Reviewed Resources for Students and
African Anthropology - General
peoples A through K
go to L through Z
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.
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.
Art/Western Eyes __ Information about an exhibit of Baule art with references to
history and culture. Plug-in needed to view the images. - illustrated - from
Smithsonian Museum of African Art -
Baule Mask Tribal Art sculpture and History __ "There are two forms of masks
namely animal and human and or both. It is not uncommon for other human masks to
have an animal attribute, or a human figure as a crest. Human masks are crafted
and used only by men to make contact with Gu, ruler of the world." History and
culture. - illustrated - From rebirth.co.za -
Baule People __ "The Baule belong to the Akan peoples who inhabit
Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. Three hundred years ago the Baule people
migrated westward from Ghana when the Asante rose to power. The tale of
how they broke away from the Asante has been preserved in their oral
traditions." You will find material related to history, culture,
religion, political structure, art and more. - From University of Iowa -
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