(G) AFRICA - ETHNOLOGY

(a) Introduction

From the shores of the Mediterranean to about the latitude of 20° N., the population of Africa consists largely of tribes not originally native to the soil, but of Arabs and Turks, planted by conquest, with a considerable number of Jews, the children of dispersion; and the more recently introduced French. The Berbers of the Atlas region, the Tuaricks and Tibbus of the Sahara, and the Copts of Egypt, may be viewed as the descendants of the primitive stock, while those to whom the general name of Moors is applied, are perhaps of mixed descent, native and foreign. From the latitude stated to the Cape Colony, tribes commonly classed together under the title of the Ethiopic or Negro family are found, though many depart very widely from the peculiar physiognomy of the Negro, which is most apparent in the natives of the Guinea coast. In the Cape Colony, and on its borders, the Hottentots form a distinct variety in the population of Africa, most closely resembling the Mongolian races of Asia.





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Africa - Table of Contents



Recommended Book

Cultural Atlas of Africa

by Jocelyn Murray

This book seeks to provide the essential facts about Africa's history and prospects, now revised to reflect the ever-changing nature of the continent. Any understanding of Africa must be based on an awareness of its geography. Completely new maps have been compiled throughout for this atlas. In clear and brilliant color they present, simply and memorably, the realities of Africa today. Part One sets the scene for the whole atlas in its survey, through maps and text, of the natural geographical phenomena of the continent. The contributors to Part Two show both the unity and the diversity of selected aspects of Africa: its ancient kingdoms and empires, its arts and architecture, the diaspora of its peoples, the urbanization of its countries. Part Three is a country-by-country survey of Africa's nation-states. A map of each individual country sets out the basic facts of its human and economic geography, while the text outlines the forces that have molded the modern state. A bibliography, gazetteer, and index have been added to aid the serious student and the traveler. This ambitious and informative book is essential reading for all those - both within and outside Africa - who want or need to be better informed about this amazing continent.

Extra comments:
This book maps the tribal groupings and languages with excellent maps of both, so that you can see the distribution of the tribes and languages continent-wide rather than just country by country.

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