Current events in Africa
south of the Sahara can
best be understood by
knowing about the region’s
diverse peoples, its
histories, and its cultures.
Section 1:
The Sahel
Places reflect the
relationship between
humans and the physical
environment. The Sahel,
at the edge of the Sahara,
influences the ways of life
in this subregion.
Section 2:
East Africa
Places reflect the
relationship between
humans and the physical
environment. East
Africa’s peoples, history,
and cultures have been
influenced by its location
on the Atlantic coast.
Section 3:
West Africa
The characteristics and
distribution of cultures
influence human
systems. West Africa’s
religions and social
structures play a major
role in people’s daily lives.
Section 4:
Central Africa
Culture influences
people’s perceptions of
places and regions.
While indigenous peoples
built societies in response
to the natural environment,
European powers
exploited the region.
Section 5:
Southern Africa
Geography is used to
interpret the past,
understand the present,
and plan for the future.
Knowledge of southern
Africa’s natural resources
and colonial past helps
one fully know the region.
The Sahel
The Sahel, at the edge of
the Sahara, influences the
ways of life in this
subregion.
Population Patterns
The changing physical environment and the
many diverse ethnic groups have shaped
population patterns in the Sahel.
• The people:
– Mandé people of Senegal and Mali
– Wolof of Senegal
Population Patterns (cont.)
– Hausa of Niger
– Fulani
– Berber
Population Patterns (cont.)
• Density and distribution:
– Population density is unevenly distributed.
– Average population density is about 103
people per square mile.
– Sudan has the highest density.
Muslim Population
History and Government
The physical environment and the relative
location of the Sahel have drawn together
diverse cultures that continue to influence
the subregion.
• First civilizations:
– Egyptian civilization
– The kingdom of Kush
History and Government (cont.)
• Empires and colonization:
– The Mali Empire
– Songhai Empire
– Complete European control by 1914
– Colonies gained independence by 1950s
African Kingdoms and Empires
History and Government (cont.)
• Sudan today—a division:
– North—Arab-speaking Muslims; Islamicoriented government
– South—live in rural areas; subsistence
economy; secular government
Culture
Although diverse, the cultures of the Sahel
region share many similarities.
• The arts—African art—often expressing traditional
religious beliefs—comes in many forms, from ritual
masks to rhythmic drum music to folktales.
• Family life—strong family ties valued.
Culture (cont.)
• Language—several African language groups:
Afro-Asiatic, Nilo-Saharan, Congo-Kordofanian
• Religion—Islam
• Education—low school enrollment and literacy
rates
• Health care—poor health care
East Africa
East Africa’s peoples,
history, and cultures have
been influenced by its
location on the Atlantic
coast.
Population Patterns
The populations of East Africa have been
shaped by their location along the long
coast-line of the Indian Ocean.
• In East African countries today, one ethnic group is
the majority in a country.
Population Patterns (cont.)
• The people:
– The Bantu—Uganda and Tanzania
– Hutu—Rwanda and Burundi
Population Patterns (cont.)
• Density and distribution:
– Distribution is highly uneven due to land and
climate.
– City dwellers, nomads, and farmers live in this
region.
Africa South of the Sahara:
Population Density
History and Government
Throughout much of its history, East Africa’s
location has attracted people from many
continents.
• Early peoples and kingdoms:
– Possible place of origin for all humankind
– Kingdom of Axum
– Djibouti people
History and Government (cont.)
– Arab traders
– Persians
• European colonization:
– Britain, France, Germany, Portugal
– British doctor and missionary David
Livingstone
History and Government (cont.)
• Colonialism created enormous problems for
Africa’s people.
• European powers granted colonies independence
in the 1960s.
• However, the newly independent countries faced
(and still face) internal and external strife.
Culture
Common elements such as language and
religion connect the cultures of East Africa.
• Language—Congo-Kordofanian, Nilo-Saharan, AfroAsiatic; English and French
• Religion—Christian or Muslim
• Education—levels of education vary throughout the
region; few complete secondary education.
Culture (cont.)
• Health care—many problems exist.
• The arts—visual arts of masks and textiles; forms
of music, dance, and oral traditions
• Ways of life in East Africa are as varied as the
ethnic groups who live there.
West Africa
West Africa’s religions and
social structures play a
major role in people’s daily
lives.
Population Patterns
The location and densities of West Africa’s
populations affect people’s way of life.
• The people:
– Hausa
– Yoruba
Population Patterns (cont.)
• Density and distribution:
– Distribution is very uneven, with most people
living along the coast and river plains.
– Africa’s rate of urbanization is the world’s
fastest (although only 44% live in cities).
Urbanization in West Africa
History and Government
West Africa’s history has been shaped by
indigenous and outside forces, each with
their own cultures.
• Early empires:
– Ghana Empire
– Mali Empire
History and Government (cont.)
• The colonial era:
– 1400s—Portuguese set up trading posts along
the African coast.
– 1600s and 1700s—Europeans were actively
trading with Africans, including slaves.
– French colonizers were trying to end slavery
during this time as well.
Culture
West African culture has been shaped by
hundreds of years of European and Arab
influences.
