You've examined “Explore the Regions with a Map Tool”
at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/explore/index.html and created a chart detailing cultural and geographic characteristics of Sub-Saharan Africa. Now, write a critical
reflection detailing similarities, differences, and trends in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Be sure your reflection includes
a thesis statement, specific details from your research, and evidence of
contemplation!
The geography and culture of the societies in the African rainforest, the Sahara, and the Swahili Coast both have similarities and differences. First, the location and climate of these regions both differ and relate to each other. While all of these areas are hot, the African rainforest, the Swahili Coast, and the Sahara receive heavy, moderate, and little rainfall, respectively. Second, the cultures of these regions differ greatly. The rainforest group, the Baka, has a hunter-gatherer lifestyle and has a religion involving Komba, the creator of the world, while those in the Sahara are mainly Islamic nomadic herders and the Swahili people are Sunni Islamic. To summarize, the culture and geography of these three regions have similarities and differences.
ReplyDeleteThree regions in Africa include the Rainforest, the Great Lakes, and Southern Africa. They are all similar in the way that they have unique tribes of people living there. Also, Southern Africa and the Rainforest are both home to hunter-gatherers. The Great Lakes, however, are not. The Rainforest area and the Great Lakes both get a decent amount of rainfall, but Southern Africa is very dry, likely because of its distance from the equator. One thing they all have in common is environmental issues. The Rainforest has issues of deforestation. Also, the Great Lakes have sewage pollution in the lakes, while Southern Africa has very little water source along with some of the few rivers being polluted. On the other hand, each of these regions are very different in their land. The Rainforest is mainly forests. The Great Lakes have hills and valleys. Lastly, Southern Africa is closer to a desert. The conditions of these areas also reflect the way that the natives of each region live.
ReplyDeleteEcological damage, religious beliefs, and European influence have greatly impacted the geography and culture in the Ethiopian Highlands, the Sahel, and the rainforests in Africa. To start, all three of these regions have been affected by environmental issues. Drought and famine made all of these lands less fertile and less useful for farming. The rainforest seemed to be damaged more severely than the other regions, since the rainforest in Africa are disappearing, destroying many plant and animal species. This also greatly affected the Sahel, where many people decided to move to cities, while herders and farmers from different groups began to fight. In addition, religion greatly influences these regions of Africa. While Ethiopia was one of the first countries to adopt Christianity, the Sahel is home to many Muslims. These religions both play a large role in the cultures of their respective regions. Furthermore, the influence of Europe or lack thereof plays a large role in Africa today. Europeans originally went to Sahel for slaves, and European culture remains a part of the culture in this area. For instance, many people in Sahel speak French. In the rainforest, Europeans destroyed the ecosystem for lumber and rubber, killing African animals and plants as well as innocent people in the process. Ethiopia, on the other hand, is the one country in Africa that Europeans did not colonize. This area has had the least amount of European influence, so its culture and wildlife have been protected. Overall, trends such as the damaged environment, the importance of religion, and the influence of Europe have shaped these regions. Many of these factors have hurt these regions, marking another very important trend. In essence, the environment, religion, and European influence have all created the Africa that many people know today.
ReplyDeleteThe Sahara, African Rainforest, and Swahili Coast are all similar while differing between each other in cultural and geographical aspects. To start, the main/ dominant groups are the Tuareg (Sahara), the Baka (Rainforest), and Swahili (Swahili Coast) who all differ in language as well as religion. The Tuareg adopted to Islam and mostly speak Tamasheq (a dialect of Berber). The Baka have beliefs of spirits such as the Jengi and Kombra and speak an oubagion-related language. Lastly, the Swahili's speak their native tongue, Kiswahili, and are Sunni Islamic. In addition, the geographical location, topography and vegetation of each of these regions also differ and have similarities. The majority of the Sahara is desert with little vegetation in certain areas containing a variety of palm trees (Date and Dune); continuing, this regions topography mostly consisted of ergs and regs with little change in elevation throughout while located reasonably in the northern part of Africa. The African Rainforest is similarly located relatively toward the northern/central part of Africa; also, this rainforest has a variety of palm tree's as well but is continually being deforested. Swahili Coast however, is located toward the eastern coast of Africa and stretches 1,000 miles with mostly flat plains of beaches and poor/sandy soil which places difficulty in agriculture. All in all, these three regions are all located in the same continent and yet have many differences and similarities.
