Africa south of the Sahara Flashcards
What is Sub-Saharan Africa?
the name used to describe the part of Africa that is located south of the Sahara, inhabited mostly by dark-skinned people
Sub-Saharan Africa – political boundaries
After the 2011 division of Sudan into Sudan (the northern part) and South Sudan, the latter is unquestionably part of Africa south of the Sahara. Sudan (“northern”) is categorized variously.
Sub-Saharan Africa – urban areas
Urbanization: 42% of the population lives in cities
Sub-Saharan African city model
The dominant element in the structure of cities are post-colonial districts, with many buildings created in the era of the conquest of the continent. Adjacent to them is a traditional, commercial, African district (single-story buildings) and, often informal and seasonal, an open-air market zone. These areas are surrounded by industrial zones (mining, processing plants, manufacturing zone), which were built close to the place of residence of the population. Residential districts are mostly densely populated and strongly ethnically segregated. Slum districts are located on the outskirts of cities.
African Slums
According to UN-Habitat, as much as 55% of sub-Saharan Africa’s urban population lives in slums.
This is due to the specificity of defining the term “slums”:
“A slum is a household made up of a group of people living under one roof in an urban area, without a durable and safe household, adequate living space per person, easy access to drinking water, sewage infrastructure, and the right to ownership of the house”. It is enough to be deprived of just one feature for a household to be classified as a slum.
People of sub-saharan Africa
Hamer ethnic group (Ethiopia)- The Hamar are known for their unique custom of “bull jumping,” which initiates a boy into manhood. First, female relatives dance and invite whipping from men who have recently been initiated; this shows their support of the initiate, and their scars give them a say on whom they marry.
Mursi (Ethiopia)- 10k people, The most valuable treasure of every Mursi is cattle. Even the names are given according to the color of your favorite cow. Mursi people boast among local tribes with the largest number of cattle, therefore they are considered to be the richest. he Mursi Tribe is well-known for its distinctive appearance, particularly the practice of wearing lip plates.
Karo ethnic group (Ethiopia)- Famous for their body and face painting, the Karo people are a Nilotic ethnic group that resides along the east banks of the river in southern Ethiopia. With an estimated population between 1000 and 3000, the Karo tribe is one of the smallest tribes amongst the Omo valley tribes.
Arbore (Ethiopia)- The Arbore perform many traditional ritual dances, they believe that singing and dancing eliminates negative energy and that by expelling it the tribe can flourish. Islam entered the Arbore society but has never completely suppressed pagan tradition, they believe in a Supreme Being, creator and father of all men, whom they call Waq. Arbore men can marry up to four women, while after marriage a woman gets a new name - the name of the beloved cattle of her husband. Circumcision is practiced on both boys and girls. Female circumcision is a prerequisite for marriage and must traditionally be performed by the mother.
wodaabe- niger, chad; hey are known for their beauty (both men and women), elaborate attire and rich cultural ceremonies. Wodaabe religion is largely but loosely Islamic. At the end of the rainy season in September, Wodaabe clans gather in several traditional locations before the beginning of their dry season transhumance migration. he male beauty ideal of the Wodaabe stresses tallness, white eyes and teeth; the men will often roll their eyes and show their teeth to emphasize these characteristics. Wodaabe clans then join for the remainder of the week-long Gerewol: a series of barters over marriage and contests where the young men’s beauty and skills are judged by young women.
Himba- Namibia; he Himba people are one of the most fascinating and distinct cultural groups in the country. The Himba people are a semi-nomadic tribe who have lived in northern Namibia for centuries. They are known for their distinctive red ochre body paint and intricate jewelry, as well as their deep-rooted cultural traditions and beliefs. The Himba people have a unique relationship with their environment and are skilled in agriculture, animal husbandry, and hunting. They are a proud and independent people who have managed to preserve their way of life despite the modern world encroaching upon them.
Herero people- Namibia The Herero people, it is believed, moved to Namibia from the Eastern African region, to the region around Lake Tanganyika. According to their oral history they came down from a lush area, with much water and grass, but about 350 years have passed and they have since acclimatised nicely to the dry Namibian environment.
Today they are a pastoral cattle breeding nation, mostly living in the central and eastern parts of Namibia. The much celebrated cultural diversity of Namibia is made all the richer by their presence, the Herero are a strong and proud culture and the observance of that culture continues despite the near decimation of the entire Herero population in Namibia’s colonial wars.
Toposa- South Sudan, he Toposa are a Nilotic ethnic group in South Sudan, living in the Greater Kapoeta region of Eastern Equatoria state. They have traditionally lived by herding cattle, sheep and goats, and in the past were involved in the ivory trade. They have a tradition of constant low-level warfare, usually cattle raids, against their neighbors.
Spatial separation of farmers and herders
Hausa - farmers
Fulbe – herders
Land grabbing
Land grabbing is a new phenomenon involving the lease or purchase of land in less developed countries by multinationals and foreign governments. According to the FAO, land grabbing is defined as such transactions in which at least 1000 ha of land are sold at a time.
This activity is caused by several reasons:
- with an increasing population and rising food prices, many countries are looking for new land for cultivation. Global climate change results in the desertification of farmlands or risk of flooding, making them a commodity that is difficult to access and in demand. There is also a water deficit for irrigation in many countries.
- the increase in demand for biofuels, intensified by legal regulations aimed at reducing the consumption of fossil fuels.
- globalization processes leading to trade liberalization and capital flows facilitate large-scale land acquisitions by foreign investors.
In Africa, land grabbing is an extremely intensive process, possibly because it is a continent perceived as sparsely populated with a high supply of available, arable land.
According to various sources, from 34 to 80 million hectares of land in Africa were acquired in this way (Batterbury, Ndi, 2018).
It is estimated that around 8.2 million Africans have lost their income due to the loss of land. Among investors there are entities (companies and governments) from Europe, the United States, China, India, the Middle East, Russia, and South Africa.
