AFRICA: ONE CONTINENT. MANY WORLDS. | LESSON PLANS

Teaching Children the Meaning of Work

The African continent encompasses many different people, nations and regions. Although millions of Africans live in urban areas, many others live in rural villages. Prior to the advent of agriculture about seven thousand years ago, people survived by hunting and gathering food. This often required groups of people to travel far from their settlements in order to find adequate supplies of wild animals, seeds, fruits and berries.

Once the cultivation of crops became widespread, settlements became more permanent. Farming was the most important economic activity in most societies of Africa during the past six thousand years. A more settled lifestyle meant greater social divisions, which usually included a ruling class, priests, merchants and an artisan class. Life in the village was regulated by the agricultural calendar to determine the best time to sow and harvest the crops.

Rituals and ceremonies were created to signal the beginning or ending of the seasons or annual cycles and to educate people about their social roles and responsibilities. As societies grew larger and more complex, centers of government arose, including village councils, chiefdoms, and kingdoms. Today in Africa, many of these types of rulership still exist along with more modern forms of government led by presidents and legislatures.

The Chi Wara or antelope is associated with dances and songs performed in farming ceremonies. There are boy and girl Chi Waras, and they teach the men and women, boys and girls how to work together in harmony while preparing for the planting of the fields and the harvesting of the crops. The Chi Wara also teaches people how to grow food successfully so that they can provide enough for everyone. The Chi Wara is also used in ceremonies dedicated to bringing rain.The Chi Wara shown here is a boy Chi Wara. Girl Chi Waras have babies on their backs. He was created by the African people calied Bamana who live in Mali. Bamana artists carve the Chi Wara out of wood. They attach it to a hat made out of a basket, which is worn on the head of a dancer playing the part of a Chi Wara in special ceremonies. Usually the Bamana men make the Chi Waras, while the women prepare the costumes and jewelry that the dancers will wear.

Chi Waras are only worn by the best farmers. The Chi Wara represents someone who is strong and fast and full of energy. He or she shows people how to work well and get the job done. The smile on his face shows that he likes his work. His horns show he is full of energy. His feet show he is ready to dig and plant the ground. From the Chi Wara we can also learn that if we want to live a good and happy life we have to learn how to work together with our families. We must love the Earth, its animals, plants and people as well as our work.