HUMAN GEOGRAPHY OF AFRICABy African Regions

Northern Africa

• Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Egypt• Sahara Desert, Atlas Mountains, Nile River• Ethnic groups -Egyptians, Berbers, Bedouins

• Language – Arabic• Religion - Islam (Muslim)• Food – Grains, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Couscous

• Holidays – Islamic holidays – Muhammad’s birthday, Ramadan

• Art – wood carving, weaving, carpets• Economy – Oil, textiles, tourism

Pages 478-479, 486

Eastern Africa

•Ethiopia, Uganda, Somalia, Tanzania, Kenya

•Hundreds of Ethnic Groups•Language – Swahili •Challenges - Ethnic conflict, unemployment, drought, starvation

•Mostly farmers•Religion – Muslim in the north and more Christians in the south – caused conflicts

Pages 514, 515-521

Western Africa

• Hundreds of ethnic groups • Languages -French and English are common, Hundreds of others such as Fula and Hausa

• Religion – traditional religions, Animism, Sahel region – Islam, further south – Christians

• Clothing – mixture of Western style clothing and traditional robes

• Clothing - loose and flowing and lightweight due to climate

• Many men wear turbans• Homes – simple mud brick with straw or tin roofs• Food – grains, peanuts, millet, sorghum , fish• Economy – Nigeria - Oil

Pages 498, 499-505

Central Africa

• Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Angola, Zambia, Gabon

• Languages – mostly Bantu, many European languages common

• Ethnic groups – over 200• Religion – Many Christians, some traditional religions, some combinations of Christianity and Traditional

• Muslims in the Sahel region• Food – corn, rice, grains, fish. Rain forest = plantains, cassava

• Food – dish called Fufu• Arts - Makossa dance music, Soukous music• Carved masks, sculpture, and brightly colored robes

Pages 530-531, 532-537

Southern Africa

• South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar

• Many ethnic groups • Over 200 different languages based on Bantu• South Africa – 11 different official languages, English• South Africa – developed economy – tourism, wine, linens, diamonds

• Other countries - fishing, sheep ranching, mining• Religion – mostly Christian or traditional religions• Mozambique – one of the poorest countries, official language is Portuguese

• Madagascar – French and Malagasy languages• Madagascar – exports coffee, sugar, vanilla

Pages 548- 555