Difference between revisions of "Sub-Saharan Africa" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
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Rocks that solidified during the early cycles of eruptions on Earth are the greatest source of economically important metals, particularly gold and diamonds. The great age of sub-Saharan Africa's rocks has made the region well endowed with these these and other metals, including copper and chrome.
 
Rocks that solidified during the early cycles of eruptions on Earth are the greatest source of economically important metals, particularly gold and diamonds. The great age of sub-Saharan Africa's rocks has made the region well endowed with these these and other metals, including copper and chrome.
 
===Resources===
 
===Resources===
 +
Revenues from extractive industries are central to the political economy of many African countries and the region as a whole. In 2001, [[petroleum|oil]] production generated 20 percent of the combined GDP of sub-Saharan Africa. In 2002, [[mining]] constituted about 8 percent of the GDP of the Southern Africa Development Community and 43 percent of the region’s exports. Globally, Africa is becoming increasing important to world energy supplies. It is expected to contribute a fifth of the global increase in petroleum production between 2004 and 2010. Proven reserves have doubled in the last decade. The [[Atlantic Ocean]] off the coast of west and southern Africa continues to be one of the world’s most active areas for oil exploration. However, in many countries, the extractive industries have had a devastating impact, fueling conflict, corruption, and economic decline.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
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===Migration of Peoples===
 
===Migration of Peoples===
 
====The Bantu migration====
 
====The Bantu migration====
 +
It is generally accepted that the [[Bantu]]-speaking peoples originated from [[West Africa]] around four thousand years ago. In several major waves of migration and dispersal they moved east (at first north of the tropical [[rainforest]] to the northern region of [[East Africa]]) and then south, coming to occupy the central highlands of Africa in the third wave. From there a final southwards migration took place into the southern regions of Africa, which is measurable from around two thousand years ago. The final movement into the southern regions resulted in the displacement of the aboriginal [[Khoikoi]] and [[Khoisan peoples]], resulting in some ethnic and linguistic mixing. They utilized relatively advanced technologies for working with [[iron]] compared to the people they displaced.
 +
 
====The Zulu expansion====
 
====The Zulu expansion====
 +
During the 1700s, the [[slavery|slave]] and [[ivory]] trades were expanding in southern Africa. To resist these pressures, King Shaka formed the [[Zulu]] chiefdom. As a result, conquered tribes began to move north, into present-day [[Botswana]], [[Zambia]], and [[Zimbabwe]], in the process setting off reactions in these areas that had lasting ramifications.
 +
 +
In Botswana, for example, tribes began to exchange ivory and skins for guns with [[Europe]]an traders, who had begun to reach the interior. Missionaries sent from Europe also spread to the interior, often at the invitation of chiefs who wanted guns and knew that the presence of missionaries encouraged traders. In Zimbabwe, the Shona were conquered by the Ndebele, an offshoot of the Zulus who had split from Shaka and migrated north in response to the Zulu ''mfecane''. Tensions between the Shona and Ndebele persist to this day. The government of Robert Mugabe systematically killed between twenty and thirty thousand Ndebele people between 1982 and 1987 (according to Amnesty International estimates).
  
 
===Effects of Slavery===
 
===Effects of Slavery===
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== External links ==
 
== External links ==
 +
===Overviews===
 +
[[http://www.crimesofwar.org/africa-mag/afr_04_collier.html]] "Natural Resources and Conflict in Africa". Crimes of War Project. Retrieved October 28, 2007.
 +
[[http://www.publishwhatyoupay.org/english/pdf/statements/scuk_cfa_0704.pdf]]
  
 
====Political maps of Sub-Saharan Africa====
 
====Political maps of Sub-Saharan Africa====

Revision as of 20:48, 28 October 2007

A political map showing national divisions in relation to the ecological break (Sub-Saharan Africa in green)
A geographical map of Africa, showing the ecological break that defines the sub-Saharan area

Sub-Saharan Africa is the term used to describe the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara Desert. Geographically, the demarcation line is the southern edge of the Sahara Desert.

Since the end of the last ice age, the north and sub-Saharan regions of Africa have been separated by the extremely harsh climate of the sparsely populated Sahara, forming an effective barrier interrupted by only the Nile River. The regions are distinct culturally as well as geographically; the dark-skinned peoples south of the Sahara developed in relative isolation from the rest of the world compared to those living north of the Sahara, who were more influenced by Arab culture and Islam.

The modern term sub-Saharan corresponds with the standard representation of north as above and south as below. Tropical Africa and Equatorial Africa are alternative modern labels, used for the distinctive ecology of the region. If strictly applied, however, these terms would exclude South Africa, most of which lies outside the Tropics.

Geography

Africa is Earth's oldest and most stable landmass, with most of the continent having been where it is now for more than 550 million years. Most of it is a vast plateau, with only 10 percent of its land area below an altitude of 500 feet. Near the equator are humid rainforests, but north and south of that band, most of sub-Saharan Africa is savanna, grasslands with scattered trees. In the south, the Kalahari Desert stretches along the Atlantic coast.

Climate is influenced largely by distance from the equator and altitude. In the highlands, it can be temperate, even close to the equator. Rainy and dry seasons alternate, although precipitation is more consistent in the humid forests.

Geology

Rocks that solidified during the early cycles of eruptions on Earth are the greatest source of economically important metals, particularly gold and diamonds. The great age of sub-Saharan Africa's rocks has made the region well endowed with these these and other metals, including copper and chrome.

