During
the 1950’s,
Africa was a continent awakening to the prospects of Independence.
In the 1960’s, Africa was a continent in transition for during the decade 31 African countries South of the Sahara became independence, 17 of them in 1960 alone. Notable progress was school enrolment and some industrialization.
In the 1970’s, Africa was a continent in Limbo. Development proved difficult, and regional and ethnic conflicts became rampant. The cold war placed African countries between the USA and Russia. Increases in oil prices by OPEC in 1973 affected the economic development of the African countries. The 1970’s were also periods of Sahelian drought and famine.
During
the 1980’s,
it became clear that Africa was a continent in decline. Hunger and starvation
in Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia. Civil wars in Angola, Sudan, Mozambique and
Southern Africa.
In
the 1990’s,
Africa was a continent in Crisis. Economic stagnation continued to deteriorate.
Rapid spread of AIDS threatens families and general societies.
1. Africa is
attached to Asia at its northeast Sinai corner by an Isthmus (Suez Canal) 70
kms wide.
2. Africa is the
most centrally located of all the continents. The prime meridian (the Greenwich
meridian) 0o passes through the Atlas Mountains and cuts through the
coast of West Africa close to Accra, while the Equator (latitude 0 degrees)
also divides the continent into 2 equal parts North and South. Africa is yet to
take advantage of its Centralized location in the world.
3. Africa is the
most tropical of all continents. It is straddles the equator and incorporates
both the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn. The climate south of the equator
mirrors that of the north of the equator but the shape of the northern half of
Africa reduces any maritime influence
4. The landmass
nearest to Africa is Europe separated by the Mediterranean Sea only 9 miles
across the Straight of Gibraltar.
5. Africa is the
world's second largest continent after Asia.
6. It is the most
compact of all the continents in terms of shape and comprises the oldest rocks
pertaining to the Pre-Cambrian Era.
7. Africa is as
long as it is broad. It measures approximately 7,500 kms from South to North as
well as in its east-west extent.
8. Most of the
surface of Africa consists of the world’s oldest Pre-Cambrian rocks planed down
to an upland plateau.
9. Africa comprises
54 countries with a population of 654 million in 1992.
10. Sahara desert, (the largest expanse of
dry land in the world) is
over 10.4 million square kilometers
11. Evidence points to a common human ancestry
originating in
Africa from the emergence of a humanlike species in eastern
African some 5 million years ago. From Hadar, Ethiopia, the
3.18 million year-old remains of "Lucy" were unearthed in
1974. Resources for African Archeology:
(ArchNet-WWWArcheology)http://archnet.uconn.edu/regions/africa.php3
Sub-Saharan Africa Defined:
Sub-Saharan Africa is a region that excludes the mainly Islamic
countries of North Africa - Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya,
and Egypt - most of which border the Mediterranean Sea. Sub-Saharan Africa comprises 42 countries on
the mainland Africa and 8 island countries, namely; Madagascar, The Comoros,
Seychelles, Mauritius, and Reunion in the Indian Ocean, and Cape Verde, Sao
Thome, Principe, and St. Helena in the Atlantic Ocean
MAPS OF AFRICA.
1.
The Modern Political Map of Africa: The political
map (Figure 1.2, page 14) bears very little semblance to countries, kingdoms
and states that existed on the continent some 100 years ago. Boundaries of
countries were drawn arbitrary without regards to cultural affiliations between
the indigenous people. The colonial legacy has also resulted in the
fragmentation of the continent such that some countries are TOO SMALL to be
economically viable. (E.g. Gambia, Eritrea, Togo, Benin).
2.
Landlocked African Countries: The scramble
for and partitioning of Africa among European countries resulted in 15 of the
African states being landlocked without any access to the coast See Figure 1.3
page 17). These landlocked countries are amongst the World’s most poor and
underdeveloped countries.
3.
Postindependence Changes to the map of Africa: After independence, many African countries
have relocated their capitals and re-named their countries, lakes and other
features (Table 1.2, page 19).
4.
Continental & Regional Economic Groupings: The
Organization of African Unity (OAU) is an important political organization that
links all African countries except Spanish Sahara. Last month, June/July 2002,
the African leaders agreed to for a union of African Unity. The outstanding regional & economic
organizations are
a.
ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) which links 16
states b)
b.
SADC (Southern African Development Community) links 10 states
(Figure 1.7).
Other Significant Political
Organizations are:
c.
Mano River Union: linking Sierra Leone, Liberian and
Guinea
d.
Commonwealth of Nations – linking former British colonies
in Africa with Britain, Canada and Australia.
e.
La Francophone – linking former French and Belgian
territories in African with other French Speaking countries
f.
Formal Regional Divisions of Africa – North, South,
East, Central and West Africa (Figure 1.8).
5. RELIEF & DRAINAGE: (Figures 1.9). Africa has few folded mountains: Atlas Mountains in
Northwest Africa and Drakensberg mountains in the Southeast.
Highest mountains are of volcanic origin
o
Mt. Kilmanjaro-19,340 ft
(5895 m).
o
Mt.
Kenya 17,058 ft (5200 m).
o
Ethiopian
highlands - Ras Dashen is about 15,000ft (4,573 m).
West & Central Africa,
o
Mt. Cameroon (4070m)
o
Fouta Djalon highlands
o Atlas Mountains
o Drakensburg Mountains
A Y-shaped integrated Rift Valley system begins from
the Red Sea and extends through the Ethiopian highlands to the Lake Victoria.
Total length is 6,000 miles. Average width ranges between 20 - 50 miles.
Contains many lakes:
§
Lake Tangayika, 2133
feet below sea level
§
Lakes Malawi, Turkana,
Albert & Nyansa occupies the rift valley.
Some of the world's largest and longest rivers are
found in Africa.
o
River Nile (longest
river in the world)
o
Other Rivers: Zambezi,
Congo and the Niger
Many African rivers are interrupted by Rapids and
Falls. River Congo has 32 rapids & falls
5.
ISLANDS:
1. Madagascar, 2.
Zanzibar 3. Pemba, 4. Comoros, 5.
Mauritius;
6. Reunion 5. Seychelles
1. Cape Verde, 2. Fernando Po 3.
Principe
4. Sao Tome 5. Annobon