Peculiar conditions in Madagascar.
The island of Madagascar, belonging to the African continent, still remains for discussion. Here the ethnological conditions are people were the Hova, a Malayo-Indonesian people who must have come from the Malay Peninsula or the adjacent islands. The date of their immigration has been line subject of a good deal of dispute, but it may be argued that their arrival must have taken place in early times, since Malagasy speech, which is the language of the island, is principally Malayo-Polynesian in origin, and contains no traces of Sanskrit. Such traces, introduced with Hinduism, are present in all the cultivated languages of Malaysia at the present day.The Hova occupy the table-land of Imerina and form the first of the three main groups into which the population of Madagascar may be divided. They are short, of an olive-yellow complexion and have straight or faintly wavy hair. On the east coast are the Malagasy, who in physical characteristics stand halfway between the Hova and the Sakalava, the last occupying the remaining portion of the island and displaying almost pure Negroid characteristics.
Though the Hova belong to a race naturally addicted to seafaring, the contrary is the case respecting the Negroid population, and the presence of the latter in the island has been explained by the supposition that they were imported by the Hova. Other authorities assign less antiquity to the Hova immigration and believe that they found the Negroid tribes already in occupation of the island.
As might be expected, the culture found in Madagascar contains two elements, Negroid and Malayo-Indonesian. The first of these two shows certain affinities with the culture characteristic of the western area of Africa, such as rectangular huts, clothing of bark and palm-fibre, fetishism, &c., but cattle-breeding is found as well as agriculture. However, the Negroid tribes are more and more adopting the customs and mode of life of the Hova, among whom are found pile-houses, the sarong, yadi or tabu applied to food, a non-African form of bellows, &c., all characteristic of their original home. The Hova, during the 19th century, embraced Christianity, but retain, nevertheless, many of their old animistic beliefs; their original social organization in three classes, andriana or nobles, hova or freemen, and andevo or slaves, has been modified by the French, who have abolished kingship and slavery. An Arab infusion is also to be noticed, especially on the north-east and south-east coasts.
It is impossible to give a complete list of the tribes inhabiting Africa, owing to the fact that the country is not fully explored. Even where the names of the tribes are known their ethnic relations are still a matter of uncertainty in many localities.
The following list, therefore, must be regarded as purely tentative, and liable to correction in the light of fuller information:-
AFRICAN TRIBAL DISTRIBUTION
LIBYANS
(North Africa, excluding Egypt)
Berbers, including – Kabyles, Mzab, Shawia, Tuareg
LIBYO-NEGROID TRANSITIONAL
Fula (West Sudan)
Tibbu (Central Sudan)
HAMITES
(East Sudan and Horn of Africa)
Beja, including – Ababda, Hadendoa, Bisharin, Beni-Amer, Hamran, Galla, Somali, Danakil (Afar)
Ba-Hima, including — Wa-Tussi, Wa-Hha, Wa-Rundi, Wa-Ruanda
HAMITO-SEMITES
Fellahin (Egypt)
Abyssinians (with Negroid admixture)
HAMITO-NEGROID TRANSITIONAL
Masai
Wa-Kuafi
NEGROID TRIBES
West Sudan Central Sudan Eastern
Tukulor Songhai Fur Kargo
Wolof Hausa Dago Kulfan
Serer Bagirmi Kunjara Kolaji
Leybu Kanembu Tegele Tumali
Mandingo, including— Kanuri Nuba
Kassonke Tama
Yallonke Maba Zandeh Tribes
Soninke Birkit (Akin to Nilotics, but
Bambara Massalit probably with Fula
Vei Korunga element)
Susu Kabbaga Azandeh (Niam Niam)
Solima &c. Makaraka
Malinke Mundu
Mangbettu
Probably also— Ababwa
Mossi Mege
Borgu Abisanga
Tombo } Mabode{ probably
Gurma } Momfu { with Pygmy
Gurunga } { element
Dagomba } Probably with Mandingan element Allied are—
Mampursi } Banziri Languassi
Gonja } Ndris Wia-Wia
&c. } Togbo Awaka
&c.