ReplyDeleteAfter researching various regions in Africa, I can conclude that religion is adopted from foreign cultures, there are many environmental problems, and that a country’s geography influences its colonization.
ReplyDeleteTo summarize, the mountainous Ethipoian highlands have a long history, but the country has never been colonized. The main language is Amharic, Christianity is widespread, and they farm coffee and teff. The Amhara people had ancient and powerful kingdoms, while the minority Gurage people reside in undeveloped lands and farm the ensete plant. The Swahili Coast is mostly flat, has a costal forest vegetation, and receives many monsoons. It was a major trade center for slaves, spices, ivory, and gold, so it attracted Portuguese and Arab people who influenced the culture. The main language is Kiswahili, a combination of the African language Bantu with Arabic and Hindi. Next, the Savanna is a grassy semi-arid region with many amazing animals such as lions, hyenas, zebras, and wildebeests. It is very flat and is home to three distinct ethnic groups: the Dorobo hunter-gatherers, the Maasai herdsmen and warriors, and the Kikuyu farmers.
In the first analysis, the overriding trend is that many indigenous groups adopt foreign religions. For example, Ethiopia adopted Christianity very early on and it is the official religion. In the Savanna, many people in the Dorobo and Kikuyu ethnic groups have adopted Christianity as well. The Swahili coast is similarly shows cultural hybridization of religion, but the religion is Sunni Islam instead of Christianity. This religion, brought by Arab traders, is mixed with traditional African animism. These similarities in religion adoption show how foreigners can influence a culture through cultural syncretism, despite the many differences in ethnicities and customs.
Next, I found that each region has similar environmental problems that can cause harm to the lifestyle of the people living there. For example, soil erosion is a constant problem found in Ethiopia, the Swahili coast, and the Savanna plains. There are, however, differences in additional problems. Famine is the pressing issue in Ethiopia, due to drought and poor-nutrient soil. The Swahili coast experiences deforestation in its forests and over-fishing on the shores. Lastly, the Savanna must deal with poachers and overgrazing of the wild herds.
Third, I realized that the colonization of each region varied considerably. For example, Ethiopia was the only country to never be colonized, and it fought off Italy. The Swahili coast was, on the other hand, colonized by the Portuguese traders, and later by European powers. Meanwhile, the British conquered the Savanna regions and posed a threat to the Maasai living there. I concluded that these differences could be due to a trend in topography variances. Ethiopia used its high elevation of mountains to protect and isolate its culture while still preventing Italian conquest. Since Swahili was on the coast and was a major trade center, it was easier for the Portuguese traders to siege the cities and take over. Last, the Savanna is very flat and open which provided little shelter from British colonizers. These differences can account for the variances in colonization.
In conclusion, the three regions of Ethiopian highlands, Swahili coast, and Savanna plains are very different in their culture and geography, although they do share some similar elements.
