Name:
African Mythology Test - Date:

I. VOCABULARY - insert the best word in each sentence. No word is used more than once.

1. Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop believes in a _______________________________ theory that the first humans emerged from the Nile River Basin.

2. The Dogons of Mali, who believed they were taught by extraterrestrials from another star system, make sure they practice _________________________________ which binds several clans, or tribes, together.

3. Voodoo is one of the best examples of African _________________________________ in North America because it has combined several religious beliefs together to form one.

4. The myths of ancient ______________________________ help us understand the early religious practices that developed in Africa.

5. An explanation for the many different looking people living in the world today can be found in the ________________________________ theory.

6. _________________________________ theories play an important role in African culture because they influence the social, political and economic structure of society.

7. Voodoo is an ________________________________ faith because objects and things in nature are believe to possess a sacred spirit.

8. ____________________________________________ is evident in the African creation myths because most of those stories tell about a relationship between the mind, matter and supernatural.

II. MATCHING - Enter the letter of the best vocabulary for each definition.

III. ESSAY -From your hand-outs, notes and personal reflections, choose 3 of the following essay questions to complete. Develop a thesis statement and substantiation in a minimum (you can write more, but beware of the time) of one paragraph. Staple your own paper to the back of this with your answers. Make sure you number the ones you use so I know which questions you are answering.

1. State and substantiate the meaning or message that can be derived from the creation myth of the Dogon.

2. State and substantiate the meaning or message that can be derived from the creation myth of the Efik.

3. State and substantiate the meaning or message that can be derived from the creation myth of the Ekoi.

4. Compare and contrast any two creation stories.

5. Explain one of the dominant themes in several of the creative myths. For example, which tribes have this common theme and how is it manifested in their creation myth?

6. Describe the most common causes of sin in the African myths. Include tribal names in your substantiation.

7. Choose a tribal myth and substantiate its meaning or message. Necessary for credit: the name of the tribe whose myth you are writing about.

8. If you lived in ancient Africa and had the choice to be a high ranking religious leader in one of the tribes discussed in your handout, which tribe would you pick and why?

9. Explain how cosmogony mythologies influence African culture. Be specific about the tribal myths you refer to.