NEGROES
West African Tribes
Tribes of Tshi and Ga Tribes of Yeruba
speech, including—- speech, including—
Khabunke
Balanta Ashanti Yoruba
Bagnori Safwi Ibadan
Bagnum Denkera Ketu
Felup, including— Bekwai Egba
Ayamat Nkoranza Jebu
Jola Adansi Remo
Jigush Assin Ode
Vaca Wassaw Illorin
Joat Ahanta Ijesa
Karon Fanti Ondo
Banyum Angona Mahin
Banjar Akwapim Bini
Fulum Akim Kakanda
Bayot Akwamu Wari
&c. Kwao Ibo
Bujagos Ga Efik
Biafare Andoni
Landuman Tribes of Ewe speech, Kwa
Nalu including— Ibibio
Baga Ekoi
Sape Dahomi Inokun
Bulam Eweawo Akunakuim
Mendi Agotine Munshi
Limba Krepi Ikwe
Gallina Avenor
Timni Awuna
Pessi Agbosomi
Gola Aflao
Kondo Ataklu
Bassa Krikor
Kru Geng
Grebo Attaldoami
Awekwom Aja
Agni Ewemi
Oshiu Appa
Central Negroes Eastern Negroes
Bolo Pure Nilotics
Yako Shilluk
Tangala Nuer
Kali Dinka
Mishi Jur (Diur)
Doma Mittu
Mosgu, including— Jibbeh
Mandara Madi
Margi Lendu
Logon Alur (Lur)
Gamergu Acholi
Keribina Abaka
Kuri Golo
&c.
Nilotics with affinity
Nilotics with Affinity with Masai
with Zandeh tribes Latuka
Dor (Bongo) Bari
NEGRO-BANTU NILOTIC-BANTU
TRANSITIONAL TRANSITIONAL
Bali Ba-Kwiri Ja-Luo
Ba-Kossi Abo
Ba-Ngwa Dualla
Ba-Nyang Bassa PYGMY TRIBES
Ngolo Ba-Noko Central Arica
Ba-Fo Ba-Puko Akka
Ba-Kundu Ba-Koko Ja-Mbute
Isubu Ba-Bongo
Ashango
&c.
BANTU NEGROIDS
Western Central Eastern
Ogowe Luba-Lunda Group Lacustrians
Ashira Ba-Luba, including— Ba-Nyoro
Ishogo Ba-Songe Ba-Toro
Ashango Wa-Rua Wa-Siba
Bakalai Wa-Guha Wa-Sinja
Nkomi Katanga Wa-Kerewe
Orungu Ba-Shilange (with Wa-Shashi
Mpongwe Ba-Kete element) Wa-Rundi
Oshekiani Ba-Iro
Benga Ba-Lunda Ba-Ganda
Ininga Probably connected Ba-Soga
Galao are— Ba-Kavirondo,
Apingi Manyema including—
Okanda Ba-Kumu Awaware
Osaka Wa-Regga Awarimi
Aduma Ba-Rotse, including— Awakisii
Mbamba Ma-Mbunda &c.
Umbete Ma-Supia
Bule Ma-Shukulumbwe
Bane Ba-Tonga Bantu of Recent
Yaunde and probably Immigration
Maka Va-Lovale
Bomone Wa-Kikuyu
Kunabembe Tribes of the Congo Wa-Kamba
Fang (recent immigrants bend Wa-Pokomo
from the Congo group) Ba-Kessu Wa-Duruma
Ba-Tetela Wa-Digo
Ba-Songo Mino Wa-Giriama
Ba-Kuba Wa-Taita
Ba-Kongo, Ba-Lolo Wa-Nyatura
including— Ba-Kuti Wa-Iramba
Mushi-Kongo Ba-Mbala Wa-Mbugwe
Mussorongo Ba-Huana Wa-Kaguru
Kabinda Ba-Yaka Wa-Gogo { possible
Ka-Kongo Ba-Pindi Wa-Chaga { Masai
Ba-Vili Ba-Kwese { element
Ma-Yumbe &c.