The three regions of Africa that I decided to analyze in depth are the Rainforest, Sahara, and Swahili Coast regions. While all three of these regions share the continent of Africa, some parts of religion, language, and topography, they differ greatly in history, climate, vegetation, and location. Each of these regions has its own ethnic cultures, the Rainforest has the Baka people, the Sahara has the Tuareg, and the Swahili Coast is home to the Swahili people. The Baka people are the oldest of the three ethnic groups, and the first official record of them is from the 8th century B.C. The next oldest people is the Swahili from 1st century B.C, and they are followed by the Tuareg whose first official recognition occurred in the 7th century. Each set of people has different economic focus, but all of them are centered around a sort of hunting-gathering ideology. The Baka trade their hunted animals and gathered honeycombs with local farmers in exchange for tobacco and guns. Previously, the Tuareg traded ivory and precious minerals, but with the invention of trucks and trains, the Tuareg have been forced to revert to herding instead of trading. The contemporary ways have also impacted the Swahili people. The Swahili were once powerful traders, but now with the fall of slave trade, the Swahili are an isolated group with very little power. The Tuareg people have absorbed some parts of the Islamic religion, and the Swahili are primarily Muslim, so the two share this aspect of religion. All three ethnic groups follow the animistic religion trend to believe in one or multiple spirits. The Baka believe in Komba and Jengi, the Tuareg worship Djinns and Kel Essuf, and the Swahili believe in Jini. All of the spirits that have just been listed are known to bring good and bad fortune to the people of their designated regions, which is a trait that they share. Each group has its own language, and the Tuareg language, Tamasheq, and the Swahili language, Kiswahili, share traditional African language roots. The Baka language, Baka, however, is a language that is entirely of its own, and it is extremely rare that a person outside of the Baka people would know the language. From a geographical standpoint, the regions are extremely different. The rainforest is home to approximately 8,000 plant species, but the desert land of the Sahara has only 1,620 plant species, and the infertile lands of the Swahili Coast have even fewer. The Sahara and the Rainforest both have considerable rivers, but the Swahili Coast has the Indian Ocean instead of a river. The Nile River feeds the Sahara, and the Congo River supports the Rainforest. Another difference is that the Rainforest consists of large trees and vegetation, but the Sahara region is made of mostly sand, rock, and gravel; the Swahili Coast is also a sandy region. The annual rainfalls of the Rainforest and the Swahili Coast are very similar, because the Rainforest receives 60-80 inches of rain per year, and the Swahili Coast receives roughly 60 inches of rain each year as a result of monsoons. On the other hand, the Sahara region receives under four inches of rain each year. Finally, the three regions I chose are located in varying parts of the African continent. The Rainforest is in southeast Cameroon, the Sahara is a large portion of northern Africa, and the Swahili Coast is located between Somalia and Mozambique. The differing locations may be a source of the extreme disparity of the regions in some cases, such as the vegetation and rainfall amounts. Overall, these regions share some religion, language, and topography, but they show their differences in history, climate, vegetation, and location.
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ReplyDeleteThe three regions in Africa that I researched were Southern Africa, Rainforest, and the Sahel. Each one of these regions had more differences than similarities. The South African region had multiple races and cultural groups drawn to it because of the vast amount of minerals that were found in the rocks there. In the rainforest region, the population was significantly lower than the South African regions because of the large amount of trees, plants, and wildlife. The Sahel was settled, but was dry and had many droughts. The South African region and the Sahel are similar in the way that they both have a dry area of vegetation, which is common throughout Africa. The rainforest region has lots of different plants and trees, so it is not very dry. What was interesting to me was that the three regions I researched, didn’t share any religions. The closest religion being shared is that in the Sahel, they worship their own god Amma, and in the rainforest region, they worship the forest spirit Jengi. Lastly, the languages in the three regions were completely different. In Southern Africa, they had tribal languages, and tongue-clicking languages. Each tribe, or ethnic group, had their own language, except for in the Sahel, where many languages from all over Northern Africa are spoken. The different regions of Africa are much more different than they are similar.
I researched the regions of the sharia, the rainforest and Southern Africa. Each of these regions varied in terms of culture, language, and geology. In the northern areas of the Sahara, much of life is affected by Islam. The area was famous for its trade routes across the desert, now it is receiving attention due to its oil reserves. The rainforest tribes are largely reliant upon the area I which they live, using it for food shelter and all other aspects of life. These tribes maintain native religion and languages leading them to be considered primitive by local farmers. South Africa is an area defined by its colonial period of mining and segregation. Now,my he region is overcoming the struggle of AIDs.
ReplyDeleteThe Sahara, the African Rainforest, and the Great Lakes regions have unique cultural and geographic similarities and differences. To begin, although different from each other, these societies are similar in that they each follow their own distinct set of customs, religious beliefs, and languages. In the Sahara, the nomadic Tuareg people have Islamic beliefs, while in the Rainforest, the hunter-gatherers known as the Baka believe in spirits that control their environment such as Komba, who created the world. People in the Great Lakes region primarily follow Christianity, which became more prominent over the earlier, more structured faith of Balubaale, and others are Islamic. In addition, each region has multiple languages that the natives in the area speak. For example, the Saharan nomads tend to speak Arabic, Tamasheq, and Hausa. In the African Rainforest, the Baka speak their own language known as Baka. In the Great Lakes region of Africa, the communities speak kinyarwan, Swahili, and Luganda. These regions all have different topographies and vegetation zones based on their locations within the continent of Africa. In the Sahara, there are very few mountain ranges among the vast and flat desert, with small areas of fertile grassland. The African Rainforest lies along the Congo River in the low basins surrounding it and is composed of densely packed rainforests and savanna woodlands. Throughout the high mountain ranges and deep valleys of the Great Lakes region, lie tropical mountain forests and woodland areas that promote the growth of extensive vegetation. Both the Rainforest and the Great Lakes regions are heavily forested with thick tropical trees and plant species. Additionally, both regions experience a significant amount of rainfall each year. Finally, although these regions of Africa have a few similarities, their cultures and geographic settings are extremely diverse.
