AF Country Project Flashcards
memorize everything
Location
West Africa
Surrounded by Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ghana.
Capital
Yamoussaukro, five hours ahead of Tenafly
Climate 0-0”
Located between equatorial and savanna climate zones
South: southern savanna, harmattan (dry wind), dry season from November to March
North: rainy season in northeast from April to October, 45-60 inches precipitation annually
Topographical features
Land area is 322,463 km^2; Poland < Ivory Coast < New Mexico
From plateau @ sea level in the South to 500m elevation in North
Mt. Nimba in the west has the highest elevation of 1752m
Southeast: inland coastal lagoons
Southwest: dense tropical forest
Guinean forest-savanna mosaic stretches from east to west
Northwest: undulating plains and mountains
Native plants (flora)
African wild custard apple, Birthwort, Cola trees, Sedge
Native animals (fauna)
African golden cat, Diana monkey, Pied bat, West African manatee, Zebra duiker
Population
31 million
86 people/km^2 of land area
47% rural, 53% urban
Modifications to environment
Deforestation: 90% loss over past 50 years
37.4% of protected zones deforested for cocoa since 2000
Equatorial forest zone reduced from wide band to triangular area
+loss of biodiversity, water pollution, soil erosion
Major industries
Agriculture (cocoa, palm oil, coffee)
Fishing (tuna fishing port largest in africa)
Forestry (logging)
Tourism
Mining (gold, diamonds, copper, cobalt)
Oil/Petroleum
Trade
Trades with China (15%), Nigeria (13.1%), France (10.8%)
Imports: fish, electronics, plastics, and pharmaceuticals
Exports: cocoa beans, raw cashew nuts, and net exporter of oil
Strengths of Economy
- Growth through public investment and strong domestic consumption
- Sustaining one of the fastest economic growth rates in Sub-Saharan Africa
Weaknesses of Economy
- Unfavorable long-term private investment
- Productivity due to undercutting property rights and debilitating corruption
Literacy, Life expectation, Infant mortality
89.9%
60 years
56/1000
5 neglected tropical disease
Lymphatic filariasis, Soil-transmitted helminthiasis, Schistosomiasis, Onchocerciasis, Trachoma
Malaria
Malaria
Big issue, as the government is forced to roll out life saving interventions to reduce cases
Health System
Has one of the weakest health systems in the world with only 1 doctor for every 10,000 inhabitants, and lacks medical infrastructure
Lack of attention to…
environmental and public sanitation sector
Human rights #1
Violation of freedom of expression and assembly: throwing tear gas at student protestors
Human rights #2
Right to housing: inadequate housing that lacked authorization for construction that eventually collapsed and caused fatalities
Human rights #3
Environmental degradation: child labor, deforestation
When did it gain independence? Who was the former colonial ruler?
August 7, 1960
France
Siginficant event of past 5 years
2019, former prez Laurent Gbagbo aqquitted of all charges of trying to keep power and have militia backing
2 significant world history events
declared protectorate of france: 1889
independence 1960
Akan
speak Kwa
Baule - supreme gods, ancestors, nature spirits
Anyi - departed ancestors, spend their life trying to become a respected one
Northern Mande
speak mande, mostly muslim
Kru
speak kru
Bete - worship creator god and maintain relationship between nature and ancestors
Krahn - heavenly creator/fatherly figure
Asante
some christian, some muslim, but also have belief in spirits and supreme
speak twi
Anyi specifics
Honor departed ancestors
Komian - predicts future & teaches monarchs
Special ritual for spirit to go to spirit world
dress deceased in jewelry and garments
masks have souls, only some can wear them
yam festival - honor dead and pray for protection
