1. AFRICA (sub-Sahara)

2. Background Culture and Religion Economic and Social Issues Politics and Government Africa Overview Africa Overview

3. The Chinese map, covering more than 17 square meters, was produced in silk, ~1389, more than 100 years before Western explorers and map- makers reached the continent.

5. African People BlackBlack WhiteWhite

6. Family Importance Family Importance Marriage and Procreation Marriage and Procreation Women Women Arts and Music Arts and Music African Culture

7. Family Importance Family Importance Most important social unit Most important social unit Identity is first based on the extended family, then the clan, and then the ethnic group Identity is first based on the extended family, then the clan, and then the ethnic group African Culture

8. Marriage and Procreation Marriage and Procreation Children represent the bond between their parent’s families Children represent the bond between their parent’s families Children are a source of pride and prestige Children are a source of pride and prestige Children are also valued as a source of labor when necessary Children are also valued as a source of labor when necessary

9. African Culture Women Women Perform most domestic tasks; care for children, sick and elderly, collect firewood and water, grow/harvest food Perform most domestic tasks; care for children, sick and elderly, collect firewood and water, grow/harvest food Traditionally limited access to education and subservient to men by custom or law Traditionally limited access to education and subservient to men by custom or law Status is improving in most communities Status is improving in most communities

10. Arts and Music Arts and Music Originally created to record historical events or for religious purposes Originally created to record historical events or for religious purposes African music has influenced almost all music of the world African music has influenced almost all music of the world African Culture

12. African Religions ChristianityChristianity IslamIslam Traditional BeliefsTraditional Beliefs

13. According to Professor John Mbiti, a leading expert on African religions, many African religions share the following concept of God. These concepts are quite similar to the way God is viewed in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, the three main monotheistic religions. God is creator of all things. God sustains creation God provides for and protects creation God rules over the universe God is all powerful (omnipotent) God is all-knowing (omniscient-knows everything that happens in the world) God is viewed as parent (sometimes as a father and sometimes as a mother) God supports justice Human-beings cannot directly know God. Given these similarities it should not be surprising that Africans from all over the continent often accepted the introduction of Islam and Christianity into their communities.

14. Economics Africa is a continent with vast potential wealth in terms of its people and its natural resources, but Africa is the most underdeveloped region of the worldAfrica is a continent with vast potential wealth in terms of its people and its natural resources, but Africa is the most underdeveloped region of the world

15. Economics Many traditional jobsMany traditional jobs Fishing, herding, hunting, gatheringFishing, herding, hunting, gathering

16. Economics Large city migrationLarge city migration

17. Economics High unemploymentHigh unemployment 1/2 of Africans live on < $1 Per day1/2 of Africans live on < $1 Per day

18. Environment The continent has serious environmental problems such as deforestation and desertification, which is rapidly expanding on a continent that already has substantial desertsThe continent has serious environmental problems such as deforestation and desertification, which is rapidly expanding on a continent that already has substantial deserts It results from poor land management: productive land that was over cultivated, overgrazed, clear-cut or over irrigatedIt results from poor land management: productive land that was over cultivated, overgrazed, clear-cut or over irrigated Drought also contributes to the problemDrought also contributes to the problem

19. Economics

20. ECONOMICS DEFORESTATION –500 million hectares, 30% of world’s tropical forests –15.4 million hectares lost per year worldwide; 0.8 annual rate 6 million acres (lost per year) 2.7 million acres (Tennessee) 60% for agriculture Slash and burn –90% of African population use firewood for cooking; 50% of all energy DESERTIFICATION –43% extreme desert –46% impacted –11% humid Greatest impact along existing deserts Sahara desert moving south ~30 miles per year Sahel is a name given to this area just south of Sahara desert –Home to some of poorest people on earth *hectare = ~2.5 acres

22. Khotso, Pula, Nala! (Peace, Rain, Prosperity!) Basotho Greeting Rainfall records from the early 1900s to mid-1980s show that Africa's average annual rainfall has decreased since 1968. <4 inches 4-8 8-16 16-24 24-40 40-80 80-120 >120 Tennessee ~55 in

23. (grassland)

24. Environment Oil extraction in a number of African countries pollutes the African environment International corporations contract with African countries allowing them to transfer toxic waste to Africa Commercial mining also disfigures the African landscape Ore and other minerals are extracted, often leaving contaminated and unusable land

25. Health Critical Health Problems Critical Health Problems

26. HIV/AIDS Africa has 12% of the world population, but in 1999, had 70% of the world’s HIV/AIDS cases 3.2M new cases (2007) 2.4M deaths 25.8M victims 47 vs. 62 years life expectancy Some of the hardest hit regions from HIV/AIDS have or will soon have life expectancies of < 30yrs

27. Poverty Unsanitary Conditions ¼ population undernourished Lack of funding for preventative health care and medicine

28. War Immense amounts of money are spent to conduct war Every $1 spent for war is $1 not spent on health and infrastructure

29. Politics and Government In the 1950s, and throughout the ’60s and ’70s, the African struggle for independence and democracy intensified By the end of the 20th century, Africa had become 53 independent countries

32. Politics and Government Why has it been so difficult for many African countries to achieve political stability? Impact from the European slave trade Legacy of the colonial period Colonial rule was authoritarian Problems with boundaries Little preparation for independence Poverty (lack of exports) Corruption, often backed by the military Many countries warring with their neighbors and among themselves

33. World Affairs Africa is of strategic importance to the rest of the world for several reasons It sits squarely in the middle of three of the most important trade routes – the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. Vast energy resources and most of the minerals essential for industrial development. 1/3 of all votes within the General Assembly of the United Nations

34. World Affairs Africa is also important for economic reasons Europe-Asia Africa also has many close ties to the U.S.. 13 percent of U.S. population is of African descent

35. Africa is now seeking assistance from the rest of the developed world in three critical areas: First, debt forgiveness to remove a major constraint on Africa’s economic development Second, aid, such as loans and technical assistance, to deal with problems related to education, health, and the environment Third, increased foreign direct investment and trade to fund infrastructure and industry World Affairs

36. Background Culture and Religion Economic and Social Issues Politics and Government Africa Summary Africa Summary

37. Africa Questions