West Africa Caste systems in Africa

1 west africa

1.1 fula people
1.2 igbo people
1.3 mande people
1.4 mandinka people
1.5 serer people
1.6 senufo people
1.7 soninke people
1.8 susu people
1.9 temne people
1.10 toucouleur people
1.11 wolof people
1.12 zarma people

west africa
fula people

the fula people 1 of largest , dispersed muslim ethnic group in sahel , west africa. number between 20 , 25 million people in total across many countries of region, , have historically featured caste system.

the fula caste system has been rigid , has medieval roots. established 15th-century, , has survived modern age. 4 major castes,states martin kich, in order of status nobility, traders, tradesmen (such blacksmith) , descendants of slaves . according african commission on human , peoples rights, fulani people have held on strict caste system .

the upper caste consists of nobles. below these marabouts or clerics, cattle owning fula people. below these artisan castes, includes blacksmiths, potters, griots, genealogists, woodworkers, , dressmakers. belong castes not enslaved , free people. there castes of captive, slave or serf ancestry: maccuɗo, rimmayɓe, dimaajo, , less Ɓaleeɓe, fulani equivalent of tuareg ikelan known bouzou (buzu)/bella in hausa , songhay languages respectively.

the fulani castes endogamous in nature, meaning individuals marry within caste. caste system, however, wasn t elaborate in places northern nigeria, eastern niger or cameroon. according estimates, late 19th century, slaves constituted 50% of population of fulɓe-ruled adamawa emirate, referred jeyaɓe (singular jeyado). though high, these figures representative of many other emirates of sokoto caliphate, of adamawa formed part. castes-based social stratification among fula people widespread , seen across sahel, such burkina faso, niger, senegal, guinea, mali, nigeria, sudan, , others.

igbo people

the osu caste system in nigeria , southern cameroon of igbo people can traced odinani, traditional igbo religion. belief of many igbo traditionalists osus people historically owned deities, , therefore considered living sacrifice , outcast, untouchable , sub-human (similar roman practice of homo sacer). system received literary attention when became key plot point in no longer @ ease chinua achebe.

people regarded modern-day osu in igboland descendants of individuals volunteered , sacrificed various gods. these fore-fathers pledged , descendants these gods. enjoyed protection , privileges segregated ordinary folks. these osu people married, fraternized , socialized among themselves. practice continued day. ordinary igbo person not marry or permit of relations marry osu person. in few instances has happened, every member of non-osu married osu became infested , regarded osu.

it can said aspect of igbo life keeps osu segregation intact marriage. osu , marry fellow osu, , no more. taboo , abhorent osu marry non-osu - love or lust being immaterial.

some suggest due introduction of modernization, osu system gradually leaving igboland , tradition. influence of christianity (specifically roman catholicism) has caused odinani start disappearing igboland. obinna, in 2012, reports in igbo community - in enugu, anambra, imo, abia, ebonyi, edo , delta states - osu caste system remains social issue. osu caste determined 1 s birth particular family irrespective of religion practised individual. once born osu caste, nigerian person outcast, limited opportunities or acceptance, regardless of or ability or merit. obinna discusses how caste system-related identity , power deployed within government, church , indigenous communities.

mande people

among mande societies in mali, senegal, gambia, guinea, sierra leone, liberia, ivory coast , ghana, people divided occupation , ethnic ties. highest hierarchy in mande caste system, horon (nobles/freeborn), traditionally farmers, fisherman, warriors , animal breeders, lowest caste jonow, slave caste, made of people ancestors enslaved other africans during tribal wars. important feature of system castes based on trade, such blacksmiths , griots.

mandinka people

the mandinka people west african ethnic group estimated population of eleven million roots in western sahel, in mali, dispersed. on 99% of mandinka muslim.<

the mandinka people live in west africa, particularly in gambia , guinea largest ethnic group. major populations of mandinka people live in mali, sierra leone, ivory coast, senegal, burkina faso, liberia, guinea-bissau, niger , mauritania. traditional society has featured socially stratified castes, @ least 13th century.

the mandinka society, states arnold hughes – professor of west african studies , african politics, has been divided 3 endogamous castes – freeborn (foro), slaves (jongo), , artisans , praise singers (nyamolo). freeborn castes farmers, while slave strata included labor providers farmers, leather workers, pottery makers, metal smiths, griots , others. mandinka muslim clerics , scribes have traditionally been separate endogamous occupational caste called jakhanke, islamic roots traceable 13th-century.

the mandinka castes hereditary, , marriages outside caste forbidden. caste system similar of other ethnic groups of african sahel region, , found across mandinka communities such in gambia, mali, guinea , other countries.

