Africa_Lapbook_(3508941).pdf

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fakharah rathore (order #3508941)

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Thank you for your purchase fromIn the Hands of a ChildYour Premiere Lapbook Provider since

2002!!

AfricaHOCPP 1052

Published: January, 2007Original Copyright November, 2005

Authors:Katie KubeshNiki McNeilKimm Bellotto

For information about other products available from In the Hands of a ChildCall 1-866-426-3701 or visit our website at www.handsofachild.com.

Entire contents of this Project Pack © 2007In the Hands of a Child.

6222 Pierce StreetColoma, MI 49038

Permission is hereby granted to the individual purchaser to reproduce student materials in thisproject pack for noncommercial individual or classroom use only. In the Hands of a Child givespermission for one copy of all written material to be copied and or printed. Classroom teachers

have permission to reproduce one copy for each student in class. Members of co-ops orworkshops have permission to reproduce one copy for up to 10 children per unit. Reproducible

graphics may be reprinted as many times as needed. Permission is not granted for school wide orsystem wide reproduction of materials.

Printed in the USA.


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Bringing Laughter and Learning Together In the Hands of a Child

From the day we first began using and creating Project Packs we fell in love withthem. We knew that this type of hands-on learning experience was just the thingthat was needed to make boring unit studies not only educational but fun andexciting too!

To help you get started with your Project Pack, we have included some of themost frequently asked questions we receive about our Project Packs.

What is a Project Pack?A Project Pack contains both the activities and the lesson plans or researchguide needed to complete the activities. Imagine your child not only learningabout the life cycle of a butterfly, but also creating a cocoon of his or her own.Students don’t just read the story, Blueberry Sal by Robert McCloskey- theyenjoy a “blue day” complete with a recipe for blueberry pancakes, making a“blue” collage, and don’t forget painting a “blue” picture!

Why is this a better way to learn? How does this help me?Student learning improves when lessons incorporate hands-on projects or crafts.Children learn by doing. Project Packs put learning into their hands! Thepossibilities are endless when your student begins a lapbook with a Project Packfrom In the Hands of a Child. There are no age or skill limits and any topic orsubject can be worked into a Project Pack.

When you purchase a Project Pack from In the Hands of a Child, all the work isdone for you-the parent/teacher, but not for the student. In addition, ProjectPacks are easy to store, are an instant review tool, scrapbook, and a ready-madeportfolio of all your student’s studies.

How do I make a Project Pack?A Project Pack is simply a file folder refolded into a shutter-style book. Open afile folder flat, fold each side into the middle and crease the fold neatly. Thereyou have it!

What supplies do I need?You need file folders, paper in different colors and weights*, your student’sfavorite coloring tools, tape, glue, scissors, and a stapler.

*For a more colorful and appealing Project Pack, it is suggested you print someof the reproducible graphics on colorful, multi-purpose paper. We recommend24# weight or cardstock.


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Adapting a Project Pack to Fit the Needs of Your Student

Adapting a Project or Research Pack is key to ensuring that you provide the bestlesson for your student. At first glance, some might just skip over an activitybecause they feel it is too easy or too difficult for their student. We want you touse all the activities we provide…they are easily adaptable!

For example, if you have a PK-3 student the vocabulary activities might bedifficult for him or her to complete. Here are some tips to help you adapt theactivities that require your student to write:

1. Have your student dictate vocabulary words and their meanings as youwrite them.

2. Have your child draw a picture instead of writing.3. You write the word or sentence first so your student can see how it is

written (many of our Project Packs also include activities with dotted linesfor easy copy work).

4. Practice. Practice. Practice. In the car, on a walk, in the shopping cart!Practice saying the vocabulary words and what they mean. Before youknow it your preschooler will be telling others what those words mean!

5. Contact us. We would be happy to give you ideas for adapting specificunits to a grade level.

On the other hand, some of the activities may seem too easy for your student.Does your 5th grade level student want to learn about butterflies, but the ProjectPack seems too easy? Try it anyway; just change things up a bit to suit yourstudent’s grade level and skill. Here are some tips to help you adapt theactivities to make them a little more difficult:

1. In addition to writing down vocabulary words and their meanings, ask yourstudent to use the word in a sentence; either verbally or written.

2. Give your student one hour (or reasonable time frame) to research thetopic on his or her own either online or at the library. Give your student aset of questions and see what he or she can find without your guidance.

3. Encourage your student to expand on the topic or choose a relatedsubject to learn about.

4. Take a look at some of our preschool units…there is a lot of clipart relatedto each topic included. Have an older student cut these out and write astory or play about the pictures.

5. Contact us. We would be happy to give you ideas for adapting specificunits to a grade level.

These are just few ways you can adapt a Project Pack to meet the needs of yourstudent. Let your student be the judge if something is too easy or toodifficult…you just might be surprised!


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The Website links we have included in our guides are references we found thatcontain relevant information. However, the sites are not owned or maintained byIn the Hands of a Child. The content may have changed or become a “dead”link. If you find the site contains inappropriate material or is no longer a relevantsite, please let us know. Thank you.

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Table of Contents

Planning Guide Page 7

Related Reading Page 9

Bibliography Page 9

Activity Instructions Page 10

Folder Instructions Page 17

Sample Picture Page 18

Research Guide Page 20

Africa Page20

People Page 20

Major Ethnic Group Page 21

Language Page 22

Government Page 23

Geography & Climate Page 23

Religion Page 31

Holidays & Traditions Page 35

Economics Page 36

Special Interests Page 38

African Crafts Page 38

Food Page 41

Animals Page 42

Vocabulary Page 45

Reproducibles Page 47

Answer Key Page 118


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Vocabulary WordsGuide

ReadingCompleteActivities

ContinueActivities

Day1

birthratedeath rate

life expectancydiverse

continent

Africa2 – Numbers of Africa

3 – Mapping Africa(Rivers and Landmarks)

1 - Vocabulary

Day2

demographicnomads

indigenousdialect

PeopleLanguage

4 – People Groups5 – African Languages

1 - Vocabulary

Day3

colonizedethnic group

apartheidancestor

*Common Swahili Terms*Afrikaans Language

Translations

6 – Swahili Words7 – How ManyLanguages?

1 - Vocabulary

Day4

plateaumetamorphic

continental shelfsafariplain

savannahrainforest

Maps of AfricaGeography and Climate

Geographic RegionSummaries

3 – Mapping Africa(Regions and

Countries)9 – African Regions

10 – The Sahara Desert

1 - Vocabulary

Day5

ritualsamulethealerheroesdiviner

medium

ReligionRitual Leaders

11 – Main Religions12 – Ritual Leaders

13 – TraditionalReligion

1 - Vocabulary

Day6

calabashrain maker

ritesrites of passage

Holidays and TraditionsFoods

14 – African HolidayCelebrations

18 – Holiday Meal Prep1 - Vocabulary


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Have student complete vocabulary words slotted for each day from activity 1, then readthe sections of the guide slotted for the day and any extra books you have on the topic.Finish up each day by having them complete the activities scheduled for that day.NOTE: Items marked with a * are in text-boxed areas in the guide

Day7

cultureartisanmosaicpapyrus

Special InterestsAfrican Crafts

16 – Music17 – African Craft

1 -Vocabulary

Day8

Gross Domestic ProductPer Capita Income

EconomicsFood

15 – Africa’sEconomy

19 – StapleCrops

1 -Vocabulary

Day9

faminebiome

EconomicsFood

20 – AfricanFarming

21 – CommonFood

1 -Vocabulary

Day10

republicauthoritarianism

coupdictatorshipepidemic

democratic

GovernmentSouthern African Region

8 – Government22 – Cities ofSouth Africa

1 -Vocabulary


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BibliographyDesanker, Paul V., Peri M. Klemm, Kenneth J. Perkins, Kwesi Kwaa Prah, andPaul Tiyambe Zeleza. "Africa." World Book Online Reference Center. 2005.World Book, Inc. 12 Oct. 2005

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/explore/sahara/sahara_people_lo.html

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/dictionaryhome.aspx

http://www.yale.edu/swahili/

http://members.tripod.com/meganjohnston/p2africa/Africanfoods.html

Exploring Your World: The Adventure of Geography, National Geographic, 1993pp.136-137.

Lugira, Aloysius M. African Religion. New York:1999.

Oluonye, Mary N. A Ticket to South Africa. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, Inc.,1999.

Temko, Florence. Traditional Crafts from Africa. Minneapolis: LernerPublications Company, 1996.

Some great books about Africa to read:A Day in the Life of Africa Photographed by the World’s Top Photojournalists onOne Day. San Francisco: 2002.

Angelou, Maya. My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, and Me. New York: C.Potter, 1994.

Dinesen, Isak. Out of Africa. New York: Random House Inc., 1988.

Feelings, Muriel. Jambo Means Hello: Swahili Alphabet Book. New York: DialBooks for Young Readers, 1974.

Haskins, Jim. Count Your Way Through Africa. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books,1989

Hemingway, Ernest. Green Hills of Africa. New York: Simon and Schuster,1935.

Onyefulu, Ifeoma. A is for Africa. New York: Cobblehill Books, 1993.


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Activities and InstructionsVocabulary

1. Vocabulary: As you go through this unit, learn a few new vocabulary wordseach day and add them to your Vocab Pocket.

Fold Instructions: Vocab Pocket – Fold tabs back. Fold backing up behindpocket face and glue tabs to it. Store cards in pocket. Ready to past definitionshave been provided for younger children.

Important Numbers of Africa2. As you read about Africa on this study you’ll find many numbers from howmany countries, languages to different types of dances. Create a number factbook and place them in numerical order.

Fold Instructions: Mini Matchbooks - Fold larger sections in half and fold smallsection up to close each book like a matchbook. Inside write the itemrepresented by that number concerning Africa. For example, under the 54 you’llwrite countries. Practice memorizing these number facts and see how many youcan recall over the rest of the study. Younger children should dictate theiranswers.

Africa’s Countries, Languages and People3. Africa is made up of 54 different countries. Locate each of them on the mapprovided as well as any major landmarks such as rivers and mountains.

Fold Instructions: Map Puzzle -- Paste the provided country outlines into thecorrect position on the map and label the countries. Mark any major landmarks,rivers, and mountains.

4. What are the different groups of people and what classifies them as such?Fold Instructions: Tab Booklet – Stack pages so that the tabs line up from topto bottom creating a side tab booklet. Place the cover on top and the back coverat the end and staple at the left edge. On each of the tabs write one of theclassifications of people; describe the characteristics of those people and whatmakes them different and the same as the others. Do this for each of theclassifications of people found in Africa.

5. There are many different languages spoken in Africa, however, there aresome that are spoken more often and fluently then the others. What are they?

Fold Instructions: Shape Book – Stack pages with cover on top and staple atthe top edge. Inside list the languages most often spoken as well as any otherimportant information about those languages. Use as many pages as necessary.


