1.

What were the causes of death in traditional African communities

 Breaking taboos

 Failure to appease the ancestors

 Witchcraft

 Evil spirits

 Punishment from God and spirits

 Curses from parents and elders

 Failure to respect holy places like shrines

 Diseases

 Old age

 Accidents

2. What was the attitude towards death in traditional African society?

 Death was the most painful experience because it took away loved ones

 Death often occurred unexpectedly

 Death occurred to all people; the poor and the rich, the good and the bad

 Death was a transition from physical word to the world of spirits

 Death united the living and the ancestors

 Death could be caused by evil people like witch doctors

 Death brought relatives and kinsmen together during burial rituals

 Death brought impurity to the family of the dead. Bereaved people had to be ritually cleansed

3. List down five rituals that showed traditional African societies believed in life after death

 The living fulfilled the wishes of the dead

 They buried the dead with some of their important items because they believed that they would need them in the
spirit world

 The living dead were believed to visit their relatives through dreams and visions

 Graves were well maintained and taken care of

 Ancestral spirits were invited to important ceremonies of the community

 Ancestral spirits were invoked during cursing or blessing ceremonies

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  Children were named after ancestors

 During initiation, blood was shed to the ground to join the initiates to the ancestors

 The dead were washed with herbs so as to send them to the spirit world when clean

 Diviners were believed to be possessed by the spirits of the dead who assisted them in divination

4. In which ways did death contribute to unity in traditional African society

 Death affected the whole community, so people came together to mourn and console the bereaved

 Members of the community contributed to meet funeral expenses

 Prayers and sacrifices were offered so that the dead could be welcomed into the world of spirits

 People came together for cleansing rituals

 Wives were inherited to raise children for the deceased

 People came together to bid farewell to the departed

5. List the various ways through which an individual became recognized as a specialist in traditional African society

 Through training

 Through observation

 Being possessed by a spirit

 Age and experience

 Through dreams and visions

 Through apprenticeship

6. Why is death feared in traditional African communities?

 It disrupts the rhythm of human life

 It is irrevocable

 It brings impurity to the family

 It deprives the community of members

 It involves so many rituals

 It comes unexpected

 It separates one from loved members

 It marks a painful end of life on earth

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  Nobody knows about life after death

 It may cause misunderstanding in the community

 It brings poverty to the affected family

7. Name five religious specialists in traditional African society

 Herbalists (medicine men or healers)

 Mediums

 Diviners (mediators)

 Rainmakers

 Prophets and prophetesses (seers)

 Elders

 Traditional priests

 Blacksmiths

8. What factors have affected the roles of traditional African specialists today?

 Introduction of hospitals has replaced need for herbalists

 Emergence of strong religions(Christianity and Islam) which emphasize belief in God

 New religious leaders (priests, pastors and bishops) have replaced traditional priests

 Modern Science and Technology has reduced the role and value of rainmakers

 Modern education has given young people opportunity to occupy positions of leadership

 Modern mass media has influenced people’s beliefs and practices

 Urbanization has led to erosion of culture.

9. Outline the qualities of a herbalist

 Trustworthy

 Friendly and approachable

 Willing and ready to serve people

 Fair in his/her charges

 Respectable in the community

 Experienced in the needs of the people

10. What was the role of medicine men in traditional African societies?

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  They combated witchcraft in society

 They cured diseases

 They warned people of impending danger

 Protected people from harm and misfortunes

 They trapped criminals and other evil doers

 Diagnosed causes of diseases

 They were consulted to increase fertility of people and animals

 They cleansed homes

 They acted as mediators between God, the living and ancestors

 They helped to conduct religious ceremonies

 They advised on good farming practices

11. Name occasions when services of medicine men were needed in traditional African society

 During crises such as famine and drought

 At birth; when charms for protection were needed

 When trapping sorcerers and criminals

 During wars and raids

 During sickness

 During initiation ceremonies

 In case of barrenness and impotence

 When it was necessary to dispel witchcraft and other forces of evil

12. Identify ways of solving problem of sickness in traditional African community

 Religious cleansing rituals

 Observing taboos, rules and regulations

 With help of herbalists

 Isolating the sick to prevent spread of diseases

 Wearing protective charms

 Self treatment with herbs

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  Exorcise of spirits believed to cause disease.

