Africa: Overview and Geography

Africa: Overview

• Africa is the second largest continent globally, comprising 54 countries.
• Vast diversity exists across the continent in terms of geography, economy, population density, and culture.
• Over 400 million people in Africa live in extreme poverty, earning less than $1.00 per day.
• Population density varies significantly, with some areas highly populated (e.g., Lagos, Nigeria) and others sparsely populated (e.g., Namibia).
• The continent encompasses bustling cities, expansive deserts, and mountainous regions.
• Africa possesses abundant natural resources like oil, gold, cocoa, natural gas, diamonds, cotton, tea, coffee, and flowers, essential for many economies.
• Natural resources constitute 75% of sub-Saharan Africa's exports, with Botswana leading diamond production.
• Despite wealth, many countries face poverty, drought, and conflict.

Africa: Geography and Resources

• Key geographical features include the Sahara Desert, Nile River, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Victoria Falls.
• The Sahara Desert, spanning millions of square kilometers, is characterized by harsh climate and sparse population.
• Nomadic and semi-nomadic groups inhabit the Sahara region.
• Desertification is a significant environmental challenge, aggravated by droughts, overgrazing, and loss of vegetation.
• The Great Green Wall initiative aims to combat desertification through tree planting.
• Nigeria's geography includes the Benue and Niger rivers, crucial for water, agriculture, transport, and hydroelectric power.
• Mountainous regions like the Jos Plateau and Mambilla Plateau are part of Nigeria's diverse terrain.
• Various biomes, including tropical savannah and rainforests, exist across Nigeria.

Africa: Demographics and Economy

• Africa includes numerous ethnic groups (e.g., Berbers, Kikuyu, Afrikaners).
• Swahili is a widely spoken language with 100 million speakers.
• European languages (English, French) are official languages in many African countries due to colonization.
• Christianity and Islam are dominant religions, alongside traditional African religions.
• Urban population growth in Africa is significant, with countries like Tanzania experiencing substantial urbanization.
• Nigeria has a large population (over 190 million), high urban population, and a youthful median age (18.4 years), and over 500 languages spoken.
• Lagos is Nigeria's largest city, with Abuja as its capital.

Africa: History and Challenges

• Significant historical periods include Ancient Egypt, European trade, Great Zimbabwe, European colonization, and African independence.
• Nigeria's GDP experienced significant growth, transitioning into a Newly-Emerging Economy (NEE).
• Nigeria's film industry (Nollywood) is a major economic driver, exceeding 1,500 films annually.
• Despite economic opportunities, Nigeria faces severe poverty (67%), with significant portions of the population working as subsistence farmers.
• Social challenges include healthcare deficiencies (lack of medicines and clean water affecting children's health), inadequate education access (with millions of children, mostly girls, not attending school), and corrupt government practices.
• Environmental challenges like oil spills and deforestation affect wildlife, water sources, and habitats.
• Conflicts such as the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria pose serious security and humanitarian crises.

Africa: Specific Examples

• Lagos, Nigeria, stands as a densely populated urban center.
• Nairobi, Kenya, offers opportunities in the technology sector, highlighting the urban-rural divide.
• Tanzania demonstrates the importance of subsistence farming, with 67% of the population residing in rural areas.
• The Sahara Desert illustrates the challenges of living in a harsh environment, demanding adaptation to climate conditions.

Africa: Key Concepts

• Desertification: The process where land loses its vegetation and becomes desert-like, often due to climate change and human activity.
• Great Green Wall: An initiative to combat desertification by planting trees across several African countries.
• Oases: Small areas of vegetation in deserts, formed around water sources.
• Nomads: People who move from place to place to find resources and water, particularly in desert regions.
• Overgrazing: When animals overeat available vegetation, leading to soil degradation.

Africa: Population Growth

• The growing youth population in Africa presents both opportunities and challenges.
• Urbanization rates are increasing across the continent.
• Factors like education, healthcare, and economic opportunities significantly influence population growth and quality of life within Africa.