AFRICA

Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most-populous continent. At about

30.2 million km (11.7 million sq mi) including adjacent islands, it covers six percent
of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4 percent of the total land area. With 1.1
billion people as of 2013, it accounts for about 15% of the world's human
population. The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north,
both the Suez Canal and the Red Sea along the Sinai Peninsula to the northeast,
the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The
continent includes Madagascar and various archipelagoes. It has 54 fully
recognized sovereign
states ("countries"),
nine territories and
two de
facto independent states with limited or no recognition.
Africa's population is the youngest among all the continents; 50% of Africans are 19
years old or younger.
It

also

contains

the Nile

River system,

the

world's

longest,

and

the

massive Sahara Desert, the world's largest.

ETYMOLOGY
Afri was a Latin name used to refer to the Carthaginians, who dwelt in North
Africa in modern-day Tunisia. This name seems to have originally referred to a
native Libyan tribe. The name is usually connected with Phoenician afar, "dust", but
a 1981 hypothesis has asserted that it stems from the Berber ifri, "cave", in
reference to cave dwellers.
Under Roman rule, Carthage became the capital of Africa Province, which also
included the coastal part of modern Libya. The Latin suffix "-ica" can sometimes be
used to denote a land. The later Muslim kingdom of Ifriqiya, modern-day Tunisia,
also preserved a form of the name.

AFRICAN HISTORY
As for Africa, scientists have formerly concluded that it is the birthplace of mankind,
as large numbers of human-like fossils (discovered nowhere else) were found on the
continent, some dating back 3.5 million years.
About 1.75 million years ago, early man spread throughout parts of Africa. They
became aggressive hunters, lived in caves and used fire and their ability to create
stone tools just to survive.
In 3200 BC the Egyptian culture emerged along the lower reaches of the Nile River;
it was among the earliest civilizations and their tools and weapons were made of
bronze. They also pioneered the building of massive pyramids and temples.
Egyptians also developed mathematics, an innovative system of medicine, irrigation
and agricultural production techniques, writing and the first ships. In short, the
Egyptians left a lasting legacy upon the world.

Around 600 BC the use of metal tools spread across small population bases and
farming groups in North Africa, and their use gradually spread south into what is
now called South Africa.
Meanwhile, the Egyptians continued to spread their culture across Northern Africa,
and kingdoms were created in Ethiopia and Sudan.
Soon kingdoms emerged in Africa; they traded with the Arabs using gold plus a
valuable commodity - slaves. One of the first kingdoms was Ghana, located in what
is now southeastern Mauritania and western Mali.
As other organized kingdoms were formed in central and southern Africa, the
Portuguese began to explore the western coast of Africa. By 1445 they reached the
Cape Verde Islands and the coast of Senegal, and the mouth of the River Congo in
1482. They even sailed around the Cape of Good Hope.
The continent-changing 16th Century began with Europeans transporting African
slaves to the Americas for profit. A slave purchased on the African coast for the
equivalent of 14 English pounds in bartered goods could sell for 45 pounds in the
American market.
The best-known method of commerce at the time was called the Triangular
Trading System. It involved British and other European countries' manufactured
goods which were shipped to Africa, then slaves from there to the West Indies and
then sugar and other products back to Europe.
Strong movements to end slavery began in the late 18th century. France became
one of the first countries to abolish slavery in 1794. Britain banned slave trade in
1807, but it was not officially abolished for good until 1848. In some parts of Africa,
slave-like practices continue to this day and have proven difficult to eliminate.
Although Africa remains the world's poorest inhabited continent, there are
many bright spots in this land of over one billion people and its 2,000 +
languages. Significant economic and social gains have taken place over the last
few years, with South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco and Egypt leading the way.

AFRICA GEOGRAPHY FACTS

Algeria is Africa's largest country

The Seychelles are Africa's smallest country

Africa's highest point is Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

Africa's lowest point is Lake Assal in Djibouti

OTHER INTERESTING FACTS

All of Africa was colonized by foreign powers during the scramble for Africa,
except Ethiopia and Liberia.

There are 54 countries and one non self-governing territory, the Western
Sahara, in Africa.

The largest religion in Africa is Islam, followed by Christianity.

Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in Africa; it is 355 feet high and one
mile wide.

Madagascar is the largest island in Africa and the fourth largest island in the
world. It is in the Indian Ocean off the East coast of Africa.

AFRICA GEOGRAPHY NOTES

Two of Africa's most interesting geographical features are the Nile River System and
Sahara Desert; both impressive in so many ways.
Nile River System: The Nile is a north-flowing river considered the longest river
in the world at 6,650 km (4,130 mi) long.
Sahara Desert: It's the world's hottest desert, and almost as large as China.
Covering almost one-third of the continent, the Sahara is the largest desert in the
world at approximately 3,500,000 sq. miles (9,065,000 sq. km) in total size.
Top 5 African Countries by Population
1. Nigeria

177,096,000

2. Ethiopia 86,614,000
3. Egypt

84,605,000

4. Democratic Republic of the Congo

5. South Africa

52,982,000

CULTURE OF AFRICA

74,618,000

The culture of Africa is varied and manifold. It is a product of the diverse

populations that today inhabit the continent of Africa. Like much of the world, it has
been impacted upon by both internal and external forces.
Africa has a rich tradition of arts and crafts. African arts and crafts find expression in
a variety of woodcarvings, brass and leather art works. African arts and crafts also
include sculpture, paintings, pottery, ceremonial and religious headgear and dress.

POLITICS

The African Union

The African Union (AU) is a 54 member federation consisting

of all of Africa's states except Morocco. The union was formed,
with Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as its headquarters, on 26 June 2001.
Political associations such as the African Union offer hope for greater cooperation and peace between the continent's many countries.
Extensive human rights abuses still occur in several parts of Africa, often
under the oversight of the state. Most of such violations occur for political
reasons, often as a side effect of civil war. Countries where major human rights
violations have been reported in recent times include the Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Cte d'Ivoire.