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6. What are the Swahili words for some of the common English words?Fold Instructions: Flap Fan - Fold down the top section of each bubble andwrite one Swahili word per bubble on the bubble covers. Write the English wordon the inside of the bubble. Stack the fan blades with cover on top and fastenwith a brad. Open fan downward so that inside flaps stay closed till you openthem. Close the blades by bringing them back around and down. Cut, paste andtrace labels are provided for younger children. Practice learning the words andtesting your friends and family.

7. Do a survey of the number of languages a person speaks. Do the peoplein your survey reflect the same bilingual state of many African people?

Fold Instructions: Shutter Survey - Fill in the survey that follows with as manycontacts as you can. Fold both sides to the middle to close like a shutter whencompleted.If you need more people to participate in your survey please join our Yahoogroup and survey our members:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HandsofaChildTalk

African Government8. Give a brief overview of the government systems in Africa.

Fold Instructions: Folder Book – Fold in half to close like a folder. Add extrapages if needed by attaching with brads where indicated. Design a cover foryour book and title it “African Governments.” A cut, paste and trace folder bookis provided for younger children.

Regions of Africa9. What are the 8 major regions of Africa?

Fold Instructions: Double Diamond Book – Illustrated instructions have beenprovided for Activity 9. Follow those instructions to complete this book. Writeone region per flap. Labels are provided for younger children.

10. Describe the Sahara Desert.Fold Instructions: Mini Book – Stack pages with cover on top and staple at leftedge. Inside describe the Sahara Desert. Younger children should dictate theiranswers or draw pictures to represent what they know about it.

African Religions11. What are the main beliefs of each of the 3 main religions?

Fold Instructions: Tag Booklet – Fold back side-tabs on pockets and glue tofolder. On each of the tags write the main beliefs of one of the three mainreligions. Then place the tags into the corresponding pocket. Trace tags andready to use tags have also been provided.


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12. What are the 6 types of ritual leaders?Fold Instructions: Blooming Wedge – Fold one page back, once page forwarduntil it looks like a single wedge. Open blooming wedge and write one animalper section. Fold back tabs on pocket and glue to folder. Store folded bloomingwedge in pocket. Labeled wedges have been provided for younger children toglue into the blooming edge.

13. What are the six things traditional African religion has in commonregardless of the region?

Fold Instructions: Double Trapezoid – An illustrated instructions sheet hasbeen provided for Activity 13. Follow the sheet to complete the book. Write oneanswer per section.**This activity is probably too mature for younger children. A card-style coloringpage with trace words has been provided as an alternative activity. Fold in halflike a top-folding greeting card. Color the picture and trace the words inside.Design an interesting cover for your book.

14. Choose one of the holiday celebrations in Africa and create a brochure forthe celebration of it.

Fold Instructions: Brochure – Fold in thirds with lines on the outside to create abrochure. Include as much information and detail as you can on the celebrationyou chose. Using the internet, books, magazines or your own drawings addphotos or pictures to it as well.

African Industry15. Agriculture, manufacturing, and mining; what is the role of each in Africa’seconomy?

Fold Instructions: Split Matchbooks – Keeping picture on cover facing out, foldlarge sections in half and cut top layer only on dotted lines. Fold small sectionsup to close like a matchbook. Under each of the titles write the role it plays inAfrica’s economy. Do this for each of the three. Cut and paste blocks areprovided for younger children.

Music and Artwork16. What is the role of music in Africa?

Fold Instructions: Card Book – Fold in half like a greeting card. Inside describethe role of music in African culture. Coloring pictures and trace words have beenprovided for younger children to glue into the card book.


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17. Choose a traditional African craft and attempt to create one yourself. Didyour attempt resemble the original? After creating it do you understand whythe people use it as they do?

Fold Instructions: Mini Book - Create a mini book using the graphics thatfollow. Glue a picture of your completed craft to the cover. Inside describe theprocess of the craft and answer the above questions. Younger children have apicture taken of them with their craft and glue into mini book. Have them writetheir name under it and then dictate what they did to make the craft.

Food and Farming18. What types of foods are staples or are common in many African homes?

What are some popular dishes that are prepared?Fold Instructions: Double Flap Book – Fold book in half and cut top layer onlyon dotted line to create two flaps. List the items for each question under thecorresponding flap.Younger Children may want to do the alternative activity that has beenprovided; a mini book with trace words. Have the child trace the words thenstack the pages in the correct order of stuffing beginning with the camel. Put thecover on top and the ending page at the back and staple at the left edge.

19. What are teff, injera and wat?Fold Instructions: Side Flap Book- Fold book in half and cut top layer only ondotted lines to create three flaps. Glue back of book and title section to folder.Lift flaps and tell what each item is beneath its flap. Cut and paste labels areprovided for younger children.

20. Make “Faux Injera.”Fold Instructions: Pocket Extension Book – An illustrated instruction sheethas been provided for this book. Follow those instructions to complete this book.As you make the recipe have someone take pictures of you I the process andwith your finished recipe. Store the pictures in the pocket of the book.

Animals21. Create a book of African animals.

Fold Instructions: Animal Book – Stack pages with cover on top and staple attop or left edge. We’ve given you a start by mentioning a few animals here.Investigate others on your own and add them to your book.Older children should provide details about each animal they investigate. Linedpages have been provided for this purpose. We suggest gluing a lined page tothe back of the picture page and then adding in as many lined pages as neededalso gluing those back to back.


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Just for Fun

Mapping it out1. Trace the outline of Africa onto a piece of paper.2. Mark an “N” for North, “S” for South, “E” for East, and “W” for West.3. Find the Indian Ocean.4. Find the Cape of Good Hope.5. Find the 8 different regions of Africa and color each of them a different

color.

Mud PaintingYou need:½ c. dirt½ c. nontoxic acrylic paintFabric (a cotton t-shirt or piece of muslin would work well)Permanent black markerDisposable containerKitchen strainer to fit over containerOld toothbrushSmall paintbrushNewspaper

1. Sketch out a design you want to paint on your t-shirt or fabric with a pencil(or on a practice sheet of paper).

2. Put dirt in strainer and set it on top of the disposable container. Slowly runwater over the dirt and let the mud run through the strainer into thecontainer. Once all the dirt has been strained, let the container sit until themud sinks to the bottom (may take overnight to sink).

3. Pour off excess water and mix paint into the mud.4. Cover your work area with newspaper. If you are painting on a t-shirt,

place newspaper or cardboard between the front and back of the shirt.Smooth the fabric or shirt out flat.

5. With the permanent black marker, draw your design onto the fabric orshirt. With a toothbrush, fill in the large areas with the mud paint. You canpaint patterns, lines and dots with the small paintbrush.

6. Let dry. Handwash the shirt in cool water and hang to dry before wearing.


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Story PicturesYou need:Several pieces of felt (with adhesive backing, if possible) or construction paper in

bold colors such as red, blue, and blackMarkerGlue stickScissorsPencil

1. Draw the characters or figures you want to be in your story on the felt orconstruction paper. (For example, if you want to tell a story about ridingyour bike, draw yourself, your bike, the road, a tree)

2. Cut the figures out of the felt or paper. Keep your leftover scraps for littledetails like mouths, leaves, etc.

3. Glue the cutout figures to a large piece of black felt or paper. Cut 4 longstrips of a different color felt or paper and glue as a frame around thesides of your story picture. If you want to make your story picturestronger, glue to a piece of cardboard.

Kigogo GameYou need:2 empty egg cartons, lids cut off48 markers – seeds, dried beans, peanuts, pebble, marbles, etc.tapescissors

1. Cut 2 egg cups from one of the egg cartons.2. Attach 1 egg cup to each end of the other carton with tape.3. To play the game, place the board between 2 players. Each player has

the 6 cups nearest his or her side. Players store any markers they win inthe cup on the end. Put 4 markers in each of the middle 12 cups.

4. Always move the markers counterclockwise. The first player picks up 4markers from any one of her or his cups. The player then drops them, oneat a time, into the cups starting with the cup to the right of the emptiedcup.

5. The other player then does the same, taking markers from his or her sideof the board. Players take turns taking all of the markers from one cupand then dropping them one at a time in a line of cups. The number ofmarkers in each cup will keep changing.

6. When a player drops the last marker in one of the other player’s cups andthat cup has either 2 or 3 markers in it, the player wins all of the markersin that cup. Players keep their winnings in the end cups on their right.The game is over when all the markers have been won. The winner is theplayer with the most markers in her or his end cup.


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Animal MasksYou will need:1 sheet poster boardPoster or acrylic paintStringRulerScissorsPencilPaper punch

1. Fold the poster board in half.2. Draw half of an animal’s face using the folded edge as the center of the

face.3. Cut along the outline, unfold.4. Draw features or designs on the face and decorate with paint.5. Cut out eyes.6. Punch one hole on each side of face7. Tie string through each of the holes

TaguellaThe Tuareg people live in the Sahara Desert. Meat is rare in the Sahara, so milkand milk products from camels and goats are usually what the Tuareg peopleeat. One of the most popular foods is called Taguella. Taguella is a thick crepeusually eaten with butter, dried tomatoes, and onions, and served with green tea.Give it a try!

Ingredients2.2 lbs. Millet flour, coarsely sifted9 oz. WaterLarge Pinch of saltLarge enamel bowl

1. Mix millet flour and water together in enamel bowl. Add large pinch of salt.2. Knead the dough and roll flat.3. Dig a low shallow hole in the desert and build a low fire from charcoal and

wood.4. Place the dough directly on the fire’s ashes.5. Use a large plant stalk to wipe the surface clean.6. Cover the dough with hot sand and charcoal.7. Let the dough bake for 20 minutes.8. To check dough, poke it with a stick (If it is soft, it needs to cook more).9. Turn the dough over. Cover with hot sand and charcoal and let bake 20

more minutes.10.Take the bread out of the sand. To get rid of the sand, shake the bread or

sprinkle it with water.11.Break into small pieces and serve.


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AFRICA

54 countries…1,000 languages…898million people…AFRICA! Africa is thesecond largest continent in the world.You could actually fit three of the UnitedStates inside of the continent of Africa.Africa has an area of 11,687,183 squaremiles (30,250,000 sq km), measures5,000 miles (8,000 km) from north tosouth, and at its widest point measures4,600 miles across. Who are the peopleof Africa? What is the government like?What kinds of holidays do they celebrate?Let’s find out!

PeopleThe population of 898,000,000 isunevenly distributed throughout the continent and is demographically dividedinto two groups: the North Africans and the Sub-Saharan Africans. Large areasin the Sahara Desert have no people at all, certain rainforests and grasslandshave a small population, and other areas, such as the Nile Valley in Egypt, areovercrowded.

