The top 10 most widely practised African traditions.

To begin, I was born in Kenya and have lived in Africa my entire life.

Being from Africa and having travelled to nearly every African country, I've encountered a wide range of traditional tastes and religious practices throughout the vast African tribes.

Today,

1. Male circumcision for the Bantu-speaking people.

Bantu languages are spoken by Bantu people, who are made up of several hundred indigenous ethnic groups scattered throughout a large area spanning Central Africa, East Africa, and Southern Africa. Depending on how "language" or "dialect" is defined, the overall number of languages is believed to be between 440 and 680 unique languages. That’s how big the Bantu tribe is big.

So, what is/was common during this practice is that the natural social setting of circumcision for those groups was in adolescent rites of passage, sometimes referred to as "initiation schools" in ethnographic literature. These were then strongly linked to 'age-grades,' or age-ranked male cohorts whose membership was determined by attendance at the same initiation schools in the same year.

2. Witchcraft

In many African countries and communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, witchcraft is strongly ingrained. It is particularly relevant in Africa's culture, values, and way of life, and it continues to shape people's lives on a daily basis. Tradition, terror, violence, and spiritual ideas have all been fostered. Witchcraft is seen differently in different parts of Africa.

The major cause for the practice, however, is common in most countries: money gain, avarice, protection, and victory during difficult times.

3. Putting a monetary value on the bride

This is an ancient and disputed African practice in which the bride and groom's families negotiate the amount the groom must pay for the bride. All talks must be conducted in writing, rather than over the phone or in person. The two families are unable to communicate until the discussions are completed.

Despite the fact that much of Africa has adopted modern religion, this is one of the few customs in Africa that is still commonly practised. I'm also expected to pay a price for my bride, or I'll have trouble when she passes away. That's their family will deny me the opportunity to bury their daughter, claiming that I am not the rightful husband. We continue to pay dowry to this day.

4. African Traditions in Music and Poetry.

Music is a form of communication in most African tribes I've met, including my Luhya tribe, and it serves a practical purpose in society. Songs are performed at weddings, births, rites of passage, hunting, and even political events. In various African cultures, music is frequently utilized to ward off evil spirits and pay respects to good spirits, the deceased, and ancestors.

Despite the fact that musical styles and instruments differ by place, there are some similar musical expressions. The African drum is the most important instrument in African music. It elicits emotion and expresses people's moods. The "heartbeat of the community" is the African drum's beat, and its rhythm is what binds the dancers together.

5. Dance

Is an important component of African culture, and it communicates through symbolic gestures, masks, costumes, body painting, and props. The dancing movements might be basic or sophisticated, with complex actions such as quick rotation, body ripples, and contraction and release. Dance is a form of expression for all emotions, whether happy or sad, and it is not limited to dancers. Often, onlookers are invited to participate.

6. Traditional African Masks

The religious, ceremonial, and practical origins of African masks worn in dances can be found. Before beginning the actual carving of the mask, the artist will ceremonially purify himself and give prayers to his ancestors for guidance.

The African mask denotes a spirit, and it is thought that the dancer is possessed by the spirit while wearing it. In order to obtain direction and wisdom from the ancestors, the chosen dancer enters a trance-like state. The dancer will utter and groan the words she has received, and a wise man who will accompany her will translate them.

7. Art

Despite the fact that music and dance are major African traditions and widespread ways of communication, many Africans also express themselves through other creative forms. The Zulu people are famed for their beautiful beading. Each bead's colour corresponds to a specific meaning. The beads have been used to convey messages known as "ucu," which is a Zulu phrase that loosely translates to "love notes." It is an African custom for young girls to present a boy with a multicoloured beaded bracelet. The lad will court her for a while before inquiring about the meaning of the beads at the opportune time.

The most typical motifs depicted in African art and sculpture are a couple, a mother and child, a male with a weapon or animal, or a "stranger." Couples are usually freestanding figures of the same size, symbolizing the significance of working together as a team. Because it is uncommon for African men and women to publicly exhibit their affection, a male and female marriage in African art usually portrays strength and honour rather than love and intimacy. A mother and child coupling can symbolize "mother earth" and her people, as well as the profound tie that exists between mother and kid.

Honour is paid to departed ancestors by a male figure wielding a sword or animal. African males are frequently honoured in battle, and armament is frequently depicted in African art as a symbol of survival and power. When someone from a foreign country or tribe is depicted as a stranger in African art, it usually represents someone who is not welcome.

8. Death

Funerals in Africa are seen as a way of properly separating the living from the dead and introducing a person to the world of spirits. The worlds of the living and the dead are regarded as equally genuine in most traditional African communities. They are perpetually balanced and rebalanced; activities taken by the people of one world have a commensurate effect on the inhabitants of the other, some of which are good and others which are destructive. Humans are viewed as a composite of physical and spiritual aspects that split into different halves at death, with the body returning to the earth and the spirit or soul continuing on to fulfil its role in the afterlife. The dead are obligated to safeguard and guard in this duty to protect their living offspring from harm, as well as to supervise the behaviour of their family and lineage members In exchange, the living show the dead hospitality and courtesy by feeding and drinking them and continuing the customs that they have passed down.

9. Childhood

An African child is linked to his or her family, community, and ancestors from the moment of birth. Many various ceremonies are held to strengthen these bonds and to train children to become keepers of their people's culture. Because infant mortality is still high in many African societies, people are extremely superstitious during the first few years of a child's life and perform rituals to protect them from harm.

For example in the Himba of Namibia never leave a baby alone, or even set it down, for fear of a malicious spirit stealing the kid. The Wodaabe of Niger do not name their children until they are 12 years old so that the spirit of death cannot identify them. However, names are so essential to Maasai babies that village elders award them immediately after birth. Childhood is a time in all African nations for children to learn duties and abilities that enable them to contribute to their communities. It is, nevertheless, a moment for children to express themselves through imaginative play. Children are encouraged to participate actively in communal ceremonies.

10. Elders should be respected.

Finally, respect for elders is the highest value acknowledged by any member of society because they are the only link between the living and the dead, according to most African beliefs.

African cultural values are founded on the past and present, which is one of the reasons why elders are highly revered. Always acknowledge a senior, allow them to ask questions, and serve elders first at dinner.