SubSaharan Africa

1
Sub-Saharan Africa

• The Region Today

2
Economic Development

• West and Central Africa is a region of developing
  countries
• Generally, people living here earn less and have
  shorter lives than people living in other parts
  of the world. There is great contrast between
  countries however
• Gabon is one of the richest countries in Africa
  due to oil reserves, yet Mali is among the
  poorest in the world located in the Sahel with
  few resources.
• These countries have dual economies in which a
  portion of the economy is dedicated to developing
  goods specifically for export to wealthy
  countries while another portion of the economy
  produces goods and services for the local people.

3
Economic Development

• Most of the regions countries export primary
  goods rather than secondary goods.
• For example, Cote dIvoire exports cocoa beans,
  yet the production of chocolate often takes place
  in developed countries . . . Guinea exports
  bauxite, but the manufacture of aluminum takes
  place elsewhere.
• Many countries depend on exporting large
  quantities of only a few exports. This has
  consequences
• It makes economies vulnerable to changes in
  price.
• The export of primary goods are less profitable
  than the export of secondary goods, causing
  countries to miss out on much of the wealth their
  raw materials create.

4
Economic Development

• In East Africa, all of the countries have
  developing economies. Raw materials make up most
  of their exports, while they must import much of
  their manufactured goods.
• The manufacturing that exists centers around
  basic consumer goods, processed foods, and
  building materials.
• Kenya has the highest per capita GDP in the
  region however, government mismanagement and
  high population growth has put added pressures on
  the economy.
• Tourism is the industry with the most potential
  in the region.
• Resorts, restaurants, safari lodges, and taxi
  companies provide many jobs.
• Tourist also buy traditional arts and crafts as
  souvenirs.

5
Economic Development

• Southern Africas economies again depend in large
  part on the export of primary goods.
• The largest mineral exporter in the region is
  South Africa. It produces more gold than any
  other country.
• Botswana is one of the largest diamond exporters
  in the world, causing its economy to be one of
  the fastest growing economies in Africa.
• Many tourists travel to Botswana, Namibia, South
  Africa, and Zimbabwe to see the African wildlife,
  playing a large role in these countries
  economies.

6
Agriculture

• Agriculture within West and Central Africa vary
  based on climate.
• In the Sahel grasslands, farmers raise cattle and
  goats and move their herds in search of grazing
  lands.
• In tropical rain forest areas, cassava, millet,
  and yams are all staples.
• Farmers typically plant several crops within the
  same field . . . In case a crop fails, the other
  crops are likely to still survive. In addition,
  the crops mature at different times throughout
  the year, preventing the need to harvest food in
  order to store.
• The plantation system, developed through
  colonialism, prevents herders from moving their
  herds from one location to another leading to
  overgrazing and erosion.

7
Agriculture

• In East Africa, farming and herding form the
  basis of the economies.
• In this regions cultures, women are the primary
  farmers, while men are responsible for the
  livestock.
• Farmers grow an increasing number of cash crops
  to include coffee, cotton, sugarcane, and tea.
• In Southern Africa, farming is the most common
  economic activity.
• Most farms are subsistence in nature, while
  market-oriented agriculture play are large role
  in the economy.
• In Zimbabwe, commercial farms export tobacco.
  Angola ? coffee, Madagascar ? vanilla.

8
Urban Environments

• In the early 1960s, there were very few large
  cities in West and Central Africa. After gaining
  independence, cities began to grow rapidly.
• Lagos, Nigeria grew from a population of 760,000
  in 1960 to 4.5 million in 1980 to 13 million
  today.
• In East Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopias capital,
  is the regions largest city. Nairobi, Kenya is
  the regions most important commercial center.
• In South Africa, the rate of urbanization is
  similar to the rest of Africa.

9
Urban Environments

• The rate of urbanization has caused several
  issues through the urban areas of Africa.
• There is often not enough housing for the large
  number of urban dwellers, often forcing people to
  live in little more than shacks.
• Jobs are often difficult to find due to the high
  unemployment rate.
• Poverty and disease run rampant through these
  less fortunate communities.
• In South Africa, apartheid has forced nonwhite
  residents to live in settlements along the fringe
  of the large cities.
• SOWETO, South Western Townships, covers 40 square
  miles and is home to over a million nonwhite
  citizens of South Africa who are forced to live
  in small houses, shacks, and apartments built for
  migrant workers.

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11
Issues and Challenges

• Issues such as economic growth, health care,
  political corruption, and environmental
  protection are all challenges faced throughout
  Africa.
• Recently many countries have suffered wars and
  conflicts.
• In the past ten years alone, there have been
  civil wars in the Democratic Republic of Congo,
  Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

12
Issues and Challenges

• Ethnic hatred has led to genocide in Africa.
• The worst case of genocide occurred in Rwanda in
  1994, where the more numerous Hutu people tried
  to eliminate the Tutsi.
• In Sudan, the Islamic government has been in
  conflict with the animist and Christian people of
  southern Sudan.
• The government has tried to force Islamic
  practices on the people of the South often
  resulting in massacres of entire villages.
• In Somalia, conflict arose from the lack of
  central government.
• Clans fought over grazing rights as well as
  control of port cities such as Mogadishu.

13
Issues and Challenges

• Disease is another major issue faced by the
  people and governments of Africa.
• HIV/AIDS is rampant throughout much of the
  continent.
• More than 25 of some countries population is
  infected. Poor, malnourished, and poorly
  educated people are most susceptible to
  contracting the disease.
• Malaria is another disease affecting the people
  of Africa.
• The environment of Africa is also at stake.
• Lumber companies harvest tropical rain forests
  for timber. Grasslands are cleared for farming.
  Both of which lead to the extinction of plants
  and animals as well as widespread erosion.
• In the Sahel, desertification has degraded the
  land to the extent that people have been forced
  to migrate south in search of new farmland.