Ba-Lumbo Older Bantu
Ba-Sundi Tribes of the Congo Wa-Nyamwezi,
Ba-Bwende bank including—
Ba-Lali Wa-Genia Wa-Sukuma }Trans-
Ba-Kunya Ba-Soko Wa-Sumbwa }itional
Ba-Poto Wa-Nyanyembe }to
Mobali Wa-Jui }Bantu
Mogwandi Wa-Kimbu }of
Na-Ngala{ Connected Wa-Kanongo }recent
Ba-Bangi{ with Zandeh Wa-Wende }immi-
{ group }gration
Wa-Buma
Ba-Nunu Wa-Gunda
Ba-Loi Wa-Guru
Ba-Teke Wa-Galla
Wa-Pfuru Wa-Sambara
Wa-Mbundu Wa-Seguha
Wa-Mfumu Wa-Nguru
Ba-Nsinik Wa-Sagara
Ma-Wumba Wa-Doe
Ma-Yakalia Wa-Khutu
&c Wa-Sarmo
Wa-Hehe
TRANSITIONAL Wa-Bena
FROM CENTRAL Wa-Sanga
TO SOUTHERN Wa-Swahili (with Arab
BANTU elements)
Amoela Connected are—
Ganguela Wa-Kisi
Kioko Wa-Mpoto }
Minungo Ba-Tonga }
Imbangala Ba-Tumbuka }
Ba-Achinji Wa-Nyika }
Golo Wa-Nyamwanga } Akin to
Hollo A-Mambwe } Luba-
&c. Wa-Fipa } Lunda
Mbunda peoples, Wa-Rungu } group
including— A-Wemba }
Bihe A-Chewa }
Dembo A-Maravi }
Mbaka Ba-Senga }
Ngola Ba-Bisa }
Bondo A-Jawa (Yaos)
Ba-Ngala Wa-Mwera
Songo Wa-Gindo
Haku Ma-Konde
Lubolo Ma-Wia
Kisama Ma-Nganja
&c. Ma-Kua
SOUTHERN BANTU
(South and South-East Africa)
Ba-Nyai } Ama-Zulu, including—
Ma-Kalanga, } Affinity Ama-Swazi
including } with Ama-Tonga
Mashona } Bechuana Matabele
Ba-Ronga } Angoni
Ba-Chuana, Ma-Gwangwara
including— Ma-Huhu
Ba-Tlapin Ma-Viti
Ba-Rolong Ma-Situ
Ba-Ratlou Ma-Henge
Ba-Taung &c.
Ba-Rapulana Ama-Xosa, including—
Ba-Seleka Ama-Gcaleka
Ba-Hurutsi Ama-Hahebe
Ba-Tlaru Ama-Ngqika
Ba-Mangwato Ama-Tembu
Ba-Tauana Ama-Pondo
Ba-Ngwaketse &c.
Ba-Kuena Ova-Herero
&c. Ova-Mpo
HAMITO-BANTU BUSHMEN
BUSHMEN
TRANSITIONAL
Hottentots, }
including— } S. W.
Namaqua } Africa
Koranna }
TRIBES IN MADAGASCAR
MALAYO-INDONESIANS BANTU-NEGROIDS
Hova Sakalava, including—
Betsileo (slight Bantu admixture) Menabe
Milaka
HOVA-BANTU Ronandra
TRANSITIONAL Mahafali
&c.
Malagasy, including—
Bestimisaraka Antanosi
Antambahoaka Antsihanaka
Antaimoro Antanala
Antaifasina Antaisara
Antaisaka &c.
IV. HISTORY
The origin and meaning of the name of the continent are discussed elsewhere (see AFRICA, ROMAN.) The word Africa was applied originally to the country in the immediate neighbourhood of Carthage, that part of the continent first known to the Romans, and it was subsequently extended with their increasing knowledge, till it came at last to include all that they knew of the continent. The Arabs still confine the name Ifrikia to the territory of Tunisia.
Phoenician and Greek colonization.
