Chapter 14: The Cultural Legacy of West Africa

West Africans perform dances for all kind of reasons, such as...?

celebrating success at work, helping educate children, and connecting with dead ancestors

Which of the following best describes West African cultures?

diverse

Which instrument is most likely to be played at West African religious meetings and ceremonies?

drum

What do proverbs do?

express ideas or give advice

"Trickster tales", such as the tales about Brer Rabbit, are popular West African...?

folktales

The Yoruba people taught their neighbors in Benin how to make sculptures out of...?

brass

Written tradition became more important in West African culture when...?

Islam gained followers in West Africa.

Which of the following is the best example of an oral tradition?

a grandmother singing a song she learned from her mother

What kind of history were griots expected to remember?

ancestry, battles, and deaths

The griot instrument similar to the xylophone in the picture is called a...?

balafon

What kind of cloth is made by sewing together narrow strips of silk of other fabrics?

kente cloth

Many griot stories were told about Sundjata Keita. He was a...?

king who founded Mali's empire

West African cultures were different in many ways. What did they have in common?

oral tradition

The Mande people first recorded their history and culture through...?

oral traditions

Historically, who has helped preserve oral traditions and history in West Africa?

poet-musicians

Griots are best recognized for their ability to...?

recount history

Call and response songs have influenced which of these musical styles the most...?

rock and roll

In appliqué work...?

small pieces of fabric are attached to a larger background piece.

The Nok people made sculptures of human figures out of...?

terra-cotta

Rulers and griots both played an important role in West Africa. Which of the following best describes how rulers viewed griots?

trusted advisors