Review Article
The Origins and Spread of Domestic Chickens in Africa: A Synthesis of Archaeological, Ethnographic, and Genetic Perspectives
Charles Moses Lyimo*
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 3, September 2025
Pages:
123-139
Received:
14 April 2025
Accepted:
30 April 2025
Published:
30 June 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijast.20250903.11
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Abstract: The domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) is one of the most widespread livestock species globally, believed to have originated from Southeast Asia and the Indian Subcontinent over the last 10,000 years. Genetic and archaeological evidence supports multiple independent domestication events involving several wild junglefowl species. This review aimed to synthesize multidisciplinary evidence to trace domestic chickens' origin, dispersal, and their impact in Africa. Specifically, it examined the historical, genetic, and cultural pathways of chicken introduction and adaptation on the continent. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. Peer-reviewed archaeological, linguistic, ethnographic, and molecular genetic studies were integrated, emphasizing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), microsatellite markers, and archaeological site data. Findings reveal two major introduction waves of chickens into Africa: the first via the Mediterranean route through Egypt during the Ptolemaic period (300 BC), and the second through the Indian Ocean maritime trade networks between the early and mid-1st millennium AD. Subsequent overland dispersals extended chickens across the Sahara, Horn of Africa, and West Africa. Genetic studies highlight the complex admixture of maternal lineages from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, while ethnographic and linguistic data reveal regional adaptation and cultural integration of chickens in African societies. In conclusion, chickens have played multifaceted roles in African food security, economy, and tradition. The evidence underlines a need for conservation of African indigenous chickens, which harbor valuable genetic traits crucial for adaptability and resilience. It is recommended that future research prioritizes whole-genome sequencing, regional genetic characterization, and community-based conservation strategies to preserve biodiversity and promote sustainable poultry development in Africa.
Abstract: The domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) is one of the most widespread livestock species globally, believed to have originated from Southeast Asia and the Indian Subcontinent over the last 10,000 years. Genetic and archaeological evidence supports multiple independent domestication events involving several wild junglefowl species. This revie...
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