serer people

the serer people west african ethnoreligious group found in senegal making 15% of senegalese population. found in northern gambia , southern mauritania. serer society, other ethnic groups in senegal, has had social stratification featuring endogamous castes , slaves.<

according elizabeth berg, ruth wan , ruth lau, serer people in senegal did not have caste system before malinka rulers conquered them , introduced caste system. in other regions serer people found, state jd fage, richard gray , roland oliver, wolof , toucouleur peoples introduced caste system among serer people.

the social stratification historically evidenced among serer people has been, except 1 difference, similar found among wolof, fulbe, toucouleur , mandinka peoples found in senegambia. have had strata of free nobles , peasants, artisan castes, , slaves. difference serer people have retained matrilineal inheritance system. according martin klein – professor of history specializing in african studies, caste systems among serer emerged consequence of mandinka people s sine-saloum guelowar conquest, , when serer people sought adapt , participate in new senegambian state system.

the hierarchical highest status among serer people has been of hereditary nobles , relatives, meant blood links mandinka conquerors. below nobles, came tyeddo, or warriors , chiefs had helped mandinka rulers , paid tribute. third status, , largest strata came jambur, or free peasants lacked power of nobles. below jambur artisan castes, inherited occupation. these castes included blacksmiths, weavers, jewelers, leatherworkers, carpenters, griots kept oral tradition through songs , music. of these castes had taboo in marrying griot, , not buried others. below artisan castes in social status have been slaves, either bought @ slave markets, seized captives, or born slave parent.

the slave castes continue despised, not own land , work tenant farmers, marriage across caste lines forbidden , lying 1 s caste prior marriage has been ground divorce. land has been owned upper social strata, better plots near villages belonging nobles. social status of slave has been inherited birth.

senufo people

the senufo people found in region spanning northern ivory coast, southeastern mali , western burkina faso. 1 sub-group, nafana, found in north-western ghana.

the senufo people have traditionally been socially stratified society has included castes , slaves. these endogamous divisions locally called katioula, , 1 of strata in division includes slaves , descendants of slaves. according dolores richter, caste system found among senufo people features hierarchical ranking including despised lower castes, occupational specificity, ritual complementarity, endogamy, hereditary membership, residential isolation , political superiority of farmers on artisan castes .

soninke people

the soninke people west african ethnic group found in eastern senegal , capital dakar, northwestern mali , southern mauritania. predominantly muslims, soninke 1 of ethnic groups sub-saharan west africa convert islam 10th century. contemporary population of soninke people estimated on 2 million. cultural practices of soninke people similar mandé peoples, , includes social stratification. according anthropologist tal tamari, soninke society became highly stratified after thirteenth century.

the soninke strata have included free category called horro or horon, caste system category called namaxala or nyaxamalo, , slaves called komo. in jaara subgroup of soninke people, nobility called tunkanlenmu strata.

the slaves largest strata, 1 @ bottom among soninke other west african ethnic groups, , constituted half of population. slaves among soninke people hierarchically arranged 3 strata. village slaves privileged servile group lived apart village , took orders village chief. domestic slaves lived in family , not sold. lowest level among slaves trade slaves bought , sold. time, each of these strata became endogamous, states daniel littlefield – professor of history.

above slaves castes of soninke, hereditary, endogamous , had embedded hierarchical status. included, example, garanke (leather workers) below fune (bard), fune below gesere or jeli (griots, singers), jeli below tage or numu (smiths, pottery workers).

susu people

the susu people west african ethnic group, 1 of mandé peoples living in guinea. influential in guinea, smaller communities of susu people found in neighboring sierra leone , guinea-bissau. susu patrilineal society, predominantly muslim, favor endogamous cross-cousin marriages polygynous households common. have caste system manding-speaking peoples of west africa, artisans such smiths, carpenters, musicians, jewelers , leatherworkers separate castes, , believed have descended medieval era slavery.

the susu people, other manding-speaking peoples, have caste system regionally referred terms such nyamakala, naxamala , galabbolalauba. according david conrad , barbara frank, terms , social categories in caste-based social stratification system of susu people shows cases of borrowing arabic only, likelihood these terms linked latin, greek or aramaic.

the artisans among susu people such smiths, carpenters, musicians , bards (yeliba), jewelers , leatherworkers separate castes. susu people believe these castes have descended medieval era slaves. susu castes not limited guinea, found in other regions susu people live, such in sierra leone linked historic slavery system existed in region, states daniel harmon. susu castes in regional muslim communities prevalent , recorded sociologists in late 19th , 20th centuries.

temne people

the temne people west african ethnic group. predominantly found in northwestern , central parts of sierra leone, national capital freetown. temne found in guinea. temne constitute largest ethnic group in sierra leone, @ 35% of total population. temne society consists of patrilineal clans, predominantly mix of muslim , polytheists, , clans feature castes.

the artisans , musicians in temne society have been endogamous caste people. terminology of social stratification system , embedded hierarchy may have been adopted among temne nearby mandinka people, fula people , susu people. caste hierarchy , social stratification has been more established in northern islamic parts of temne territories. endogamous slave castes held in temne clans agriculture workers , domestic servants, , formed lowest subservient layer of social strata. enslaved women served domestic workers, wives , concubines.

