Africa

Africa South
South of
of the
the Sahara
Sahara
Background Factors
Africa south of Sahara was cradle of human species
poorest of the nine major world regions with 10% of
worlds population but only 1 % of GDP
least integrated into world economic system
economically falling farther behind rest of world
diverse ethnic identification based on tribal loyalties,
culture, language, etc.
tribal identifications do not always coincide with
state boundaries
 tribal loyalties today often stronger than loyalty to
ones country
conflicts between tribal customs and and new ways of
life based on education, exposure to media, and
urbanization
in medieval times, Muslim traders penetrated Sahara
desert and brought Islam to northern tier of countries
Muslim push displaced indigenous tribes, causing
them to move to the south
slave trade begun by Arabs and supplemented by
Europeans looking for plantation labor for new world
11-12 million Africans kidnapped as slaves to work
in New World; most died in transit
 Christian influence in Africa, particularly Coptic
Church in Ethiopia from first century AD
Roman Catholic priests came with Portuguese,
Spanish, French and Belgian traders, built schools
and hospitals, and provided education
Importance of the Treaty of Berlin 1884 which
divided Africa up among the European powers.
All boundaries were artificial creations
Peoples divided, unified regions ripped apart, hostile
populations thrown together
Colonialism had a single major objective which was
exploitation of these countries
 Differences in political rule apparent
British and French encouraged Europeans to settle
permanently, made investments in roads, railroads,
civil service, hospitals, schools
British ruled indirectly leaving indigenous power
structures in place
French tried to culturally assimilate elites into
French culture
Belgians and Portuguese exploited their colonies
and provided few investments, no preparation for
independence, unenlightened rulers
future of many African states dependent on
reconciling tribal, ethnic, and religious differences
 African Population Problems
640 million people in Africa
45% of Africans live in poverty
rate of population growth high 2 -3% / year
African is most rural region of the world with
65-85% of people living in rural areas
worlds youngest population with 50% under
15 years of age
Population increases faster than increases in
food production
 Impact of AIDS in Africa
70% of all HIV/AIDS cases in Africa
Southern Africa particularly hard hit with 20-30 of

population infected by AIDS

Botswana and Zimbabwe have 1/3 of adults infected

by AIDS
largest number of cases in South Africa

Number of new cases declining

Infection particularly high among educated strata of

society- professionals, teachers, civil servants,

truckers, merchants
Fighting AIDS role of health education and

availability of drugs
HIV AIDS in Africa
 Natural Environment
most of Africa is a series of plateaus of varying
elevations plateau continent punctuated by several
large basins, i.e. Djouf Basin, Chad Basin, Sudan
Basin, Zaire Basin, and Kalahari Basin
river systems traverse many of these plateaus
major rivers include: Niger River (Nigeria); Congo
or Zaire River(Democratic Rep of Congo);
Zambezi River (Mozambique); Nile River (Sudan
and Egypt); Limpopo (South Africa/Mozambique/
Botswana) and Orange (South Africa)
 lowland plains around coasts
mountainous areas found in (1) Ethiopia; (2) East
African lakes; (3) eastern and southern parts of
South Africa.
highest mountains near Lake Victoria, i.e.
Kilimanjaro (19K) and Kirinyaga (Mt.. Kenya)
(17K)
Great Rift Valley from Mozambique to Red Sea
African rivers rise in the interior uplands and
descend to the sea abruptly.
rapids block inland water travel but provide good
potential for hydroelectric
 Tropical Climates
most of region lies within low latitudes and has a
tropical climate
continent bisected by the equator
types of climate include:
tropical rain forest
near equator
from Gulf of Guinea to highlands of East Africa
includes southern Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, south
Cameroon, and north Congo basin
tropical savanna
extensive areas of Africa with wet and dry season
dry forest or scrub intermixed with tall grasses
 steppe and desert
southern border of Sahara known as Sahel was once steppe, but
Sahara is creeping southward. Multi-year drought in 70s
desertification is problem for region
Mediterranean climate
northwest African and southwestern tip near Cape Town
rainy winters and dry summers
humid subtropical
high interior grasslands of South Africa also known as High
Veld
well marked dry season
found in Natal province in South Africa
Africa: Vegetation Map
Africa: Rainfall
 Water Resources
total precipitation large but poorly distributed
wide fluctuations in rainfall in many parts of Africa
need for more control over water, i.e. irrigation
projects, converting marshes and swamps to rice
fields or other productive uses, development of dams
to control floods, provide hydroelectric power
most villagers (women) carry water by hand from
streams or shallow wells
 Problems of African Development
considerable variety of environments and potential
wealth
drought a persistent problem in most states
great poverty of most countries with low GNP rates,
high infant mortality, high rates of disease
lack of education hampers development
high percentage of rural dwellers
relatively unproductive agriculture
per capital food output has declined or remained
stationary since independence
 economies underindustrialized and dependent on few
primary products
heavy debts to foreign lenders
authoritarian governments the rule rather than the
exception
serious political instability in many countries
poor transportation is a bottleneck to development
 Regions
West Africa
countries of western coast and Sahara margin from
Senegal and Mauritania to Nigeria and Niger
includes Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad,

Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone,

Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria
Equatorial Africa
central Africa focusing on Democratic Republic of
Congo, Congo, Gabon, Cameroons, Central African
Republic, southern part of Chad and Sudan
 East Africa
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and
Highland Ethiopia
Southern Africa
extends from southern border of Tanzania and
Democratic Republic of Congo to Cape of Good Hope
includes Angola, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe,

Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland and

Lesotho
 West Africa
West Africa has more links with world economy
long coastline led to penetration by Europeans in
search of slaves, gold, and ivory
plantations established by British and French to
produce cocoa and palm oil
more educated civil service, more economically
advanced at time of independence
Nigeria largest and most populous country with 100
million people
very high birth rates with death rates falling
 most large cities began as colonial ports, i.e. Lagos,
Nigeria (3 mil); Abidjan, Ivory Coast (3 mil);
Dakar, Senegal (2 mil); Accra, Ghana (2 mil);
Freetown, Sierre Leone (.8 mil);
Monrovia, Liberia (.5 mil); Ouagadougou,
Burkina Faso (.5 mil)
Britain, France, and Germany raced each other to
colonize Africa in 19th C
English and French remain the official and
commercial languages of many former colonies
agriculture remains source of employment for
50%-80% of the people
 major producer of palm oil, cacao, rubber, tropical
fruits, rice and coffee
Liberia became major producer of rubber
following establishment of plantations by
Firestone Rubber Co. in 1920s; Ivory Coast also
a major rubber producer
Nigeria a major oil producer with 90% of exports
based on petroleum
oil income in Nigeria used to built major
infrastructure projects, neglect of agriculture with
the result that living standards in Nigeria now
lower than before oil boom
 limited manufacturing in West Africa
mainly import substitution products like soft
drinks, household products, and processing of
agricultural products
production of pagne cloth (brightly colored
cloth used to make womens dresses) in Ivory
Coast is a growth industry
high government employment in most West
African states
political leadership problems in most West African
states with one party states or military rulers
 Nigeria
Background
most populous country in Africa with 127 million
brought under British rule in 1906 (Britain followed policy

of indirect rule in Nigeria)

independence in 1960 with democratic system

250 different ethnic groups in Nigeria with largest being

Hausa-Faulani in north with 75%; Yorba in the southwest,

and Ibo in southeast
tension between major ethnic groups led to bloody civil war

in 1965; Biafrian independence sought

military rule off and on since 1969; human rights abuses

English the official language; Hausa used in trade

Nigeria
 Regions
coast composed of mangrove swamps, lagoons, and
shallow rivers
Niger delta spreads 60 miles inland

forested belt rises to Jos Plateau

savanna in interior which becomes an arid desert in north

Climate
equatorial maritime climate along coast with high humidity
and heavy rain
north has dry conditions, dusty winds from Sahara

Religion
50% Muslim especially in north
34% Christian (Catholic, Methodist, Anglican)
 economy
predominately agricultural country producing its own
food (sorghum, millet, maize, rice, yams) and
exporting cacao, palm oil, beans, and rubber
90% of exports by value consist of oil