About 75% of the population lives south of the Sahara desert in a region calledSub-Saharan Africa. For hundreds of years, some Africans who lived below theSahara Desert were known to be nomads; they followed the animals they huntedor found areas to camp where their herds could graze. Other Africans werefarmers and lived off the land. Because the continent is so large, many peoplelived far away from any neighbors. They developed their own languages,cultures and religions. Around the mid-1900s more and more African peoplestarted to move into the cities.

The population in Africa is always increasing. Africa has the highest birth rate ofany other continent; 38 babies born to every 1,000 people.The death rate for Africa is also higher than other continents;14 deaths for every 1,000 people.The average life expectancy for Africans is 52 years old. Incomparison, the average life expectancy for Americans is 77years old. The life expectancy is much less in the poorercountries of Africa like Mozambique and Zambia, where the average expectancyis 35-40 years old.

Because of overpopulation, ethnic and territorial rivalries, famine, and disease,there are many disputes and even wars between the many countries in Africa.This is a constant challenge for the leaders in Africa.


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Most Africans are referred to by the country they live in or one of several hundreddifferent ethnic groups to which they belong. Some of these groups includeSub-Saharan Africans, Pygmies, Khoikhoi, San, Arabs, Berbers, Europeans, andAsians.

Major Ethnic Groups

Sub-Saharan Africans are one of the oldest and most diverse groups of peoplein the world. There are hundreds of ethnic groups included in this, including theIgbo and the Yoruba of west and central Africa, the Kikuyu of eastern Africa, andthe Zulu of southern Africa. The members of these different ethnic groups arelinked by a shared history, culture, language, religion, artistic traditions, and wayof life.

Pygmies include the Aka, Mbuti, Efe, Twa, and other ethnic groups inhabiting thetropical forests of the Congo River Basin in central Africa. Pygmy comes from anancient Greek word referring to the characteristic short stature of these people.Today, many people consider the name “pygmy” insulting.

Two of the most ancient cultures in the world, the Khoikhoi and the San groupsonce lived throughout the southern and eastern parts of Africa. The two groupsspeak languages with clicking sounds.

The Arabs first settled in Africa in the 1600s. Most of the Arab population lives inEgypt, northern Sudan, and along the Mediterranean coast.

People in the Berber group have lived in the northwestern part of Africa sinceprehistoric times. Berber comes from a Greek word meaning foreigner. Berberstoday live mainly in Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Western Sahara, Mali,and Niger.

Europeans first settled in Africa during the 1600s. Most of the people in Africa ofEuropean ancestry are British, Dutch or French. The majority of Europeandescendants live along the Mediterranean coast, in the Republic of South Africa,in Zimbabwe, and in parts of east Africa.

Many people of Asian ancestry live in southern and eastern Africa. Most aredescendants of people who came from India during the 1800s. Many people ofAsian ancestry live in Madagascar.


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Common Swahili (Kiswahili) TermsThe Swahili language, also pronounced

Kiswahili (the ki prefix means language)is spoken in Eastern Africa. The

Swahili language is based on the ancientBantu language, and also borrows from

the Arabic, English, German,Portuguese, and many other languages.

mother- mzaafather- abusister- dadabrother- ahi

tree- mtisky- anga

friend- mtanihello- jambo

good bye- alamsiki

Pronouncing vowels in Swahili

English Swahilia ah!e sayi beo ho!u too

Afrikaans Language Translations

English Afrikaans

Afrikaans Afrikaans ah-free-KAHNSMother moeder MOH-derFather fader FAH-derSister suster SUS-terBrother broer BREW-er

Language

Most African ethnic groups have their ownlanguage or dialect, so there are more than1,000 languages spoken across thecontinent. Communication can be difficult attimes even though a typical African speaksmore than one language. Arabic, Swahili,and Hausa are the languages most oftenspoken in Africa. Languages are split intosix groups. The first three families, knownas indigenous African languages, originatedin and are spoken only on the continent ofAfrica.

1. Niger-Kordofanian is the largest family oflanguages and is spoken throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. It includes over 300 Bantulanguages including Swahili, Ganda(Luganda), Kikuyu (Kikikuyu or Gigikuyu),Kongo (Kikongo), Rundi (Kirundi),Sesotho, and Zulu (isiZulu). It alsoincludes some non-Bantu languages likeAkan; Igbo, or Ibo; and Yoruba. Theselanguages are mainly spoken in westernand central Africa

2. Africans who live in parts of Chad, Kenya,Mali, Niger, Sudan, Tanzania and Ugandaspeak Nilo-Saharan languages. Spokenby 30 million people, it includes languageslike Bari, Dinka, Kalenjin, Kanuri, andMaasai.

3. Khoisan languages, or “click languages”,spoken by about 120,000 people aredifferent from any other African languagebecause many of the words are spokenwith unusual clicking sounds. The Sanand Khoikhoi of southwestern Africa speakthese languages as well as two ethnicgroups in Tanzania.

4. Afro-Asian languages are spoken in thenorthern half of Africa. Spoken by 285million people, this family includes Arabicand Berber. More Africans speak Arabicthan any other single language. OtherAfro-Asian languages are Amharic,Orominga, Hausa, and Somali.


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GovernmentAfrica is divided into 54 different countries. The largest is Sudan, with an area of967,500 square miles (2,505,813 sq km). Nigeria has the largest population withmore than 130 million people.

The majority of African countries are republics ruled by elected officials with apresident as the head, however, in contrast with many westernrepublics, many of these governments are unstable, violent,and authoritarian. Military coups, dictatorships, andterritorial disputes are common in Africa. From the early 1960sto the late 1980s there were over 70 coups in Africa and 13

presidents assassinated.

Due to weak governments and political structures, many countries experiencewidespread famine and disease. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) andthe Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are two diseases that havebecome a deadly epidemic in Africa. In addition, human rights abuses occur inmany countries. A greater recognition of the need for basic human rights for allhas begun, but several countries still abuse those rights.

Although some countries have tried to have a democratic government, few havesucceeded. That is beginning to change and the future is looking brighter fordemocracy in Africa. In addition, African countries are beginning to help eachother out more and rely on assistance from each other rather than relying onforeign countries.

How are some African governments different from a democracy? A democraticgovernment is a form of government where the people or the majority of thepeople rule themselves. The people make policies, rules and laws, usually byvoting. Republics are similar to a democracy, except in a republicangovernment, a president, elected by the people, makes the policies, rules, andlaws. Authoritarian governments are based on oppression and dictatorship withlittle or no input from the people.

Geography and ClimateMost of Africa’s land is a plateau. The land is low in thenorth and west, higher in the south and east, and is madeof mostly metamorphic rock. The entire continent issurrounded by a narrow continental shelf. The lowestpoint is in Lake Assal in Djibouti, 509 feet (155 m) belowsea level. The highest point in is Mt. Uhuro in Tanzania at19,340 feet (5895 m).Africa is such a large continent that it has many differentclimates. There are eight main regions in Africa, each withits own unique climate depending on its distance from theequator.


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Ethiopian HighlandsThe Ethiopian Highlands Region is home to 80% of Africa’s tallest mountains.These mountains have helped shelter Ethiopia from intruders and preserve itsvery distinct culture.

EthiopiaPopulation: 64,117,452Government: Federal RepublicCapital: Addis AbabaSize: 437,794 square milesEthnic Groups: Oromo, Amhara, and TigreReligion: 45-50% Muslim, 35-40% Ethiopian Orthodox, otherOfficial Language: AmharicGDP: $33.3 billion (1999)Currency: BirrClimate: Tropical monsoon

Ethiopia, located in Ethiopian Highlands, is the only African country never to becolonized. It is plagued by drought approximately every 10 years. This causesgreat famine in the country and forces Ethiopia to rely on other countries forsupport.

Great Lakes RegionThe Great Lakes Region, with lakes located in nine countries in the eastern andcentral parts of Africa, has the world’s largest freshwater system.

KenyaPopulation: 30,339,770Government: RepublicCapital: NairobiSize: 224,711 square milesEthnic Groups: 22% Kikuyu, 14% Luhya, 13% Luo, 12% Kalenjin, 11% Kamba,6% Kisii, 6% Meru, 15% otherReligion: 38% Protestant, 28% Roman Catholic, 26% African Religions, 7%Muslim, 1% otherOfficial Language: English and KiswahiliGDP: $45.1 billion (1999)Currency: Kenyan shillingClimate: Tropical along coast, arid in center

Have you ever wanted to go on safari? Kenya, located on the eastern coast ofAfrica in the Great Lakes Region, is the most famous safari destination in theworld with over 24 national parks. Much of northeastern Kenya is a flat, bush-covered plain, but there are also beautiful beaches, highlands, and lake regions.The Great Rift Valley and Mount Kenya are also located in Kenya.


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RainforestThe African Rainforest is home to more than half of the continents animalpopulation. Unfortunately, over 90% of the rainforest has been wiped out by roadconstruction and farming. Governments of countries located in the rainforest aretorn between protecting the rainforest and the need for money, roads, and jobs.

GhanaPopulation: 19,533,560Government: Constitutional DemocracyCapital: AccraSize: 92,098 square milesEthnic Groups: 44% Akan, 16% Moshi-Dagomba, 13% Ewa, 8%GaReligion: 38% African Religion, 30% Muslim, 24% Christian, 8% otherOfficial Language: EnglishGDP: 35.5 billion (1999)Currency: New CediClimate: Tropical

Ghana, also known as the “Gold Coast”, was the first African country to gainindependence. Rainforests cover the northern third of this country.

Sahara Desert RegionHave you ever heard of the Sahara Desert? The Sahara Desert is the world’slargest hot desert and is found in Africa. You certainly wouldn’t want to get lost inthis desert; it is 3.3 million square miles! The Sahara makes up 25% of thecontinent of Africa.

Located at the northern tip of Africa, the Sahara acts as a border between theArab-influenced north and the southern African countries. Groups of people wholive in the Sahara include Tuaregs, Arabs, Berbers, Tubus, and Moroccans.These people first came to the Sahara in search of gold, ivory and salt. Endlesstrains of camel caravans hauled the resources across the desert. Camels arestill used today, but people in the salt trade now use trucks.


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EgyptPopulation: 68,359,979Government: RepublicCapital: CairoSize: 385,230 square milesEthnic Groups: Egyptians, Berbers, Bedouins, Greeks, Nubians, Armenians, andEuropeansReligion: 94% Muslim, 6% Christian and other religionsOfficial Language: ArabicGDP: $200 billion (1999)Currency: Egyptian poundClimate: Desert

Egypt is the world’s largest Arab country. The country is rich in crude oil andpetroleum products and also exports cotton, textiles, metal and chemicals. Egyptis known for the Nile River stretching 750 miles through the country. As it islocated in the desert, Egypt experiences many droughts, sandstorms and hotweather.