toucouleur people

the toucouleur people muslim west african ethnic group found in futa toro region of senegal, in mali , mauritania. toucouleur embraced islam in 11th century, , strong islamic heritage matter of great pride them. have been influential in spread of islam west africa in medieval era, later founded vast tukulor empire in 19th century under umar tal led religious war against neighboring ethnic groups , french colonial forces. toucouleur society has been patrilineal, polygynous , high social stratification included slavery , caste system.

toucouleur society divided strict , rigid caste hierarchies.

the highest status among 5 toucouleur castes of aristocratic leaders , islamic scholars called torobe. below them rimbe, or administrators, traders , farmers. nyenbe artisan castes of toucouleur society. fourth caste strata called gallunkobe or slaves or descendants of slaves have been freed . bottom strata among toucouleurs matyube or slaves. slaves acquired raiding pagan ethnic groups or purchased in slave markets, or status inherited.

the hierarchical social stratification has been economically closed system, historically has meant marked inequality. property , land has been exclusively owned upper caste members. occupations , caste memberships inherited. toucouleur castes have been endogamous, segregated , intermarriage has been rare. clerics among toucouleur wolof people formed separate group. religious leaders not endogamous nor inherited post in toucouleur people s long history, has been rare lower caste people become religious specialist, states rüdiger seesemann, viewed not sufficiently adhering clerical standards of piety .

wolof people

the wolof people west african muslim ethnic group found in northwestern senegal, gambia, , southwestern coastal mauritania. in senegal, wolof largest ethnic group (~ 39%), , combined population exceeds 6 million. wolof people, other west african ethnic groups, have historically maintained rigid, endogamous social stratification included nobility, clerics, castes , slaves. wolof caste system has existed @ least since 15th-century.

the social strata have included free category called geer, castes category called nyeenyo or neeno, , servile category of slaves called jaam. caste status has been hereditary, , endogamy among men , women of particular caste status has been enduring feature among wolof people, states leonardo villalón – professor of political science , african studies. wolof s caste status, states villalón, has been , greater barrier inter-marriage either ethnicity or religion in senegal.

the castes have been hierarchal, lowest level being of griots. inherited inferiority has been culturally stated close of slaves (jaams or kaals). castes, states david gamble, associated ideas of relative purity-impurity. leatherworkers, example, considered lowest of nyenyo because occupation involving animal skins considered dirty.

slaves have historically been separate, endogamous group in wolof society. slavery either inherited birth in wolof society, or kidnapped, purchased children desperate parents during difficult times such famine, or slavery imposed village elders punishment offenses. 18th-century, sorts of charges , petty crimes resulted in accused being punished slave strata. slaves acquired kidnapping, purchase or captives of war called jaam sayor in wolof society.

the geer or freeborn had hierarchical structure. @ top royal rulers, below them regionally or locally powerful noble lineages controlled territories , collected tribute, , below them commoner freeborn called baadoolo or lacking power .

zarma people

the zarma people ethnic group predominantly found in westernmost niger found in significant numbers in adjacent areas of nigeria , benin, along smaller numbers in burkina faso, ivory coast , ghana. zarma people predominantly muslims of maliki-sunni school, , live in arid sahel lands, along niger river valley source of irrigation, forage cattle herds, , drinking water. zarma people have had history of slave , caste system, many west african ethnic groups.

the zarma people have traditionally been socially stratified society, songhai people, featuring castes, state jean-pierre olivier de sardan, tal tamari , other scholars. according medieval , colonial era descriptions, vocation has been hereditary, , each stratified group has been endogamous. social stratification embedded slavery, wherein lowest strata of population inherited slavery, , second zima or priests , islamic clerics had initiated did not automatically inherit profession, making cleric strata pseudo-caste. according ralph austen – professor emeritus of african history, caste system among zarma people not developed caste system historically found in african ethnic groups further west them.

—country report: niger (2008)

us state department

the different strata of zarma-songhai people have included kings , warriors, scribes, artisans, weavers, hunters, fishermen, leather workers , hairdressers (wanzam), , domestic slaves (horso, bannye). each caste reveres own guardian spirit. scholars such john shoup list these strata in 3 categories: free (chiefs, farmers , herders), servile (artists, musicians , griots), , slave class. servile group socially required endogamous, while slaves emancipated on 4 generations. highest social level, states shoup, claim have descended king sonni ali ber , modern era hereditary occupation has been sohance (sorcerer). traditionally free strata of zerma people have owned property , herds, , these have dominated political system , governments during , after french colonial rule. within stratified social system, islamic system of polygynous marriages part of zarma people tradition, preferred partners being cross cousins, , system of ritualistic acceptance between co-wives. endogamy similar other ethnic groups in west africa.