About sub-Saharan Africa

And welcome to sub-Saharan Africa, the region south of the world’s largest desert. In includes 49
countries speaking over 2000 languages. According to the United Nations, it consists of all African
countries and territories that are fully or partially south of the Sahara.

Sub-Saharan Africa contains a wide variety of climate zones and precipitation patterns. In general, the
continent is relatively hot with temperate climates in the higher elevations.

Besides the unique of diversity of sub-Saharan Africa, the age of population in this region also makes us
amazed. Almost 60% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population is under the age of 20, making it the most
youthful region in the world and the fastest growing nation as well. Due to these features of population,
they have had some affects on several major trends in the region.

THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE

Transatlantic slave Trade is a term referring a segment of the global slave trade that transported
between 10 million and 12 million enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas from the
16th to the 19th century. People believed that a man names Prince Henry – The Navigator of Portugal
came up with the idea of the Transatlantic slave trade and made his first slave trade in Portugal-
European. Africa were taking against the will and force onto slave ships. They were then transported
across the Atlantic Ocean.

Probably no more than a few hundred thousand Africans were taken to the Americas before 1600. In
the 17th century, however, demand for enslaved labor rose sharply with the growth of sugar plantations
in the Caribbean and tobacco plantations in the Chesapeake region in North America. The largest
numbers of enslaved people were taken to the Americas during the 18th century, when, according to
historians’ estimates, nearly three-fifths of the total volume of the transatlantic slave trade took place.

The slave trade had devastating effects on Africa. Economic incentives for warlords and tribes to engage
in the trade of enslaved people promoted an atmosphere of lawlessness and violence. Depopulation and
continuing fear of captivity made economic and agricultural development almost impossible throughout
much of western Africa. A large percentage of the people taken captive were women in their
childbearing years and young men who normally would have been starting families. The European
enslavers usually left behind persons who were elderly, disabled, or otherwise dependent groups who
were least able to contribute to the economic health of their societies.

On 25 March 1807, King George III signed into law the Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, banning
trading in enslaved people in the British Empire. Today, 23 August is known as the International Day for
the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.

The transatlantic slave trade was abolished in the United States from 1 January 1808. However, some
slaving continued an illegal basis for the next fifty years.
ISSUES FACED IN UNDEVELOPED ECONOMIES

 Sub-Saharan Africa suffers from some serious environmental problems, including deforestation,
soil erosion, desertification, wetland degradation, and insect infestation.
 The list of problems is familiar: obstacles to international trade; overvalued exchange rates;
poor infrastructure; bad governance and corruption; and insufficient competition and
monopolistic structures in many sectors, notably agriculture.
 Both domestic and external factors contributed to sub-Saharan Africa's poor overall economic
performance in the 1980s and early 1990s. Key constraints to growth included inappropriate
economic policies, inadequate human capital development, and low levels of private
investment.
 Which factors describe the economic situation in Sub-Saharan Africa? Foreign investment is
unwelcomed in the region. Natural resources are used to pay off international debt. Subsistence
farming no longer exists in the region.
 The economic and social situation in sub-Saharan Africa remains fragile and vulnerable to
domestic and external shocks, and the region has a long way to go to make up for the ground
lost over the past two decades.
 In conclusion, Economic growth rates are still not high enough to make a real dent in the
pervasive poverty and enable these countries to catch up with other developing nations. The
government of the sub-Saharan Africa has been taking the economy in to consideration by
having improved these factors:
1. Infrastructure
2. Labor and Productivity
3. Economic Complexity
4. Regulatory and legal environments
5. Political instability and security

TRIBALISM
Tribalism is the state of being organized and advocating for a tribe. In conformity, tribalism refers to a
cultural term, a way of thinking or behaving in which people are more loyal to their tribes than to their
friends, countries, or social groups.

Tribalism is the state of being organized and advocating for a tribe. In conformity, tribalism refers to a
cultural term, a way of thinking or behaving in which people are more loyal to their tribes than to their
friends, countries, or social groups

Tribalism in Africa evolved as a group was with unique cultural values, beliefs, and attitudes that guide
their living in the society. They act on ethics among the tribal groups, it is their way of existence as they
see their members as relations and blood ties, ready to sacrifice whatever it takes to cater and protect
them. In Africa, tribal groups are highly respected by their members as they regard their groups as a
priority in crossing their daily activities.

Africa Culture