MoroccoPopulation: 30,122,350Government: Constitutional MonarchyCapital: RabatSize: 177,117 square milesEthnic Groups: Arab-BerberReligion: MuslimOfficial Language: ArabicGDP: $108 billion (1999)Currency: DirhamClimate: Mediterranean

Morocco is located in the northwestern corner of Africa. The Sahara Desert andthe Atlas Mountains separate Morocco from other African countries. Moroccohas the highest mountains in Northern Africa, many of them unstable, causingfrequent earthquakes.

Sahel RegionThe Sahel region is a narrow band of land just south of the Sahara Desert. TheSahel first attracted Arabs looking for gold in the Sudan and Europeans lookingfor slaves in West Africa. These two influences merged with the locals andformed a very complex culture. The Sahel region is one of the poorest and mostenvironmentally damaged areas in the world; its people are constantly battlingfamine, droughts and overpopulation.


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SudanPopulation: 35,079,814Government: in transitionCapital: KhartoumSize: 967,499 square milesEthnic Groups: 52% African, 39% ArabReligion: 70% Sunni Muslim, 30% ChristianOfficial Language: ArabicGDP: $32.6 billion (1999)Currency: Sudanese dinarClimate: Tropical in south, desert in north

Sudan is the largest country in Africa and has a lot of African and Arabinfluences. For the past 20 years, the country of Sudan has been torn apart bycivil war between the Arabs in the north and the Christians and animists of thesouth. This has caused over 1.5 million deaths and many refugees.

SavannaThe savanna is usually what you picture when you think of Africa. A GreatPlains region with rolling grasslands, the savanna is where zebras, wildebeests,buffalo, and giraffes make their homes.

TanzaniaPopulation: 35,106,126Government: RepublicCapital: Dar es SalaamSize: 364,900 square milesEthnic Groups: 99% Native African, 1% otherReligion: 45% Christian, 35% Muslim, 20% African ReligionOfficial Language: Kiswahili and EnglishGDP: $23.3 billion (1999)Currency: Tanzanian shillingClimate: Tropical along coast

Tanzania is home to some of Africa’s largest wildlife populations. Surrounded bythree Great Lakes, Tanzania is also home to Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highestmountain.


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Southern Africa RegionSouth AfricaPopulation: 43,421,021Government: RepublicCapital: Pretoria – administrative, Cape Town – legislative, Bloemfontain –judicialSize: 47,011 square milesEthnic Groups: 75% Black, 14% white, 11% otherReligion: 68% Christian, 2% Muslim, 1.5% Hindu, 28.5% African ReligionOfficial Languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga,Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, ZuluGDP: $296.1 billion (1999)Currency: RandClimate: Semi-arid, tropical along coast

At the very southernmost tip of Africa is South Africa. South Africa touches theAtlantic Ocean in the west and the Indian Ocean in the east. The northern sideof South Africa meets Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, andSwaziland.

The Kalahari Desert is located in the northern part of South Africa, but othersections of South Africa have thick green forests and valleys. If you travel farinland, you will find tall mountains and the flat grasslands, also called “veld”,Dutch for “field”.

There are three main rivers in South Africa: the Orange, the Vall, and theLimpopo. The rivers are short, shallow, and sometimes filled with sand insteadof water. The country is sunny and dry so water dries up quickly in South Africa.

For a very long time, people from an ethnic group called theKhoisan were the only people living in South Africa. Hundreds ofyears ago, Bantu-speaking people arrived to South Africa andbegan pushing the Khoisan people to the south and the west.

Today, people from many ethnic groups live in South Africa.Black South Africans make up the majority of the population. TheZulu and the Xhosa are the two largest groups of Black South Africans. Somewhite South Africans speak English because their ancestors came from GreatBritain. Others of European descent speak Afrikaans, a language based onDutch.

For almost 40 years, the South African people were under a set of laws calledapartheid. Apartheid separated South Africans by race. The white SouthAfricans (who were a very small minority) controlled the government and peopleof different groups lived in separate areas and went to separate schools.


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Apartheid laws ended in 1990. Nelson Mandela, a black man, was electedpresident of South Africa in 1994.

The big cities of South Africa are much like the big cities in any other country.They have many high-rise buildings, shopping malls, restaurants and parks.People get around the cities by taxi, bus, or a tuk tuk. A tuk tuk is a two or four-wheeled cart that is pulled by a person on foot. The largest city in South Africais Johannesburg (Jo’burg). People who live in or near to the big cities have largenew homes, usually occupied by a family of two parents and their children. Theoldest city in South Africa is called Cape Town, known as being one of the mostbeautiful cities in the world.

The neighborhoods in the country are called townships. Most are crowded withhouses built close together. People who live in the townships do not have waterin their homes and must haul it from wells. South African families are close-knit.That is a good thing, since most of them live all together. In the country, you willfind sisters, brothers, parents, grandparents as well as aunts, uncles andcousins, all living together.

You will find some of the world’s largest animals in South Africa. Elephants,lions, leopards, buffalo, and rhinoceroses are all found in South Africa, as well asgiraffes and springbok antelope. The springbok antelope is South Africa’snational animal.

There are about 32 different languages and dialects spoken in South Africa.South Africans speak the language Afrikaans more than any other language,however, many South Africans speak two or three languages. Afrikaans, spokemostly in South Africa, is based on the Dutch language. It also has words fromEnglish, German, French, Malay, Portuguese, and other South Africanlanguages. Many South Africans also speak English because that is thelanguage they use in school. Some South Africans speak their own locallanguages such as Zulu, Ndebele, Swati and Tonga.

South African children begin attending school when they are 7 years old. Whenchildren first attend school in South Africa, they learn in their native language. Asthey get older, they learn English and Afrikaans. A typical school day lasts from8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and covers math, science, geography, religion, and homeeconomics.

The oldest religion practiced in South Africa is African religion, although someSouth Africans practice Christianity. Most Christians belong to the DutchReformed Church.


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ZimbabwePopulation: 11,342,521Government: Parliamentary democracyCapital: HarareSize: 150,580 square milesEthnic Groups: 71% Shona, 16% Ndbele, 13% otherReligion: 50% Christian-indigenous beliefs, 25% Christian, 24%African Religion,1% Muslim and otherOfficial Language: EnglishGDP: $26.5 billion (1999)Currency: Zimbabwean dollarClimate: Tropical

Zimbabwe is located in the southern base of Africa. Victoria Falls, bordering bothZimbabwe and Zambia, has a span of 5600 feet (1700 m) and a drop of 420 feet(128 m) into the Zambezi Gorge. The falls create a huge cloud of mist and sucha roaring sound they can be heard from as far as 25 miles (40 km) away!

Unfortunately, Zimbabwe faces a national crisis. AIDS/HIV has devastated thiscountry. The average life expectancy in this country is 38 years old and morethan 25% of the adults in this country are infected with AIDS or HIV.

Swahili CoastThe Swahili Coast is located along the southeastern side ofAfrica on the Indian Ocean. In ancient times, Arabs,Greeks, and Romans who came to East Africa in search ofslaves visited this coast.

MozambiquePopulation: 19,104,696Government: RepublicCapital: MaputoSize: 309,496 square milesEthnic Groups: Tribal groups including Shangaan, Chokwe, Manyika, and SenaReligion: 50% African Religion, 30% Christian, 20% MuslimOfficial Language: PortugueseGDP: $18.7 billion (1999)Currency: MeticalClimate: Tropical to sub-tropical

Mozambique is known for its beautiful beaches, but also for a long history ofviolence. By the 18th century, slavery was the main contributor to Mozambique’seconomy. After a 10-year revolution in the 1960s, Mozambique’s future began tolook more promising.


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ReligionA large variety of diverse religions are practiced in Africa. Approximately 40% ofall Africans are Christian (belief that there is one God and Jesus Christ is theMessiah), 40% are Muslims, (belief that Allah is god and Mohammed is hisprophet) and 20% are followers of African religion.

There are more than 6,000 ethnic groups following the African religion with eachgroup practicing it the religion in their own way. Each religion sect is different notonly from each other, but from many other world religions as well. There is onething in common between all of these sects; each believes in certain passages oflife and guides its followers through those passages of life.

Traditional African religion, unlike other religions practice on the continent,originated in Africa. It is the oldest of all African faiths. The other religions thatare practiced all originated in other parts of the world. African religion is differentfrom other religions such as Christianity and Judaism in many ways.

African religion does not have a single founder, but originates with the peoplethemselves (similar to Native American and Asian religions). People whopractice African religion base their religious beliefs on the answers they seekabout life: Why are we here? How do we live well? Why do we die?

There are no churches in African religion. Instead, there are shrines that are builtaccording to traditions of the particular region where that African religion ispracticed. People who practice African religion may also turn to a natural objectsuch as a tree or mountain to focus their worship on.

The African religion has been passed down through time by oral storytelling.They do not have a Bible or book that tells the history of their religion. The moralbeliefs and rules are passed down from generation to generation by word ofmouth. Many of the people who practice African religion cannot read or write, butare trained to act out or recite the history of their religion. Typically, a group ofvillagers will gather and the elders will tell the children about the beginning of theworld. Children listen intently to the stories and myths of their culture andpeople.

There are four different ways African religion is passed down: Stories are told to educate about life and to entertain. Myths are about religious subjects and try to answer questions such as

“where do we come from?” Legends are bodies of stories about families, individuals, and heroes.

While they are based on facts, they tend to be retold so many times thatthey become fictional

Proverbs are short statements expressing wisdom about our creation andhuman experiences


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African religion teaches that people are made up of moral, social, spiritual, andphysical parts. The parts all function together; if any part is out of balance, aperson may become physically or spiritually ill. For example, someone whocommits a crime or moral misdeed may experience misfortune. Those whopractice African religion believe in community. People of this faith share theirproperty and expect others to share with them.

In addition, those who practice African religion do not set aside specific times ordays for prayer or worship. Their religion, culture and everyday life are sointertwined that they view it all as one. Religion is simply a part of their everydayliving.

In the African religion, there are common rites and rituals. Rites of passageand other rituals are the biggest examples of how religion is such a huge part ofdaily life. Rites of Passage are practices, customs, and ceremonies that peopleperform to move through the stages of life such as birth and childhood, pubertyand initiation, marriage, aging, and death. Africans use ritual, prayer, music,dance, sacrifice, and ritual leaders to perform these rites.

African Rulers are political and religious leaders. There is no such thing asseparation of church and state in African religion. In African religion, instead ofpriests or ministers, there are a variety of religious leaders performing differentduties. Some of the leaders have titles like priest, priestess, healer, diviner,medium, seer, rainmaker, elder, and ruler. Each leader has a special role in thereligious community.

Kings, queens, or chiefs have power, authority, and influence and arebound by both obligation and taboos. In many countries, the king is alsothe high priest and is responsible for leading his people both spirituallyand politically.

Priests oversee religious matters in the community.

Mediums, usually women, believe they can communicate with the spiritworld. Mediums are attached either to a priest at temple or to a diviner.Spirits are said to speak through mediums to humans.

