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Warriors were important in the large empires of Ancient Africa such as the Mali and the Songhai Empires. Professional warriors kept the peace and maintained power for the emperor.

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They moved goods across the Sahara Desert using caravans of camels. Some traders became wealthy and held high positions in society.

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Most people in Ancient Africa were farmers. They spent much of their day working the land growing crops such as yams, sorghum, barley, and wheat. Some people fished for food or took care of herds of livestock such as cattle and sheep.

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Some common themes of African art are region, materials, three dimensions, human form, and Monumental Art and Architecture.

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Each region had a major staple crop that formed the majority of their food. They would then supplement this crop with fish, meat, and vegetables that they were able to grow or hunt where they lived.

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Some Africans believed that there was a supreme god that ruled. They also believed in natural spirits and ancestral spirits like the Chinese. They also did magic, sacrifices, and rituals.

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Artisans included blacksmiths, weavers, tailors, jewelers, and tool makers. In some Ancient African societies, artisans were thought to have magical powers.

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There were also many slaves in Ancient Africa. Slaves were often people captured from enemy tribes during war or were born into slavery. Sometimes criminals were forced into slavery for their punishment.

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African homes were thatched huts with walls made of clay and straw. Homes of the royalty were made of wood and stone.

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The roles of the men and women in African homes were that sometimes the heritage would trace back from the father and sometimes it would trace back from the mother. The mother was mostly the head of the house.