Unit 4 Western and Central Africa As Western and Central African nations gained independence, they struggled with varying degrees of success with military rulers and civil wars. Cameroon's soccer team celebrates their goldmedal victory in Sydney's 2000 Summer Olympics.
Western and Central Africa SECTION 1 SECTION 2 SECTION 3 History and Political Change Economies and Cultures Nigeria Today
Section 1 History and Political Change Since gaining independence, some of the countries of Western and Central Africa have had trouble establishing stable government.
1 History and Political Change Dividing Western and Central Africa Europe Controls African Resources European nations divide Africa in late 1800s - want to control resources - do not care about creating new nations Trade colonial advantages with each other to avoid war
1 New Maps of West Africa Let s Make a Deal In making boundaries, colonizers ignore ethnic groups The Gambia is created as a narrow strip - Britain owns island at river s mouth; France owns land around river Dividing the Congo Basin Belgium, France, Portugal all want Congo River basin - Belgium gets what is now Democratic Republic of the Congo - France gets today s Republic of the Congo; Portugal gets Angola
1 Governments in Western and Central Africa Conflicts and Coups d état Many colonial borders remain when nations gain independence - split ethnic groups, historically united regions Difficult for modern nations to establish stable governments Since 1963, about 200 governments have been ousted by coups d état - coup d état overthrow of government by force
1 Government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Mobutu s Rule Belgian Congo becomes independent in 1960 - several coups d état follow General Joseph Désiré Mobutu takes over in 1965, becomes dictator - changes nation s name to Zaire, his name to Mobutu Sese Seko - steals government money to build personal fortune Continued...
1 continued Government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Civil War Civil war in Zaire begins in 1994 Laurent-Désiré Kabila overthrows Mobutu, becomes president - changes name again to Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Another civil war; Kabila is assassinated in 2001 - replaced as president by son, Joseph Kabila
1 Government in Ghana Independence Region s first independent colony is Britain s Gold Coast in 1957 - becomes Ghana; first leader is Kwame Nkrumah Nkrumah modernizes Ghana with new roads, seaports, railroads - better shipping of resources improves foreign trade First country in region to have compulsory primary education Continued...
1 continued Government in Ghana Military Rulers Nkrumah rules as dictator imprisons, tortures, kills opponents Overthrown by 1966 coup, but conditions worsen under military rulers - coups continue until soldier Jerry John Rawlings takes over in 1979 The Coming of Democracy Rawlings allows election in 1992; creates constitution, parliament - is first modern African military ruler to give up power peacefully Today, Ghana is one of most stable nations in Africa
1 Nations Helping Nations Promoting Unity OAU Organization of African Unity forms in 1963 - seeks single currency, mediates disputes - mediate to help find a peaceful solution ECOWAS ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States forms in 1975 - works to improve trade within region, with nations outside region - mediates disputes, tries to end government corruption
Section 2 Economies and Cultures The economies in Western and Central Africa are mostly a mix of traditional and market economies.
2 Economies and Cultures Economies of Western and Central Africa From Traditional to Market Economies Most nations had traditional economies based on old trading customs Colonialism brings market economies: goods are bought, sold After independence, government-run command economies are common Today, most countries have market economies
2 Agriculture in Western and Central Africa Edible Exports Most people in region are farmers - subsistence farming grow only enough food to feed families Colonizers started plantations, exporting sugar cane, coffee, cacao - cash crop crop grown only for sale West Africa exports bananas, pineapples, nuts, oil, coffee, cacao Central Africa exports coffee, rubber, cotton
2 African Artisans Crafts and Music Crafts are made from metal, leather, or wood - include iron hoes, leather shoes, pieces of art Musicians are traditional historians, passing down stories in songs
2 African Minerals Great Variety Africa has almost every mineral; many Africans work in mines - exports include diamonds, gold, petroleum, manganese, uranium Diamonds for Weapons Mineral wealth sometimes funds wars - Angola rulers used oil money to buy weapons; rebels used diamonds Diamonds are illegally smuggled to fund wars in Sierra Leone, DRC - these are known as conflict diamonds
2 Ways of Life in Western and Central Africa Languages and Religions Over 1,000 languages spoken by hundreds of ethnic groups Religions include Islam, Christianity Most people live in small villages - but many are moving to cities like Lagos, Nigeria or Accra, Ghana Family Structure Extended families include grandparents, aunts, cousins Some groups trace ancestry by mother s family, some by father s
2 Social Status The Importance of Age In many societies, older people have higher status, more influence - older men settle legal issues, police the village - female elders punish acts against women Rite of passage ceremony marks transition into new life stage - major passage into adulthood is dying out in some parts - young people s skills, education gain them higher status
Section 3 Nigeria Today Nigeria has a rich diversity of peoples and resources.
3 Nigeria Today A Look at Nigeria Diverse Land, People, and Cultures Queen Amina s military conquests in 1500s create diverse nation Land includes rain forests, swamps, savannas People, cultures include 250 ethnic groups
3 History of Nigeria s People The Nok Nok were one of area s earliest cultures at around 500 B.C. The Yoruba Yoruba major ethnic group established on west bank of Niger River - today live in southwest Pre-colonial society had city-states surrounded by crop fields - artists, poets had prestige in traditional society - women handled marketing, trade; were wealthy, independent Continued...
3 continued History of Nigeria s People The Igbo Igbo major ethnic group, once part of southeast s Nri kingdom Villages are fairly democratic, choose leaders Known for metalworking, weaving, woodcarving Many held business, government jobs under British rule The Hausa Hausa had cities in north savannas, are largest ethnic group today Almost all are Muslims, most live in farm villages
3 Becoming a Democracy Colonization and Civil War Britain colonizes northern, southern areas of Nigeria in 1800s Two halves united in 1914; Nigeria gains independence in 1960 Igbo declared own independence when oil is discovered in east - form Republic of Biafra; civil war rages from 1966 to 1970 Military takes over after war, restricts freedom, ignores elections Military ruler Olusegun Obasanjo is president in 1999 free election
3 Nigeria s Economy Oil and More 123 million people largest population in Africa; half are farmers Many rubber, cacao, peanut, palm oil plantations Rich oil, natural gas deposits; oil is main export Other minerals include coal, iron ore, tin, lead, limestone, zinc Manufacturing includes cars, cement, chemicals, clothes, food
3 Nigerian Art and Literature A Rich Mix of Styles Yoruban artists make metal sculptures, wood masks and figures Decorated calabashes gourds used as containers or for music Basket weaving is art form Writers include Amos Tutuola, Ben Okri, Wole Soyinka - works combine folktale themes with modern issues, like human rights Soyinka is first black African to win Nobel Prize in literature