Independence in Africa!
 When was the Berlin Conference? What
did it decide?
 In what decades did “most” African
nations gain independence? (see next
slide)
 Who created the borders of these African
nations?
and poverty of some African
countries
Africa after independence
 Africa is by far the world's poorest
continent. Though parts of the continent
have made significant gains over the last
few years.
 Out of the 175 countries, 25 African
nations ranked lowest amongst the
nations of the world.
GDP by country; north &
south wealthiest
The northern and southern ends of the
continent are wealthiest
 North Africa has long been closely linked to
the economies of Europe and M.E.
 South Africa is by far the continent's
wealthiest state in total GDP.
 The small but oil-rich states of Gabon and
Equatorial Guinea round out the list of the
ten wealthiest states in Africa.
Turbulent history = poverty &
lack of modernization!
Corruption
Civil Wars
The Cold War = violence in Africa
Ghana- 14 coups in 14 years!
Joseph Mobutu
 Ruled over the Republic of
the Congo from from 1965 to
1997.
 He formed an authoritarian
regime, amassed vast
personal wealth
 Mobutu consolidated power
by publicly executing political
rivals, coup plotters, and
other threats to his rule.
Reasons for severe poverty
 Civil Wars = destruction of land and economy
 Droughts lead to famine
 Inadequate transportation and storage of food
 Fuel is primarily wood- becomes more scarce every year
 African nations in debt
 Corruption and theft of leaders
 Low level of industry; mostly case crops
 Foreigners own mining, diamond & other companies
Kenya
Have things improved or
changed in Africa?
 A democratic reawakening in the 1990s!
 In 1989 there were 35 African nations with oneparty rule; by 1994 there are none.
 Education has increased and growth of
universities
 Some improvement in technology and
infrastructure
 Health care has improved
Accra, Ghana
Nairobi, Kenya
Democratic Republic
Congo- Kinshaha
Cape Town, South
Africa
Johannesburg