Southern Africa

1. Southern Africa

2. Population Patterns • The People • As with most of Africa, country borders separate politically, not ethnically • Some ethnic groups spanpolitical boundaries • Bantuethnic group exist throughoutmost is S Africa • Swazipeople migrated to what is now Swaziland • Have to contendwith the Zulupopulation • Maintained strong politicaland culturalpresence in south Africa • San people of Namibiaare the best-known hunter-gatherersin the world Bantu Swazi Zulu

3. Population Patterns • Since colonialrule, tensions in southern Africa between whiteand blackpeople have dominated certain countries • South Africa- lawseparated the population into white, black, mixed, and Asian • Black = majority • Whites (Afrikaners)- enacted strict codesthat separated blacks and deniedthem votingrights

4. Population Patterns • Despite population explosionsin parts of Africa, one factormay begin to limit it. • AIDShas spread rapidly throughout southern Africa • About 70% of the population livingwith AIDS/HIV live in this region • Disease expected to significantlyreduce the population within the next 10years • About 10.7million childrenhave lost at least one parentto AIDS

5. History and Government • European Colonization • People in Madagascarwere trading with outsiders as early as 600AD • Arabs and Europeans settledin the region for economicreasons • Some set up tradingposts, while others colonized • Portuguesecontrolled Angolathroughout the 1500s (strong slavetrade) • Sent workersand slavesto Americas and other Portuguese colonies • In Mozambique, Portuguese built railroadsto transport laborfor miningand plantationwork • Indigenous population did not benefitand were usually exploited • This led to conflictand movements for independence

6. History and Government • Challenges after Independence • Most coloniesexperienced difficult transitionsto independence • Angola got it quickly, though, with a coup de tat • Overthrew the Portuguese in 1975 • Botswanagot it quickly, too, and has been stableand economically successful • Zambia had vast resources, but few trainedpeople were available to run the gov’t • Economy depends on foreignoversight • Civil warsin neighboring countries forced refugeesinto Zambia

7. History and Government • South Africa became independentin the early 1900s • White minoritypopulation ran the gov’t • Imposed Apartheid-separation of the races • Non-whites were denied politicalrights and equalitywith whites in education, jobs, and housing • Internal unrestand internationalpressures forced them to end apartheid in the early 1990s • Nelson Mandela (most popularanti-apartheid leader)was freed after 27years in prison. • 1994-South Africa held its first electionbased on universal suffrage • Nelson Mandela became their firstblack president • Within a shorttime, they became committed to democracy • Many blacks live in poverty • Because of legacyof apartheid

8. Culture • Language • Some languagesare non-African • English, French, and Afrikaans were introduced by Europeans • Afrikaans- derived from language of early Dutchtraders • Contains wordstaken from English, French, German, and African language • Religion • Christianityis most common • Traditionalreligions are also practiced • Education • Higher educationhas expanded in southern Africa • Mozambique- new schoolsand teaching trainingto match pace of pop. increases • Ruralareas have lower literacyrates

9. Culture • AIDS • Reached epidemicproportions • A child born in Zimbabweis more likely to die from AIDSthan anythingelse • Drug treatmentscost too much there’s a lack of knowledgeabout how it’s spread • Causes the disease to spread faster • Leisure time • Rural areas- people spend their leisuretime playing gamesand spending time with family • They embrace local culture, including musicand dancing • Urban areas- enjoy a varietyof culture • Western musicand movies • Often wear western-style clothing, use cell phones, and watch TV