Glencoe World GeographyChapter 21:
The Cultural Geography of Africa South of the SaharaChapter Overviews
The countries that make up this region share a common past shaped by ancient civilizations,
European colonization, and the drive for independence. At the same time, the region
is incredibly diverse. More than 3,000 African ethnic groups reside in this region.
Other groups include Europeans, Asians, Arabs, and people of mixed backgrounds.
Population Patterns Africa south of the Sahara experiences both the
world's highest birth rate and its highest death rate. AIDS and other diseases,
along with famine and poor nutrition, threaten this population. Most people
live in densely populated areas along the coastal belt of West Africa, along
the Gulf of Guinea, and along the eastern coast of southern Africa. Fertile
soils, abundant water supplies, and mild climates help to support agriculture,
industry, and commerce in these areas. While the vast majority of Africans south
of the Sahara live in rural areas, the world's fastest rate of urbanization
occurs in this region. The promise of better economic opportunities, health
care, and public services causes many people to migrate from the countryside
to cities. History and Government Ancient civilizations developed powerful kingdoms
that dominated patterns of trade throughout the region. In northeast Africa,
the Kush kingdom and later the Axum empire thrived. On the West Coast of the
region, the empires of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai traded their abundant gold for
scarce salt resources from the Sahara. Europeans began colonizing this region
in the 1800s. Their boundaries cut across ethnic homelands; replaced traditional,
small-scale farming with plantations; and generally promoted European culture
over African ways. After gaining independence in the 1900s, the new countries
struggled to set up economies to meet their own needs. Ethnic and religious
rivalries continue to trouble the region. Cultures and Lifestyles More than 2,000 languages are spoken in Africa
today, including African dialects such as Swahili and Zulu. English and French
serve as a lingua franca. Most Africans in this region are either Christians
or Muslims or follow one of the many traditional religions. African traditions
often are transmitted through the arts. One art form flourishing today is textiles
with patterns that reflect distinct ethnic groups. Music, dance, and oral literature
also have strong traditions. |