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Module 8: Africa South of the Sahara

GEOG201: Introduction to World Regions | Geography Program| Winthrop UniversityGEOG201: Introduction to World Regions | Geography Program| Winthrop University

GEOG 201:Introduction to World Regions

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This Module will examine the following topics:• Introduction to the region

Lecture Overview

Introduction to the region

• Physical geography of the region

• Human geography of the region

• Geographic Diversity – Subregions

• Contemporary Geographic Issues in the region

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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

GEOG201: Introduction to World Regions | Geography Program| Winthrop University

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.

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Introduction

• Africa is a Continent of contrasts attributable to four factors:– Size

• Second largest continent after Asia• 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)


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

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Introduction

• Cradle of civilization

G d t l• Good natural resources– Minerals

– Water

– Wildlife

• World’s poorest region


• Many challenges– Political instability

– Disease

– Environmental degradation

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Physical Geography

• Plateaus and Valleys– Steep‐edged plateaus

– Rift valleys

– Rift lakes

– Volcanic peaks

– Wealth of mineral resources• Oil and natural gas – Nigeria, Angola

C l S th Af i


• Coal – South Africa

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Physical Geography

• Major Rivers– Few good natural portsg p

• Lack deep ocean inlets

– Navigation interrupted by rapids and waterfalls

– 4 largest rivers:• Niger• Nile


• Congo• Zambezi

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Climates

• Almost all of region lies within the tropicswithin the tropics– Hot and rainy year‐round –Equator

– Hot, arid deserts – Sahara, Namibia

– Hot, seasonal summer rainy


– Plateau uplands – cooler, drier

– Temperate – southern margin

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Climates

• Wide range of crops possible:

Rubber– Rubber– Cocoa– Coffee– Cotton

• Attractive for tourists• Provide environments

for many diseases– Malaria


– Malaria• 90% of deaths occur is this region

– Sleeping sickness– River blindness

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Vegetation and Soils

• Tropical rain forestforest

• Savanna grasslands

• Deserts– Margins move– The Sahel

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3


– Desertification– Shrinking Lake Chad

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• Deserts– Margins move– The Sahel– Desertification– Shrinking Lake Chad


Desertification


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Human Geography

• Homo sapiens first emerged hereemerged here

• Ethnic diversity

• Tribe– basic social /political

unit

• Animism

G t Zi b b


• Great Zimbabwe Kingdom– Center of trading

empire

– 1100’s

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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 languages16

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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


• 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.

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European Trade

• Arrived in 1400s

– Western and Southern AfricaWestern and Southern Africa

• At first, limited to coastal trading– Triangular trade

– Alcohol, guns, and sugar traded for slaves, gold, ivory

• Abolition movements


Abolition movements– 1800’s

– Affected slave trade

– Creation of Liberia

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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

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Colonialism

• Berlin Conference (1884)– 14 States divided up Africa without consideration of existing– 14 States divided up Africa without consideration of existing cultures

– Results of superimposed boundaries:• African peoples were divided

• Unified regions were ripped apart

• Hostile societies were thrown together

• Hinterlands were disrupted


• 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 violence20

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Colonialism

• Colonial policies– Great Britain:

• “Indirect Rule” (Ghana Nigeria Kenya Zimbabwe)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).Fi t t l d l i d f th l t t t i d d


• 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.

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Colonialism


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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


– Rural vs. urban centers

• Centralization of political power– Authoritarian rulers– Military dictatorships

• Internal conflict sapped local and international confidence in economic development

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Population

• Highest densities:– Coastal areas– Some inland areas –Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda

– Johannesburg region

• Lowest densities:– Deserts


Deserts– Northern and southwest edges

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Population

• Two‐thirds population is rural– Urban populations rising drastically

di i l b i f i• Traditional subsistence farming• Growth rates rose after independence

– Access to modern medicine

• Agricultural production (2%) did not keep pace with population growth (3%)– Population grew from 380M (1980) to over 700M (2006)

• Expected to reach 1 billion by 2025


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?

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Population

• Nigeria’s age‐sex PyramidPyramid

• Typical of most African Countries


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Political and Economic Pressures

• Impact of the Cold War– US and USSR vied for support / control of countries

D l d i d l t– 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


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

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Wealth Indicators


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Wealth Indicators


Subregions

• 42 total CountriesC t l Af i– Central Africa

– Western Africa

– Eastern Africa

– Southern Africa


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Central Africa

• Fewest people• Lowest densitiesLowest densities• Difficult natural environment

– Dense tropical rainforest– Transportation problems ‐

Congo R.

