Untitled Quiz

Study Notes

Kenya

Located in East Africa, crossed by the Equator
Borders Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Somalia to the west, south, north, and northeast respectively
Bounded by the Indian Ocean to the east
Area: 580,367 square kilometers
Coastal region: Mangrove forests, coastal plains, coral formations
Interior: Kenyan plateau, elevation increases westward and southwestward
Major cities: Nairobi (capital), Mombasa (coastal), Takora, Kisumu (Lake Victoria)
Population: Approximately 40 tribes (Kikuyu, Luo, Kamba, Kisi, Meru, Turkana, Nandi, Maasai) and smaller Arab, Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Iranian), and European communities.
Bantu tribes: Center and west of Kenya (Kikuyu(20), Kamba(10), Meru, Kisi, Luhya, Nandi, Kalenjin(61))
Nilotic tribes: Northern Kenya (Luo, Turkana, Nini)
Cushitic tribes: Northern Kenya (Arab, significant in Mombasa)
Religions: Predominantly local religions, Christianity (Protestant 45%, Catholic 33%), Islam (10%), Buddhism (0.3%), other local religions (2%)
Languages: Swahili and English are official languages
Administrative Divisions: 8 provinces (Central, Coastal, Eastern, Nairobi, North-Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western)
Economy: Agriculture is vital (78% of workforce) - rain-fed and river-irrigated; crops include maize, cassava, bananas, rice, wheat (in highlands); cash crops such as coffee, tea, sugarcane, sisal, and cotton; coffee accounts for a quarter of exports
Livestock: important; 11 million cattle, 9 million goats and sheep, camel breeding
Development: Significant progress in power projects

Uganda

Inland African country, no coast, crossed by the Equator
Located in the eastern center of Africa
Borders: Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya
Area: 241,139 km²
Population (1997): ~20.3 million
Capital: Kampala
Major cities: Gulu, Hoima, Entebbe
Population: Bantu and Baganda (approx. half the population), Basoga, Banyankore, Bakiga, smaller groups (e.g., Abagisu, Babati, Bagungu), Nilotic groups, (e.g., Iteso, Karamojong, Bari), Bantu groups (e.g., Lugbara, Langi, Alur) smaller immigrant groups (Congo, Rwanda), Asian, (Indian, Pakistani), and Arab communities
Languages: Swahili, English, and local languages.
Economy: External trade is significant, reliant on imports such as machinery (industrial projects), agricultural equipment, transport, minerals, chemicals, medicines and exports such as coffee, tea, tobacco, copper, vegetable oil, and fish.

Rwanda

Located in central Africa, south of the equator
Borders: Tanzania, DR Congo, Burundi, Uganda
Area: 26,338 km²
Capital: Kigali
Major Cities: Butare, Gisenyi, Ruhengeri, Kibungo
Population: Primarily Bantu, Hutu (80%), Tutsi (10%), Twa (small).
History: Post-independence, conflict between Hutu and Tutsi.
Demographics (2001): 92.5% Christian, 4.6% Muslim, remaining are non-religious/other religions
Economy: Agriculture (92% of workforce) and livestock; key crops include coffee, tea, tobacco, sugarcane, bananas; cattle, goats, sheep
Minerals: Tin
Colonial History: German East Africa, post-WWI Belgian mandate. Independence 1962.

Tanzania

East Africa, union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar (Zanzibar has an Arab-Islamic architectural theme)
Formed from Tanganyika and Zanzibar following violence in 1964
Tanganyika and Zanzibar were parts of the Omani Empire
Tanganyika: under German, then British rule; independence in 1961
Zanzibar: separated from Tanzania in 1964, formed its own independent country.
Pop: Over 120 tribes (Bantu, Cushitic); significant Muslim groups (over 2 million, mainly in coastal areas and parts of the interior; Swahili, Muslim Asians, and Arab communities), Christian (15%), and local religions are present
Languages: English, Swahili, Bantu, and Arabic in coastal cities.