The mysterious and wild Africa excites the fantasies of scientists and researchers from around the world. After all, it was here, at the origins of the cradle of mankind, that natural spaces untouched by civilization and original African tribes were preserved. The ancient peoples of Africa observe sacred cultural traditions and lead a primitive lifestyle. Their rites, rituals, behavior and appearance can cause shock in a modern resident of Europe.
Pygmies, Bantu and Masai are one of the most interesting and unusual tribes that inhabit the hot and exotic mainland of the planet. In the article we will get to know these ancient peoples closer: we will learn about the details of their daily lives and cultural traditions.
Pygmies - 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 scriptures. It was the Greek language that served as the source of the modern name of the tribe: the word pygmy literally translates as a person with a fist.
These little people live in African forests, lead a calm and peaceful lifestyle, are engaged in gathering, fishing and hunting. Pygmies relatively recently learned to make fire, and they still cannot make stone tools. But they can skillfully and skillfully hunt with the help of a bow, for which they themselves make arrows with poisoned tips.
Everyday life and traditions of the pygmies
Dance boom. Every day, pygmies gather around the fire and dance a boom (dance in honor of the gods, forest and animals) to the sounds of an Hindu drum. Such a ritual is performed to invoke Bob, the spirit of the forest. At the end of the dance, one of the members of the African tribe dresses up in a leaf outfit and appears in the form of a bobe.
Extraction of favorite delicacies. In the rainy season, tribe residents collect honey. Pygmies smoke bees from hives with the help of coals from a fire, if the hive is too high, they cut down the tree with primitive axes. Miners look for a treat only on shabby and old trees: if harm is done to a young undergrowth, the spirit of the forest will surely punish every inhabitant of the tribe.
Fishing. From a young age to old age, women are engaged in fishing, and this is very skillful for them. 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 up excess water so that the extraction is aground. Shellfish, crabs or catfish left at the bottom are collected in a basket of twigs.
Bantu is the most harmless African tribe
The Bantu tribe includes a whole group of nationalities: Rwanda, Shona, Makua and others. All peoples have similar not only languages, but also customs, for this reason they are united in one large tribe. Bantu live in separate groups in small villages that are found throughout Africa.
This African people is famous for its high level of development and a harmless way of life: people do not practice cannibalism and cruel traditions associated with the murder of fellow tribesmen.
Bantu do not live at all in primitive huts, but in full-fledged clay houses with a thatched roof.
Every day, the inhabitants of the tribe are engaged in agriculture, cattle breeding and gathering. 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 energies to housekeeping.
Close communication between Bantu and Europeans
Bantu people have a friendly and peaceful disposition. This allows researchers, scholars and tourists from Europe to communicate directly with the recently wild African tribe. This interaction has led to a sharp and rapid "cultivation" of local residents. For better or worse, the issue is complex and controversial.
Bantu themselves believe that communication with Europeans brings them many benefits and even some benefits. 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 guides provide such a service 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 is gradually losing its identity due to close contact with the civilized world. More recently, they wore loincloths from 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 dresses, namely those that culture attributes 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 dance performers, you can see that the man on the right decided to fix the bandage with a modern leather belt.
Unfortunately, most Bantu people dance and perform rituals only for the entertainment of a foreign audience. One can get acquainted with the real cultural life of the African tribe only in remote villages, where the European’s foot rarely steps. Here, local residents observe all the traditions attributed to them:
- live by the strict rules of the patriarchy and honor the leader;
- participate in rituals and sing original songs for the invocation of the spirits of the forest and heaven;
- adorn their homes in order to protect them from evil spirits;
- they are engaged in carving and make fakes from straw.
Masai - tribe kissed by the gods
Unlike the peace-loving and hospitable Bantu, the Masai 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 scripture, 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. Masai lead a nomadic life, because they can be found throughout East Africa, mainly along the borders between Kenya and Tanzania.
Rebel 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 adheres to sacred traditions. Cultural and religious precepts urge them to steal livestock from all the tribes of Africa that meet on their way. Indeed, the old legend says: "The rain god Ngai gave all the cattle of the world to the Masai people, because the enemies who own cattle once stole these animals from a 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 the once stolen pets, as well as the protection of the village are exclusively engaged in men. The elders of the tribe teach very young boys to be great and powerful warriors, ready at any moment to give their lives, fighting for the honor and greatness of their people.