Diviners unveil the unknown to try and solve problems in the community.

Healers help the health and well being of people in the community.Healers have a vast knowledge of herbal medicine and are said to havesuperhuman powers. They are often referred to as the “person with thebag” because they always carry a bag. It is customary for healers to wearamulets and other accessories believed to help in healing.


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Rainmakers are specialists in religious matters relating to rain. Theydetermine why the rain falls, why there is too much or not enough rain,and they perform rites to make sure that rain will fall at proper times.

Traditional African religion varies depending on the region or the people. Thethings they all have in common include: All things in the universe are part of a whole; they do not distinguish

between sacred and nonsacred. There is a Supreme Being who is creator, provider, and controller of all

creation. There are lesser gods and guardian spirits serving with the Creator. The

lesser gods are always involved with people. People communicate withthe lesser gods through rituals, sacrifices and prayers.

Humans are imperfect and always will be. Sickness, suffering, and deathare all parts of life. Suffering is caused by sins or misdeeds that offendthe gods or society.

Certain rituals may relieve some problems or conflicts if they satisfy theoffended god.

Human society is communal. Relationships between the living, dead andthose not yet born are very important. The spirit world is all around andhumans need only to interact with it. They believe that whatever happensto a single person affects everyone.

Ancient signs of religious life are still found in Africa today. For example, thepyramids of Egypt are not just great wonders of the world, they are religiousstructures showing religious beliefs in ancient times. Other ancient religions ofAfrica include Judaism, which originated in the Middle East, but was also found inancient Africa (mainly Egypt). Another religion, called Falashas, was practiced inEthiopia. Also called Ethiopian Jewish, this religion was based on the OldTestament of the Bible, but included elements from African religion as well. Theybelieved in using charms, amulets, and magic.

Islam first came to Africa when Muslims conquered North Africa in the early 8th

century. They began in Egypt and followed the eastern coast down to the centerof Africa. Many Asian people who settled in Africa also brought the Muslimreligion with them.

Islam, meaning “submission to God”, is the second largest religion in the world.People who practice Islam believe that Muhammad is a messenger to whom Godrevealed his plan for mankind. There are many subgroups in the Islam religion;the two largest groups are Sunni and Shi’a.


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During the 15th and 19th centuries there was a huge wave of Portuguese,Spanish, British, French and Dutch settlers who all staked claims to land inAfrica. With the European settlers were priests and missionaries who taughtChristianity. Historians believe Christianity was first practiced in Africa in 40 ADin Alexandria. Around the same time, another Christian community began inEgypt. Another way that Christianity spread to the African continent was around44 BC through the Roman province of Carthage.

Christianity is the largest religion in the world with over 2 billion adherents.Christians believe in Jesus Christ as the founder and central figure of theirreligion. Different sects of Christianity are practiced depending on the cultureand place. Traditionally, Christianity is separated into three groups, 1)Catholicism, 2) Eastern Christianity, and 3) Protestantism.


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Holidays and Traditions

Africans celebrate many different holidays and celebrations throughout the year.

Food is a very important part of many African holidays and celebrations. Certainfoods are eaten for certain celebrations. For example, before a baby is named,the parents eat nuts to show proper respect to the gods. If nuts are not eaten, itis said that the baby will have bad luck.

Every July, thousands of people go the biggest festival in South Africa, theGrahamstown Festival. Festival-goers will find costumed performers strolling thestreets and artists selling their work from booths. Writers and poets read theirwork out loud and there are dancers and musicians who also entertain thepeople.

On Christmas Eve in South Africa, Christian children leave their pillows at thefoot of their beds. During the night, Father Christmas sneaks in and fills theirpillowcases with presents and goodies!

Twelve days after Christmas Ethiopian Christians celebrate Timkat, the baptismof Jesus in the River Jordan. Ethiopian Christians believe this day is the holiestof all days; priests form a procession through the city of Lalibela to the RiverJordan in memory of the baptism of Jesus.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic year and is celebrated by Muslims.One of the last ten nights of Ramadan is called the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr). According to Islamic beliefs, this night is better than a thousand months,and some Muslims spend the entire night in prayer. At the end of Ramadan, Eidul-Fitr is celebrated. This celebration is a time for Muslim families and friends toworship and celebrate together.

Swahili people celebrate the traditional Ramadan, but also observe Hajj, anannual pilgrimage to the Mecca. Hajj brings together Muslims from all races andlanguages to the birthplace of Islam. The journey is a detailed one with manyrituals performed along the way.

The Baka people of the rainforest have male initiation ceremonies. During theseceremonies (closed to females, foreigners, and children), the elders use drums tosummon Jengi, the forest spirit.


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EconomicsThe countries in Africa vary in size, rates of economic development and growth,and amounts of international trade. Because of this, there is a large difference inpolitical and economic systems and an uneven distribution of natural resources.

Africa has great mineral wealth. Huge deposits of copper,diamonds, gold and petroleum can be found in Africa. Thereare also valuable forests, water and waterfalls. Most of theworld’s cocoa beans, cassava, and yams come from Africa.Even with these great assets, Africa is the least economicallydeveloped continent (except Antarctica). The majority ofAfrican countries must rely on aid from other countries in orderto survive.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures economic development inAfrica. The GDP is the value of all goods and services produced by a country.Africa’s total GDP in 2002 was $1.75 trillion (in contrast, the United States’ GDPin 2002 was $10.4 trillion). South Africa has the largest economy in Africa.Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, and Morocco also have large economies.

Per capita income is the average amount of money a person makes in oneyear. To determine per capita income the GDP is divided by the population. Inthe early 2000s, the average per capita income in Africa was $650.

AgricultureAgriculture plays a leading role in Africa’s economics. Farm equipment and toolsare outdated and the soil is thin and poor so it is very difficult to make a livingfrom farming. Two-thirds of the African people live in rural areas; most of themmake a living from raising livestock and growing crops.

The countries with the greatest amount offarming are Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, SouthAfrica, and Sudan. Crops in Africa are dividedinto two categories, staple food crops andexport crops. Staple food crops include grainssuch as corn, millet, rice, sorghum, wheat,various legumes (peas, peanuts, and beans),fruits, and vegetables. Most staple crops arefor the farmers themselves to eat.

Africa’s leading export crops include cacao (cocoa), coffee, cotton, kola nuts,palm oil, sugar, tea, and tobacco. Export crops are usually grown on farms,called plantations, often owned by very wealthy people, large companies, or thegovernment.


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Different crops are grown in different areas of Africa depending on the climate ofthat region. Yams and cassava are more common in the wet tropical areas ofwestern Africa, but corn is more common in the grasslands of eastern andsouthern Africa. Wheat is the major staple crop in northern Africa, whereirrigation is also more commonly used. In the highlands of Ethiopia and otherparts of eastern Africa, a plant called khat (also spelled kat or qat) has been animportant crop for hundreds of years.

ManufacturingIn urban areas, there is a lack of money to build factories and a shortage ofskilled workers. That makes it hard for African industries to compete withindustries on other continents.

MiningAfrica has one of the world’s largest reserves of chromium, cobalt, gold,manganese, phosphates, platinum, uranium, and vanadium. Substantialquantities of other metals, including bauxite (aluminum ore), copper, iron, nickel,and zinc, are also found throughout Africa. Africa is also a major producer of oiland natural gas.

The Republic of South Africa has the most developed mining industry in Africa,but other countries such as Angola, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe also havelarge mining industries. South Africa produces the world’s greatest amount ofgold and Botswana produces the world’s largest amount of diamonds.

Africa is full of valuable natural resources, but unfortunately, the profit that comesfrom these resources does not benefit the African people. Foreign companiesown most of the mining companies and employment in the mines is limited andthe pay is low.


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Special InterestsAfrica has many overlapping cultures reflected in the various art forms.

The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt and the Ethiopian churches at Lalibelademonstrate the engineering and architectural accomplishments of this largecontinent.

From ancient dance rhythms to modern African hip-hop, music is one of Africa’sgreatest art forms. Music plays a big part in African religion, healing, andcelebrations. Africa is a diverse continent with many different kinds of people,languages, religion and even music. African Pop Music is similar to popularmusic in many other countries. There are popular teen idols, boy and girl groupsand bands. In addition to indigenous pop, African people listen to rock and roll,hip-hop and other types of music imported from other countries. Music is notonly important to the African people for entertainment; it plays an important rolein religious rituals and healing ceremonies.There are many other types of music that are popular in Africa:

Benga originated in Kenya and is popular throughout the continent. Gnawa is Moroccan music played at healing ceremonies. Highlife is dance music popular in Ghana and Nigeria. Wassoulou is a musical style with a strong Arabic feel along with the

sound of the scraping karinyang, women play the fle, a calabash strungwith cowrie shells, which they spin and throw into the air in time to themusic.

Were is a Muslim style music played to wake people up early for breakfastduring Ramadan celebrations.

African CraftsAfrican crafts are passed down from generation to generation. Year after yearparents teach their children how to do the crafts that their parents taught them.African people like to make many different things by hand, especially practicalthings. For example, they make bowls and baskets to carry food, weave theirown clothing and handcraft many tools.


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Crafts made in different areas of Africa are influenced by materials and resourcesfound in those areas. For example, paper was first crafted in Egypt wherepapyrus plants grow along the Nile River. In areas of Africa where there arerainforests, crafters carve masks and figurines from wood. In East Africa,carvings are made from soapstone. The Ndbele people are known for theircolorful handcrafted jewelry as well as for the geometric patterns they paint ontheir houses.

Some examples of African Crafts are: Senufo Mud Painting: The Senufo live in the northern part of Cote d’lvoire.

Senufo artisans use dark, slushy river mud to paint fabric. Some of thefabric is used to make clothing. Hunters wear clothing with mud paintingsof animals. The black and white of the paintings helps to camouflagethem during the hunt. They believe the animal spirits will keep them safeand give them a successful hunt.

First, they weave the fabric into several strips, then sew the strips togetherto make clothing. Next the fabric is stretched and nailed to a woodenboard and is ready to paint. Senufo artisans collect mud from nearbyswamps. Next they draw outlines of their designs with a knife bladedipped in dye made from boiled leaves. When the outline has dried, theyuse the knife blade or a toothbrush to color in the outline with the mudpaint.

Mud painters often draw crocodiles, turtles, monkeys and chameleons.These animals are commonly seen in the Cote d’lvoire region and are alsobelieved by the Senufo to be the first animals on earth.

Asante Adinkra Stamping: The Asante live in Western Africa. They like todecorate and print fabric with stamping, then make the fabric into clothes.At one time, Adinkra (which means “good-bye”) stamped clothing was onlyworn for funerals, but today it is worn on everyday clothing as well as usedfor curtains and pillows.

