WG.9: The student will analyze the characteristics of the Sub-Saharan African region by

a) identifying and analyzing the location of major geographic regions and major cities on maps and globes; 

b) describing major physical and environmental features; 

c) explaining important economic characteristics; 

d) recognizing cultural influences and landscapes. 

Essential Understandings

Africa is the second-largest continent and is situated over both sides of the equator, which provides for the variation in its vegetation, climate, and population structures.

Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic and political development has been influenced by colonialism, local African cultures, and changes in the gold-trading empires.

Although the continent of Africa is covered by an enormous plateau, the Sub-Saharan African region contains very distinctive landforms, water features, and landlocked countries.

The limited economic development of the Sub-Saharan economy can be traced to many historical factors. Colonial governments, for example, structured many national economies to become mineral or commodity exporters.

These economies are dependent on imports for equipment, capital goods, consumer goods, and technology.

A variety of cultural traditions exist as a result of the diversity of ethnicities and populations throughout the region. This range of ethnicity can be found both from state to state and within states.

Essential Knowledge

Major regions and countries

• West Africa: Senegal, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire

• Horn of Africa: Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya

• Central Africa: Tanzania, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon

• Southern Africa: Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Namibia

Major cities

• Lagos

• Dakar

• Johannesburg

• Nairobi

Major physical and environmental features

• Continent composed of a huge plateau, escarpments

• River transportation impeded by waterfalls, rapids, and cataracts

• Location of equator through middle of region; similar climatic patterns north and south of the equator

• Smooth coastline; few harbors

• Large number of landlocked countries

• Limited fertility of rain-forest soils

• Limited water resources

• Kalahari, Namib, and Sahara Deserts 

• Sahel

• Desertification

• Bodies of water

• • 1. Nile River

    2. Zambezi River

    3. Niger River

    4. Congo River

    5. Atlantic Ocean

    6. Indian Ocean

    7. Red Sea

    8. Lake Victoria

• Nature preserves and national parks

• Great Rift valley

• • 1. Mt. Kilimanjaro

    2. Victoria Falls

Economic characteristics

• Large percentage of population engaged in agriculture (primary activity)

• Subsistence agriculture

• Nomadic herding

• Slash-and-burn agriculture

• Plantation agriculture

• Cash crops and food crops

• Poorly developed infrastructure

• Substantial mineral wealth (diamonds, gold, and other metals)

• Major exporters of raw materials

• Wide range of per capita incomes

• Productivity that lags behind population growth

Cultural characteristics

• Uneven population distribution

• Many ethnic groups, languages, and customs

• Large numbers of refugees as a result of political, ethnic, and environmental crises

• Knowledge of history through oral tradition (i.e., through griots)

Cultural heritage

• Masks

• Sculpture

• Dance

• Music, drumming

• Colorful traditional dress

• Jewelry

• Griots

Cultural influences

• European influences from colonization and decolonization have greatly influenced the region.

Cultural landscape

• Markets

• Churches

• Mosques, minarets

• Villages

• Modern city cores and schools