• Little intraregional cooperation

l l d l l


• Colonial development less extensive– Isolated

• Internal conflict

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Central AfricaDemocratic Republic of the Congo• Largest country in region

– AreaPopulation– Population

• Enormous mineral wealth– Cobalt – Copper

• Hydroelectricity potential• Formerly known as Zaire• Mobutu Sese Seko

– 1965‐1997


– 1965‐1997 – Kleptocratic government

• Kabila‐led rebellion• 1998‐2004 Civil War

– 4 million deaths– Millions more displaced

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Central AfricaRwanda

• Small, but very high population densitiespopulation densities

• Landlocked

• Subsistence agriculture dominant

• Exports – coffee and tea


• Few natural resources

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Central AfricaRwanda• Belgian colonizers created ethnic resentment

– Deposed majority Hutus in favor of minority Tutsis– Issued ethnic identity cardsIssued 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


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

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Western Africa

• More globally connected than Central Africa

L tli– 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

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Western AfricaNigeria• 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


g

• Oil‐producing delta region– Demands for revenue sharing

• 1999 Democratic elections– Attempts to unite the country

– Attempts to reduce corruption

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Western AfricaCote d’Ivoire• “Ivoirian Miracle”

– Cocoa, coffee, tropical fruits, timber, and l il tpalm 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


• 2002 Civil War– Poorer northern Muslims vs. wealthier south

• 2007 Agreement – Attempts to unite the country

• Integrate rebels• Hold elections

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Eastern Africa

• Plateaus and hills dominant

• Rift valleysy

• A crossroads of trade

• Strong Arab influences

• Also European and South Asian influences

• East African Community (EAC)– Kenya

T i


– Tanzania

– Uganda• Discussions of political union

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Eastern AfricaEthiopia• 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

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Eastern Africa ‐ Tanzania

• Low incomes• Low population density• Arab and Portuguese control of

coast• Later German and British control• Julius Nyerere (1st President)

– Concept of Ujamaa– Failed socialist policies

M i li i


• More open economic policies today– Tourism industry (Serengeti)– Large mineral deposits

• Gold• Natural Gas

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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

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Southern Africa ‐Republic of South Africa

• Produces 43% of region’s wealth– 7% of the population7% of the population

• Transition from apartheid to majority black government

• Diversified economy– Mining

– Manufacturing

Services


– Services

• Emerging black middle class

• Problems– Unemployment

– HIV/AIDS

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• Johannesburg– 3rd largest city in Africa

Southern Africa ‐Republic of South Africa

g y– Economic hub of this region

• Cape Town– Most popular Tourist destination


Southern AfricaBotswana• 70% land is desert

– Kalahari

• Stable democracy

• Small population– Declining

• Economic growth– Diamond mining

– Uses revenues to build infrastructure


infrastructure

• High HIV/AIDS infection rates– Significant government

spending on programs

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Contemporary Geographic IssuesHIV/AIDS Pandemic• 10% of world’s population has 60% of HIV/AIDS cases• 2005

– 3 million new cases– 3 million new cases– 2.5 million deaths

• Southern Africa has highest infection rates


Contemporary Geographic IssuesHIV/AIDS Pandemic• Causes of high rates in Africa

– Poverty– Breakdown of traditional familiesBreakdown of traditional families– Apartheid – migrant labor system– Bad government policies– Cultural attitudes and beliefs

• Social impacts– Work force – 50% of S. African miners are

infected– AIDS orphans ‐millions


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Contemporary Geographic IssuesExploding 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


• Urban realities– Shantytowns– Unemployment

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Contemporary Geographic IssuesGlobal Intrusions; Local Responses• Global connections

– Provider of raw materials to wealthy countriesD bt d id i i t– 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

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Contemporary Geographic IssuesCulture 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

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Contemporary Geographic IssuesThe Future?• Areas in need of improvement:

– Better governance; conflict resolutiong ;– Investment in human needs – health, education– Economic diversification– Reduced aid dependence; stronger intra‐regional partnerships

• Internal Efforts:– African Union (AU)NEPAD (N P hi f Af i ’ D l )


– NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa’s Development)• Eradicate poverty• Sustainable growth• Empowerment of women

– Regional trade groups50

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