Module 8: Africa South of the Sahara GEOG 201:Introduction to World Regions Insert Class Date Here Lecture Overview This Module will examine the following topics: Introduction to the region Physical geography of the region Human geography of the region Geographic Diversity Subregions Contemporary Geographic Issues in the region 2 3 1
Introduction What Do We Know About Africa? Very Little And most of what people know is only partially correct or based on stereotypes Unfortunately media focus on Big Stories leads to an uninformed public Most Americans view Africa as a country and not a continent or a region of the world. Lack of Geography and History courses on Africa in High School and College compounds the problem. 4 Introduction Africa is a Continent of contrasts attributable to four factors: Size Second largest continent after Asia Geographical position Only continent divided by the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Thus Africa is Tropical with few exceptions (77% lies in the tropics) Long history of human occupation Story of humanity begins in Africa. Remains of our oldest ancestor was discovered in East Africa (almost 200,000 years ago) The beginnings of technology (stone tools) have been discovered in Africa Diversity Over 800 million people who speak over 2000 different languages 5 Introduction Cradle of civilization Good natural resources Minerals Water Wildlife World s poorest region Many challenges Political instability Disease Environmental degradation 6 2
Physical Geography Plateaus and Valleys Steep edged plateaus Rift valleys Rift lakes Volcanic peaks Wealth of mineral resources Oil and natural gas Nigeria, Angola Coal South Africa 7 Physical Geography Major Rivers Few good natural ports Lack deep ocean inlets Navigation interrupted by rapids and waterfalls 4 largest rivers: Niger Nile Congo Zambezi 8 Climates Almost all of region lies within the tropics Hot and rainy year round Equator Hot, arid deserts Sh Sahara, Namibia Hot, seasonal summer rainy Plateau uplands cooler, drier Temperate southern margin 9 3
Climates Wide range of crops possible: Rubber Cocoa Coffee Cotton Attractive for tourists Provide environments for many diseases Malaria 90% of deaths occur is this region Sleeping sickness River blindness 10 Vegetation and Soils Tropical rain forest Savanna grasslands Deserts Margins move The Sahel Desertification Shrinking Lake Chad D 4 2 1 3 11 Vegetation and Soils 1 2 3 4 12 12 4
Vegetation and Soils Deserts Margins move The Sahel Desertification Shrinking Lake Chad 13 Desertification 14 Human Geography Homo sapiens first emerged here Ethnic diversity Tribe basic social il/ /political l unit Animism Great Zimbabwe Kingdom Center of trading empire 1100 s 15 5
Human Geography Muslim influence after 600s AD Northern and Eastern Africa West African trade Salt Gold Ivory Slaves Timbuktu Center for commerce Center of learning Declined when West African coastal areas were accessible by ship Arab trade in East Africa Creole language Mixture of African, Indian, and Arabic languages 16 Human Geography Pre colonial Africa Subsistence economies (as in the Americas). Reliance on the extended family as the basic social unit: It was the unit that effectively owned land. Individuals did not technically own land but had access to land as part of the larger family unit. Land could not be sold. Was passed down through generations Under this system, no landed aristocracy developed. Women were the primary agriculturalists of Africa. Men did the hunting and gathering. 17 European Trade Arrived in 1400s Western and Southern Africa At first, limited to coastal trading Triangular trade Alcohol, guns, and sugar traded for slaves, gold, ivory Abolition movements 1800 s Affected slave trade Creation of Liberia 18 6
Colonialism European colonial objectives A port along the West African coast A water route to South Asia and Southeast Asia 1500 s: Looking for resources Slaves About 12 million Africans were taken to work elsewhere Americas and the Middle East 1850: Industrial revolution occurs in Europe Increased demand for mineral resources Need to expand agricultural production 19 Colonialism Berlin Conference (1884) 14 States divided up Africa without consideration of existing cultures Results of superimposed boundaries: Africanpeoples were divided Unified regions were ripped apart Hostile societies were thrown together Hinterlands were disrupted Migration routes were closed off Legacy of political fragmentation Impaired the cohesion of newly formed countries in the 