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

http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~olusegun/nigeria/images/LAGOS3_JPG.jpg

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