Africa: An Introduction Overview & Objectives KNOW: 5 major regions of Africa Natural resources of Africa Distinctive characteristics of African culture Main ethno-linguistic groups in Africa Main language groups in Africa Comprehend : How Islam, Christianity, and indigenous religions influence Africa Impact of European Colonialism Chapter 3, Lesson 1

5 Major Regions of Africa North Africa World largest hot desert Sahara Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Western Sahara 2. West Africa Mostly Equatorial Jungle Benin (Bya neen), Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire (coot de vwah), the Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Cape Verde

5 Major Regions of Africa 3. Central Africa Congo River (map) Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome (sow toe MAY, Principe

5 Major Regions of Africa 4. Eastern Africa Highlands, Large lakes, Mt Kilimanjaro World’s longest River Nile Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius (moe heet zus), Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, the Comoros (com oh rose), & Seychelles (say shell)

5 Major Regions of Africa 5. Southern Africa Savanna, sub-tropical Botswana, Lesotho (les sow toe), Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland

Natural Resources Mineral Resources Diamonds! Gold Other minerals: De Beers (video) Gold Other minerals: Chromite, Cobalt, Manganese, & Uranium Nigeria, Angola, Sudan - significant oil resources

Natural Resources, cont. Agricultural Resources “Agriculture will provide the engine for growth in Africa” Most African farmers are subsistence farmers Melanie Stetson Freeman / © 2008 The Christian Science Monitor Chapter 3, Lesson 1

Conflicts Over Resources Controversy rages over who “owns” natural resources In civil war, factions get illegal control over a resource Use money earned to supply troops so it can keep fighting Chapter 3, Lesson 1

African Culture Distinctive Characteristics Strong system of extended families is an essential part of traditional African cultures Polygamy’s Impact Widespread, controversial Significance of Oral Tradition “Griot” Storytellers - much language spoken, rather than written

African Ethno-Linguistic Groups Definition: Group of people who share common language & culture Majority: Black Africans - original inhabitants of sub-Saharan Africa North Africa? Arabs & Berbers - predominantly Muslim

African Ethno-Linguistic Groups, Cont. Afrikaners & Other Europeans 17th / 18th centuries: Dutch, German, French Protestant farmers settled in what is now South Africa Melanie Stetson Freeman / © 2002 The Christian Science Monitor People of Mixed Race and Asians South Africa, “coloured” is proper term for people of mixed race In Africa, Asians refers to people from India subcontinent

Main Language Groups in Africa Africa has more languages spoken than any other continent—about 2,000! Most have very small numbers of speakers Classified into 4 major families: Niger-Congo Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharan Khoisan (koi sahn) – Click Language Video (FF to 00:54) Chapter 3, Lesson 1

Roles of European & Asian Languages Many Africans speak more than one language In countries with many different indigenous languages, no one tongue is dominant Chapter 3, Lesson 1

How Islam, Christianity, & Indigenous Religions Influence Africa Africa - a lively spiritual marketplace Despite rise of Christianity & Islam, traditional religions are still important Unfortunately, large numbers of Christians & Muslims living near each other sometimes leads to…. CONFLICT! Chapter 3, Lesson 1 Mary Knox Merrill / © 2009 The Christian Science Monitor

Colonial Period of African History Transatlantic slave trade began w/ Portuguese in late 15th century Leading colonizers of Africa British Dominant slaving power in 18th century French Colonies: French West Africa French Equatorial Africa Colonies in Arab north

History & Impacts of African Independence Nationalists criticized Europeans for failing to appreciate richness of indigenous cultures After WWII, British saw need to give up their empire Transitions were generally relatively peaceful Exceptions were in places w/ many European settlers Chapter 3, Lesson 2

History & Impacts of African Independence Many countries, such as Nigeria, were artificial entities created by European rulers Didn’t follow natural borders Or respect traditional homelands of different ethnic groups Chapter 3, Lesson 2 Melanie Stetson Freeman / © 2002 The Christian Science Monitor

History & Impacts of African Independence South Africa - special case Apartheid System of legal racial segregation enforced by Afrikaner white-minority govt Made country an outcast

History & Impacts of African Independence Nelson Mandela Anti-apartheid activist 1990 - Released from 27 yrs in prison Led multiracial democracy in 1994 Became South Africa’s first non-racial democratically elected president Won Nobel Peace Prize