Southern Africa
Rivers and Lakes
Three major river systems drain the region of southern Africa
The Zambezi River, the longest river in the region. The Limpopo River has its source in Botswana. The Orange River. Most rivers in southern Africa are non-navigable.
Zambezi River- the fourth-longest river in Africa. Victoria fall, the world's largest waterfalls.
Climate:
Only one rainy season each year. (November and March)
Mediterranean climate.
January -mid rainy season
July -mid of dry season
Minerals in Southern Africa
40% of the world's gold reserves are still found in the Witwatersrand area in South Africa
Mining
Indigenous populations have mined, smelted and made tools, currency, and religious icons from iron, lead, brass, and gold for nearly 2,000 years. Strong centralized kingdoms developed in areas of mineral wealth. For example, Great Zimbabwe
South Africa’s diamond industry is the fourth-largest in the world, with only Botswana, Canada and Russia producing more diamonds each year.Zambia is world's seventh largest producer of copper, there are offshore oil-rig in Angola
Agriculture
Major crops
Vineyards in South Africa, Tea plantation in Zimbabwe, Coffee- Angola ( former world leading producer), Apple, citrus groves, banana, pineapples etc are cultivated in southern Africa
Economy
Low-income category, Gross National Product per capita (GNP) is only $600. Only South Africa and Botswana are in the upper middle-income rank. Botswana most sparsely populated country devastated with the onslaught of AIDS
South Africa
South Africa is the dominant state in southern Africa. Land size: 470,000 sq. miles, Population: 44.5 million. Contains the bulk of the regions minerals
Agriculture
South Africa is a net food exporter in most years . Agricultural production is highly mechanized and commercialized,
Land Accessibility
Until 1994, white farmers, controlled more than 80 percent of the arable land.
Nearly 80 percent of the black population was restricted to less than 20 percent of the land
History and People of South Africa
The Khoisan-speakers and then Bantu people- first inhabitants of south Africa before its written history began with the arrival of European seafarers. The Europeans (Dutch) later claim the southernmost cape as one of the most strategic places on earth.. Cape town was found by the Dutch East India company in 1652.The British took over Cape Town after 150 years of Dutch dominance.Over 1 million South eastern Asian were brought by British to work on Plantation in South Africa . Cape town became colored sector of South African's citizenry. Dutch moved into Interior high plateaus of South Africa known as the HIGHVELD when they were defeated by the British
The Boer War
Discovery of gold and diamonds in the interior led to the 1899-1902 Boer war, the British won
After power sharing negotiations with the British, the Boers (Dutch descendants) gain their hegemony and called themselves the AFRIKANERS who later began the apartheid system
Social Geography
The Zulu nation is largely concentrated in the Natal province. Zulu means people of heaven,
The Zulu language is rich and expressive, very often punctuated with distinctive click sounds.
Zulu. Chief Gastha Buthelezi is the political leader of the Zulu, and the head of the Inkatha Freedom Party.
Xhosa
The name Xhosa refers to a specific tribal leader, called uXhosa, from whom the Xhosa clan descend. Xhosa and white settlers first encountered one another around 1700s.
Famous Xhosa speakers are:
Thabo Mbeki ( current president of South Africa)
Nelson Mandela
Steve Biko
Winnie Mandela
Political System
Apartheid: An Afrikaans word which essentially means segregation.It is a social policy or racial segregation involving political and economic and legal discrimination against people who are not Whites; the former official policy in South Africa
Historical Figures
Nelson Mandela
Steve Biko
Winnie Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela’s political campaign and his 28years imprisonment was due to his opposition to the apartheid system. He was released after 28 years in prison to become the first black president of South Africa in 1994
Thabo Mbeki
He is the leader of the African National congress (ANC) and the current president of South Africa. He faces major challenges including HIV/AIDS and Zimbabwe’s land reform programs
Who was Steve Biko?
