StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

African Cultural Practices - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
From this essay, it is clear that African cultural practices have rocked the global market despite the fact that, some people do not comprehend the meaning and the reason why Africans emphasis on maintaining their cultural activities. It has promoted the tourism, which has boosted African economy…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER98.8% of users find it useful
African Cultural Practices
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "African Cultural Practices"

African Cultural PracticesAfrican is herb of diverse cultural practices, traditional cultural practices have in great deal influenced art domain in African society. African arts have really drawn attention of many people who visit museums. However, despite the fact that they have dominated art industry, it has become difficult to understand the meaning of some of the cultural practices by African communities. This has majorly affected most colonial masters who generalize African culture without vivid understanding of the meaning and the reason behind ceremonies.

Ceremonies differ greatly from one community to the other depending on their cultural beliefs. The case in point is how Oduduwa ceremony is presided over by priests and priestess in Yoruba land found in Nigeria. Although Africa is rich in ceremonies, the sacred ceremony for the Oduduwa the first king of the Yoruba community is one of kind. In this festival, drumming is prohibited and instead a percussive instrument known as eganira is used (Olupona 83). Notably, the instrument is particularly used by priests and priestess who have learnt how to effectively produce desired sound.

Sound from drums and chanting from priests usually communicate to the spirits and ancestors thus they are evoked to answer the needs of the society. The ceremony has of great important especially for those that believe in power of traditional beliefs. Chanting from the priests and priestess has enabled Yoruba community engage deity forces with courage as they try to inspire them through chanting. The Oduduwa ceremony was first conducted in Nigeria; it specifically started at Yoruba land a region that was formally dominated by the Yoruba community.

The ceremony initially started as a move to engage forces from the evil. Because of their rich cultural practices, the Yoruba community has since continued to enjoy high profit made from the sales of beads and objects. This has really boosted Nigerian economy because of high income obtained from the tourism sector. Interestingly, Yoruba community has practiced the ceremony up-to-date despite challenging influence from modern way of life especially targeting the young generation. Priests and priestess take the center stage of the ceremony; they are the ones in charge of residing over the ceremony.

Priests are perceived of being mystical since they obtain powerful spirit during their initiation. They relentlessly learn how to tune their voices like an instrument in order to contend the supernatural powers. However, not every priest or priestess who have a good voice can chant. It is believed that deity Ogun is only inspired by the Ijala chanters of the Yoruba community. They therefore preside over most of the Oduduwa ceremonies. Despite chanting, Yoruba priests and priestess make divination speech, which is believed to be inspiration to spirits, which can possibly make it easy to achieve desired results.

In conclusion, African practices have rocked the entire global market despite the fact that, some people do not comprehend the meaning and the reason why Africans emphasis on maintaining their cultural activities. This has promoted tourism, which in turn has boosted African economy. However, there is need to instill importance of culture among the young generation.Works citedOlupona, Jacob. African Religions: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014. Print.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“African Cultural Practices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/history/1677159-the-writer-chooses-a-topic
(African Cultural Practices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words)
https://studentshare.org/history/1677159-the-writer-chooses-a-topic.
“African Cultural Practices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/history/1677159-the-writer-chooses-a-topic.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF African Cultural Practices

Witchcraft in southern Tanzania/ The Use of Witchcraft in Modern Tanzania

For example, in the last two decades, thousands of Tanzania have been accused on witchcraft and even murdered by citizens due to the archaic practices (Petraitis 1).... Witchcraft has been rampant in various parts of Africa.... However, the practice of witchcraft has been on the decline in modern society as compared to the period before the rise of colonialism (Toyin 250)....
6 Pages (1500 words) Research Paper

The Importance of Africa as a Civilization and People

Hence it is proposed that one of the reasons for the retention of African civilization by way of culture, beliefs, and practices is rooted in the ancient African system of thought that is still alive today.... This essay focuses on the topic of african culture while throwing more light on the influences of other religions and culture on this ancient land.... The essay "The Importance of Africa as a Civilization and People" focuses on the topic of african culture while throwing more light on the influences of other religions and culture on this ancient land....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Colonial America to Road to Revolution

I like the essay as a detailed history is given about the slavery and the practices of Europeans towards African slaves.... The cultural gap that was previously considered to exist between African and European culture to a large extent was not such great. Africa was also a culturally developed Black People in a White People's Country by Gary B.... The cultural gap that was previously considered to exist between African and European culture to a large extent was not such great....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Defining African Religion and Insiders and Outsiders

The cultural practices are passed on from one generation to another.... Most of the rights involve observing practices that are out of the extraordinary.... Most of the rights involve observing practices that are out of the extraordinary.... The practices all carry a meaning which is meant to act as life lesson.... Religious practices are geared toward having prosperity, peace and happiness in the community.... The writer takes a different outlook towards the practices of different communities....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Cultural Practices and Traditions in Africa

Binyavanga elaborates further by citing some cultural practices and traditions in Africa and the animals that inhabit the place.... Among those characters that he mentioned are the Loyal Servant, the Ancient Wise Man, the Modern african and the Starving african (Wainaina 93)....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Summary of Cultural, Tradition and Ritual Practices in African Society

Many people in the African society have values and beliefs that are attached to their cultural practices, traditions and rituals that shape their lives in the society (Nel par.... Many people in the African society have values and beliefs that are attached to their cultural practices, traditions and rituals that shape their lives in the society (Nel par.... These cultural practices, customs and traditions vary from one religion to another.... Rituals are well established form of cultural practices or ceremonies that mark a certain social rite in the society....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Petals of Blood

Having been set in the Kenyan context, the village has a blend of people who strongly believed in the traditional African Cultural Practices and those who believe in western culture.... Therefore, they held the view that they should be left to continue practicing their cultural traditions that encompassed male chauvinism, domination of the women, rituals and other conservative practices that are transmitted from one generation to another (Ehret 28).... In their opinion, a good culture should embrace modern practices such as western education and Christianity....
2 Pages (500 words) Book Report/Review

Hite of Maw and African Slavery

This paper under the following headline "Hite of Maw and african Slavery" focuses on the fact that the narrative is about Hite of Maw, or Justarus Vassa, the african.... The author also explains a relatively homely treatment by the african masters.... The author contrasts the moderately homely treatment by the african masters to that of brutal demonstrated by the Whites.... Fourthly, the writer explains that the struggle of achieving freedom at the hands of the african and White masters was in vain....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us