1950s. A constant source of unrest and violence 20 Colonialism Colonial policies Great Britain: Indirect Rule (Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe). Indigenous power structures were left intact to some degree. Local rulers were made representatives of the crown. France: Assimilationist (Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, etc.), Enforced a direct rule which propagated the French culture through language, laws, education and dress (acculturation). Portugal: Exploitation (Guinea Bissau, Angola, Mozambique). First to enslave and colonize and one of the last to grant independence. Maintained rigid control; raw resource oriented. Belgium: Paternalistic (Rwanda, Zaire, Burundi). Treated Africans as though they where children who needed to be tutored in western ways; did not try to make them Belgian. Raw resource oriented; ignored the development of natives. 21 7
Colonialism 22 Political Independence South Africa 1910 1948 Apartheid passed into law Remained until 1994 Portuguese colonies last to go (1970s) Angola Mozambique Conflicts Chiefs vs. educated elites Rural vs. urban centers Centralization of political power Authoritarian rulers Military dictatorships Internal conflict sapped local and international confidence in economic development 23 Population Highest densities: Coastal areas Some inland areas Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda Johannesburg region Lowest densities: Deserts Northern and southwest edges 24 8
Population Two thirds population is rural Urban populations rising drastically Traditional subsistence farming Growth rates rose after independence Access to modern medicine Agricultural lproduction (2%) did not keep pace with ihpopulation growth (3%) Population grew from 380M (1980) to over 700M (2006) Expected to reach 1 billion by 2025 Green Revolution didn t affect this region Cultural barriers to family planning Impact of migration Region with largest % of people living outside country of birth Reasons? 25 Population Nigeria s age sex Pyramid Typical of most African Countries 26 Political and Economic Pressures Impact of the Cold War US and USSR vied for support / control of countries Delayed economic development Brought in large numbers of weapons Corrupt governments were supported Increased ethnic conflict Current problems Most countries in the region are global outsiders Can t attract new investment Heavy debt loads Internal conflicts Exports affected by global price swings Most economies are primary economies Little manufacturing or services Only South Africa has some economic diversity / more sophisticated manufacturing 27 9
Wealth Indicators 28 Wealth Indicators 29 Subregions 42 total Countries Central Africa Western Africa Eastern Africa Southern Africa 30 10
Central Africa Fewest people Lowest densities Difficult natural environment Dense tropical rainforest Transportation problems Congo R. Little intraregional cooperation Colonial development less extensive Isolated Internal conflict 31 Central Africa Democratic Republic of the Congo Largest country in region Area Population Enormous mineral wealth Cobalt Copper Hydroelectricity potential Formerly known as Zaire Mobutu Sese Seko 1965 1997 Kleptocratic government Kabila led rebellion 1998 2004 Civil War 4 million deaths Millions more displaced 32 Central Africa Rwanda Small, but very high population densities Landlocked Subsistence agriculture dominant Exports coffee and tea Few natural resources 33 11
Central Africa Rwanda Belgian colonizers created ethnic resentment Deposed majority Hutus in favor of minority Tutsis Issued ethnic identity cards At independence (1962), Hutus regained power General election Imposed quotas on Tutsis Many Tutsis left Rwanda 1990 Exiled Tutsis attacked from Uganda Cease fire resulted in Rwandese Patriotic Front (RFP) Representation in Rwanda Tutsi rebels accused of assassinating Rwandan President (Hutu) Sparked Tutsi Genocide 1 million killed in 100 days (Hutu and Tutsi) Millions more forced to flee to Zaire War ensued and RFP formed of exiled Tutsis won short war RPF in control today Main objective is to preserve peace Tight security, no press freedom, no freedom of association 34 Western Africa More globally connected than Central Africa Long coastline Rivers connecting interior Colonial influence Development based on mineral and forest resources Lumber, cocoa, palm oil Gold, diamonds, bauxite Continued links with France ECOWAS Peacekeeping Economic cooperation 35 Western Africa Nigeria 50% of sub region's population Tropical rainforest/savanna Series of bad governments Military dictatorships Ethnic & religious conflicts North Muslim South Christian/Traditionalist Sharia law implemented in Northern region Oil producing delta region Demands for revenue sharing 1999 Democratic elections Attempts to unite the country Attempts to reduce corruption 36 12