The valley of the lower Nile was the home in remotest antiquity of a civilized race. Egyptian culture had, however, remarkably little direct influence on the rest of the continent, a result due in large measure to the fact that Egypt is shut off landwards by immense deserts. If ancient Egypt and Ethiopia (q.v.) be excluded, the story of Africa is largely a record of the doings of its Asiatic and European conquerors and colonizers, Abyssinia being the only state which throughout historic times has maintained its independence. The countries bordering the Mediterranean were first exploited by the Phoenicians, whose earliest settlements were made before 1000 B.C. Carthage, founded about 800 B.C., speedily grew into a city without rival in the Mediterranean, and the Phoenicians, subduing the Berber tribes, who then as now formed the bulk of the population, became masters of all the habitable region of North Africa west of the Great Syrtis, and found in commerce a source of immense prosperity. Both Egyptians and Carthaginians made attempts to reach the unknown parts of the continent by sea. Herodotus relates that an expedition under Phoenician navigators, employed by Necho, king of Egypt, c. 600 B.C., circumnavigated Africa from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, a voyage stated to have been accomplished in three years. Apart from the reported circumnavigation of the continent, the west coast was well known to the Phoenicians as far as Cape Nun, and c. 520 B.C. Hanno, a Carthaginian, explored the coast as far, perhaps, as the Bight of Benin, certainly as far as Sierra Leone. A vague knowledge of the Niger regions was also possessed by the Phoenicians.
Meantime the first European colonists had planted themselves in Africa. At the point where the continent approaches nearest the Greek islands, Greeks founded the city of Cyrene (c. 631 B.C..) Cyrenaica became a flourishing colony, though being hemmed in on all sides by absolute desert it had little or no influence on inner Africa. The Greeks, however, exerted a powerful influence in Egypt. To Alexander the Great the city of Alexandria owes its foundation (332 B.C.), and under the Hellenistic dynasty of the Ptolemies attempts were made to penetrate southward, and in this way was obtained some knowledge of Abyssinia. Neither Cyrenaica nor Egypt was a serious rival to the Carthaginians, but all three powers were eventually supplanted by the Romans. After centuries of rivalry for supremacy1 the struggle was ended by the fall of Carthage in 146 B.C. Within little more than a century from that date Egypt and Cyrene had become incorporated in the Roman empire. Under Rome the settled portions of the country were very prosperous, and a Latin strain was introduced into the land. Though Fezzan was occupied by them, the Romans elsewhere found the Sahara an impassable barrier. Nubia and Abyssinia were reached, but an expedition sent by the emperor Nero to discover the source of the Nile ended in failure. The utmost extent of geographical knowledge of the continent is shown in the writings of Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.), who knew of or guessed the existence of the great lake reservoirs of the Nile and had heard of the river Niger. Still Africa for the civilized world remained simply the countries bordering the Mediterranean. The continual struggle between Rome and the Berber tribes; the introduction of Christianity and the glories and sufferings of the Egyptian and African Churches; the invasion and conquest of the African provinces by the Vandals in the 5th century; the passing of the supreme power in the following century to the Byzantine empire—all these events are told fully elsewhere.
In the 7th century of the Christian era occurred an event destined to have a permanent influence on the whole continent.
North Africa conquered by the Arabs.
Invading first Egypt, an Arab host, fanatical believers in the new faith of Mahomet, conquered the whole country from the Red Sea to the Atlantic and carried the Crescent into Spain. Throughout North Africa Christianity well-nigh disappeared, save in Egypt (where the Coptic Church was suffered to exist), and Upper Nubia and Abyssinia, which were not subdued by the Moslems. In the 8th, 9th and 10th centuries the Arabs in Africa were numerically weak; they held the countries they had conquered by the sword only, but in the 11th century there was a great Arab immigration, resulting in a large absorption of Berber blood. Even before this the Berbers had very generally adopted the speech and religion of their conquerors. Arab influence and the Mahommedan religion thus became indelibly stamped on northern Africa. Together they spread southward across the Sahara. They also became firmly established along the eastern sea-board, where Arabs, Persians and Indians planted flourishing colonies, such as Mombasa, Malindi and Sofala, playing a role, maritime and commercial, analogous to that filled in earlier centuries by the Carthaginians on the northern sea-board. Of these eastern cities and states both Europe and the Arabs of North Africa were long ignorant.