The Middle Tier countries of southern Africa
Five countries constitute the middle tier of southern Africa namely;
Zimbabwe
Namibia
Botswana
Lesotho
Swaziland
Botswana
Occupies the heart of the heart of the Kalahari desert. Population: 1.6 million. In 1994 Itbecame the most severely AIDS-infested country in tropical Africa
Lesotho and Swaziland
These are both traditional kingdoms. Their economy is dependent on remittances from their workers in South Africa
Zimbabwe
Population 12.5 million. It is also a landlocked country. It the world’s leading source of copper, asbestos and chromium. Harare is the capital city. Tiny white minority of white control the best farmlands in the country. President Mugabe’s land reform program has generated worldwide attention
Namibia
It is southern Africa’s youngest independent state. Population 1.9 million. It was a colony of Germany. It was administered by south Africa from 1919 to 1990. Mining and ranching are the major commercial activities. Windhoek is the capital
The Northern Tier countries
Four countries form the northern Tiers
Angola
Zambia
Malawi
Mocambique
Angola
Angola pumps almost a million barrels a day; the United States imports more oil from Angola than from Kuwait. ChevronTexaco, dominates the Angolan oil industry.70% of Angolans live in poverty.Average life expectancy is only forty years. Colonized by the Portuguese. Internal conflict devastated the country with landmines that continue to kill and maim
EAST AFRICA
Five countries form East Africa
Kenya
Tanzania
Uganda
Rwanda
Burundi
Physical and social Geography
Lake Albert, Edwards, Kivu and Tanganyika marks the western borders of East Africa. The region is mountanous. The Bantu people are the majority.The Nilotic people are also found in east Africa
The Nilotic people
They include, Dinka Massai, Turkana, and Tutsi and many others. Today, Nilotic peoples are found in Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Egypt, Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Kenya
Kenya is the dominant country in East Africa. Nairobi is the largest city. An European settler population remains in the highlands, involved in farming and commerce. Mombassa-busiest port. Kenya is a capitalist country. Coffee and tea are the major exports.No major known mineral deposit. Swahili is the lingua Franca. Tourism is the major foreign exchange earner. The major tourist attraction include; Masai Mara:contains great concentrations of wildlife
Tanzania
Tanzania is the biggest and most populous east African country ( 39.2 million). Capital is Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has no core area. There are about 100 ethnic groups that coexist in Tanzania
1/3 of the population are Muslims. It adopted socialist concept of development after independence. It is the most politically stable country in east Africa
Uganda
The kingdom of Buganda, peopled by the Ganda was the most important African state in the region when the British colonialist arrived. The British used the Ganda to control the people
After Independence the Ganda supremacy was challenged when Idi Amin came into power.
He Africa’s most brutal dictator
Madagascar
Madagascar is the worlds fourth largest island. It was inhabited over 2000 years ago by people from Southeast Asia. The Ancient kingdom, Merina is still the most highly populated region
Malasay-dominant language spoken in modern day Madagascar. Population 17.6 million
There are about 20 ethnic groups. Merina ethnic group (4million), Betsimisaraka ethnic group ( 2million). French is the Official Language. Major problem: Deforestation associated with rapid population growth
Equatorial Africa
Its stretches across the equator which have resulted in two predominant economic activities: - agriculturalism and pastoralism. Major resources found in the area include;
Copper ( Congo)
Timber, Oil ( Gabon)
Gold and
Diamond
There are eight states of found in the region.
Congo ( formerly Zaire) is the largest in both territory and population. French is the predominant language in most states in the region except Sao Tome and Principe where Portuguese is the official language
The rest of the states are:
Gabon,
Cameroun
Sao Tome and Principe
Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Central Africa Republic
Chad
This is the most troubled and under developed region in the entire subsaharan Africa realm
Congo
Population is 58.7 million. Congo is one of the richest country in tropical Africa. Kinshasa is the capital. Katanga Province contains most of the regions mineral resources including copper and cobalt. Congo has all the minerals and mineral needed to develop the continent of Africa
West Africa
France and Britain dominated the colonial map of Africa. The Countries in French speaking West African countries are known as Franco Countries
Ghana
Formerly called the Gold Coast. The first colonial contacts-Portuguese. Later colonized by the British
Brief History
Ghana first sub-Saharan country to gain independence. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah- first president Ghana’s political system has gone through a long series of coups. Suspension of the constitution in 1981 and a ban on political parties. A new constitution, restoring multiparty politics, was approved in 1992
Politics
Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS, 1979, 1981 (coup) Won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. The current President is John Agyekum Kuffour
Basic statistics
Population 22.9 million. Population growth rate : 2.09%. Life expectancy: Total pop 58.87 yrs male: 58.07 years female: 59.69 years (2006 est.). Literacy rate: total population: 74.8% male: 82.7% female: 67.1% (2003 est.)
