Cultural Geography of Africa South of the Sahara

1. Cultural Geography of Africa South of the Sahara

2. Languages • more than 800 languages are spoken. • African-based languages make up the largest linguistic group • each African ethnic group often has its own language • the Sudanic peoples of the northwest and northeast corners of the region speak Afro-Asiatic languages

3. many people throughout the region speak French and English • derived from the dialect of early Dutch settlers, the Afrikaans language–spoken in South Africa–also contains words from English, French, German, and African languages

4. the people of Madagascar speak Malayo-Polynesian languages • an empire never forced people to speak a single language

5. Religions • most people in the region are Christians or Muslims • Christianity was established in Ethiopia in the second century • did not spread widely until the coming of European missionaries during the colonial period

6. Muslims ruled West Africa during the 1400s and 1500s • West Africa today has a large Muslim population

7. traditional African religions include characteristics such as reverence for ancestors and belief in a supreme creator • religious faith is central to everyday life

8. conflicts sometimes develop between competing religious groups • traditional African religions are central to people’s sense of themselves and are rooted in local cultures

9. Education • before the colonial era, most African children were apprenticed to trades rather than sent to school • Europeans brought formal schooling to the region • the number of students enrolled in universities increased rapidly in the late 1900s

10. the region’s literacy rate is about 60 percent today • in rural areas, many people are too poor to send their children to school • computers and the Internet may eventually help to educate people in the region, but currently computer access is limited

11. The Arts • express traditional religious beliefs • textiles, pottery, and masks are typical African mediums

12. music, dance, and storytelling are important parts of everyday life • has a rich tradition of oral literature • in recent times, written literature has become prominent as well

13. Varied Lifestyles • extended-family households are common in the region • both traditional and Western dress can be seen in Africa’s large cities • people tend to marry within their ethnic groups