vft

Exploring Africa: 

Exploring Africa

Things Fall Apartby Chinua Achebe: 

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe A Study In: Character Conflict Culture

Examining Culture: 

Examining Culture Markers of Culture Gender roles Marriage and the family Celebrations Customs Government Agriculture Explore these “signs” of culture. Click on the following link to explore culture: http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/fil/pages/samafricael.html Use this link through slide # 9.

Examine the Following Aspects of African Culture:: 

Examine the Following Aspects of African Culture: Kanga History and Writings African Stories African Folktales African Art, People, Culture http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/fil/pages/samafricael.html

Kanga History : 

Kanga History create a word document--name it Response to Africa VFT What are kangas? In what area of Africa did they originate? What tribe? What is their purpose? What do American students wear that might be considered kangas? http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/fil/pages/samafricael.html

Goldweights As Proverbs: 

Goldweights As Proverbs Goldweights were small bronze figures, historically used for comparing the weight of gold dust. In Akan oral literature, they represented a story or proverb that spoke a philosophy. Keep this in mind in your exploration of Kanga writing. http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/fil/pages/samafricael.html

Kanga Writings: 

Kanga Writings From the list of 143 proverbs, select 5 that apply to any situation in the first five chapters of Things Fall Apart. Record both the literal translation and the most common meaning. How is the advice accepted or rejected in the novel? By whom and in what situation? http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/fil/pages/samafricael.html

African Stories: 

African Stories Click on African Stories. Choose two animal stories. Read and respond in your word document. http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/fil/pages/samafricael.html

African Folktales: 

African Folktales Click on African folktales. Choose two folktales. Read and respond in your word document. Summarize the tale. What is the purpose of each folktale? http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/fil/pages/samafricael.html

Some African Art: 

Some African Art

African Art: 

African Art Click on National Museum of African Art. http://www.nmafa.si.edu/pubaccess/pages/divfrm.htm Enjoy exploring this site; in the search on the left, check out “face masks from Nigeria” Check out one other item in the choices--example--toys or weapons. Report on them in the word document; What did you find interesting? What have you already noticed in your reading of the novel?

African People and Culture: 

African People and Culture Click on African People and Culture Explore the Igbo tribe by reading about its location, language, and daily life. How does Achebe illustrate these characteristics in Okonkwo’s village? Record examples and page numbers in your word document. Next, take a look at the Yoruba tribe. Record location, language, and daily life in your word document.

African Music: 

African Music Click on About African Music What are the major characteristics of African music? Make a list of some instruments. Click on History of African Music. Read one of the three sections, according to your interest. Take notes in your word document; we will have a seminar discussion about African music. Do you have any examples of music that you can trace back to African roots?

More About African Music: 

More About African Music Click on this and enjoy: http://www.ethnix.com/Music/main.html (This page is currently under construction, but should prove to be exciting to the students.)

Sites for Further Investigation: 

Sites for Further Investigation http://www.mnh.si.edu/africanvoices/ http://www.poetropical.co.uk/africa.htm http://www.music-mosaic.com/ecom/tribal-music.htm

About Chinua Achebe: 

About Chinua Achebe "I would be quite satisfied if my novels (especially the ones I set in the past) did no more than teach my readers that their past - with all its imperfections - was not one long night of savagery from which the first Europeans acting on God's behalf delivered them" (from Morning Yet on Creation Day, 1975)

More Works by Achebe: 

More Works by Achebe No Longer at Ease, 1960 The Sacrificial Egg and Other Stories, 1962 Arrow of God, 1964 Chike and the River, 1966 Beware Soul Brother, 1971 How the Leopard Got His Claws, 1972 The Drum, 1977 The Flute, 1977 Anthills of the Savanna, 1987