ReplyDeleteThe Swahili Coast, South Africa, and the Sahara were heavily affected by the influence of foreign powers, environmental damage, and traditional religious beliefs.
ReplyDeleteThe Swahili Coast is a narrow region bordering the Indian Ocean and Swahili is the dominant language spoken. It is home to the traditional Swahili people whom most can trace their roots to Portuguese, Indian, or Arabian ancestors which once littered the coast looking for spices, slaves, and wealth. Their overall influence still remains through their cuisine, music, and language. Due to their prime location and early wealth, foreign powers sieged several countries along the Swahili Coast and stripped the land of its natural resources. What is left currently is eye soring industrial sea ports, and commercial fishing taking over Swahili Tradition.
South Africa is also another region of Africa which is much more prosperous and stable currently than the other two regions. The San, Xhosa, and Zulu people are natives to this land currently ranging from hunter-gatherers to totally converted shop owners. This land also had much to offer just as the Swahili Coast did, but in particular South Africa is noted for its past in mining precious minerals. The Kaapval Craton is a 16 billion year old rock which is covered in precious metals and minerals from diamonds to gold ore. This rock explains the mineral rich area which once was and still may be South Africa. Again, several foreign powers took advantage of their precious minerals and took over South Africa for decades. Just as the South African people were being humiliated, clashes between white and black folk ended in a policy of apart field. Now, after the horrible laws have been overturned, South Africa is still haunted by its past of foreign power exploitation and racial violence, and even now, South Africans have to worry about the HIV virus due to South Africa being the home of the world’s largest rate of the infection.
Now, the Saharan region does not have much to offer besides the occasional oasis city due in part to it being the world’s largest desert. The Sahara is a natural border between northern Africa and southern. This area also receives very little rainfall, and has an extremely low population density in return. Originally, the Sahara is home to the Taureg, Arab, Tubu, and the Moors who roamed the land on camels. In the past, the Sahara was simply a link to south or northern Africa, and still is used as a main highway for trade. The difference in today for most people, is that camels no longer are the main source of transportation ever since trucks hit the Middle East. At least, this cultural and geographical region withheld its purpose as a trade route and its culture as opposed to South Africa and the Swahili Coast as they were conquered by foreign powers. Although, there is no doubt that foreigners were and still are a common site in the Saharan deserts they traveled from oasis to oasis. The environmental defects are seldom, but still there as the fumes from the trucks do their part in polluting the air.
It is obvious that each of these countries are haunted by their pasts and wish to overcome their current adversity through the stabilizing and developing of their countries to become noted regions of the world.
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ReplyDeleteThe historic, cultural, and geographic aspects of the Ethiopian Highlands, Rainforest, and Swahili Coast contain similarities and differences. First, the history of each region differs in several areas. The Ethiopian Highlands was the only African region not to be colonized and the rainforest group known as the Baka, were independent and relied on the rainforest for survival. In contrast, the Swahili Coast was know for their slave industry and dependence on trade. They were also colonized by Portugal and later by other Europeans.
