Cultures of Africa

Africa offers a wide range of different cultures. Arts & crafts are one of their main culture, figurines for example. 

When a person views African art, several themes seem to come up over and over again. These themes are representations of different things that are significant to African culture; and reveal the importance behind some of its most beautiful art. Some of the themes are a couple, woman and a child, a male with a weapon or animal or an outsider or stranger. Arts & crafts also involve the making of jewelry. Much of African culture places great emphasis on appearance and therefore on jewelry. African jewelry has been given tremendous attention for centuries. Now a useful and beautiful part of African culture. Many pieces of African jewelry contain sea shells. They are not only beautiful but also symbolic. Unfortunately, most of the African art comes with no explanation of the meaning intended to be symbolized when it was made. 

Another big part of their culture is music and dance. African dance refers mainly to the dance of Sub-Saharan Africa. These dances teach social patterns and values and helps people work, mature, praise or criticize members of the community while celebrating festivals and funerals, competing, reciting history, proverbs and poetry and to encounter gods.The most widely used musical instrument in Africa is the human voice.

The sound and the rhythm of the drum expresses the mood of the people. The drum is the sign of life to them and its beat is the heartbeat of the community.In an African community, coming together in response to the beating of the drum is an opportunity to give one another a sense of belonging. It is a time to connect with each other, to be part of that collective rhythm of the life in which young and old, rich and poor, men and women are all invited to contribute to the society.