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Africa Notes Part I Geography Africa is the 2 nd largest CONTINENT and has the 2 nd highest population. It is more than 3xs the size of the United States.
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Africa Notes • Part I • Geography • Africa is the 2nd largest CONTINENT and has the 2nd highest population. It is more than 3xs the size of the United States.
Africa contains more independent nations than any other continent and contains thousands of ethnic groups. The numerous ethnic groups enabled Africa to have 1/3 of the world's languages. • It is also centrally located on the Earth's surface. • The majority of the population lives in the same basic form as their ancestors. • The land is about 40% savanna or grassland, 5% jungle, 40% desert (the desert region is growing each year), and the remainder is forest.
C. Most of Africa is covered by plateaus. They have provided the interior with spectacular waterfalls and rapids. These are called cataracts. The cataracts proved to be valuable at stopping early European exploration of Africa.
D. The Great Rift Valley is in the eastern part of the continent. It receives the rich soils from the highlands. The region contains some of the most fertile farmland and is rich in minerals and metals. However, transportation is a problem.
E. Rivers in Africa provide the people with fish, irrigation, transportation and hydroelectric power. The rivers have also been a point of human development. 1. The Nile Valley is the origin of one of the earliest civilizations. People benefited for the yearly flooding of the valley which would leave a rich deposit of silt and restore the soil of lost nutrients. Today, technology has changed the flow of the Nile River. The Aswan Dam built in Egypt stops the yearly flooding. As a result, the silt is not about to replenish the soil. Farmers now have to buy fertilizer to maintain their agricultural output.
2. The Congo River is located in Central Africa. It has an enormous volume of water and provides hydroelectric power. However, only a small portion of the river can be used for transportation due to large waterfalls and rapids. 3. The Niger Riverin West Africa provides a source of water that can be used for irrigation. Local residents also use the river for pole fishing and transportation.
4. The Zambezi Riverin Southern Africa rushes over Victoria Falls. It provides hydroelectric power. Victoria Falls
F. Besides hydroelectric power and transportation, rivers are a source of natural resources. Many other valuable resources can also be found throughout Africa. Some nations have been able to develop their natural resources for a profit. Others have had to allow foreign nations to develop and profit from the resources. The resources are unevenly distributed throughout Africa. 1. Copper 2. Diamonds and cobalt 3. Oil
E. The fact that rainfall is not predictable can easily be seen in Africa. Drought has had a big impact on the people. With little outside source of irrigation, a prolonged drought can cause the death of millions of people. F. Desertification is also a problem. Combined with the drought, the amount of land that can be considered a desert is growing. Droughts and human exploitation of the land is putting Africa’s agricultural production in danger.
The Mediterranean climate in Africa can support many different kinds of crops and herding. A negative is the number of diseases that are also supported by the Mediterranean and Tropical climates. • Malaria - Kills 1 million people a year, mostly children. In 1997, it cost $2 billion to treat. Some of the population has developed sickle shaped blood cells through millions of years of exposure which leads to Sickle Cell Anemia. The infected people have a reduced productivity rate due to the severe effects of the disease. • 2. African Trypanosomiasis or Sleeping sickness - A lot of the best farmland is inaccessible to people and cows. This keeps crop productivity and meat supplies low. It does allow animals to live without competition from people.
3. Bilharzia and other water born parasites - Parasitic worms that can grow up to 1 centimeter in snails. The worm burrow into the skin and the eggs are passed into the water by people. Affects: Before treatment, people who were infected were too weak to work and eventually would die. 4. Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever - Cause: Initially thought to be caused by contact with an infected primate. However, the true source is unknown. Once a person is infected, they can pass it to other people through blood or bodily fluids. 5. Other diseases affect the population of Africa. They include Cholera, TB, Polio, Measles, Typhoid Fever, Yellow Fever, and AIDS.
II. Population The population of Africa is growing at a rapid pace. It is 15% of the world's total population and will double if it stays at the current rate by 2020. Although the continent contains many people, it is not densely populated. Many areas do not have a lot of people due to the quality of the land and climate. Another problem with the large population is that 1/2 of the people are under the age of 15. Governments will have to strain to educate, house, employ, and provide health care for such a large number of people. STATS: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/wfbExt/region_afr.html
Lagos, Nigeria Nigeria is the 9th most populated nation in the world, and 5th in population density. The large population is due to a cultural attribute of most African tribes. It is seen as a symbol of status to have many children. Although governments are trying to decrease the rapid population growth, culture is still a strong factor which influences many people. Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa. 70% of the people are rural farmers and herders.