ReplyDeleteThe culture of these three regions also have several similarities and differences. First, The Ethiopian Highlands consist of two different ethnic groups: the Amhara and the Guragi. Both groups date back far in history, but the Amhara group is the oldest and this is reflected in the culture. During the reign of the Amhara people, they were the second country to adopt Christianity as its official religion. Aksum, one of the accent wonders of the world, was even reportedly the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. Also, Lalibela, one of Christianity’s most important sites, holds a series of thirteenth century churches carved out of rock. Furthermore, the official language of the Amharas and all of Ethiopia is Amharic. It is spoken by roughly 33 million people and has a 33 character alphabet and its own numbering system. In addition, the Amhara people deeply value the land. It is the key to social status and respect. The other ethnic group, the Guragi, also have their own history. They have lived in the highlands for over 600 years. Just like the Amhara people, the Guragi are mostly Ethiopian Orthodox, but they also practice Islam, Roman Catholicism, and traditional religious beliefs. On the other hand, the Guragi speak a different language called Guragina. The Gurage lifestyle revolves around the plant called the ensete or “false banana”; it is believes to cure all illnesses. Both of these ethnic groups have similar and different aspects to their culture. The rainforest region only has one ethnic group compared to the two that the Ethiopian Highlands has. The Baka people are descendants of a pygmy tribe and are located mostly in Cameroon. They believe that spirits created the world and the rainforest, which differs from the Ethiopian religion of Christianity. Another difference is the language used in the two regions. The Baka language is a Bantu-related language and is richer in speech rather than writing, unlike the Ethiopian language. The Baka people also differ in that they use hunter-gatherer techniques rather than agricultural ones. They divide their time between hunting, fishing, and gathering. Lastly, the Swahili Coast also includes similarities and differences. This region only has one ethnic group, like the rainforest region, called the Swahili people. The majority of Swahilis practice Sunni Islam, but their also believe in spirits called jini, like the rainforest people. The language of Kiswahili is the official language and it is spoken in Tanzania and eastern islands. The Swahilis are known for their intricately carved doors and woodwork full of curling and geometric shapes. In short, the cultures of all three of these regions are similar and different in religion, language, and customs.
The geographical aspect of these regions differ drastically. The Ethiopian Highlands are home to 80% of Africa’s tallest mountains including the Simien and Bale mountains. The Blue Nile and the Great Rift Valley also run through the region. In contrast, the topography of the Swahili Coast is relatively flat with a few cliffs. It is also protected by a rim of coral reef and several islands. In addition, the rainforest region is full of a variety of trees, plants, and animals. All an all, the geography in each region contrast in a variety of ways. These historical, cultural, and geographical differences of these regions make each of them unique.
As one studies the historical, cultural, and geographic aspects of various regions in Africa, both similarities and differences will arise. Also, many different trends will emerge. This is true for the Southern Africa, Sahel, and Raiforest regions.
ReplyDeleteFirst, the historical value of each of these regions is different. Southern Africa history is largely based off of the presence of rich mineral deposits. In 1870, a large amount of diamonds were founds, and just 16 years later, the world's largest gold deposit was found. As with any finite natural resource, conflict arose in the surrounding areas of these deposits. Foreign countries colonized in an effort to exploit the resources. Along with these conflicts came laws that prevented blacks from owning any substantial amount of land. Contrary to Southern Africa's eventful past, the rainforest region was not as exciting. For centuries prior, only scattered groups of native hunter-gatherers and Bantu-speaking subsistence farmers inhabited and live off the rainforest. However, in the 19th Century, European loggers and plantation owners moved in, cleared rainforests to make farming land. Although the history of the Sahel region is eventful, it is also unfortunate. In 1970, drought and famine killed nearly 200,000 people. Obviously, the history of these regions both differ and share similarities.
Next, the cultural aspects of these three regions in Africa both compare and contrast. First, the religions practiced in each of these regions is different. For example, in Southern Africa, the are different ethnic groups that practice different religions. The Xhosa people have adopted Christianity, but still rely on amaguira. Similarly, the Zulu people have also adopted Christianty, but still pray to the traditional Umvelinqangi. In the Sahel region, the common religion is Islam. In the rainforest, people rely on the Spirit World. There are numerous languages spoken throughout these three regions in Africa. In Southern Africa, some of these languages are isiXhosa, isiZulu, and a traditional click-language. In the Sahel, French, along with Fulfulde, and the Dogon language, is spoken. In the rainforest, the Baka have their own language related to the Oubangian language. As you can see, there are many different languages spoken in these three regions.
