Unit 6: Cultural Geography of Africa

2012 Population – about 1,000,000, Population – about 1,000,000,000 Arabic 145 million Arabic 145 million Yoruba 30 million Yoruba 30 million Oromo 30 million Oromo 30 million Hausa 30 million Hausa 30 million Berber 20 million Berber 20 million Other ethnic groups make up the balance Other ethnic groups make up the balance Accurate census figures are not available for most African countries Accurate census figures are not available for most African countries Population

Africa’s population has quadrupled since 1955 Africa’s population has quadrupled since 1955 A very small percentage of Africa’s population lives in urban areas A very small percentage of Africa’s population lives in urban areas Africa has few large metropolitan areas Africa has few large metropolitan areas African urban populations are growing at a very fast rate; urban slums are expanding rapidly African urban populations are growing at a very fast rate; urban slums are expanding rapidly

Africa is home to about 14% of the world’s population Africa is home to about 14% of the world’s population Over 80% of the world’s HIV-positive population lives in Africa; the vast majority live in Sub-Saharan Africa Over 80% of the world’s HIV-positive population lives in Africa; the vast majority live in Sub-Saharan Africa

Language Africans speak a wide variety of languages Africans speak a wide variety of languages Afro-Asiatic Afro-Asiatic Niger-Congo Niger-Congo Nilo-Saharan Nilo-Saharan Khoe-San Khoe-San Austronesian Austronesian Indo-European Indo-European

Some African countries have an official language, though they are not always the most common Some African countries have an official language, though they are not always the most common A few African languages and dialects include whistling, drumming and clicking A few African languages and dialects include whistling, drumming and clicking

Muslim 45% Muslim 45% Christian 40% Christian 40% Various indigenous less than 15% Various indigenous less than 15% Hindu, Jewish, Hindu, Jewish, no particular belief ~1% no particular belief ~1% Religion

Society Income Income Africa is the world’s poorest and most underdeveloped continent Africa is the world’s poorest and most underdeveloped continent Spread of deadly diseases Spread of deadly diseases High levels of illiteracy High levels of illiteracy Tribal and military conflicts Tribal and military conflicts Corrupt governments Corrupt governments Little access to foreign capital Little access to foreign capital ~50% of Sub-Saharan Africa lives in poverty ~50% of Sub-Saharan Africa lives in poverty Malnutrition is rampant Malnutrition is rampant

Global GDP

History World’s oldest human remains found in South Africa World’s oldest human remains found in South Africa Some of our planet’s earliest civilizations were along the Nile in present-day Egypt Some of our planet’s earliest civilizations were along the Nile in present-day Egypt Characteristics of early civilizations Characteristics of early civilizations Religion Religion Trade Trade Agriculture Agriculture Social hierarchy Social hierarchy Government Government

Early African kingdoms Early African kingdoms Egypt Egypt Kush Kush Aksum Aksum Mali Mali Ghana Ghana Songhai Songhai

Immigrants (colonists) Immigrants (colonists) Ancient Greece (c. 323 BC) Ancient Greece (c. 323 BC) Arabia (7 th Century AD) Arabia (7 th Century AD) Portugal (1400s) Portugal (1400s) Scramble for Africa (late 1800s) Scramble for Africa (late 1800s) Belgium Belgium Germany Germany Great Britain Great Britain Portugal Portugal Netherlands Netherlands Decolonization-post WWII Decolonization-post WWII

European Colonial Holdings in Africa, c.1914

Folklife Africa is rich in folk arts and crafts Africa is rich in folk arts and crafts African culture was popularized in the Western world during the 1960s African culture was popularized in the Western world during the 1960s African musical traditions contributed greatly to popular music of the US, world African musical traditions contributed greatly to popular music of the US, world Africa is world’s leading cassava, yam producer Africa is world’s leading cassava, yam producer Coffee and okra probably originated in Africa Coffee and okra probably originated in Africa

Economy National economies vary from free market to command economies National economies vary from free market to command economies Based on average per capita GDP, Africa is the poorest continent on Earth Based on average per capita GDP, Africa is the poorest continent on Earth Many Africans live subsistence lives Many Africans live subsistence lives

African economic resources include African economic resources include Agriculture Agriculture Mining Mining Petroleum production Petroleum production Manufacturing Manufacturing Africa is the least developed continent Africa is the least developed continent North Africa is much wealthier than Sub- Saharan Africa North Africa is much wealthier than Sub- Saharan Africa

Government Wide range of governments Wide range of governments Democracy Democracy Monarchy Monarchy Dictatorship Dictatorship Theocracy Theocracy Military influence in government is common Military influence in government is common

African Tidbits At 4,132 miles, the Nile is the world’s longest river At 4,132 miles, the Nile is the world’s longest river Africa’s highest elevation is Mt. Kilimanjaro Africa’s highest elevation is Mt. Kilimanjaro at 19,340 ft. at 19,340 ft. The Sahara is the world’s largest desert The Sahara is the world’s largest desert

Most African slaves who were sent to the Americas came from the west coast of Africa Most African slaves who were sent to the Americas came from the west coast of Africa Africa leads the world in the production of diamonds, platinum, and manganese Africa leads the world in the production of diamonds, platinum, and manganese