Chapter 14

Chapter 14Central and Western Africa

I. Foundations Jungles and savannas dominate the

landscape Equator runs through the center Rain comes in from the Atlantic Village is an important concept (pg. 353-

354) Initiation rites Chief Tribalism Animism Colonialism

II. Central Africa

Avg. temp of 80*F Disease- yellow fever,

malaria, sleeping sickness (pg. 356)

Congo River- great river of this region, drains into vast region

Congo Basin- covers 5 countries

Central African Republic Only landlocked country in Central Africa People are rural farmers 70% practice Animism- even Christians In the south, Ubangi River, most

populated area

Democratic Republic of the Congo

3rd largest country on African continent Very narrow outlet to the Atlantic 200 tribal units- struggle for unity and

stability Mobutu Sese Seko- authoritarian regime, gained

personal wealth, purged the country of all colonial influence. Ruled from 1965-1997

Republic of the Congo Sometimes referred to

as Congo-Brazzaville Used to be French, the

old French capital was at Brazzaville

50% Christian, 48% Animist, 2% Muslim

Subsistence agriculture is normal way of life, but only 1% arable land

Lower Guinea Coast Consists of 3 countries and an island

nation Gabon Equatorial Guinea Cameroon Sao Tome and Principe

•Size of Colorado•Had been French•Timber from the jungles is an important export•Majority of population is of the Bantu tribes•Most people are Christians

Gabon

Equatorial Guinea Includes several islands off

the coast Capital of Malabo is actually

on the island of Bioko Only African country

with Spanish as the official language

Oil boom in 1997 made the country rich, but a corrupt president controls the production and only his family and friends truly benefit

Cameroon

Has very odd shape, sliver of land extends 700 miles north to Lake Chad

Village of Debundscha- receives 400 inches of rainfall a year- one of the wettest places on earth

French is the official language

Sao Tome and Principe

150 miles off the coast of Gabon

Uninhabited until the Portuguese came in 1470.

70% Creole Volcanic islands

with good soil Work mainly

consists of farming or fishing

III. Western Africa

13 countries Many Muslims in the North, but

Christians and Animists are the majority in the South

This section: southern part of bulge- coastline of Gulf of Guinea

Sailors gave names based on types of trade Slave Coast, Ivory Coast, Gold Coast

Nigeria Most populous country in Africa- 131

million people English is the official language Rivers divide the nation– Niger and Benue Moved capital from Lagos to Abuja in 91 in

hopes of boosting development and creating national identity

Conflict is common btw Hausa Muslims and Christian Ibos

Slave coast- Cameroon to Ghana pg.367 Petroleum is most important natural resource

Benin

•One of the smallest and most densely populated•Once part of French West Africa•2/3 of the people practice voodoo•One of best transitions from dictatorship to democracy on the continent

Togo

•Only about 50 miles wide and 325 miles long•65% of population works in agriculture•Lome is the capital and only seaport•Native tribes make up 99% of the population– native beliefs are predominant•Transitioning from dictatorship to democracy

Ghana

•Extensive contact with Europeans•Abundance of gold earned the nickname the Gold Coast•Now named after ancient African empire•Chief export: cacao•Main river- Volta River, flows into Lake Volta – one of the largest man-made lakes in the world

Burkina Faso

•Only landlocked country of Western Africa•Unstable government since the sixties•Name means “Land of upright men”•Most men migrate to other countries for seasonal work

Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire)

•French sailors started trading with the natives for ivory in 1483, prompted the French name•Capital: Yamoussourkro•Relatively stable to surrounding countries, economic prosperity came with it•First military coup in 1999 and many rebels still control parts of the country•Leads the world in cacao production•Still close with the French, welcomes French businesses

Liberia

•One of two African nations never to be colonized by Europeans•First black republic in Africa and second in the world•Native tribes = 95%•Americo-Liberians (descendants of former slaves)= 2.5%•Major government overthrows in 1980, 1990- then Charles Taylor took over and made himself rich and bankrupted the country•In 2005, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected– first female president in Africa

Sierra Leone

•First to visit from Europe, Portuguese, named it Lion Mountains•In 1787, an Englishman established Sierra Leone as a settlement for freed slaves- Capital: Freetown•Descendants of slaves are mainly Christians and have higher education and prosperity than the majority Muslim native tribes•One of the leading producers of diamonds– control of this industry has resulted in fighting recently

Guinea

•Has great natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, gold, uranium and diamonds•85% of population is Muslim•Formerly French•Turned to Soviet Union when they became independent and have struggled since communism failed•Has been affected by struggles of neighboring countries as well

Read about Guineas pg. 375

Guinea Bissau

•Major center of Portuguese slave trade•Portugal did not give up the territory until 1974•Subsistence farming dominated- 82% of the work force•Oil and bauxite deposits go untouched

Gambia

•Africa’s smallest country•Only 20 miles wide on average and 200 miles long•About 2x the size of Delaware•Capital and only port: Banjul•Gambia was Britain’s first African territory•Had one president from 1970-1994, then overthrown by military dictator, numerous problems ever since

Senegal

•Capital: Dakar is the westernmost point of Africa•Much of it lies in the dry Sahel- transition zone between jungles and Sahara•94% Muslim•Greatest importance: provides link between Islamic North Africa to black south and west Africa•Many people are nomadic herders– cattle, sheep, goats•Belonged to France until 1960, experimented unsuccessfully with socialism for 20 yrs.

Cape Verde•Consist of 10 main islands and 5 islets•Combined area a little larger than Rhode Island•400 miles west of Senegal•Portuguese discovered the uninhabited islands in 1460 and settled them for the strategic location•One of last nations in Africa to gain independence•Must import food•Unemployment and poverty are main issues