Lastly, the geography of all three of these regions are different. In Southern Africa, one can find desert, fertile grassland, dry, and bushland vegetations. Southern Africa is mostly on top of the Drakensburg Mts. In Sahel, one will find vegetation such as dry, bushland, and fertile grassland. However, Sahel is flat and barren, with the exception to the fertile Delta of the Niger River. In the rainforest, however, one will find the vegetation of tropical rainforest with a limited amount of Savanna Woodland. As far as topography goes, the notable feature in the rainforest is the basin of the Congo River. As clearly stated above, these geography of each of these regions is both similar and different in their own way.
In the three Sub-Saharan African regions of the Ethiopian Highlands, the Swahili Coast, and the Rainforest, there are few similarities, many differences, and concerning trends.
ReplyDeleteThe languages of the regions’ peoples, although different, appear to be created in similar fashions. They all descended from languages of others that the people interacted with, and developed primarily for communication purposes. The languages are generally not written but spoken. In addition, the locations of these regions share some features. Temperatures range from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and rainfall ranges from 60 to 80 inches per year. This leads to fertile land in all three regions.
There are many more differences in the three regions than there are similarities. To start, the histories of the regions’ peoples are greatly different. The Amharas of the Ethiopian Highlands started with the construction of a great kingdom, the Swahili people of the Swahili Coast formed with the combination of Africans trading with Arab people, and the origins of the rainforest’s Baka pygmy tribe is uncertain. The peoples hold wide arrays of religions and beliefs. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church practices Christianity and Judaism, those of the Swahili Coast follow Sunni Islam and believe in the jini spirit, and the Baka people believe in multiple spirits of the rainforest. Marks of status and positions held in high regard vary also. With respect to geography, the three regions have different vegetation zones and different topography. Ethiopia has highlands marked with valleys and many climates, the Swahili Coast is flat with a primarily coastal forest vegetation zone, and the Rainforest is large and tropical, fed by the Congo River.
In general, many trends in these regions are alarming. The Ethiopian Highlands are experiencing continuing deforestation, overgrazing, and reduced soil fertility. The Swahili Coast sees similar trends with depletion of its forests and farmland and erosion of sandy soil. Additionally, pollution and overfishing threaten the flora and fauna of the coast. Deforestation from logging also plagues the rainforest. In addition, hunters poach its chimps and gorillas for their meat. The future of these regions in Sub-Saharan Africa lies in a perilous balance.
The three regions of Africa, Sahara, Rain Forest, and Swahili Coast, have distinctive similarities and differences. In the Sahara region, the Tuareg people have customs that have been formed by Sahara. Tuareg's artifacts are a reflection of Berber and sub-Saharan Africa traditions and religious beliefs. Their music is a combining force surrounded by the endless dunes and the domain of women. Music can go together with any activity from formal celebrations to social gatherings. The animal life in the Sahara is depended on what can survive the heat and lack of water. Rodents, snakes, and scorpions are the main species in this region. The Sahara is a territory of changing topography, such as the heaps of sand and rocky stream beds. For the vegetation, Saharan plants, located in the Atlas Mountains and along the Atlantic coast survive through underground root systems that inhale moisture. As for the Rain Forest, the Baka are descendants of a pygmy tribe that shared a common language. Baka's daily routine include hunting, fishing, gathering plants in the forest, and working on neighboring farms. According to the Baka religion, spirit world is natural part of every day life . Komba is the most important spirit who they believe created the world and rainforests. The Baka use music to wake their forest back up when a disaster strikes. The rainforests have Africa's abundant assortment of animals. Vegetation in any one place is essential to the amount of animal life. The Swahili Coast trace their origins back to the trading relationship between the Arab and Indian people. Most Swahilis practice Sunni Islam religion. Kiswahili, which incorporates many words borrowed from Arabic and Hindi, is the official language of the Swahili civilians. Their music is a mix of Arabic, Indian, and African influences. The Coast does not provide the sufficient vegetation to uphold a diverse animal life. The natural ecology is continuously threatened by the cultivation of farm plots and depletion of forests for firewood. Environmental issues include overfishing and human and agricultural pollution along the river. The top soil along the coast is too poor and powdery to supply a wide variety of plant life.
ReplyDeleteIn conclusion, these three regions are similar in language, religion, and love of music. Their differences are history, animal life, and vegetation.
In the three African regions of the Great Lakes, Sahara, and the Rain Forest there are many similarities and differences in their geography and culture.