Administrative regions
Ghana is made up of 10 regions. 110 districts
Economy
Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major sources of foreign exchange. Subsistence agriculture accounts for 34% of GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders. Informal sector dominates the economy
Majpor foreign exchange eaner: Gold, Cocoa, Tourism. Ghana in 2002 opted Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) program.
People and Culture of Ghana
Ghanaians come from six main ethnic groups: the Akan (Ashanti and Fanti), the Ewe, the Ga-Adangbe, the Mole-Dagbani, the Guan, and the Gurma.
Ashanti
Ashanti TribeThe Ashanti -largest tribe in Ghana. One of the few Matrilineal societies in West Africa.
Languages in Ghana
Twi, Fante, Ga, Hausa, Dagomba, kasim, Ewe and Nzema. English is the official language of Ghana.
Religion
60% Christian, 15% Muslim, 25% traditional African religions
Ghana has the highest percentage of Christians in West Africa, but the belief in traditional animist religions is still extremely common
Recipe
Soups are the primary component in Ghanaian cuisine and are eaten with fufu (either pounded plantain and cassava or yam), Konkonte ( face the wall), Kenkey, Banku, Jolof Rice
Education
Ghana has 12,130 primary schools, 5,450 junior secondary schools, 503 senior secondary schools, 21 training colleges, 18 technical institutions, two diploma-awarding institutions and 5 universities serving a population of 17 million. Primary- and middle-school education is tuition-free. Students begin their 6-year primary education at age six. Educational reforms in 1987
University of Ghana. The University of Ghana, Legon was founded in 1948 as the University College of Gold Cost and became the University College of Ghana in 1957. Until 1961 degrees awarded were those of the University of London.
Tourist Attractions
The major tourist attraction include : Festivals, historical sites, eco-tourism and wildlife
Tourist attractions. The Cape coast castle was built as a lodge by the Dutch in 1630. Later captured by the Swedes and named Fort Carolusberg, before becoming a British possession in 1664. which was used as slave dungeons. Presently it serves as the Cape Coast Castle Museum.
Paga crocodile pond. The crocodiles are said to be totems for the people of Kassena, who reside in Paga and the surrounding communities. It is believed that each native of Paga has a corresponding crocodile representing each person's soul.
Urban centres
Accra is the capital city of Ghana. Population is 3.5 million. It is largely dominated by the Ga people
Kumasi
Kumasi is the capital city of the Ashanti region. Tradition is held very high in Kumasi and blends very well with modernity. Attractions in Kumasi. Eg. The Manhya palace
Currency
The currency Cedi. One cedi (¢) = 100 pesewas.
There are bank notes of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 an 20,000 cedis.
The exchange rate is about 1 USD = 9,200 cedis (February 2005)
Forex bureau or banks.
Major hotels, airlines and selected shops accept credit cards
Nigeria
Officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The most populous country in Africa. Current population :over 137,000,000. Colonized by the British. Became independent on 1st October 1960. It has 16 years of military rule. A new constitution was adopted in 1999. Had a peaceful transition to civilian government. At independent Nigeria composed of three regions based on regional tribal bases of the: Hausa-Fulani; Yoruba and Ibo. Christianity dominant in the southern state, Islam dominates the north, The Ibos dominates the eastern region
Politics
In 1967 civil war when the eastern region tried to succeed as Biafra. Regions were subdivided and rearranged to ensure a civil war did not occur again. Currently made up of 36 states Capital city moved from Lagos to Abuja since 1992
Current president Olusegun Obasanjo
Economy
Largely endowed with mineral resources such as oil discovered in the 1950s. Nigeria is also endowed with agriculture produce such as peanuts, palm oils cocoa and cotton. Major oil companies: Mobil, Chevron, Shell, Elf,
Land of Oil
Oil Problems
The trial and hanging of environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other members of the Ogoni ethnic minority made world-wide attention.
The African Transitional zone
Subsaharan Africa’s threshold to the world of Islam
The Horn of Africa
Ethiopia
Population 70million
1/3 of the population is Muslim
Eritrea
50% Muslim
Conflict with Ethiopia has devastated its economy
Djibouti
100% Muslim
Somalia
3-5 million of Somalians live permanently on the Ethiopian border
Film Review
Ghost of Rwanda
Film Discussion
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