Overview Notes 1, Geography of Africa, Fall 2007

1. 1. OVERVIEW
Geography of Africa:
A Development
Perspective
What Is Development?
• Definition: Development is the
process in which the principal
objective is to improve the quality
of people’s lives.
Development Activities
Education of Youth
Agricultural Research
Construction

2. Objectives of Course
• Identify countries and regions in Africa
• Discuss major physical features of African
Continent
• Discover the history and diverse cultural
heritage of Africa
• Relate physical characteristics and human
intervention>>>creation of environment for
sustainable economic development
Africa
Land of Contrasts
Contrasts:
---Large Land Area
--Low Absolute Population
Density

3. Africa is BIG
• 2nd largest Continent
• 20% (one-fifth) of U.S.A.
Earth’ s Land Area
• 12.8% of World’ s India
Population Argentina
Comparisons:
Europe
China 3,700,000 sq.mi.
New Zealand
USA 3,600,000
India 1,200,000
Europe 1,100,000
Argen. 1,000,000
China
N.Z. 100,000
Total 11,670,000
Africa 11,700,000
4,500 miles
4,800 miles
54 Countries

4. Contrasts:
Physical Environmental Context
Sahara: Largest
Contiguous Desert
Largest Tropical
Rainforest
Contrasts in
Socio-cultural Context
Population & Settlements

5. The Masai, a nomadic people, in the Rift
Valley in Kenya
High-rise Office Buildings
Nairobi, Kenya
Contrasts:
Economic Activities

6. Contrasts: Manufacturing & Business
Small scale
auto
repair
workshop,
Kumasi,
Ghana
Women at Traditional Outdoor Market
Lagos, Nigeria
Lagos Financial District:
A Modern Marketplace

7. Contrasts:
Adornment & Dress
Youth in
Traditional & Contemporary Dress –
for Cultural Festival in Botswana
University of Ghana Students
Students at Ghana
International School, Accra
In Traditional Kente Cloths

8. Contrasts:
Changing Roles for Women
African Women are the Major Producers of
Domestic Food Supply
Woman Farmer in Rural South Africa
Clothes Manufacturer & Exporter
Accra, Ghana
Bookstore Owner & Lawyer
Nairobi, Kenya

9. Contrasts:
Music…
Popular Music:
Traditional & Contemporary
Traditional:
Kusun - Ghana
Fusion: Modern(?):
Soukos - Congo African Rap Music
Afro Moses
Ghana

10. “Les Nubians” CD
French Sudanese
South Africa’s
Dave
Matthews
Band
U.S.A.
NOTE: In Concert
At UF’s O’Connell
Center on Sept. 11
Dave Matthews was born in South Africa.
Moved to U.S. as a child.
Map Sites
• http://www.worldatlas.com/
• http://www.library.northwestern.edu/africana/map/
• http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/maps/MAPAFRICAMOD01
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