North, West, Central & South Africa

North Africa• One of the greatest cities of Ancient Africa

is known as Carthage. • It was a major trading and commercial force

in the ancient world for hundreds of years

North Africa• North Africa Includes Algeria, Egypt,

Libya, Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia.• The Nile River created plentiful land, water,

and gave rise to many great civilizations such as the Egyptians.

Egyptians • Pioneered the use of

geometry in farming to

Set boundaries after the

Nile’s annual flood• Egyptian medicine was

famous throughout the

ancient world• They made splints for broken

bones and effectively treat wounds and fevers

• Build pyramids to praise gods, and pharaohs of Egypt

North Africa & Islam

• North Africa has been invaded by many people such as the Greeks, Romans, & Turks

• Islam is the major religions in this region• Muslim invaders from Asia brought their

language, culture, and religion to North Africa

• By 750 BC armies controlled most of North Africa.

North Africa economies of Oil

• Oil makes up 99% of Libya’s exports• Libya and Algeria supply most of Europe

with its oil• Many oil companies are giving jobs to

foreign workers because people in North Africa are not properly trained

• Unemployment is high and many Africans have gone to Europe in search of other jobs

North Africa Markets and Music

• Combination of Arabic influences and traditional Africa ethnic groups

• Souks or marketplace is common in N. Africa

• Most souks are located in medina which is the older part of town

• Storytellers musicians and fortunetellers entertain the crowd as they shop

• People buy clothes spices and a variety of foods

• Rai is a type of music in Africa that was created in the 1920’s by the youth.

• People begin using this fast pace music to protest the colonization of their land by the French

• After independence from France the Algerian government tried to ban Rai

• Rai is now used as a form of rebellion

Women in North Africa• N. African households centered around

males• Few women hold jobs• Men and women eat and pray separately• Tunisia is now giving more rights to women

such as – Right to divorce– Hold a professional job

West Africa• Goree Island at one time served as one of the

busiest points for exporting slaves during the slave trade

• The island had a dark, damp

Building that housed captive Africans

• Europeans packed these

Captives onto slave ships bound

For the Americas

West Africa• The empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai

thrived in West Africa because of their location on trade routes across the Sahara.

• Ghana grew rich by taxing the traders that passed through their territory

• Traders came through exchanging gold and salt

• Most of the people in this area live in a stateless society which is where people rely on family lineages to govern themselves rather than and elected government.

West Africa• West Africa is mainly very poor• Ghana is the most developed country • Years of civil war has left the countries of

Sierra Leone and Liberia in shambles– 31 percent literacy rate– Few roads– Blood diamonds

Cultural symbols in West Africa• The Ashanti – live in Ghana. Known for

their work in weaving colorful cloth. They also make masks and carving wooden stools. An Ashanti tool symbolizes unity.

• West African music is a mix between traditional African music mixed with American jazz, blues, and reggae .

Central Africa• The Portuguese established a island off the coast of

central Africa as a base for their slave trade• King Leopold II of Belgium went into the interior of

Africa and the rainforest• Governments were put into power that were corrupt

and caused many political issues in Central Africa

Central Africa• Central Africa is still recovering from the effects of

colonialism– Loss of Resources– Disruption of political systems– Cultural and ethnic oppression of people

• Democratic republic of Congo is plagued by corrupt leader named Mobutu Sese Seko.

• He invested little in Congo’s infrastructure• Another leader took power in 1997, but this lead to more

violence.• Surrounding countries such as Zimbabwe, Chad, and

Uganda all had troops in Congo to fight for its territory. • Today Congo is still trying to establish a stable political

system

Central African Education

• Less than half of 16-20 year olds attend school

• Have a shortage of trained teachers• Central Africa’s 700 languages pose a

problem.• In most schools French is the main spoken

language. This can be a different language than what is spoken at home.

• Central Africa is beginning to offer college courses as well as vocational schools

School in Central Africa

Southern Africa• Zimbabwe is a thriving country of gold

trade • When the Europeans arrived in South

Africa they fought many other African tribes for control of the lands

• There is many tensions between White and Blacks in parts of southern Africa due to the colonization of British and Dutch People

• The policy of racial segregation known as apartheid was created in South Africa in 1948

Economy in South Africa • Apartheid hurt the economy of South Africa• Foreign countries imposed sanctions that

prevented their countries from conducting business with south Africa

• This led to poor educations of blacks and created two economies

• 1st economy has an upper middle class like that of the United States.

• 2nd economy is the poverty stricken rural areas along with poor shanty towns in the city

Southern Africa

• Botswana like other countries has serious agricultural problems and unequal distribution of wealth

• Botswana's wealth is based on minerals • 80% work as farmers. Other 20% grow

wealthy from diamond mines• Only produces 50% of the food to feed its

people, the rest most be imported

Celebrations in Southern Africa

• The Chewa people perform a dance called the gule wa mkulu

• The Tumbuka people perform the vimbuza a dance performed by healers who wish to cure people of sickness

• In Madagascar during the hira gasy festival, costumed groups of 25 or more people play music, perform dances, and act out stories. The themes are upbeat and praise the virtues of honest and respect for elders

Living in Southern Africa• Johannesburg started out as a mining town• Grew greatly due to gold reserves• Today it is a city with more than 6 million people• Apartheid has created a rich white northern suburb

and a poor black townships• Most southern Africans live a modern lifestyle as

doctors, lawyers and business people. • Many blacks still work in menial and unskilled

jobs• Some African tribes take on traditional roles as

famers and herders