• Language—hundreds of languages are spoken;
English, French, Arabic, Yoruba
• Religion—Islam, Christianity, traditional African
religions
• Education—inconsistent throughout the region
Culture (cont.)
• Health care—uneven and limited
• The arts—music and dance, weaving, masks,
sculptures
Central Africa
While indigenous peoples
built societies in response
to the natural environment,
European powers exploited
the region.
Population Patterns
Groups of people throughout Central Africa
usually have a shared culture, depending on
where they live.
• The people:
– This region is home to hundreds of ethnic groups.
– Most people exist by subsistence agriculture or
raising cattle.
Population Patterns (cont.)
– Fulani
– Bantu
– Fang
– Mbuti
Population Patterns (cont.)
• Density and distribution:
– This region is the least densely populated on
the continent.
– More densely populated areas are in the
Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, and the
Democratic Republic of the Congo.
History and Government
Central Africa was the location of early
migrations and, later, of European systems
of slavery, colonization, and plantation
economies.
• Early settlement:
– Bantu-speaking people established settlements in
the region by A.D. 800.
History and Government (cont.)
• Slavery:
– Huge numbers of people from the African
interior were sold into slavery.
The Atlantic Slave Trade
History and Government (cont.)
• European colonization:
– It was not until the 1800s that large areas of
Central Africa were colonized.
– By 1960, all the French colonies had become
independent countries.
History and Government (cont.)
• Instability after independence:
– People in most Central African countries
experienced periods of ethnic strife, harsh
rule, and human rights abuses after
independence.
Culture
The many diverse cultures of Central Africa
share similar experiences as a result of
geography, their history, and their current
situation.
• Language—700 local languages in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo alone; French; pidgin
• The arts—Mangbetu pottery, sculpture
Culture (cont.)
• Religion and family life are intertwined—
numerous and diverse religions, but they share
many common elements.
• Some Christianity found as well.
• Education—many systems are strained.
• Health care—this is also strained in most areas.
Southern Africa
Understanding southern Africa’s
natural resources and colonial
past helps one fully know the
region.
Population Patterns
Southern Africa is undergoing significant
population changes as a result of its
colonial history and present challenges.
• The people:
– Sena
– Bantu
– Swazi
Population Patterns (cont.)
– Zulu
– San
– Afrikaners
Ethnic Composition of South Africa
Population Patterns (cont.)
• Density and distribution:
– Population densities vary widely across the
region.
– Many people are moving to urban areas to
work in gold and diamond mines.
– Despite population explosions in parts of
Africa, AIDS is expected to reduce the
populations of many of the region’s countries.
The State of HIV/AIDS
History and Government
Situations created by colonial rule challenge
southern Africa today and will continue to
do so into the future.
• Early cultures:
– Zulu
– Bantu
History and Government (cont.)
• European colonization:
– Arabs and Europeans settled in southern
Africa for economic reasons.
– The Portuguese controlled Angola,
Mozambique, Comoros, and Mauritius.
History and Government (cont.)
• Challenges after independence:
– Postcolonial rule has been a difficult
adjustment for most African countries.
– Exceptions—Botswana, Mauritius
– Apartheid was ended in the early 1990s, but
problems continue today.
Culture
While countries in southern Africa enjoy
more freedoms under independence, they
face serious economic and health-care
problems.
• Language—African languages; English, French,
Afrikaans
• Religion—Christianity as well as traditional religions
Culture (cont.)
• Education—since independence, higher
education has expanded.
• Health care—AIDS has reached epidemic
proportions and most can’t afford drug treatments.
• The arts—indigenous crafts, music, and dancing
• Leisure—playing games and spending time with
family
Population Patterns
• Africa south of the Sahara
has the world’s highest
birthrates and death rates.
• The high death rate is the
result of poverty, disease,
and conflict.
• Despite high death rates, the
population of Africa south of
the Sahara is growing faster
than any other region of the
world.
Urban Growth
• Although Africa south of the
Sahara is one of the least
urbanized regions of the
world, it has the world’s
fastest rate of urbanization.
• Cities have better job
opportunities, health care,
and public services that
attract people from rural
areas.
• Most cities in the region are built along the
coast, along rivers, or in areas rich in natural
resources. Almost all of the major cities began
as centers of trade.
Historical Legacy
• In its early history, Africa was
home to major trading
kingdoms, like Songhai,
Ghana, Mali, Kush, and Axum.
• As Europeans began exploring
the globe, they traded with
African rulers for gold and
other goods. Later they also
traded for enslaved people.
• The European powers later
divided Africa into colonies.
They extracted resources
and promoted European
culture at the expense of
traditional African ways.
indigenous
native to a place
domesticate
to adapt plants and animals from the
wild to make them useful to people
oral tradition
stories passed down from generation
to generation by word of mouth
patriarchal
relating to a social group headed by a
male family member
clan
tribal community or large group of
people related to one another
nuclear family
family group made up of a husband,
wife, and children
lingua franca
a common language used among
people with different native languages
urbanization
the movement of people from rural
areas into cities
pidgin
simplified speech used among people
who speak different languages
coup d′état
a violent overthrow of the government
apartheid
policy of strict separation of the races
adopted in South Africa in the 1940s