Chapter 7: The Spread of Slavery

Activities for this chapter

• make timeline of trans-Atlantic slave trade, the UNESCO web page on slavery is a good source of information and graphics: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/slave-trade-and-its-abolition/, the link to their reference publications: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/slave-route/right-box/publications/, including these documents: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001337/133738e.pdf, http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CLT/pdf/MapSlaveRoute.pdf

• short but thorough video on the trans-Atlantic slave trade, appropriate for children given the subject matter, still, parents see first (this is the companion website, be sure to see the "Dig Deeper" section, http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-atlantic-slave-trade-what-your-textbook-never-told-you-anthony-hazard): 

• watch a video about the Ndebele tribe showcasing their painted homes, beadwork, history, and hopes for the future:

• the Ndebele language is one of the few languages in the world that uses click sounds, so we will watch a couple of videos that explain the sounds and try practicing them too:

• learn how to do a few African dance moves from Dinhe--a harvest dance:

• about trade beads: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/13/world/europe/glass-beads-made-in-czech-village-adorn-bodies-of-the-worlds-tribes.html?_r=0, http://www.bigbeadlittlebead.com/guides_and_information/

• learn a little bit about Ndebele dolls and make one (http://www.communityprojectsworldwide.com.au/?PCID=4304):  

These are Ndebele fertility dolls: "Fertility is of major importance to the Ndebele people. A fertility doll is made (in secret) for the bride by the maternal grandmother and is ritually presented to her when she enters her new hut after the wedding ceremony.  Custom has it that, after the birth of the third child, the fertility doll must be given away, or destroyed, because it is considered unlucky to keep it any longer."

Every 4 years hundreds of Ndebele boys spend 2 winter months in a secret place in the mountains undergoing the "wela" their initiation from boyhood to manhood.During this time the mothers of the initiates wear "Linga Koba" strips of beadwork that stretch from their headdresses to the ground, to show that their sons are away in the mountains.Linga Koba translated means "long tears" - tears of sadness at losing a boy and tears of joy at gaining a man.

Among the "Nguni" people the Sangoma is an important specialist. A Diviner who claims contact with the ancestral spirits.  It is believed that she reveals the will of the spirits, and is revered as the protector of society. Her opinion and judgement are highly valued.

These are some examples of dolls inspired by the Ndebele dolls symbolizing important life accomplishments (http://ourartlately.blogspot.com/2010/10/ndebele-dolls.html):

Here is another artwork inspired by Ndebele dolls: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zaraillustrates/14844484027/in/photostream/

• listen to African music while we work:

What we did

our ndebele dolls:

links for this chapter

• http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/history/2016/01/an_interactive_record_of_native_american_slavery_in_new_france.html

• http://www.mariespastiche.com/2015/02/the-trans-atlantic-slave-trade.html?m=1

• http://exploringafrica.matrix.msu.edu

• http://www.lookwerelearning.com/2013/10/colonial-africa-history-for-kids/

• http://homeschoolden.com/2013/04/30/transatlantic-slave-trade-notebook-pages/?fdx_switcher=true

• http://www.marinersmuseum.org/sites/micro/captivepassage/introduction/index.html

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/index_section9.shtml

• slave rebellions: http://slaverebellion.org/index.php?page=chronology