C. There are many misconceptions about the people living in Africa. The general idea is someone in the wild with little clothing and intelligence. This view is not true. Many Africans live in the cities with semi modern conveniences. Some people do still live in straw huts outside of the city, but they number only a few hundred thousand. Capetown 360: http://www.kapstadt.de/panorama/waterfront-paulaner-360.html
Johannesburg, South Africa Harare, Zimbabwe Cairo, Egypt Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Lagos, Nigeria Algiers, Algeria Timbuktu, Mali
Nairobi, Kenya Nairobi Airport
III. The first people A. Scientists agree that Africa was probably the home of the world’s first people. In the 1950’s, Louis and Mary Leakey found bone embedded in an ancient rock in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. The bone was over 2 million years oldand belonged to the ancestor of modern people. The skeleton remains that were found belonged to a female who has been named “Lucy”. She is believed to be the missing link between humans and apes.
Many other scientists have also been researching object left be ancient man. • They are trying to piece together how ancient man solved problems to survive in their environment. The climate of Africa often works against the scientists. The heat and humidity destroys wood and bones that contain information. • One source of information that generally is able to withstand the climate is stone. Stone carvings and paintings illustrate what life was like millions of years ago. From the San people in Present-day South Africa Ancient Egyptian stone carving
There are 700 - 800 different ethnic groups within Africa. Many of these groups still practice the traditional culture. Some are turning towards nationalism. Modern African nations must balance the desire to maintain their countries and respect the rights of ethnic groups. • major ethnic groups:BantuBerberDinkaFulaniHausaKhoikhoiManding • Interesting web-site: http://www.africanholocaust.net/peopleofafrica.htm
V. Centers of East African Trade A. Trade linked the coastal people of the East to other parts of the world. Many trading centers grew into independent city states. They traded slaves, ivory, gold and animal skins. Due to their location, trade could only be conducted during certain times of the year. Traders used the monsoon winds to carry them to and from Asia. B. The main trading center was Zimbabwe which contains a lot of gold. The rulers had tremendous power. Zimbabwe also had skilled masonry. They were able to build stone buildings without using mortar. C. The Portuguese landed in Western Africa in 1470. They then landed in Eastern Africa in 1500. They would wreck the economies of both areas and lead to the domination of the continent by Europeans.
VI. Patterns of Life A. With the varied environment of Africa, the people have developed different cultures. However, many of the societies share the same basic values of family structure, communities, and religious beliefs. B. Family loyalty was the bond that held the society together. The environment decided the type of family pattern that was followed.
1. Small families in areas of scarce food. They generally will hunt and gather. 2. Extended families in areas of plentiful food. They will generally be farmers and will need additional people to farm.
C. Each family was part of a larger tribe. The tribe made decisions together and ensured survival. Today, there is continued reliance on the tribes. • The idea of a link between people creates loyalty and responsibility among members. • Everything is based upon the idea of “we” and not the individual. • Even the traditional form of government reflects the togetherness of the community. In many areas, decisions at the village level need to meet full public approval. Whenever the community disagrees, the group tries to reach a consensus. • The good of the whole community is stressed over the individual. Both sides of a dispute are expected to accept the decision and usually exchange gifts to show trust and harmony has returned to the village.
VII. Women • African women contribute to the economic well being of the family. Women are responsible for the planting, weeding, and harvesting. Surpluses are then taken to the market. They are also responsible for educating the children. The attitude towards women varies greatly between countries. In some areas, women hold high places within the government.
Most African societies practice polygamy. It is partially due to the environment and religion. • Farming with a low level of technology requires many assistants. As a result, a man may marry more than one wife in order to have more children. The additional children will assist in cultivation. • Islamic law also permits polygamy. However, the man must be able to support each wife equally. An average woman will have seven children. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/unfpa/the-price-of-polygamy-in_b_189123.html
C. Outside of the family societies have developed the age grade system. Members pass through the different stages of life together. They will complete rites of passages and assist each other with their children. The age grade system also assists in providing practice for group consensus. 1. Age grade system – All children from the same year will pass through all of the life stages together.
VIII. Religion • There are many different religious beliefs throughout Africa. Religion helps to united the society and for people to understand their origins. Generally, religion is conveyed in oral traditions and myths. • Northern Africa is mostly Muslim. • Sub Sahara Africa is Christian. • The other regions are predominately African religions.
B. Most of the traditional African religions are based upon animism. 1. The belief in gods who inhabit the world. 2. The gods are different then the Jewish, Islamic, and Christian God- but do believe in a Supreme Being that creates all things. 3. Belief in life after death. 4. Believe that your ancestors may help or harm you. 5. Belief that every object on earth is filled with a living spirit. 6.DIVINERS- interpreters between people and the divine world. 7.HEALERS- would seek the cause of one’s illness
C. There also is a combination of Christian and Animistic beliefs. It is described as a “Spider’s Web”. If something bad happens to a person, it was caused by angry spirits. The use of voodoo and witch doctors are the only way to subdue an angry spirit. 1. “Oracles” - People who could predict the future. 2. Witch doctors that would protect you from evil. 3. Secret societies of witches would control status within the village. 4. Once the Europeans came to Africa, witchcraft was outlawed. If caught, people were executed.