Artisans cut patterned blocks from dried calabashes and then put dye onthe blocks and place on the fabric they are decorating. The dye is madefrom boiled tree bark and sometimes egg whites are added to make itglossy.

The designs are usually stamped inside squares drawn on the fabric witha small amount of dye. Each square is stamped with one pattern repeatedseveral times. The shapes of the designs have special meaning and tellabout the person wearing them. For example, a spider web design meanswisdom and creativity, while a fence design means security and love.


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Fon Story Pictures: The Fon of Benin use story cloths to tell their historyand legends. Benin used to be called Dahomey and was once one of therichest and most powerful kingdoms in West Africa. The kings askedartisans to make colorful story banners and umbrellas to tell about theirhistory. These banners would hang behind the king’s throne and theumbrellas were used to shade him from the sun. Today, these bannershang in many homes and can be bought in the African markets.

Story pictures are made with cotton cloth. Figures and objects are cutfrom bold colors such as blue and red and then sewn on a backgroundthat is usually black. The method used for sewing the figures on is calledappliqué. A popular design used on story cloths made for Dahomey kingswas the pineapple. Dahomey legend said that pineapples were neverstruck by lightning.

Ndbele Bead Bracelets: The Nbdele live in Zimbabwe and the Republic ofSouth Africa. Southern Ndbele women are known for their handcraftedbeaded bracelets and other jewelry. They make threads from grasses andstring tiny glass beads together in rows. Women and children wear thesebracelets on their wrists and ankles everyday. In the past, young Nbdelegirls would begin wearing beaded necklaces and bracelets and wouldnever take them off. They would add more beaded jewelry as they gotolder. On some special occasions, Nbdele women would wear up to 50pounds of jewelry! Women do not wear as much jewelry today, but thecraft of making beaded jewelry is still popular.

Tutsi Basket: A common craft among the Tutsi is weaving coiled baskets.Artisans collect long strands of dried grass and coil it around and aroundand bind it together with thinner strands of grass.

Tutsi girls learn the art of basket weaving from their mother, grandmothersand aunts. They weave many different kinds of baskets for different tasks.Large storage baskets are woven to hold grain. The lids of these arepointed to help keep insects out. Some baskets are made very small andwoven tightly together so children can drink milk from them.

To weave the baskets, artisans use flat strands of grass and weave themover and under each other to form the bottom and sides of the basket.Some grass strands are dyed with bark or fruit juices to add color. Bychanging the color, amount and size of the strands, the weaver canchange the size and pattern of the basket.


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Some Ethiopian Foods

Alecha stew

Berbere red paste with lots ofspices

Doro Wat chicken Stew

Injera pancake

Niter Kebbeh spicy butter

Shiro Wat vegetable stew

Sik Sik Wat beef stew

Teff ancient grain ofEurope

Wat stew

Tej honey-based wine

Iab lemon flavored cottagecheese and yogurt

Talla beer

A popular game played by both adults and children in Kenya is calledKigogo. The game is played by moving seeds or other markers on aboard that has 14 cups. Sometimes they make the game board bydigging small holes in the dirt or sand at the beach. Some Kigogo boardsare carved with intricate figurines on them. The game is played all overAfrica and is called other names such as mankala or mancala and oware.The names mean “transferring”.

Islamic Art Boxes: When Arab armies conquered parts of Africa in the17th century, they brought the Islamic religion with them. People whopractice this faith are called Muslims. Muslim artists do not show animalsor people in their art, so they use a lot of geometric shapes and mosaics.Woodworkers carve designs on doors, walls, furniture and boxes. Islamicart also shows flowers, leaves and Arabic writing.

Guro Animal Masks: The Guro live in wooded grasslands called savannas.They create masks and costumes to wear for ceremonies and festivalsdepicting elephants, antelope, water buffalo and hippos like those found intheir region. These masks are made for bothentertainment and spiritual reasons.

FoodsWhat did you have to eat for your last Thanksgivingdinner? Did you have a turkey stuffed with dressing?Bedouin Tribes in Africa make a certain stuffed mealfor special occasions too. To make this special dish,you stuff a fish with egg. Sound easy enough? Wait!You must then take the fish and stuff a chicken withit. The chicken is then put into a sheep. Finally, thesheep is stuffed into a camel and the whole thing isroasted. That is quite a stuffing!

Africans raise cattle, pigs, chickens, and goats fortheir food. Staple crops are food most commonlyused in Africa. These staples include corn, millet,rice, peanuts, coffee, cocoa, and grains. In parts ofthe savanna that are wet, farmers grow grains,beans, sweet potatoes, soybeans, and more. Someof these crops are sold for money, but the majority ofAfrican farmers grow just enough crops to feed theirfamilies.


Another common food in Africa is fish. Africans use large nets and catch largequantities of fish to both feed their families and sstaples are scarce, African people rely on herbs, roots, and berries as food.

Some popular African dishes include Cow Peas in Coconut, Vegetable Stew,Cabbage and Eggs, Barbecue Chicken, Fruit Salad (with papaya, mango,pineapple, and banana), Chicken Stew, and Sweet Potato Fritters.Like many large continents, the foods vary from country to country just like thepeople, the land, and the climate.

For example, Ethiopia is known for spicy, simple dishes. Many of the foEthiopia are based on a grain called teff. Teff is made into dough used to makebreads eaten with stews andthe bread made from teff is used in place of utensilspiece of bread like it was a spoon! A typical Ethiopian meal would include wat, apopular spicy dish similar to stew; butter flavored with onions, garlic, and ginger;bread; and vegetable fritters. Common beverages with this meal are tej, ahoney-based wine, or talla, beer. Coffee sweetened with honey is usually drunkat the end of the meal. Lab, similar to cottage cheesewith lemon and herbs, might be served for dessert.

AnimalsGrassland biomes are divided into two groups, the savgrasslands. Savannas are warm, tropical grasslands scattered with individualtrees covering almost half of Africa. Thereanimals on the savannas of Africa.

Zebras are part of the same family as the horse and areidentified by their pattern of black or brown stripes.Zebras have large heads, stiff manes, and stout bodies.They are smaller than a large horse. The Plains Zebra,found south of the Sahara, stands about 4 feet (120 cm)tall at the shoulder, has small earsstripes. Grevy’s Zebra weighs up to 600 pounds (270 kg) and stands astall as 5 feet (150 cm). Grevy’s Zebra has large, rounded ears and lots ofnarrow stripes. Another zebra found in Africa is the Mountain Zebra.Mountain Zebras resemble

Herds of as many as 200,000 zebras can be found on the Serengeti ofeastern Africa. Each herd is organized into family groups led by aZebras living on the plains mingle with other grazing animalantelopes and wildebeests. Zebras are fast runners, able to run up to 40mph. Zebras have been hunted for their skins, but the Grevy’s and Plainszebras are still found in large numbers across Africa.

food in Africa is fish. Africans use large nets and catch largequantities of fish to both feed their families and sell. In areas where meat andstaples are scarce, African people rely on herbs, roots, and berries as food.

Some popular African dishes include Cow Peas in Coconut, Vegetable Stew,Cabbage and Eggs, Barbecue Chicken, Fruit Salad (with papaya, mango,

neapple, and banana), Chicken Stew, and Sweet Potato Fritters.Like many large continents, the foods vary from country to country just like thepeople, the land, and the climate.

For example, Ethiopia is known for spicy, simple dishes. Many of the foEthiopia are based on a grain called teff. Teff is made into dough used to makebreads eaten with stews and flatbread-like pancakes called injera. Sometimesthe bread made from teff is used in place of utensils – stew is scooped up into a

bread like it was a spoon! A typical Ethiopian meal would include wat, apopular spicy dish similar to stew; butter flavored with onions, garlic, and ginger;bread; and vegetable fritters. Common beverages with this meal are tej, a

talla, beer. Coffee sweetened with honey is usually drunkab, similar to cottage cheese and yogurt blend

with lemon and herbs, might be served for dessert.

are divided into two groups, the savanna and temperategrasslands. Savannas are warm, tropical grasslands scattered with individualtrees covering almost half of Africa. There are a wide range ofanimals on the savannas of Africa.

Zebras are part of the same family as the horse and arepattern of black or brown stripes.

Zebras have large heads, stiff manes, and stout bodies.They are smaller than a large horse. The Plains Zebra,found south of the Sahara, stands about 4 feet (120 cm)tall at the shoulder, has small ears, and very broadstripes. Grevy’s Zebra weighs up to 600 pounds (270 kg) and stands astall as 5 feet (150 cm). Grevy’s Zebra has large, rounded ears and lots ofnarrow stripes. Another zebra found in Africa is the Mountain Zebra.Mountain Zebras resemble donkeys with their stout bodies and long ears.

Herds of as many as 200,000 zebras can be found on the Serengeti ofeastern Africa. Each herd is organized into family groups led by aZebras living on the plains mingle with other grazing animals such asantelopes and wildebeests. Zebras are fast runners, able to run up to 40mph. Zebras have been hunted for their skins, but the Grevy’s and Plainszebras are still found in large numbers across Africa.

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food in Africa is fish. Africans use large nets and catch largeell. In areas where meat and

staples are scarce, African people rely on herbs, roots, and berries as food.

Some popular African dishes include Cow Peas in Coconut, Vegetable Stew,Cabbage and Eggs, Barbecue Chicken, Fruit Salad (with papaya, mango,

Like many large continents, the foods vary from country to country just like the

For example, Ethiopia is known for spicy, simple dishes. Many of the foods inEthiopia are based on a grain called teff. Teff is made into dough used to make

njera. Sometimesstew is scooped up into a

bread like it was a spoon! A typical Ethiopian meal would include wat, apopular spicy dish similar to stew; butter flavored with onions, garlic, and ginger;bread; and vegetable fritters. Common beverages with this meal are tej, a

talla, beer. Coffee sweetened with honey is usually drunkblend flavored

anna and temperategrasslands. Savannas are warm, tropical grasslands scattered with individual

stripes. Grevy’s Zebra weighs up to 600 pounds (270 kg) and stands astall as 5 feet (150 cm). Grevy’s Zebra has large, rounded ears and lots ofnarrow stripes. Another zebra found in Africa is the Mountain Zebra.

donkeys with their stout bodies and long ears.

Herds of as many as 200,000 zebras can be found on the Serengeti ofeastern Africa. Each herd is organized into family groups led by a stallion.

s such asantelopes and wildebeests. Zebras are fast runners, able to run up to 40mph. Zebras have been hunted for their skins, but the Grevy’s and Plains


The rhinoceros is a huge animal with a large

skin. Now on the endangered species list, rhinos are not as numerous inAfrica as they used to be.

