The Coastal Countries

Cape Verde Senegal Gambia Guinea-Bissau Guinea Sierra Leone Liberia Cote D’Ivoire Ghana Togo Benin Nigeria

Location = Trade Two advantages over the countries of the Sahara: –Water (Wetter climate and adequate rainfall) –Access to the sea

History Coastal countries started to trade with Europe in the 1400’s –Gold, Ivory, palm oil, slaves –Coastal kingdoms fought each other for control of this new trade

Modern Trade Today the West African coastal nations export only a few products and materials: –Senegal, Gambia & Guinea-Bissau export Peanuts –Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Sierra Leone and others rely on Cocoa This leads to trade deficit since the countries import more than the export, and are still paying off their debts.

Power Struggles European powers ruled most of African until the 1960’s. When countries gained independence, economies were often weak, and few new governments in Africa have been able to overcome or recover from the economic burdens.

Coups When governments are weak, the army often steps in Sometimes different factions in the army fight for power. Benin endured 6 coups from 1963 to 1972 Liberia (independent in 1847) had a coup in 1980 and 1990

Other Examples of Instability Sierra Leone’s democratic government was overthrown in 1997 Neighboring countries sent troops to fight the rebels and restored the democratic leaders. Sadly fighting continued, and Rebels control the diamond trade…. GDP of Sierra Leone is $146

Grass-Roots West Africans have learned that the government alone can often do little to improve economic conditions and have started banding together at local levels to organize local resources.

Cultural Roles Women are taking on more responsibilities –Growing food –Running businesses –Running the food markets

Religion Ancestor Worship –Belief in the spirits of the dead –Asante people are an example Animism –Ordinary things like the sky, rivers, trees – all contain gods or spirits.

Population Growth Population of Africa is growing faster than population anywhere else on earth

Cape Verde Small Island Nation

Senegal Size of South Dakota Contains Africa’s western most 17 West. Former Frnech possiession Agriculture, fishing

Gambia Size of Connecticut Short Atlantic coastline Completely surrounded by Senegal Once a British colony Peanuts, rice, fish

Guinea-Bissau 2 times the size of new Jersey Low swampy ground, savanna in the east Former Portuguese possession Literacy rate 19% Bananas, pineapples, rice, bauxite, iron, diamonds

Guinea Size of Wyoming Atlantics coast, mountains in the north Heavy rainfall in mt is source of three rivers: Gambia, Senegal, Niger Once French possession Bananas, pineapples, rice, bauxite, iron, diamonds

Sierra Leone Slightly larger than West Virginia Swampy coastal plain, forested hills, low mountains Capital “Freetown” was named because it was a refuge for freed British slaves.

Liberia Size of Washington Crossed by 6 rivers Wet coastal plain to high land in the north Settled by freed American slaves in 1822, independent in 1847 Coffee, cocoa, sugar, rice, iron, diamonds, gold, fish

Cote D’Ivoire Size of New Mexico Forest in west, coastal plain to low mountains in northwest Former French possession – independence in 1960 One of the most advanced and prosperous of the West African nations. Cocoa, coffee, oil, diamonds, fish

Ghana Size of Oregon Low fertile plains Former British colony Politically instability (coups, dictators, foreign domination, corruptions) have hindered growth Coffee, cocoa; manganese, commercial diamonds, bauxite

Togo ½ size of Tennessee Savanna Shoe and textile manufacturing Arable land – 25%

Benin Size of Pennsylvania 70 mile coast on Gulf of Guinea Lowland, heavy vegetation High humidity, head and rain Former french possession Palm products, oil, fish

Nigeria Three times the size of new Mexico Swampy coast, rain forest, savanna, arid north. 31 % arable land, oil, rubber, timber, minerals Gets it’s own section in the book –up next!

The End