16-32 BaMButi were killed over a controversial tax imposed by the Bantu (Britannica, 2019).
Luba:
The Luba are groups of people with similar languages/cultures, and were part of the giant Luba empire in the 17th and 18th centuries (Bortolot, 2019). They inhabit forests and savannas south and central Democratic Republic of Congo, and are also a hunter-gatherer, farming society, who fish along the Congo River. In their history, the Luba have set up trade routes, imported crops, and technologies, which have increased the region’s wealth and stability. They and the pygmies have clashed many times, killing hundreds on either side in the process. Villages are burned down, and thousands of people are displaced. The attackers usually use crude weapons, like machetes, arrows, and axes. These conflicts started when the Batwa people declared their need for basic rights, and demanded an end to forced labor (Britannica, 2019). |
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Masai:
The Masai are a Indigenous ethnic group of nomadic pastoralists in East Africa. This lifestyle initially allowed them them to easily conquer groups and steal/grow livestock herds, but has recently lead to conflict over owning territories (Britannica, 2019). A patriarchal society lead by elders, the group is heavily focused on preserving and protecting cattle as warriors (Silverbird Travel Safari Blog, 2019). Their ancestors originated in North Africa in the 15th century, migrating south along the Nile River (Siyabona Africa, 2019). They quickly conquered other tribes and villages from the Rift Valley in Northern Ethiopia, to Northern Tanzania, ending up in Northern Tanzania in the 19th century. Their diet mainly consists livestock meat, blood, and milk. As of 2009, their population was around 864,000. The Masai’s traditional language is called Maa, but some also speak swahili and english. They are a monotheistic society with a god known as Engai (Silverbird Travel Safari Blog, 2019).
As far as structures, Kraals are circular fences around the village to keep the livestock in and protect from predators at night, and their houses are known as Inkajijiks -- circular and loaf-shaped houses that are built by female group members. The group measures their wealth by the size of their herds, and the number of children they have (Silverbird Travel Safari Blog, 2019). Today, the Masai have stopped hunting lions as a right of passage to prove they were warriors, and have started protecting them, as the population is depleting. Because of this depletion, the government has taken over surrounding area to create national parks and reserves, and are trying to attract European and American groups to come over to help build more. This has lead to the government ending their lease with the Masai to build ranches on their territory (International Tribune on Evictions, 2018). The government has deployed police and military in the area, including areas designated for the Masai. They have killed 50,000 goats and sheep, 1,500 cows, and 50 masain pastoralists. The government said they would compensate for their losses, but many Masains were scared and have left the nomadic lifestyle to join society (Yasuwaka, 2019).
The Masai are a Indigenous ethnic group of nomadic pastoralists in East Africa. This lifestyle initially allowed them them to easily conquer groups and steal/grow livestock herds, but has recently lead to conflict over owning territories (Britannica, 2019). A patriarchal society lead by elders, the group is heavily focused on preserving and protecting cattle as warriors (Silverbird Travel Safari Blog, 2019). Their ancestors originated in North Africa in the 15th century, migrating south along the Nile River (Siyabona Africa, 2019). They quickly conquered other tribes and villages from the Rift Valley in Northern Ethiopia, to Northern Tanzania, ending up in Northern Tanzania in the 19th century. Their diet mainly consists livestock meat, blood, and milk. As of 2009, their population was around 864,000. The Masai’s traditional language is called Maa, but some also speak swahili and english. They are a monotheistic society with a god known as Engai (Silverbird Travel Safari Blog, 2019).
As far as structures, Kraals are circular fences around the village to keep the livestock in and protect from predators at night, and their houses are known as Inkajijiks -- circular and loaf-shaped houses that are built by female group members. The group measures their wealth by the size of their herds, and the number of children they have (Silverbird Travel Safari Blog, 2019). Today, the Masai have stopped hunting lions as a right of passage to prove they were warriors, and have started protecting them, as the population is depleting. Because of this depletion, the government has taken over surrounding area to create national parks and reserves, and are trying to attract European and American groups to come over to help build more. This has lead to the government ending their lease with the Masai to build ranches on their territory (International Tribune on Evictions, 2018). The government has deployed police and military in the area, including areas designated for the Masai. They have killed 50,000 goats and sheep, 1,500 cows, and 50 masain pastoralists. The government said they would compensate for their losses, but many Masains were scared and have left the nomadic lifestyle to join society (Yasuwaka, 2019).
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San:
The San are a hunter-gatherer group located in South Africa and up a little bit of the coast of East Africa, near the Kalahari desert; they once lived along the Orange and the Nossob Rivers as well. The desert is prone to sandstorms and bushfires, but the the rivers provide(d) trade routes. The group does not have a government system, however, disputes are settled by community meetings. This type of civilization is called a stateless society (Krugerpark. Za, 2019). They were attacked first by the Bantu, and lost, losing much of their land, before then losing even more of it to Europeans. This conquering was due to the fact that the San -- unlike the Bantu and Europe -- had never entered the iron age, and were using simple stone and wood tools/weapons.
The group have had little trade in the past, as they have no official currency. Their religion is broken down into the greater god, and lesser. The former is the powerful good spirit who Sanians receive cures to diseases and assist the tribe, while the latter is the evil spirit (the devil) (Britannica, 2019). Although the tribe has been around for a long time (since the fall of Mali in the 1400s), they have never experienced great power, and remain a hunter-gatherer society; multiple encounters with other tribes and Europeans have dwindled their numbers to around 100,000. Today, modern countries are kicking the San out of their land in search for diamonds, and to build safari hotels. Many of the San have been relocated to other places, and now live in cities and other modern areas, where they are especially prone to addiction and other more urban problems because of their background. The modern-day area where they used to have total control over has now been built upon and modernized, and does not seem to take any inspiration from the ways of the San.
The San are a hunter-gatherer group located in South Africa and up a little bit of the coast of East Africa, near the Kalahari desert; they once lived along the Orange and the Nossob Rivers as well. The desert is prone to sandstorms and bushfires, but the the rivers provide(d) trade routes. The group does not have a government system, however, disputes are settled by community meetings. This type of civilization is called a stateless society (Krugerpark. Za, 2019). They were attacked first by the Bantu, and lost, losing much of their land, before then losing even more of it to Europeans. This conquering was due to the fact that the San -- unlike the Bantu and Europe -- had never entered the iron age, and were using simple stone and wood tools/weapons.
The group have had little trade in the past, as they have no official currency. Their religion is broken down into the greater god, and lesser. The former is the powerful good spirit who Sanians receive cures to diseases and assist the tribe, while the latter is the evil spirit (the devil) (Britannica, 2019). Although the tribe has been around for a long time (since the fall of Mali in the 1400s), they have never experienced great power, and remain a hunter-gatherer society; multiple encounters with other tribes and Europeans have dwindled their numbers to around 100,000. Today, modern countries are kicking the San out of their land in search for diamonds, and to build safari hotels. Many of the San have been relocated to other places, and now live in cities and other modern areas, where they are especially prone to addiction and other more urban problems because of their background. The modern-day area where they used to have total control over has now been built upon and modernized, and does not seem to take any inspiration from the ways of the San.