Post on 17-May-2015
The Culture of Africa South of the Sahara
The Culture of Africa South of the Sahara
Standard 7.3.1
Describe the beliefs and lifestyles, including religion, language, arts,
education and health care
Standard 7.3.1
Describe the beliefs and lifestyles, including religion, language, arts,
education and health care
DirectionsDirections • Create a 6-tab layered foldable
• Title: Cultures and Lifestyles
• Tabs: ReligionsLanguagesThe ArtsEducation Health Care
• Create a 6-tab layered foldable
• Title: Cultures and Lifestyles
• Tabs: ReligionsLanguagesThe ArtsEducation Health Care
ReligionsReligions
ReligionsReligions• Religion is integral part of life in Africa• Christianity most common along coasts
- why?• Islam found mostly in West Africa • Native religions found throughout
– Belief in one supreme being– Believe in existence of nature spirits– Honor distant ancestors and relatives
• Religion is integral part of life in Africa• Christianity most common along coasts
- why?• Islam found mostly in West Africa • Native religions found throughout
– Belief in one supreme being– Believe in existence of nature spirits– Honor distant ancestors and relatives
Religious ConflictsReligious Conflicts
• Nigeria - thousands of people massacred in Muslim - Christian conflicts
• Sudan - hundreds of thousands have been killed in genocide - Janjaweed Militia wants to create an all Muslim country
• Nigeria - thousands of people massacred in Muslim - Christian conflicts
• Sudan - hundreds of thousands have been killed in genocide - Janjaweed Militia wants to create an all Muslim country
LanguagesLanguages
• Over 800 languages in Africa• 6 major groups• French and English are used as a
lingua franca - a common language
• Swahili is another major language
• Over 800 languages in Africa• 6 major groups• French and English are used as a
lingua franca - a common language
• Swahili is another major language
The ArtsThe Arts• Usually focused on traditional
religious beliefs• Wood carved masks• Textiles• Drum rhythms• Roots of Jazz and Blues comes
from Africa• Oral literature is chanted or sung-
oral tradition
• Usually focused on traditional religious beliefs
• Wood carved masks• Textiles• Drum rhythms• Roots of Jazz and Blues comes
from Africa• Oral literature is chanted or sung-
oral tradition
EducationEducation
• 60 percent of people 15 and older can read or write
• Urban areas are more literate• Many use televisions as learning
tools
• 60 percent of people 15 and older can read or write
• Urban areas are more literate• Many use televisions as learning
tools
Health CareHealth Care• Making advances in health care• Famine, poor nutrition contribute
to infant mortality• Impure water – 1/3 of rural Africans
have clean water• ¼ of rural Africans live where there
is adequate sanitation• Malaria is widespread – carried by
mosquitos
• Making advances in health care• Famine, poor nutrition contribute
to infant mortality• Impure water – 1/3 of rural Africans
have clean water• ¼ of rural Africans live where there
is adequate sanitation• Malaria is widespread – carried by
mosquitos
A.I.D.SA.I.D.S• Epidemic proportions in Africa• A child is more likely to die in
Zimbabwe of AIDS than anything else
• Treatments and medication is too expensive for most Africans and governments
• Potentially disastrous for populations of some countries
• Epidemic proportions in Africa• A child is more likely to die in
Zimbabwe of AIDS than anything else
• Treatments and medication is too expensive for most Africans and governments
• Potentially disastrous for populations of some countries
AIDS cuts African life expectancies
Zimbabwe: from 65 to 39 yearsBostwana: 62 to 40Burkina Faso: 55 to 46Burundi: 55 to 46Cameroon: 59 to 51Central African Republic: 56 to 49Republic of Congo: 57 to 47Congo: 54 to 49Ethiopia: 51 to 41Ivory Coast: 57 to 46Kenya: 66 to 48Lesotho: 62 to 54Malawi: 51 to 37Namibia: 65 to 42Nigeria: 58 to 54Rwanda: 54 to 42South Africa: 65 to 56Swaziland: 58 to 39Tanzania: 55 to 46Uganda: 54 to 43Zambia: 56 to 37
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
A.I.D.S. in Sub-
Saharan Africa
A.I.D.S. in Sub-
Saharan Africa
What are the largest cities in Africa south of the Sahara?
What are the largest cities in Africa south of the Sahara?
Growing CitiesGrowing Cities• Most cities located on coast, along
rivers, or near resources• Developed as trading posts• Urban population has grown 7
times in less than 50 years
• Most cities located on coast, along rivers, or near resources
• Developed as trading posts• Urban population has grown 7
times in less than 50 years
Lagos, NigeriaLagos, Nigeria
Over 12 million people = Africa’s
largest city
Over 12 million people = Africa’s
largest city
Kinshasa, Dem. Rep. of the Congo
Kinshasa, Dem. Rep. of the Congo
4,241,000 people4,241,000 people
Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
2.8 million people
2.8 million people
Cape Town, South AfricaCape Town, South Africa
2.7 Million People2.7 Million People
Addis Ababa, EthiopiaAddis Ababa, Ethiopia
2.4 million people2.4 million people
Maputo, MozambiqueMaputo, Mozambique
2.2 Million People2.2 Million People
Johannesburg, South Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
2.2 million people2.2 million people
Nairobi, KenyaNairobi, Kenya
2.1 million people2.1 million people
The EndThe End