People & Culture
Map
East Africa
The people and traditions of East Africa are diverse. Cultures vary across borders and even within countries themselves. There are so many different groups of people living in East Africa that it is difficult and almost impossible to count them all.
Ethnic Groups
Here are two of the many ethnic groups you can find in East Africa:
- Maasai people live on the savannahs of Kenya and Tanzania. They are famous herders and warriors. They wear brightly colored clothes and elaborate hand-made jewelry.
- Amhara people live in Ethiopia. They wear mostly flowing white clothes. Their culture is strong, partially because Ethiopia is the only East African country that was able to fight off colonization.
Each group has different cultures and celebrations. Despite the differences, millions in East Africa speak a common language: Swahili.
Speak Swahili
Here are a few words your students will likely recognize in Swahili, since they all come from the movie The Lion King:
- rafiki — friend
- hakuna matata — no worries
- jambo — hello
Out of East Africa and Into the Classroom
This activity is best for elementary students. Watch the movie The Lion King with your class. Although it is an animated film, it does present an accurate image of the savannahs of East Africa and the many animals that live there. In addition, you could watch a National Geographic feature about some of the great migrations of the animals in East Africa and spot the similarities between the animated The Lion King and the real National Geographic version.
Music
Music is also a common thread across the region. Although sounds and styles vary from place to place, East Africa as a whole is alive with dance and song. Here are some famous musical genres from the region:
- Benga comes from Kenya. A contemporary kind of dance music, benga features electric guitars and quick, catchy tunes. Kapere Jazz Band is one well-known benga group that you could listen to for a sampling of the music.
- Marrabenta comes from Mozambique. A form of dance music influenced by Portuguese and African rhythms, it is played largely in the capital city of Maputo. Marrabenta was originally played on homemade guitars with fishing-line for strings. Played so hard that the strings often broke, marrabenta got its name from the Portuguese word “arrabentar” meaning “to break”.
- Modern day hip hop is popular among youth in Kenya and other coastal cities. It is often used to spread positive messages to youth. Songs are commonly about HIV/AIDS, poverty, slums and the need for education.
Whether it’s traditional music or fusions of African and European contemporary rhythms, the sounds of East African music will keep your feet moving.