Africa

1. Human Geography Africa

2. Population Patterns • Approximate population is 763 million • However, population density is low • Senegal has the most urban population • 43% of its population lives in cities • Archaeologists believe • The first inhabitants were nomads • Domestication – adapt plants and animals for use as food, clothing and transportation • Most Africans live along the coast lines or in the Sahel • Example: Egyptians thrived due to the Nile River

3. Population Patterns – continued • Africans have been influenced by the foreign influences of Europe and SW Asia • The most lasting influence has been from Arab traders • There are a thousand different languages spoken • Pidgin – simplified speech used among people who speak different languages • Lingua franca – commonly spoken languages • usually English and French • Egypt – primary gateway from Arabs migrating into North Africa

4. Culture • The Arts – • Often express traditional religious beliefs • Music and dance are part of every day life • traditional masks are worn for ceremonies • Oral Traditions – practice of telling stories from generation to generation by word of mouth • Examples: myths, folktales, proverbs

5. Culture – continued • Family Life – • Family is the most important social group • Most families are patriarchal – men are supreme • Clans – large groups of people descended from an early ancestor • Age Grade System – • Young people of the same sex and age grow up together • The elders of the community are the teachers • On average, women are married at 14 or 15 and men marry at 30 years old • Men may not marry until they can buy their bride’s honor

6. Culture – continued • Religion – • most Africans were traditionally monotheistic • Today, most are Christian or Muslim • Education – • In Saharan Africa, most kids complete primary school because it is free to attend • In Sub-Saharan Africa, only 1/3 of the children even attend school • Those who do attend will not finish • Those who are educated will leave to find better paying jobs – Brain Drain

7. Culture – continued • Healthcare – • Poverty is the key in accessing education and healthcare • It is hard to get good medicine, clean water, and good food • Mortality rates in women and children are high • Sanitation – ability to dispose of waste products • Diseases facing Africa: • Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Cholera • 70% of the world’s population infected with HIV is found in Sub-Saharan Africa

8. History • The Bantu, now known as the Zulu are some of the earliest known inhabitants of Africa • The Bantu established most of Africa’s empires • The Egyptians were a cultural hearth of Africa • Arabs were traders on the Gold-Salt trade route • Stretched across the Sahara and connected SW Asia to W. Africa • Brought Islam and Salt to North Africa

9. History – continued • The first European country to explore Africa was Portugal • They were seeking gold and eventually slaves • Gabon became the center of the slave trade • Large numbers of slaves were sold to the Americas • Colonial Rule in Africa • Great Britain, Belgium, Germany and France also claimed land in Africa • Imperialism – policy of domination politically, economically, and socially • Social Darwinism – “Survival of the Fittest”

10. History – continued • Europeans eventually carved Africa into more than 40 countries • Motives for colonization – • Nationalism – race to secure trade routes and resources • Economic – center for natural resources • Resources such as: cotton, rubber, gum, ivory, wood • Religious – spread western civilization and Christianity

11. Impact of Colonial Rule Positive (+) Negative (-) African tribes separated by new political boundaries New diseases introduced (smallpox) Famine increased Thousands killed in resistance African leaders replaced with European ones • Reduced local warfare • Improved sanitation • Improved healthcare & education • Improved technology • Expanded economic activities

12. History – continued • By the mid 1900’s educated Africans began to launch independence movements • Independence came at a high cost for many • Libya – first to get independence (1951) • Eritrea – last to get independence (1993) • When they did get independence many African countries face • Political instability – lack of experienced leaders • Economic instability • Civil Wars broke out among tribes

13. History – continued • South African Independence • White minority held the power in South Africa • Apartheid – separation of races • Nonwhites were denied political rights and equality • Similar to the Civil Rights movement in the USA • Nelson Mandela – leader of the anti-apartheid movement • Became the first black President in South Africa • Apartheid ended in 1991

14. Lasting Effects of Colonization • Darfur – Ethnic Cleansing (started in 2003) • Conflict between the non-Arab Black African rebels and Arab militia (janjaweed) • Approximately 1.8 million people displaced • Rwanda – Genocide • Conflict between the Tutsis and the Hutus • Hutus tried eliminating the Tutsis • Sierra Leone – Civil War (1991-2002) • Primary cause – control of the diamond industry • Kimberly Process Certification – “Blood Diamonds”

15. Economy • Agriculture is the main economic activity • Shifting cultivation – farmers move every 1-3 years to find fertile soil • Sedentary Farming – done at a permanent farm – use of fertilizers permits this • Mining • South Africa is the world’s largest producer of gold • Most mineral resources can be found on the Atlantic coast and south of the Equator • Countries still poor because foreign investors and white land owners get the profits

16. Economy – continued • Industrialization is slow because the infrastructure was never built • Infrastructure – basic necessities of a city such as streets, sanitation, electricity, safety, etc.

17. Transportation & Communication • Roads and Railroads are the most common forms of transportation • Trans-Sahara Highway – built in 2003, connects the interior of Africa – stretches across the Sahara • Media use is difficult: • Low literacy rates • Government control and restrictions • Distance and cost of materials • Most communications are shared by radio only

18. Trade & Interdependence • Most of Africa’s trading partners are from Western Europe • China is Africa’s most recently acquired trade partner • Africa is the poorest region in the world and owes billions of dollars in debt • In 2005, the G8 (France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, Canada, and Russia) agreed to cancel the debt of Africa’s 18 poorest countries

19. People and their Environment • Famine has become an almost epidemic problem throughout the Sahara and Sahel regions • Since the 1970s, farmlands have dried up from droughts • War is a major cause of hunger and malnutrition • Peace is necessary to halt hunger • Humanitarian groups such as Doctors Without Borders and International Red Cross are providing aid

20. People – continued • Human Impact on the Environment • The tropical rainforest of the Congo is being destroyed for logging and farming • Over ½ of the original tropical forests are gone • Several countries have created forest reserves to stop it • Wildlife is in danger of becoming extinct • Hunting also threatens wildlife • Hunters pursue African game for sport and profit • Animals at risk: Zebra, mountain gorilla, rhinoceros, elephant • Poaching – illegal hunting • African Elephants are the main target (Ivory tusks)

21. Environment – continued • Challenges for the future • New ranching laws have provided new ways to make money such as crocodile farms • SACFA – South African Crocodile Farming Association • 1999 – six African countries signed an agreement to preserve the forests • Huge Game reserves have been created • Ecotourism – tourism based on concern for the environment • National Parks are being set up to restrict poaching and protect endangered species