1. The Sahel

2. Population Patterns The People Sahel extends from Senegal to Sudan
Many different ethnicities
More than 100 in Chad alone
Influenced by Arab, European, and indigenous cultures
Major ethnic groups: Mande (Senegal and Mali), Wolof (Senegal), and Hausa (Niger).
Fulani (largest ethnic group of nomadic herders) and Berbers live there, as well
Hausa-used to be traders, but now agricultural
Fulani- raise dairy cattle
One of first to adopt Islam
Islam is strong in Sahel, but many defy general Muslim classifications
Ex. Arabic is not the main language
Many ethnic groups have maintained indigenous cultural practices

3. History and Government
First Civilizations
Around 2000 BC people fleeing a dramatic shift in climate settled the Sahel
Sahara region became hotter and drier (desertification)
Nile valley remained fertile
Gave life to Egyptian civilization
Kingdom of Kush (Sudan) eventually extended its rule into Egyptian territory
Pushed south along the Nile
Kush flourished until 300s, when its trade routes were attacked by Axum
Trading empire in Ethiopia

4. History and Government
Empires and Colonization
Several centuries later- trading empires gained strength in W Africa
Mali and Songhai Empires grew rich from the gold-for-salt trade
Mali’s capital= Timbuktu
Songhai took over Mali and expanded east
Prospered until about 1600s (overrun by Moroccans)

5. History and Government
Europeans began trading as early as the 1200s
By 1600s and 1700s, they were trading extensively
1800s- European countries began colonizing Africa
Wanted raw materials, new markets, etc.
Created boundaries that often cut across ethnic homelands
Set African groups against one another and strengthened European rule

6. History and Government
Many Africans benefited from European rule
Better education
By mid 1900s- educated Africans launched independence movements
The colonies became independent
New countries faced difficulties
Colonial powers did not include Africans in gov’t
Didn’t provide models for democracy
At independence, many countries adopted boundaries set by colonial powers
Rival ethnic groups struggled for power and civil wars erupted

8. History and Government
Sudan Today
Distinct cultural divisions separate north and south in Sudan
North= Arab speaking Muslims, living in larger cities
Favor Islamic gov’ts
South= rural areas
Focused on subsistence farming and prefer a secular gov’t
Western region of Darfur holds 1.8 m displaced people
Conflict between agrarian non-Arab black African Muslims and gov’t-backed militias
Led to death of tens of thousands and overcrowded refugee camps
About 250,000 nomads threatened as they try to avoid conflict
Peace deal signed in 2005 (ended conflict between N and S)
Did not address Darfur

9. Culture
The Arts
African art (often expressing traditional religious beliefs) comes in many forms
Ritual masks to rhythmic drum music to folktales
Visual arts include ceremonial masks and wooden figures of Dogon people of Mali
Music= percussion, the talking drum, and the 5-string guitar
Literature developed in NE Africa (societies came in contact w/Mediterranean systems of writing)
Modern literature includes works of Nafissatou Niang Diallo
1975 biography- one of first to be published by Senegalese woman
Oral literature (chanted, sung, or recited)
Oral tradition= the practice of passing down stories from generation to generation by word of mouth

10. Culture Family Life Most Africans value strong family ties
Rural areas- most live in extended families
Most families are patriarchal (headed by male family member)
Women still involved in supporting family
Families are organized into clans (large groups of people descended from an early common ancestor)
Often marry within their clan
In the cities= nuclear family (husband, wife, children) is replacing the extended family

11. Culture Language and Religion
Hundreds of ethnic groups speak several African language groups:
Afro-Asiatic, Nilo-Saharan, and Cong-Kordofanian
French is spoken in Sudan
Islam is predominant religion
Christianity is also practiced in Chad, Sudan, Niger, and Senegal
Many ethnic groups have maintained indigenous religions

12. Culture Education School enrollment and literacy rates are low
Poorest countries (Niger and Mali)- Only about 1/3 go to school
Some countries few children go to elementary school
Parents are too poor to send them
Gov’ts are working on increasing school enrollment

13. Culture Health Care Poverty= key factor in access to health care
Major health concerns: high mortality rates and infectious diseases
Lack of adequate care in childbirth results in high female and infant mortality rates
Small number of rural Africans have access to clean water
¼ live where there is adequate sanitation (disposal of waste products)