Afien-PolitialDivi

11
Demography
Key Concept
Folitical divisionis of Africa
People of Africa
ransportand communication

POLITICAL DIVISIONs
r c a is politically divided into 54 independent countries ranging in size including Madagascar
eter 10 A
n d variOus island groups. These countries were under the rule of European countries earlier. In
the latter half of the rwentieth century these colonies became independent of European powers.

PEOPLE OF AFRICA
Africa has
long been considered to be the birth place of modern humans as the earliest known remains ac
humans have been discovered here. It is believed that human of
life began in this continent some seven million
years ago.
Like many other continents, Africa has a population that has both native Africans as well as people of foreine
origin. ign
The native Africans, from the earliest times,
belong to tribes such
the Bushmen, Masai,
as
Zulu, Tutsis
Bantus and Pygmies. They can, therefore, be found in many countries spread across the
continent. But
some regions are known to be the original homes of these communities.
The countries in the north have
people of Arab descent living there whereas in countries like
South Africa
people of European descent can be found as well.
Africa is also home to a
large contingent of Indians who were originally sent to African
plantation labourers by the British. nations as
They are mostly settled in countries like South Africa.
and Kenya. Uganda
So it claimed that the population
may be
of Africa is quite diverse and is made of people from
tribes and those from varied racial and
cultural backgrounds.
up differe
 They

Kalahaii
Desertregion.
lineinthe
snares
use
They
Bushmen, who are prima n t e r e g a u h e r e s

roots
and
fruits

and gathers
mainly hunt various kinds of antelopes
und poisoned arrows to hunt. anthropologists

been
referred to by and thus,
Pygmies ive in the Conge region ae
hunter-gatherers

partialy
Pgmies &ecause of their short height. They are

partialy dependent on agriculcure king and

theywere ruled by dhe lusi leisure,

Tuesis hwell the central parts of Atrica. Earlier
in
afforded a lot of
time for
they were dependent on cattle rearir Their lifestyle
activities.
Thus, they are
artistic
which encouraged them to get tic and

known for their epic songs and

poems. Bushmen
Masais live in Creat Rift Val
They are mainly e
dependdeny
on cattle. They are
known
their fearless zeal in
warfae
This community has produce
many warriors who have been
victorious in their
battles with
Masai men and women theother tribes of their land
Ihe word Bantu is used to describe all those
ethnicgroups who speak
the Bantu languages. It means 'the
people'.
It is a major language of
the Niger-Congo language family. It is
spoken by many people Iiving
in the Central Africa and Southern Africa.

lhese
indigenous people are known for their crafts of making
jewellery, tabric, sculpture, masks and baskets.
The countries in the north have
people of Arab descent, and Southern African women, Gambia
Atrica has people of European descent. People from India, who were
hirst taken across as labourers to work on
plantations by the British,
are found
mainly in South Africa, Uganda and Kenya.
The language most
commonly used by Africans is English and French.
This is because each tribe has its
own dialect
other tribes do not which members of
speak or understand. The most common
language spoken is Swahili. Arabic is spoken by those who African
North Africa. live across
The Nomad, Arab descent
population of Africa is not
uniformly distributed, i.e. it varies from
maximum population while Maurntius the most country to country. hasthe
is
densely populated country in the Nigeria
continent.
 SPORT SYSTEM

n i p o r t

Geo Facte
and roads to largest
needed good network of railways
second
oalrulersneed a has the
of Africa morethan
to Eaurope. Thus Thereare
continent

The

e minerals and agricultural products

p o tt h em i n e r a l s

Africa were built by these

population
in the world
Africa
and railways found in
r
1000 languages
spoken in
roads
ofhe the mining areas
eroadways and railways
link mainly
These
b griculturalareas.

