A PowerPoint on west Africa

1. Western & Central Africa

2. Western and Central
Africa
Focus on Geography
Objectives:
● To explain how rivers are used as
transportation corridors
● To identify how geography affects a
nation's economy

3. Western and Central
Africa
● 1. In what other ways do you think Africans use their
waterways?
● 2. What benefits do you think the barge offers over
airplane travel in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo?

4. Western and Central
Africa

5. Geography
● Many African
villages are far away
from pharmacies,
stores, airports
● Barges are used to
carry necessities to
remote towns and
villages

6. Section 1 Objectives
● To describe how European nations divided
Western and Central Africa
● To examine the government of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo
● To examine the government of Ghana
● To explain how the OAU and ECOWAS help
developing nations in Africa

7. New Maps of West Africa
● Europeans divided up
Africa to avoid war
● Goal was to take Africa’s
resources
● Divided up Africa based
on rivers & lakes
● Ignored traditional
borders

8. New Maps of West Africa
● British bought island of
the Gambia
● France bought Senegal
● Borders drawn in 1880’s
gave Gambia to the
British & access to river.
● Congo River dispute
caused Berlin
Conference

9. Govt. in Western & Central Africa
● Borders remained after
independence
- Ethnic groups were
split
- Made it difficult for
modern nations to
have stable govts.
● Since 1963, 200 African
governments have had
coups d’etat

10. Govt. in Democratic Republic of Congo
● 1960 Belgian Congo
gained independence
● In 1965 Joseph Désiré
Mobutu a general took
over
- Anticolonialism
- Changed name of
country to Zaire
- Changed his name to
Mobutu Sese Seko

11. Govt in Democratic Republic of Zaire
● Civil war began in Zaire
in 1994
● Laurent Desire Kabila
overthrew Mobutu’s
govt.
● Name became
Democratic Republic of
Congo
● Kabila was assassinated
in 2001 and his son
replaced him

12. Government in Ghana
● 1957 British colony of Gold
Coast became first
independent country south
of Sahara
● Name came from ancient
Ghana empire
● Kwame Nkrumah 1st leader
- Modernized Ghana

13. Government in Ghana
● Built new seaport, roads, &
railroads
- Helped make shipping
natural resources to
factories & sending
easier/cheaper
● Foreign trade improved
● Also had compulsory
primary education

14. Government in Ghana
● Nkrumah was a dictator
● 1966 coup d’etat organized
against him
● People went on strike to
protest the economic
conditions
● Military tried to regain
control & more coup d’etats
occurred.
● In 1979 Jerry John
Rawlings took power

15. Government in Ghana
● 1992 Rawlings allowed
election
● Ghana became democratic
● Constitution & Parliament
created
● Ghana today is one of the
most stable nations in
Africa

16. Nations Helping Nations
● 1963 OAU formed to
promote African unity
● The Organization of African
Unity (OAU)
- Would like to establish a
single currency
- Mediates (find a peaceful
solution) disputes
between countries

17. Section 2 Objectives
● To explain changes in the economies of
Western and Central Africa
● To describe the importance of African arts
and mineral resources
● To describe the ways of life in Western and
Central Africa

18. Agriculture of Western & Central Africa
● Most people are farmers
● Practice subsistence farming to
feed their own households
- Grew millet & sorghum for
own households
● During colonialism plantations
were started.

19. Economies Western & Central Africa
● African countries had traditional
economies
● European colonists introduced
market economies
● Most countries now have market
economies where goods are
bought & sold

20. Agriculture Western & Central Africa
● Cote d’Ivoire largest exporter of
Cacao beans
- Used for chocolate
● Coastal West Africa
- Exports coffee, bananas,
pineapples, palm oil,
peanuts & kola nuts
● Central West Africa
- Exports coffee, rubber, &
cotton

21. Agriculture Western & Central Africa
● Plantations grew tropical crops
- Sugar cane, coffee, cacao to
export
- Cash crop is a crop only for
sale
● Have you eaten anything from
Africa?

22. Central & Western Africa Minerals
● Minerals exported are
diamonds, gold, petroleum,
manganese, and uranium
● Many Africans work in mines
● Mineral wealth is used to help
fund wars
● Diamonds are the biggest
conflict minerals

23. African Artisans
● Iron hoes, leather shoes, & art
created by Artisans using
metal, leather & wood
● There are also musicians and
entertainers
● Some musicians are griots who
recount history of country.

24. Culture & Family Structure
● Over 1,000 languages spoken
● Islam, Christianity, & Animism
practiced most
● More Africans moving to cities
- Lagos and Accra hot spots
● Strains on traditional African
family life.
● Extended families include
children, parents,
grandparents, and other
relatives

25. Social Status
● Hierarchy in society
- Older people have higher
rank
● Age groups have different
responsibilities
● Rite of passage, marks the
transition from one stage of life
to another
- Tradition is dying out in
Africa

26. Section 3 Objectives
● To explain the history of the Nigerian people
● To identify events that brought democracy to
Nigeria
● To describe the art and literature of Nigeria

27. Nigeria: Social Status
● The Nok were the earliest
known culture in Nigeria
● Nok occupied central plateau
by 500 B.C
● Skilled in ironworking &
weaving
● 60% of today’s Nigerians
belong to three ethnic groups
- Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa

28. Nigeria: Yoruba Today
● They live in southwestern
Nigeria
● Powerful city-states
● Men grew yams, peanuts,
millet, beans etc.,
● Artists & poets revered
● Women involved in marketing
& trade
● Some women were wealthy &
independent

29. Nigeria: The Igbo Today
● They live in southeast
region of Nigeria
● Villages democratic with
leaders being chosen
● Known for metalworking,
weaving, and, woodcarving

30. Nigeria: Democracy
● 1800’s colonized by U.K. in
north and south
● English common language
● United in 1914
● Gained independence in 1960
● Oil found in Eastern Nigeria
- Igbo people declared
independence
- Republic of Biafra setup and
civil war raged from 1966 to
1970
Olusegun
Obasanjo
elected
president in
1999.

31. Nigeria: The Hausa Today
● Largest ethnic group
● Almost all are Muslim
● Live in farming villages in
Northern Nigeria
● Crafts leatherworking, weaving,
and blacksmithing

32. Nigeria: Democracy
● Largest population in Africa at
123 million
● More than half are farmers
● Rubber, Cacao, peanut, and
palm oil plantations
● Oil is biggest export
- 90% of governments income
● Minerals important to economy
● Factories produce cars,
cement, chemicals, clothing &
food

33. Nigeria: Nigerian Art & Literature
● Nigerians are famous for
literature
● Nigerian writers Amos Tutuola,
Ben Okri, & Chimamanda
Adiche, Wole Soyinka
- Wole won a Nobel Peace
Prize
- Use folktale themes
- Novels & plays combine
themes with modern day
human-rights concerns