The continent of Africa is made up of 54 countries with a population of more than 1.3 billion people and more than 3,000 different tribal groups.
One thing you will notice throughout your tour is that tribal influences are a strong factor in various places across the continent, which you will learn about during your stay.
With that in mind, here are some of the most famous tribes in Africa:
1. Zulu, South Africa
The Zulu people are one of the most well-known tribes in Africa. One of the reasons why the tribe is so well-known is because of Shakaland, which is commonly regarded as the birthplace of the legendary chief Shaka Zulu and is therefore celebrated across the world. Zulu is the biggest ethnic group in South Africa, with an estimated population of 11 million people. Zulu is also recognised as the “mother tongue” of the country.
2. The Karo, Ethiopia
The Karo or Kara ethnic group, which lives along the east bank of the Omo River in southern Ethiopia, can be found there. The estimated population is around 2,000 individuals, and what you will discover is that they are a fascinating society that is well-known for their body painting.
Members of the tribe are known to paint their bodies with a mixture of white chalk, yellow, mineral rock, iron ore, and charcoal to give them a unique appearance. Additionally, they frequently engage in ritual scarification, opting for scars as a simple method to distinguish themselves from others. According to Atlas of Humanity, the scarification on the man’s chest signifies that he has slain opponents from neighbouring tribes and that he is highly revered within his group.
If deep wounds are made into the Karo women’s chests and torsos and ash is rubbed in, the ladies are regarded exceptionally sensuous and appealing. Over time, the elevated impression created by the ash enhances their attractiveness and makes them appear more beautiful.
3. Yoruba, Nigeria
Yoruba is unquestionably the most populous ethnic group in Africa, with an estimated total population of 35 million people. However, the bulk of members are from Nigeria, who live on the southern and western portions of the country as well as the southern part of Benin. They have a long and illustrious history and cultural heritage that may be traced back to the ancient Oyo Empire.
4. The Himba, Namibia
The vivid red hue of the Himba tribe’s skin is the most distinguishing characteristic of the group. This appearance is achieved by rubbing red ochre into the skin of the subjects. They are a semi-nomadic and pastoral group that is well-known for their cattle and goat breeding. It is believed that they have a population of 20,000 to 50,000 individuals.
Women are more likely than males to do labor-intensive tasks such as transporting water to the town, building dwellings, and milking cows, among other things. According to Namibia Tourism, men are in charge of political responsibilities and legal proceedings.
5. San Tribe
Individuals who belong to this tribe come from a variety of Khoesn-speaking indigenous hunter-gatherer tribes that are considered to be the earliest nations of Southern Africa. There are six countries in their region: Botswana; Namibia; Angola; Zambia; Zimbabwe; Lesotho; South Africa; and Botswana.
The San are the world’s oldest people, having lived in Southern Africa for at least 20,000 years and are the oldest people on the planet.
