African Proverbs: Culture of Africa

African tribes developed an extensive collection of oral literature long before Muslim traders brought an emphasis on written records to the region. Even after that point, oral traditions were viewed as the more authentic “African” way and they persisted as the primary method of teaching morality, reasoning, debating skills, community values and African religious values to the young. Proverbs are short sayings designed to impart wisdom. In African culture, knowledge and mastery of proverbs earns great prestige because it is seen as having achieved wisdom. Further, when Africans seek advise from others, often the advise is given in the form of a proverb to ponder rather than a specific recommended course of action. This product includes 25 African proverbs and challenges students to identify parallel American equivalents. In doing so, it illustrates the universal nature of many human social truisms.

INCLUDED IN THIS LESSON:

➢ Student Handout with 25 African Proverbs.
➢ Answer Key/Discussion Guide with Suggested Equivalents
➢ Common Core Alignment

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