Nigerian oil of low sulfur, high quality, high demand

country too heavily dependent on oil revenue, low

demand for oil in 90s hurt economy

largest deposits of natural gas in Africa
 political problems
restructuring of Nigerian federation several times since
1964.
fragmentation of the political system, lack of trust among

ethnic groups
military has dominated politics for 25 years, lost its

perspective, too corrupt

civilians not organized sufficiently to challenge military

rule
presidential elections in 1993 nullified by the military,

promised reform not delivered

threat of fundamentalist Islam in north

recent elections in 1999 reestablished democratic rule

 Equatorial Africa
heart of Africa with equatorial climate, dense rain
forest, isolated from world
some of poorest countries in Africa but with
potentially large natural resources
Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly known
as Zaire) largest country in equatorial Africa with
40% of land area and 50% of people of region
Burundi, Rwanda, Chad, and Central African
Republic are landlocked, produce few commercial
goods, and have difficulty communicating with
outside world
Equatorial Africa
 large rural populations with some urbanization
due more to civil strife than search for jobs
largest urban areas former colonial trading centers
like Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo ( 4
mil); Yaounde, Cameroon (1 mil); N'djamena,
Chad ( .2 mil); Brazzaville, Congo (.8 mil);
Libreville, Gabon (.3 mil)
rapid population growth of region with
population growth outstripping economic growth
and food production
tensions between Tutsi and Hutus in Rwanda
and Burundi at independence in 1962
 majority Hutus took control in Rwanda, but
minority Tutsis in charge in Burundi
death of presidents in both countries in air crash set
off tribal war as Hutus massacred Tutsis, and Tutsis
responded with armed rebellion
2.5 million people either killed or fled to
Democratic Republic of Congo in conflicts
tensions between Muslim northerners in Chad
backed by Libya and Christian southerners erupted
in open warfare in 1980s
civil war in Democratic Republic of Congo led to
ouster of Joseph Mobutu and replacement by
Laurent Kabila
 most people are subsistence farmers who grow root
crops, fruits, vegetables
cattle farming restricted by tsetse fly
timber production of mahogany and ebony wood
from Cameron and Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo one of worlds
largest producer of copper
Democratic Republic of Congo also mines
diamonds, cobalt and produces some oil
Gabon possesses large unexploited iron ore deposits
hydroelectric potential of Zaire Basin needed for
further economic development of region
 East Africa
landscapes of high plateaus cut by rift valleys
less water resources than other African areas and
fewer mineral resources
Ethiopia only African country south of Sahara
never colonized
most inland areas not developed with few links to
coastal area
countries among the poorest in Africa
Ethiopia ruled by monarchy established in 2 AD
until communist revolution in 1974; communists
overthrown in 1991
 Ethiopias troubled history, rebel groups
Eritrea gained independence in 1993 after a 30 yrs
war with Ethiopia
Ugandas prosperity destroyed by civil war in 60s
followed by harsh dictatorship under Idi Amin
Kenya and Tanzania fortunate to have avoided civil
strife but have had to deal with refugees from
Rwanda and Burundi
rapid population growth with high birth rates and
low death rates
most countries predominantly rural with 25% of
people living in cities
 main cities of East Africa are: Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia (2.5 mil); Nairobi, Kenya (2.5 mil);
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (1.2 mil); Kampala,
Uganda (.5); Mombasa, Kenya (.7 mil)
rural to urban migration growing fast
cultural divide between northern Ethiopians who
claim ancestry from King Solomon and Queen of
Sheba who converted to Coptic Christian Church
and Muslim peoples who established coastal
settlements in Eritrea, Djibouti, and Somalia and
became part of Ottoman Empire in 16th C
 Britain involved in slave trade run out of Zanzibar by
sultans of Oman and Muscat
in 1886 Britain annexed Kenya and Uganda and built
railroad from Mombasa to Lake Victoria. British
settlers encouraged to move to Kenyan highlands
Germans settled in East Africa to engage in tea and
coffee production but lost Tanganyika to British after
WW I.
most East African countries rely on agriculture, earn
foreign exchange by agricultural exports
coffee constitutes 90% of Ethiopian exports
coffee, tea, and tobacco constitute 90% of Ugandas
exports
 coffee, tea, sisal , cotton, cashews, and cloves are
Tanzanias major exports
price fluctuations can hurt earnings
cattle herding important in East Africa
famines in Ethiopia and Somalia in 1983-85 led to
500,000 millions deaths by starvation
Tanzanian approach to development emphasizes
African socialism or communal farming. Less social
stratification but low productivity
Kenya has made most economic progress of East
African countries with some manufacturing, and
center of UN activities
 tourist industry important in Kenya and Tanzania
to observe the largest herds of wild animals in the
world.
migration of animals from Ngorongoro National
Park and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to
the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya
growth of hotel and transportation industries to
support this activity
Tanzanian government has resisted efforts to build
large luxury hotels to serve tourists; tourism
smaller in Tanzania as a result
 Southern Africa
greatest potential of all African regions
largest amount of rail traffic in Africa
prospects of region tied to economic progress of
South Africa
South Africa has 1/3 of southern Africas population
but produced 75% of its GDP
South Africa is the engine of economic growth in
region
export of minerals, farm products, and
manufactured products from South Africa is great
and its economy is linked to rest of the world
Southern Africa
 Botswana, Malawi, and Zambia were hostile to
apartheid policies (racial separation) of South
Africa but maintained economic relations with RSA
Lesotho and Swaziland were encircled by RSA so
had to maintain political relations with them
Namibia under occupation of RSA, fought a civil
war with SWAPO until the UN brokered a deal that
led to independence for Namibia in 1990 and
removal of Cuban troops from Angola in 1988
South African Development Coordination
Conference (SADCC) was collection of southern
African states opposed to apartheid that tried to
promote economic development among them
 South Africa now a welcomed partner of this group
environment of South Africa different from that of
other African countries
RSA has warm mid latitude conditions with winter
rains in the Cape and summer rains on southeastern
coasts. Attractive environment for Europeans
natural vegetation is desert and savanna grasslands
giving way to forests in higher elevations
population of southern Africa expanding rapidly
South Africa is only state with a sizable non-Black
population (75% Black; 13% white; 4% Asian; and
8% mixed races)
 largest cities of region include: Cape Town, RSA (3
mil); Johannesburg, RSA (2 mil); Durban and
Pretoria, RSA (1.5 mil each); Port Elizabeth, RSA
(.8 mil); Maputo, Mozambique (2.5 mil) Luanda,
Angola (2.5 mil); Harare, Zimbabwe (1.5 mil);
Lusaka, Zambia .7 mil)
unique history of South Africa
Dutch settlers arrived in Cape Town in 1652 and displaced
indigenous African peoples (White tribe of Africa
separation from Netherlands led to distinctive culture