Although there is a belief in animism, most of the religions are monotheistic. • They believe in a supreme being who created the world and people. • This being is remote from their daily lives. • As a result, they turn to animism for their daily needs. • Due to their animistic beliefs, many people will refuse modern health care. • It is estimated that over 25% of the population has been exposed to HIV and at least 10% or the children have 1 parent with AIDS. • They will not use antibiotics or birth control. • As a result, religious beliefs are adding to the population problems within Africa.
IIX. Slave Trade A. The 1st contact with Europeans in Africa occurred in the 1400’s. Portugal was looking for a way around the continent to decrease the time to reach India. The Portuguese build trading stations on the coast and the people would come to them for goods. The interior of Africa was not explored until much later.
B. The early explorers were fearful of three main things: 1. Many believed that the Earth was flat. 2. The sea contained monsters. 3. That water boiled at the Equator. C. It was not until European leaders started to colonize the Americas did a need for African slaves appear. The Native Americans were used at first to mine gold, silver, and work the plantations. But, many ran away or died from European diseases.
The concept of slavery was not new to Africans or Europeans. Slavery has been used by each of the following societies: the Chinese, Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Native Americans, Africans, Europeans, and White Americans. From ancient times, slaves were used to complete the low level jobs within a community. Most slaves were captured during a war or sold to during times of famine. • 1. Slave could be considered part of the community. • 2. They could be treated like servants. • 3. Slaves and their children could • become full members of the • community.
Slavery was introduced by the Europeans • on a massive scale. • Slave – Someone who is • owned. They are subjected to the will of • another person. They do not have any rights or freedoms.
F. The journey from Africa to America became known as the “Middle Passage”. This is because it was the second part of the journey. The first leg of the voyage carried a cargo that often included iron, cloth, brandy, firearms, and gunpowder. Upon landing on Africa's "slave coast," the cargo was exchanged for Africans. Fully loaded with its human cargo, the ship set sail for the Americas, where the slaves were exchanged for sugar, tobacco, or some other product. The final leg brought the ship back to Europe.
G. Conditions during the Middle Passage • The conditions aboard the ship were horrendous. With 300 to 400 people packed in a tiny area which had little ventilation. As a result, disease was prevalent. • Amistad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo-JejTp7O4
H. What are some of the effects that the slave trade had on Africans? 1. Loss of young men and women who would have contributed to the economy. 2. Loss of their native culture. 3. Fear of new ideas and of Europeans.
I. Some African nations were involved with the slave trade. These nations believed that they were superior to other African nations. They would go into the interior and capture people to be sold into slavery. In exchange for slaves, they would receive guns and other manufactured goods. J. Slave Diaspora – The scattering of people from Africa to the Americas.
K. The slave trade lasted for 400 years. It began to decrease when the demand for raw materials needed for industrialization was more profitable then agricultural products. Gradually people started to support human rights and oppose slavery. Abolition – Movement to end slavery
L. With the abolition of slavery, some people did return to the continent. In 1787, Great Britain set up the colony of Sierra Leone. Liberia was also set aside for freed Africans from the United States in 1847.
ABOUT SIERRA LEONE: Sierra Leone, consequently, has a unique history. Most of Africa's 54 countries were colonies of European nation-states from the late 19th Century. Sierra Leone became a colony of Britain nearly 100 years earlier in the late 18th Century. This means that Sierra Leone became a colony of Britain just after the thirteen American colonies gained their independencefrom Britain. Sierra Leone was also different in another way from other African colonies. Britain formed the colony to be a home for freed slaves from North America. The first freed slaves returned to Africa from Canada in 1787. In 1808, the British government outlawed the slave trade. In aneffort to stop the Atlantic slave trade, the British navy intercepted slave ships from Africa which were heading across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas. The slaves freed from these ships were taken to Sierra Leone. Tens of thousands of freed slaves captured from slave ships or groups who returned from North America (many coming from the West Indies), settled in Sierra Leone during the 19th Century. Only one other African country was founded by freed slaves from the Americas, Liberia, a name taken from the word liberty, Sierra Leone's neighbor to the south. Based on this information we can see why the capital city of this colony was called Freetown.
M. The survivors of slavery struggled to hold onto their culture. They did assist in the spreading of culture. African ideas, customs, and beliefs can be found in many parts of the world. African influence can especially be seen in music, proverbs, food, and art. Hold a true friend with both hands. - Kanuri proverb, Nigeria When your mouth stumbles, it's worse than feet. - Oji proverb He who marries a real beauty is seeking trouble. - Accra proverb, Ghana Modern Capoeira- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8xxgFpK-NM Traditional Capoeira- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H0D8VaIli0