The African elephant is found south of the Sahara DeserMale African elephants, called bulls, can weigh six to eighttons (5,400 to 7,200 kg). Their tusks are more than 10 feet(3 m) long, weigh up to 200 pounds (90 kg), and are veryvaluable, as they are ivory. Female African elephants,called cows, are smaller than males and their tusks aremore slender than the bull’s. African elephants are knownfor their enormous ears measuring up to 42 inches (107cm) in diameter. Their long, wrinkly trunks separate into two fingerlikeends, used as appendages to pictrunks to pick up food, pick food out of trees, draw water to drink and tospray themselves, and to make loud, trumpeting sounds. Elephants eatfruits, leaves, and tall grasses. They eat hundreds of pounds of food a daand drink as much as 50 gallons (190 liters) of water! Elephants travel inherds of as many as 100 bulls, cows, and calves. One strong, young bullelephant leads elephant herds. Elephants walk at about 4 mph (6.4 km),and can charge at about 30 mph (48

do not have manes and are smaller in size. Lions are social cats and livein groups called prides of as many as 30 lions. Lions are meat eaters andhunt zebras, antelope, and even domestic animals such as cows.

The rhinoceros is a huge animal with a large snout and one or two horns.The skin on a rhino is very thick, hairless, andsometimes very wrinkly. Rhinos have stoutlegs and short feet with three toes each. Mostrhinos live near water and like to wallow in themud. They do not travel in herds, but tlive alone, except for the small birds that feedon parasites that living on the rhinoceros’s

skin. Now on the endangered species list, rhinos are not as numerous inAfrica as they used to be.

The African elephant is found south of the Sahara Desert.elephants, called bulls, can weigh six to eight

tons (5,400 to 7,200 kg). Their tusks are more than 10 feet(3 m) long, weigh up to 200 pounds (90 kg), and are veryvaluable, as they are ivory. Female African elephants,

maller than males and their tusks aremore slender than the bull’s. African elephants are knownfor their enormous ears measuring up to 42 inches (107cm) in diameter. Their long, wrinkly trunks separate into two fingerlikeends, used as appendages to pick up things. Elephants also use theirtrunks to pick up food, pick food out of trees, draw water to drink and tospray themselves, and to make loud, trumpeting sounds. Elephants eatfruits, leaves, and tall grasses. They eat hundreds of pounds of food a daand drink as much as 50 gallons (190 liters) of water! Elephants travel inherds of as many as 100 bulls, cows, and calves. One strong, young bullelephant leads elephant herds. Elephants walk at about 4 mph (6.4 km),and can charge at about 30 mph (48 km).

Lions are large cats found on the openplains, in African grasslands, and in the semidesert. Their coats are of short brown hair andtheir tails have short tufts of hair on the ends.Most male lions have manes growing from theirhead and necks. Male lions grow to 9 feet (2.7m) long (including a 3 foot tail) and stand about 3feet (90 cm) high. A grown male lion can weighas much as 400 pounds (180 kg). Female lions

do not have manes and are smaller in size. Lions are social cats and lives called prides of as many as 30 lions. Lions are meat eaters and

hunt zebras, antelope, and even domestic animals such as cows.

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snout and one or two horns.The skin on a rhino is very thick, hairless, andsometimes very wrinkly. Rhinos have stoutlegs and short feet with three toes each. Mostrhinos live near water and like to wallow in themud. They do not travel in herds, but tend tolive alone, except for the small birds that feedon parasites that living on the rhinoceros’s

skin. Now on the endangered species list, rhinos are not as numerous in

cm) in diameter. Their long, wrinkly trunks separate into two fingerlikek up things. Elephants also use their

trunks to pick up food, pick food out of trees, draw water to drink and tospray themselves, and to make loud, trumpeting sounds. Elephants eatfruits, leaves, and tall grasses. They eat hundreds of pounds of food a dayand drink as much as 50 gallons (190 liters) of water! Elephants travel inherds of as many as 100 bulls, cows, and calves. One strong, young bullelephant leads elephant herds. Elephants walk at about 4 mph (6.4 km),

Lions are large cats found on the openin the semi

desert. Their coats are of short brown hair andtheir tails have short tufts of hair on the ends.Most male lions have manes growing from their

le lions grow to 9 feet (2.7m) long (including a 3 foot tail) and stand about 3feet (90 cm) high. A grown male lion can weighas much as 400 pounds (180 kg). Female lions

do not have manes and are smaller in size. Lions are social cats and lives called prides of as many as 30 lions. Lions are meat eaters and

hunt zebras, antelope, and even domestic animals such as cows.


Baboons are large monkeys that live in the grasslands and bush of Africa.They have thick fur and some males have manes. B

fighting off their fiercest enemy, the leopard.

The giraffe lives in the open savanna south of theSahara Desert. Giraffesworld, measuring abhead to his hoof. Their necks, which can be up to 7 feet(2.1 m) long, help them to eat the leaves in the highestbranches. Giraffes also have long legs and can outrunmost of their enemies. Giraffes have been known to kione kick. The fur of a giraffe is light colored with large, dark, angularspots. They have short horns on their heads covered in hair. Giraffes havevery long tongues that they use to grab food, mainly acacia and mimosaleaves. Giraffes like to travel in small herds led by a male. They are oneof very few animals that cannot swim.

ConclusionAfrica is the land of diversity. With so many different and interesting people,strange and fascinating animals and a geography that contains evdeserts to rainforests to snowinterest there for everyone!

Baboons are large monkeys that live in the grasslands and bush of Africa.They have thick fur and some males have manes. Baboons are also

identified by their brightly colored buttocks! Baboonseat fruit, seeds, roots, and small animals. They travelin groups of 30 to 40, made up mostly of females.They gather in large groups, called troops, of up to350 baboons for protection and to sleep. Baboons arefierce animals and tend to show no fear, even when

fighting off their fiercest enemy, the leopard.

The giraffe lives in the open savanna south of theSahara Desert. Giraffes are the tallest animals in theworld, measuring about 18 feet (5.5 m) tall from hishead to his hoof. Their necks, which can be up to 7 feet(2.1 m) long, help them to eat the leaves in the highestbranches. Giraffes also have long legs and can outrunmost of their enemies. Giraffes have been known to kill a lion with justone kick. The fur of a giraffe is light colored with large, dark, angularspots. They have short horns on their heads covered in hair. Giraffes havevery long tongues that they use to grab food, mainly acacia and mimosa

es like to travel in small herds led by a male. They are oneof very few animals that cannot swim.

Africa is the land of diversity. With so many different and interesting people,strange and fascinating animals and a geography that contains everything fromdeserts to rainforests to snow-capped mountains there is definitely something ofinterest there for everyone!

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Baboons are large monkeys that live in the grasslands and bush of Africa.aboons are also

identified by their brightly colored buttocks! Baboonseat fruit, seeds, roots, and small animals. They travelin groups of 30 to 40, made up mostly of females.They gather in large groups, called troops, of up to

n and to sleep. Baboons arefierce animals and tend to show no fear, even when

ll a lion with justone kick. The fur of a giraffe is light colored with large, dark, angularspots. They have short horns on their heads covered in hair. Giraffes havevery long tongues that they use to grab food, mainly acacia and mimosa

es like to travel in small herds led by a male. They are one

Africa is the land of diversity. With so many different and interesting people,erything from

capped mountains there is definitely something of


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VocabularyAmulet: an object or piece of jewelry supposed to provide protection against badluck or negative forcesAncestor: a person from whom others are descendedApartheid: laws designed to separate racial groups in South Africa and givespecial privileges to whitesArtisan: a person skilled in making craftsAuthoritarian: an organization or a state which enforces strong and sometimesoppressive measures against the populationBiomes: a division of the world's vegetation that corresponds to a definedclimate and is characterized by specific types of plants and animalsCalabash: a kind of fruit that grows on a vine, has a hard shell and looks like acucumber or squashColonized: to have settlers live in or form a colony in a foreign countryContinent: any one of seven large areas of land; Africa, Asia, North America,Antarctica, Australia, Europe, and South AmericaContinental shelf: the ocean floor around a continentCulture: the customs, ideas and traditions of a certain group of peopleDemocratic: characterized by free and equal participation in government or inthe decision-making processes of an organization or groupDemographic: characteristics and statistics of human population, especially itssize, growth, density, distribution, and statistics regarding birth, marriage,disease, and deathDialect: a type of language set apart from other varieties of the same languageby vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciationDictatorship: a country or government ruled by a dictatorDiviner: a ritual leader qualified to conduct the art of divinationDiverse: very different or distinct from one anotherEpidemic: an outbreak of a disease that spreads more quickly and moreextensively among a group of people than would normally be expectedEthnic Group: a group of people with many things in common, such aslanguage, religion, and customsFamine: a severe shortage of food resulting in widespread hungerGross Domestic Product (GDP): the total value of all goods and servicesproduced within a country in a year, minus net income from investments in othercountriesHealer: a ritual leader endowed with the knowledge of herbal medicine byinheritance and trainingIndigenous: originating in and naturally living, growing, or occurring in a region orcountryLife Expectancy: the number of years one can be expected to live, according tostatisticsMedium: a person who claims to be endowed with the capability of beingpossessed by a spiritMetamorphic: relating to or involving a change in physical form, appearance, orcharacter


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Military Coup: A sudden overthrowing and seizure of a government by themilitaryMosaic: a picture or design made from small pieces of tile, wood or othermaterialMuslim: a person who follows the Islamic religionNomads: people who move seasonally from place to place to search for foodand water or pasture for their livestockPapyrus: a water plant with tall stemsPer Capita Income: average amount of money a person makes in one yearPlain: a large expanse of fairly flat dry land, usually with few treesPlateau: an area of high ground with a fairly level surfaceRainforest: a large woody land receiving at least 100 inches of rain every yearRainmaker: a person who claims to be endowed with the capability of effectivelypraying for rain to fall and praying for it to stopRepublic: a political system or form of government in which people electrepresentatives to exercise power for themRites: ceremonial, customary, and prescribed practices punctuating all aspectsof life in African religionRites of Passage: in African religion, the ceremonies, customs, and practicesperformed in order to religiously enable people to move smoothly through theturning points in their lifeRituals: the system of set procedures and actions of a groupSafari: a journey across a stretch of land, especially in Africa, for the purpose ofhunting or observing wild animalsSavanna: vast, grassland area


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Answer Key

Activity 1: VocabularyVocabulary: As you go through this unit, learn a few new vocabulary wordseach day and add them to your Line Up Books.

Answer:See Page 45

Activity 2: Numbers of AfricaAs you read about Africa on this study you’ll find many numbers from howmany countries, languages to different types of dances. Create a number factbook and place them in numerical order.

Answer:898 – million people1000 – Languages spoken54 – Countries in Africa11,687,183 – total square miles4600 – miles from east to west5000 – miles from north to south

Activity 3: Mapping AfricaAfrica is made up of 54 different countries. Locate each of them on the mapprovided as well as any major landmarks such as rivers and mountains.

Answer:There is a completed country map in between pages 8 and 9 in the guidethat shows how to put together and label the country map. Rivers andlandmarks to locate may include the Sahara and Kalahari Deserts, theNile, Niger and Congo Rivers, Lake Victoria, and Mt. Kilimanjaro.