ReplyDeleteFirst the Great Lakes region is in east Africa in the countries of Malawi, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Ethiopia. Throughout these countries there is a total of 15 lakes with rich soil and a plentiful amount of vegetation. The topography around the lakes can either be very mountainous or flat plains. In this region there is three groups of people with different cultures, the Baganda, Tutsi, and Hutu. The Baganda, very different from the other two groups, are located in Southeast Uganda and follow a rigid set of social rules such as obedience to elders. Also these people are ruled by a king and queen, this royal dynasty can be traced back to the 1400's and in a household the father/husband is considered the king. Their main language is Luganda and they mainly practice Christianity. Then there are the Tutsi's and the Hutu's who are located in Rwanda and Burundi. While the Hutu came almost 2,000 years ago, the Tutsi just arrived 700 years ago and on arrival they conquered the Hutu and used them for vassals. The Hutu live in large family clans and were once farmers, after the Tutsi arrived they converted to more like the Tutsi. These people groups both practice Christianity and speak Kinyarwanda and Rundi. Later on though the Hutu got there revenge and there was a 40 year period of violence.
The second region is the Sahara. This region takes up 25% of Africa and is in north Africa in Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia, and Western Sahara. It is scorching hot and has one of the world's lowest populations and one of the only source of water is the Nile River which results in not as much vegetation as other regions but it does have its own desert vegetation. The topography is always changing because of the sand and wind too. One of the only known cultures here is the Tuaregs which are located in areas in Mali, Niger, Algeria and Libya. They speak Tamasheq and practice mostly Islam. Their origin is unknown but they first started showing up in the 7th century as nomadic herders but have now converted to lucrative traders and raiders and they are known to be fierce warriors. But in the 20th century, drought and other things drove many into the Sahel and they are now semi-nomadic herders. One of their biggest customs is the blue veil which is believed to protect them from bad weather and spirits.
The last region I looked at was the Rain forest region which is located in Central and west Africa in Burundi, Cameroon, Cote d'ivore, Congo, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone. This used to get lots of rain and have tons of vegetation but now almost 90% of the rain forests have been cut down in some way. The main culture is the Baka who are located in southeast Cameroon. They speak french and Baka and do not have a set religion but they do believe in Komba. This group was first documented in the 8th century BC but their origins are unclear, they were also farmers first but they have now become hunter gatherers although hunting is only for the people with a more prestigious occupation. They also rely on the rain forest for almost everything.
The culture and geographics of the Sahel, Sahara, and Great lakes regions share similarities and differences such as religions, ethnicity, and landforms. The regions differ in religions, such as how the Sahara is mainly Arabic, while the Sahel is Islamic, and the Great Lakes are Christian. The Sahara Desert is very large and the home to a group of different ethnicities. It contains the Tuaregs, Moors and Tubus. The Sahel is mainly French Arabic due to it being in North Africa. The Great Lakes regions are Swahili and speak the bantu form of Swahili. The Sahara has one main landform which is itself, the Saharan Desert, and is the largest desert in the world. The sahel region is turning into the Sahara desert due to overpopulation and pollution. The Great Lakes region is mainly water-based and has many large lakes such as Lake Victoria which is the second largest freshwater lake in the world.
ReplyDeleteIn Africa, a lot of the tribes have been overrun by invaders. There were some dominant tribes who were able to survive from being triumphant in battles. The people, especially along the coast, have had to adapt their ways to match with settlers. On most areas of the coast, invasive settlers have shown to be dominant over tribes, and often change the ways of the tribes. But, along the inland and in the deserts, people such as the Tuareg have been able to keep more of their culture because they have not had as much interaction or invasion because the land they are on is not as inviting to newer people who are not accustomed to the land. Most people of Africa have borrowed Arabic words, as Arabic culture is heavy in a lot of areas. The geography of Africa is very extreme. It goes from the largest hot desert in the world, the Sahara, in the north, to beach weather down in the southern tip in South Africa. The cultural and geographic characteristics are most affected by how dominant the peoples were, how close they are to the coastline, and how much they interacted with settlers, but they share common language to the extent of words and clicking noises, and a common trend is that most peoples were overrun by invading peoples.
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