Resources

Revenues from extractive industries are central to the political economy of many African countries and the region as a whole. In 2001, oil production generated 20 percent of the combined GDP of sub-Saharan Africa. In 2002, mining constituted about 8 percent of the GDP of the Southern Africa Development Community and 43 percent of the region’s exports. Globally, Africa is becoming increasing important to world energy supplies. It is expected to contribute a fifth of the global increase in petroleum production between 2004 and 2010. Proven reserves have doubled in the last decade. The Atlantic Ocean off the coast of west and southern Africa continues to be one of the world’s most active areas for oil exploration. However, in many countries, the extractive industries have had a devastating impact, fueling conflict, corruption, and economic decline.

History

The early inhabitants of Africa lived in small groups and obtained food by foraging and fishing. About twenty thousand years ago, some peoples began a more settled existence and developed agriculture.

Migration of Peoples

The Bantu migration

It is generally accepted that the Bantu-speaking peoples originated from West Africa around four thousand years ago. In several major waves of migration and dispersal they moved east (at first north of the tropical rainforest to the northern region of East Africa) and then south, coming to occupy the central highlands of Africa in the third wave. From there a final southwards migration took place into the southern regions of Africa, which is measurable from around two thousand years ago. The final movement into the southern regions resulted in the displacement of the aboriginal Khoikoi and Khoisan peoples, resulting in some ethnic and linguistic mixing. They utilized relatively advanced technologies for working with iron compared to the people they displaced.

The Zulu expansion

During the 1700s, the slave and ivory trades were expanding in southern Africa. To resist these pressures, King Shaka formed the Zulu chiefdom. As a result, conquered tribes began to move north, into present-day Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, in the process setting off reactions in these areas that had lasting ramifications.

In Botswana, for example, tribes began to exchange ivory and skins for guns with European traders, who had begun to reach the interior. Missionaries sent from Europe also spread to the interior, often at the invitation of chiefs who wanted guns and knew that the presence of missionaries encouraged traders. In Zimbabwe, the Shona were conquered by the Ndebele, an offshoot of the Zulus who had split from Shaka and migrated north in response to the Zulu mfecane. Tensions between the Shona and Ndebele persist to this day. The government of Robert Mugabe systematically killed between twenty and thirty thousand Ndebele people between 1982 and 1987 (according to Amnesty International estimates).

Effects of Slavery

The Berlin Conference

The Berlin Conference of 1884–1885 regulated European colonization and trade in Africa and is often seen as the formalization of the Scramble for Africa.

In the 1880s, European interest in Africa increased dramatically. Sub-Saharan Africa was attractive to Europe's ruling elites for both economic and racial reasons. During a time when Britain's balance of trade showed a growing deficit, with shrinking and increasingly protectionist continental markets due to the Depression from 1873-1896, Africa offered Britain, Germany, France, and other countries an open market that would garner a trade surplus.

At the Berlin Conference, Africa was divided between the main powers of Europe. One part of the agreement stated that powers could only hold colonies if they actually possessed them, in other words if they had treaties with local chiefs, flew their flag there, and established an administration in the territory. The colonial power also had to make use of the colony economically. If the colonial power did not do these things, another power could do so and take over the territory. It became important to get chiefs to sign a protectorate treaty and to have a presence sufficient to police the area.

Independence Movements

Transition to Democracy

Politics

Economies

File:GreaterMiddleEast2.png
The G8's Greater Middle East includes Sub-Saharan African countries

Generally, sub-Saharan Africa is the poorest region in the world, still suffering from the legacies of colonialism, slavery, native corruption, and inter-ethnic conflict. The region contains many of the least developed countries in the world.

Sub-Saharan Africa, especially East Africa, is regarded by some geneticists as being the birthplace of the human race (the genus Homo). Mitochondrial Eve, from whom all humans alive are descended, is thought to have lived in present-day Ethiopia or Tanzania.

The region has been the site of many empires and kingdoms, including the Axum, Wagadu (Ghana), Mali, Nok, Songhai, Kanem-Bornu, Benin, and Great Zimbabwe.

Up to and including October 2006 many governments face difficulties in implementing policies aimed at mitigating the effects of the AIDS-pandemic due to lack of technical support despite a number of mitigating measures.

The population of sub-Saharan Africa was 622 million in 1997. [1]

Demographics

Health care

In 1988, Bamako was the location of a WHO conference known as the Bamako Initiative that helped reshape the health policy of sub-Saharan Africa. The new strategy dramatically increased accessibility through community-based health care reform, resulting in more efficient and equitable provision of services.

A comprehensive approach strategy was extended to all areas of health care, with subsequent improvement in the health care indicators and improvement in health care efficiency and cost.

Nations of sub-Saharan Africa

There are 42 countries located on the sub-Saharan African mainland, in addition to six island nations (Madagascar, Seychelles, Comoros, Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe. Mauritius is generally not considered to be a sub-Saharan African island because the ethnic makeup of the country is predominantly East Indian, Chinese, and French. According to this classification scheme, the countries of sub-Saharan Africa are:

Central Africa

East Africa

Southern Africa

West Africa

African island nations

Territories, possessions, départements

Cultures

Most of the people living in sub-Saharan Africa speak one of about six hundred Bantu languages.

Concerns

Sources and further reading

  • Bohannan, Paul and Philip Curtin. 1988. Africa and Africans. 3rd ed. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press. ISBN 0881333476
  • Curtin, Philip et al. 1995. African History: From Earliest Times to Independence. 2nd ed. New York: Addison Wesley Longman. ISBN 0582050707
  • Newman, James L. 1995. The Peopling of Africa: A Geographic Interpretation. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. ISBN 0300060033
  • Reader, John. 1998. Africa: A Biography of the Continent. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0679409793

External links

Overviews

[[2]] "Natural Resources and Conflict in Africa". Crimes of War Project. Retrieved October 28, 2007. [[3]]

Political maps of Sub-Saharan Africa

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