(Boers) and language (Afrikaans)

British purchased Cape colonial from Dutch in 1814,

demanded use of English, end to slavery, and protection for

natives
 Boers undertook the Great Trek northward to territory
near Orange and Vaal River valleys. Established Orange
Free State and Transvaal.
Displacement of more native peoples north of Limpopo R

Boers declared South Africa a Republic

discovery of gold and diamonds discovered in Transvaal

in 1860s and threat of Germans in South West Africa led

to Boer War
UK established Union of South Africa as self-governing

dominion in British Empire linking Cape, Natal, Orange

Free State and Transvaal in new political system
Afrikaans-speaking politicians established the National

Party and promoted apartheid (separation of the races)

with onerous racial legislation by 1948
 African National Congress (ANC) under Nelson
Mandela campaigned for freedom and equality for
blacks
when democratic means of influencing the apartheid

government fail, they turned to guerrilla war

Nelson Mandala jailed for 30 years on Robben Is

peaceful political protests led to brutal repression and

deaths of prominent leaders like Steve Biko in 1977

diplomatic isolation of South Africa, economic sanctions,

and domestic pressure led Nationalist Party leaders to

the conclusion that South Africa must adapt or die.
free elections in 1994 led to first Black majority

government under the leadership of President Nelson

Mandela
 Nelson Mandela
President of the Republic of South Africa
 Steve Biko
Black political activist in the 60
Murdered in jail by the RSA Security Forces
 Mozambique and Angola devastated by slave trade
through 19th C
Portugal was one of least enlightened colonial rulers
who provided few opportunities for schooling or
social services
mineral resources in Angola and plantation crops in
Mozambique provided motivation for colonial
policy of Portuguese
bloody civil war in 1970s led to independence for
both countries
mining dominates economies of Angola, Botswana,
Namibia, Zambia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe
 RSA is world top producer of platinum used for
aerospace and catalytic converters
RSA is major producer of goal and diamonds in
Witswaterand
RSA produces a host of exotic minerals like
chromium, manganese, vanadium used in specialty
steels
Namibia is major producer of uranium, diamonds,
zinc, copper
Zambian copper mines suffering from inefficiencies,
lack of investment, inability to compete with more
efficient producers like Chile
 tourism is growing industry in South Africa,
Zambia, and Zimbabwe with Victoria Falls a
major attraction
national parks in Zambia attract many tourists
eager to see large animals