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Activity 4: People GroupsWhat are the different groups of people and what classifies them as such?

Answer:Sub-Saharan Africans – One of the oldest and most diverse peoplegroups in Africa. This group contains many ethnic groups, including Igboand Yoruba, the Kikuyu, and the Zulu.Pygmies – This ethnic group includes the Aka, Mbuti, Efe, Twa, and othergroups. It is characterized by a very short stature.Khoikho – This group, like the San, used to live throughout south and eastAfrica. They spoke with clicking sounds.San – The San lived in the same region as the Khoikho and also spokewith clicking sounds.Arabs – This group of people settled in northern Africa in the late 1600’sand still lives in Egypt, Sudan and along the Mediterranean coast.Berbers – The Berbers have lived in north and west Africa for thousandsof years. Today they live in Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, WesternSahara, Mali, and Niger.Europeans – Europeans from Britain, Holland and France settled invarious parts of Africa during the 1600’s. Many Europeans today livealong the Mediterranean coast, in the Republic of South Africa, Zimbabwe,and east Africa.Asians – Many Asians from India settled in southern Africa during the1800’s. Today many of them live in Madagascar.

Activity 5: African LanguagesThere are many different languages spoken in Africa, however, there aresome that are spoken more often and fluently then the others. What are they?

Answer:Arabic – This is a native language to the Middle East and was brought tonorthern Africa with Arabic settlers over 400 years ago. Arabic is the mostwidely-spoken language in Africa.Swahili – This native language is based on the Bantu language but alsoborrows from Arabic, English, German and Portuguese. It is spokenmostly by people in west and central Africa.Hausa – Like Arabic, this is an Afro-Asian language and is spoken bymany people in northern Africa.


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Activity 6: Swahili WordsWhat are the Swahili words for some of the common English words?

Answer:My mother- mzaaFather- abuSister- dadaBrother- ahiTree- mtiSky- angaFriend- mtaniHello- jamboGood bye- alamsiki

Activity 7: How Many Languages?Do a survey of the number of languages a person speaks. Do the people inyour survey reflect the same bilingual state of many African people?

Answer:Answers will vary based on your results.


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Activity 8: GovernmentGive an overview of the government and compare it to your country’sgovernment.

Answer:African Government:Most are republicsSome are dictatorshipsMany are unstableTaken over by military coupsHuman rights often abusedFew are democracies

Your Government:Answers may vary based on your government. Below are some answersfor a democracy:Policies, rules and laws made by the peopleCitizens can voteCitizens can speak out

Both:Answers may vary based on your government. For a democracy:Headed by a president or leader(Some African countries) Elections take place

African Government Synopsis:Many of Africa’s countries have had very unstable governments forseveral years. Most governments are republics and are headed by apresident with the power to make laws. Many governments areauthoritarian and fairly violent. Because of weak leaders, epidemics andfamine are widespread throughout Africa. Some countries have attempteddemocracy, but few have succeeded. Today, African countries arestarting to become stronger and to lean on each other rather thandepending on European aid.


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Activity 9: African RegionsCreate a fact book on the 8 major regions.

Answer:Ethiopian Highlands – home to 80% of Africa’s tallest mountains, which have

sheltered the area from enemy attack. Ethiopia is the only African countrythat has never been colonized. Its government is a federal republic and itspopulation is over 64,000,000. This region is plagued by drought aboutevery 10 years which causes great famine.Great Lakes Region – located in the central and eastern part of Africa andhome to the world’s largest freshwater lakes. Kenya is located in thisregion and is the most famous safari destination. The Great Rift Valleyand Mt. Kenya are also located here.Rainforest – home to more than half of Africa’s wildlife. Over 90% of therainforest has been wiped out by road construction, farming anddeforestation. It is located in the west central area of Africa.Governments in this area are torn between protecting the rainforest andproviding jobs and income for their people.Sahara Desert Region – the world’s largest hot desert at 3.3 millionsquare miles. This desert makes up 25% of the continent of Africa. It actsas a barrier between the Arab majority north and the black south Africancountries. It stretches from Egypt to Morocco, which is cut off from therest of Africa by the Atlas Mountains.Sahel Region – a narrow band just south of the Sahara. It includesSudan, which is the largest country in Africa. It has a violent mix ofMuslim Arabs and animist or Christian blacks, and has been an area ofcivil war and unstable government for many years. It is one of the poorestand most environmentally damaged areas in the world.Savanna – this is a Great Plains region with grasslands that are home toanimals like zebras, wildebeests, buffalo and giraffes. It is home to someof Africa’s largest wildlife populations. Mt. Kilimanjaro is also found here.South African Region – The climate here ranges from the Kalahari Desertto tropical areas along the coast. The flat grasslands are called “velds”,which is the Dutch word for “field”. Many groups of people live here,including Zulu, Bantu and Xhosa tribes as well as people of Dutch andBritish descent. Some of the world’s largest animals live in southernAfrica including elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos and rhinos.Swahili Coast – this area is located on the southeastern side of Africaalong the Indian Ocean. In ancient times this coast was by Arabs, Greeksand Romans who came in search of slaves. It is known both for beautifulbeaches and for a violent history.


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Activity 10: Sahara DesertDescribe the Sahara Desert.

Answer:The Sahara Desert is the largest desert in the world and covers about 3.3million square miles. It is located in the northern section of Africa andcovers about 25% of the continent. Although most people in Africa do notlive in the desert, the groups that do live there include the Tuaregs, Arabs,Berbers, Tubus and Moroccans. Most of the people that live there aredescendants of the caravan merchants that came looking for gold.Camels are used to travel through the desert most of the time, but nowpeople are using trucks as well.

Activity 11: Main ReligionsWhat are the main beliefs of each of the 3 main religions?

Answer:Christian – about 40% of Africa is Christian. Christianity teaches that Godcreated the world and that he sent his son Jesus to die for us on the crosswhen we disobeyed Him. The holy scripture of Christianity is the Bible,which is God’s Word.Muslim – about 40% of Africa is Muslim, which means follower of Islam(submission to Allah). Muslims follow Allah and the holy scripture ofChristianity is the Koran or Qu’ran. The main teaching is that Muhammadis a messenger that Allah revealed his plan for mankind to.African – about 20% of Africans practice traditional religions. They do notworship at a church and no one person is looked to as the founder. Theirbeliefs center around nature myths and parables to explain why things arethe way they are. The stories are passed down from older people to theyounger people of the village and ceremonies are led by leaders likepriests and healers.


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Activity 12: Ritual LeadersWhat are the names and responsibilities of the 6 types of ritual leaders?

Answer:Rulers – political and religious leaders. In African religions, the village orkingdom ruler is also the religious leader. They are bound by obligationand taboos.Priests – ritual leaders who are in charge of religious matters.Mediums – people who communicate with the spirit world. They areusually women and are attached to a priest at temple or to a diviner.Diviner – people who unveil the unknown to try to solve problems.Healers – people who have a great knowledge of herbal medicines andhelp the health and well-being of the people in the community.Rainmakers – specialists in religious matters related to rain. Theydetermine why the rain falls, why there is too much or not enough of it,and perform rituals to make sure rain will fall at the right time.

Activity 13: Traditional ReligionWhat are the six things traditional African religion has in common regardlessof the region?

Answer:All things are part of a wholeThere is a Supreme BeingThere are lesser gods and guardian spiritsHumans are imperfect and always will beRituals to satisfy an offended god may solve problemsHuman society is communal

Activity 14: African Holiday CelebrationChoose one of the holiday celebrations in Africa and create a brochure for thecelebration of it.

Answer:Answers will vary based on what holiday celebration is chosen and whatresearch is completed.


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Activity 15: Africa’s EconomyAgriculture, manufacturing, and mining: What is the role of each in Africa’seconomy?

Answer:Agriculture – plays the leading role in African economy. Farm equipmentis outdated and much of the soil is thin and poor so it is very difficult tomake a living this way.Manufacturing – there is a lack of money to build factories and a lack ofskilled workers. African manufacturing has a hard time competing withthat of other countries.Mining – there are many resources and huge mines in Africa, but themines are owned by foreign companies and the profits do not benefit theAfrican people.

Activity 16: MusicWhat is the role of music in Africa?

Answer:Music plays an important part in African religion, healing, and celebrations.It is also used for entertainment, much like music in America or othercountries. Music has been used in various rituals for hundreds or eventhousands of years.

Activity 17: African CraftChoose a traditional craft African and attempt it to create one yourself. Didyour attempt resemble the original? After creating it do you understand whythe people use it as they do?

Answer:Answers will vary based on craft chosen. Instructions are given in theguide for the following projects:Senufo Mud PaintingAsante Adinkra StampingFon Story PicturesNdbele Bead BraceletsTutsi BasketKigogo GameIslamic Art BoxesGuro Animal Masks


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Activity 18: Holiday Meal PrepCompare the preparation of your average Thanksgiving dinner to thepreparation of different African holiday meals.

Answer:Thanksgiving: list your family’s preparation for Thanksgiving (or anothercelebration meal if outside America)African holiday meals: a Bedouin holiday dish includes stuffing a fish withegg, stuffing a chicken with the fish, stuffing a sheep with the chicken,stuffing a camel with the sheep, and roasting the entire meal.

Activity 19: Staple CropsWhat are the staple crops for many African farmers?

Answer:Coffee – grown for exportCocoa – grown for exportMillet – grown mainly to feed their family, some exportPeanuts - grown mainly to feed their family, some exportSoybeans – grown in the wet parts of savanna, mainly to feed their familySweet Potatoes - grown in the wet parts of savanna, mainly to feed theirfamilyCorn – grown mainly to feed their familyRice – grown mainly to feed their family

Activity 20: African FarmingHow does farming differ for African farmers then for farmers in your country?How many people are they providing for?

Answer:African farming differs from many other parts of the world because theyare often using outdated tools on poor soil. Many times the farmer canonly grow enough food to feed his family, although sometimes enough canbe grown to export.


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Activity 21: Common FoodLearn the words for common food items.

Answer:Alecha stewBerbere red paste with lots of spicesDoro Wat Chicken StewInjera pancakeNiter Kebbeh Spicy butterShiro Wat Vegetable stewSik Sik Wat Beef stewTeff Ancient grain of EuropeWat stewTej honey-based wineIab lemon flavored cottage

cheese and yogurtTalla Beer

Activity 22: Cities of South AfricaCompare the large cities of South Africa to the large cities of your country.

Answer:South Africa: They have high-rise buildings, shopping malls, restaurantsand parks. People get around by taxi, bus or tuk tuk, which is a cart that ispulled by another person. The homes are often new and large and arelived in by one family.Your Country: Answers will vary based on where you live.


Africa_Lapbook_(3508941).pdf

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