Western Africa Cote d Ivoire Ivoirian Miracle Cocoa, coffee, tropical fruits, timber, and palm oil exports 1960 Wealthiest part of West Africa Economic growth rate of 10% for 20 years By 1990 Recession Droughts Overcutting 2002 Civil War Huge debts Ethnic tensions Poorer northern Muslims vs. wealthier south 2007 Agreement Attempts to unite the country Integrate rebels Hold elections 37 Eastern Africa Plateaus and hills dominant Rift valleys A crossroads of trade Strong Arab influences Also European and South Asian influences East African Community (EAC) Kenya Tanzania Uganda Discussions of political union 38 Eastern Africa Ethiopia Only large African country not colonized Long line of strong emperors Haile Selassie (1930 1974) Murdered in Soviet backed military coup Various coups Devastating droughts 1994 multi party government Wars with Eritrea Made province of Ethiopia after WWII Conflict with Somalia Boundary issues 39 13
Eastern Africa Tanzania Low incomes Low population density Arab and Portuguese control of coast Later German and British control Julius Nyerere (1 st President) Concept of Ujamaa Failed socialist policies More open economic policies today Tourism industry (Serengeti) Large mineral deposits Gold Natural Gas 40 Southern Africa Arid and temperate climates Plateaus dominant Good farming areas Large mineral deposits Diamonds Gold SADC Initial focus: anti apartheid All countries in the region plus DRC and Tanzania 41 Southern Africa Republic of South Africa Produces 43% of region s wealth 7% of the population Transition from apartheid to majority black government Diversified economy Mining Manufacturing Services Emerging black middle class Problems Unemployment HIV/AIDS 42 14
Southern Africa Republic of South Africa Johannesburg 3 rd largest city in Africa Economic hub of this region Cape Town Most popular Tourist destination Southern Africa Botswana 70% land is desert Kalahari Stable democracy Small population Declining Economic growth Diamond mining Uses revenues to build infrastructure High HIV/AIDS infection rates Significant government spending on programs 44 Contemporary Geographic Issues HIV/AIDS Pandemic 10% of world s population has 60% of HIV/AIDS cases 2005 3 million new cases 2.5 million deaths Southern Africa has highest infection rates 45 15
Contemporary Geographic Issues HIV/AIDS Pandemic Causes of high rates in Africa Poverty Breakdown of traditional families Apartheid migrant labor system Bad government policies Cultural attitudes and beliefs Social limpacts Work force 50% of S. African miners are infected AIDS orphans millions 46 Contemporary Geographic Issues Exploding Cities Africa has highest rates of urban growth 2008 373 million urban 2030 759 million projected Cities with over 1 million people 1 in 1960 24 in 2003 43 in 2009 Urban attractions Urban realities Shantytowns Unemployment 47 Contemporary Geographic Issues Global Intrusions; Local Responses Global connections Provider of raw materials to wealthy countries Debtors and aid recipients World Bank and IMF influence Increasing Chinese investment Increasing use of cell phones Many countries still reliant on primary product exports Little to no manufacturing or services Growing tourism industry Largest part of economy for many countries in the region Local Trends Most people rely on local economy Low levels of consumer goods Zimbabwe reversal of global interaction 48 16
Contemporary Geographic Issues Culture Shock Poor record on human rights Low wages Violence Injustice Discrimination gender, race, religion Women s issues Multiple family roles Unequal access to education Female genital mutilation Traditional religious beliefs often conflict with western ideas Access to education is improving but few jobs are available 49 Contemporary Geographic Issues The Future? Areas in need of improvement: Better governance; conflict resolution Investment in human needs health, education Economic diversification Reduced aid dependence; stronger intra regional regional partnerships Internal Efforts: African Union (AU) NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa s Development) Eradicate poverty Sustainable growth Empowerment of women Regional trade groups 50 17