 Driving witches away from the community

 Offering sacrifices to appease God and ancestors

13. What are the challenges facing traditional herbalists today?

 Herbs are scarce due to deforestation

 The job is poorly paying

 Lack of finances to conduct research on useful and effective herbs

 Negative reputation as being against Christianity

 People prefer to go to hospital for modern medicines

 Herbalists are few and their children hardly take over the roles from parents

 Lack of government support

 Traditional social structure has been lost and role of herbalists diminished

14. What were the roles of diviners in traditional African societies

 Predicting future occurrences

 Warning against calamities

 Advising people on issues affecting their lives

 Interpreting dreams, visions and other messages from spirit world

 Comforting the sick in society

 They were consulted in cases of barrenness and impotence

 Interceded on behalf of the communities in times of trouble

 They identified evil spirits causing trouble and appeased them

15. What were the roles of priests in traditional African society?

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  They offered sacrifices to God and ancestors on behalf of the society

 They were mediators between the living, God and the ancestors

 They took care of religious shrines

 They poured libations to the ancestors

 They symbolized God’s presence to the community

 They led people in public worship

 They received presents on behalf of God and the spirits

 They acted as guardians of community’s knowledge, taboos and customs

 Some acted as political judges

 They advised people on proper ways of living

 They were involved in decision making e.g. during calamities, epidemics

 They offered prayers during religious ceremonies (rites of passage)

 They performed cleansing rituals

 They warned people of impending danger

16. Describe the roles of prophets in traditional African society?

 They predicted the future

 They foretold invasions, wars, drought and epidemics

 They warned people of impending calamities

 They often played role of political leaders

 They performed religious duties

 They received messages from God, ancestors and the spirits

 They communicated with spirits on behalf the society

 They blessed and cursed

 They acted as judges

 They predicted the will of God and spirits

17. List down the requirements necessary for a man to become an elder

 Support from other elders

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  Mature children

 Morally upright

 Payment of required fee to become an elder

 A large family or many children

 Initiated (rite of passage)

 Ability to provide for others

 Knowledgeable on matters of the society

 Sound mind

18. What factors have undermined the status of elders in Kenya today?

 New government structure where administrative officials have taken over roles of elders

 Judicial duties have been taken over by judges

 Elders are no longer the final authority

 People have migrated and settled in new areas where they do not respect local elders

 Christianity has reduced the influence of elders

 Urbanization has undermined role of elders

 Western values promote individualism

 Modern education has deprived children of time with elders

19. What were the roles of elders in traditional African society?

 They were in charge of families, villages and clans

 They were custodians of community property

 They were consulted in times of difficulty and calamities

 They protected family shrines

 They were custodians of traditional values, customs and history of the people

 They consoled people in times of distress, war, famine or other calamities

 They set the rules and regulations to be followed

 They led the community during important ceremonies

 They counsel and guide the youth

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  They led their families during religious functions

 They assisted priests in preparing and performing rituals

20. List down ten moral values that contributed to harmony in traditional African societies

 Honesty: being truthful so that one can become dependable

 Courtesy: being polite with good manners

 Integrity: Being relied upon without taking advantage of others

 Hospitality: generosity and kindness to guests and strangers

 Tolerance: enduring without giving up

 Perseverance: continued effort with objective to achieve without giving up

 Loyalty: being true and supportive to someone

 Chastity: having pure thoughts in relation to sexual matters

 Respect: showing honour to others and treating them with esteem

 Responsibility: being mindful of others’ welfare

 Love: affection for others

 Co-operation: working together for a common purpose

21. Explain ways in which rites of passage inculcated moral values in traditional African society

 During initiation and marriage, obedience as a moral value was reinforced

 Marriage partners were taught the value of honesty.

 When members of community met and shared meals, hospitality was taught and emphasized.

 Thankfulness – rites of passage were accompanied by religious rituals where the community took time to thank
and worship God

 Mutual concern and sharing – members of the community contributed towards success of rites of passage

 Self control – youth learnt self control during seclusion

 Respect – respect for elders and parents were taught during initiation ceremonies

 Responsibility – the youth learnt how to care for their families and defend their community

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22. Explain the moral values that contributed to harmonious living in traditional African society

 Obedience: obedience means doing the will of another person and accepting decisions given by people in
authority. In traditional African society, children and adults were expected to obey those in authority e.g. parents,
elders and leaders.

 Honesty: it means being truthful saying the right things and behaving accordingly.

 Hospitality: community members were taught on value of hospitality to strangers and guests

 Hard work: it means being committed to a worthwhile activity. Hard work earns a living and contributes to family
and community development.

 Chastity: it means protecting one’s dignity through observing behaviour that avoids sexual immorality. Chastity
was taught as a virtue to the youth. Girls were expected to remain virgins until marriage.

 Unity: it means working together for the good of all without conflicts. The elders resolved conflicts amicably and
people lived in unity in the community

 Communal work: encouraged social interaction and unity

 Respect: for elders and parents

 Responsibility: It means showing a caring attitude for the well being of others. Duties were divided based on age
and gender. All contributed to the welfare of family and community.

 Sharing: members of community shared food and material with the needy especially the elderly, orphans and
widows

 Cooperation: initiates and members of community shared tasks and cooperated to defend it

 Integrity: bad behavior and vices (cheating, greed, dishonesty) were punished by the elders

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