Jrspo
for the people of
an nportant transport medium
rt is obstacle for
an
terrain ot the continent is an
The unfa
e unfavourable
Thus, for international as well
e r
necwork of land transport.
nerwork

The major international

purpose, airways are necessary.
tic Town, Accra
located in C airo, Durban, Nairobi, Cape
ertsare
Adldis Ababa South Africa
Cape Town,

suitable due to the presence

r ransport

inland water transport is not

Athough Africa.
terrain, sea routes are
important in
of watertalls and rugged
connects West
Africa with the
Cape of Good Hope sea
route
Ihe

west European countries.

important name which comes up while

The Suez Canal is another
was
the water transport system
of Africa. This canal
discussing
constructed

in 1869. This In Your Opinion

Capeof Good Hope lies between Atnica was ruled by many European powers
Said in the north, thus, There must have been something special about
Soezin thesouth and Port Africa which attracted so many foreign powers
Sea to the Red Sea. Port
ecting the Mediterranean What could be it? Give your opinion aboutthis
in
uhan or the Durban harbour is the largest port
The ocher important ports are Kenya, Djibouti
lagos in Nigeria

Glossary
a person who studies anthropology, ie, the study of humans
anthropologist
colonies countries under the political control of other countries

indigenous native

rugged having a broken, rough and uneven surface

terrain the surface area of a region
 c spoltoil e halrofihe
hall of the twentieth
e ame
Aheec we co e be
emsh e eesa
s
neah eretgos
Buhme whe ane i ri huhraheen se furege
he natwe Aan
anc i n a t e s n t
beong
andthee e ah
e een es
jNeie of Aab
Euiropean
NAcst cf the te te umses to eonhect thhe
xoac
b

an
munthg an taming arelas lbeerabie ar hansport has
a e to he
agged
seain whi males nd a n g s t
Decome animaormnt medhun or ans rest ofthe
he continent t the
he wori
world
Aica hasanumber otoo and habous comectg

EXERCISE

Chocse the comect arswers

How many countmies are there in Amcar
a so
S6 54
ho are the
people ing in Norh Amca
a Bushmen
bEuropeans CArabs
What is he most sookenm Athican
anguage
a Sahill
Arabic cFrench
Which counmy has the maximum
popuiaton
a Mauntus
Nigere c Egypt
5 in wmich region do me Pygmies inve
a Congo CCentalAtica
DKaianan Deset
B State whether the sentences are true or false.
The popuiation of Atca is uniformly
disibuted
2 Caio has an intemational airpot

The native cammunities of Atca are known for ther arts and crat forms.
Tne terain of Afica s favourable for iand transport
5 in the lamer hatf of me nwentieth centuny me Aican countries won freedom from colonial rulers

C F l in the blanks with suitable words

is the most densely populated countty in Athica
The are known for their epic song
and poety
s the language spoken in Nortn.Afica
The Suez Canal was built in
5 The hve
in the Great Rit valley egion
 werthe followireg in t-2 sentences
descert
wech regon of Nnca has a lgn popiltnon fron Europear
the courtes
whe iled of Aeca earier?
Eiropean lnaages that mostly spokers it Alrica?
w tae t e are

N a e t e ser port in Nigeri

where the idians mainly fournd in Afica7

Ansaer the following in 3-4 sentences.

Aw dd the indlians come to cifferent parts of Alrica?

Why s a transport important in Aica?
why did the Europeans build a network of roadways and railways?

why isinland wateer transport not favourable in Africa?

international auports located in Africa?

where are tthe majOr
in 8-10 sentences.
answer the following
wrice a briet note orn indigenous people of Africa
whatdo you knowN about the population distribution of the continent?
HOw did land transport develop in Africa?
wnte what you knovw about the political divisions of Africa
Wite a short note on the water transport system of Africa

Think a n d answer.

distributed What could be the behind this?

The population of ATIca is not uniformly reasons

Labourers from indla were taken to Africa by the British. What does it suggest about the time period when
Africa as labourers?
mey were taken to
label diagram.
Drawand
in Africa Draw a diagram imagining the daily life of the
nd ourwhat were the ancient civilzations found
of these civilizations
people of any one
icture study

Can you identiy which tribe these people belong to?

Mention one unique feature of this tribe

Map work
e an outine map ofAfrica and point out the following countries on it.
Souch Africa 2 Egypt 3 Nigeria
enye 5 Zambia

Activity
an cutine map of Africa, locate the different countries of Africa and discuss the climate and vegetation of the