Interaction among communities in Africa

Communities in Africa have lived with each other over centuries.

In the past, some communities travelled for long distances while others interacted with their neighbours.

Some forms of interaction were beneficial to both communities while others were harmful.

Below are common forms of interaction among communities.

• Trade: exchanging goods you produce to get goods you not not have

• Intermarriage: bringing different cultures together through intermarriage

• Education: a modern form of interaction as it brings people from different communities together.

• Wars and raids: when people raided one another, they learnt about each other’s culture in order to know their weaknesses and strengths

• Employment: in modern times, when people go to work in other provinces or countries, they interact with the people there and learn about their cultures.

• Games and sports - people in the past and the present interact when thry meet to participate in or watch different games or sports.
• Tourism and travel - people are able to interact as they travel to other parts of the country or continent for various reasons.

Effects of migration and settlement

Migration and settlement led to;

• Cultural and economic exchange
•  Development of new languages especially through intermarriage
•  Learning different skills like basketry, pottery, blacksmith and iron mongery
•  Emergence of trading centres, for example Timbuktu in West Africa.
•  Wars and conflicts, for example, the wars between Bantus and Cushites.
•  Communities borrowed names from each other.
•  The spread of Islam and Christianity, and the loss of African culture and values.