Essay Of Africa

The Scramble for Africa Essay
The scramble for Africa represents the most thorough and systematic process of colonialism in world
history. The European colonial powers managed to conquer and control almost the entire continent
of Africa in a short, twenty–five year period from about 1875 to 1900. Some of the European states
involved were already well–established global powers; the others were up and coming nations that
desired to emulate and compete with the dominant imperial states. Various factors allowed for and
contributed to the conquering of the whole of Africa by European states. The slow, but ever–growing
European presence on the perimeter and the completion for dominance between the major European
states acted as the platform for the inevitable quest for...show more content...
The British colonies succeeded in winning independence as a sovereign nation and the French
Bourgeoisie overthrew the monarchy, serving as the universal model for revolution. The imperial
powers of Europe were seeing their sources of raw goods disappearing as periodicals containing
French ideals of liberty, fraternity and property reached the corners of the colonized world.
Naturally, the European colonial powers needed to actively seek new untapped territories.
Only a small portion of the African coast had been colonized by the late 1870s, French Algeria and
Senegal, Portuguese Angola and Mozambique, and British and Dutch South Africa were the only
significant settlement holdings. The interior had yet to be conquered, however some information
had been gathered by a handful of explorers. Dr. Livingstone had explored the interior in the
interest of missionary work. Henry Stanley had collected geographical information on his
journalistic quest to find the at large Dr. Livingston. Burton and Speke were like the Lewis and
Clark of Africa on their quest to find the source of the Nile. With the colonial resistance all over the
world, acquisition of new territory and the desire for new territory would beget one another as
components of a compulsive cycle.
The actual scramble began with King Leopold II and his desire to
Get more content on HelpWriting.net

Poverty in Africa Essay example
African nations regularly fall to the bottom of any list measuring economic activity, such as per
capita income or per capita GDP, despite a wealth of natural resources. The bottom 25 spots of the
United Nations (UN) quality of life index are regularly filled by African nations. In 2006, 34 of the
50 nations on the UN list of least developed countries are in Africa. In many nations, the per capita
income is often less than $200 U.S. per year, with the vast majority of the population living on much
less. In addition, Africa's share of income has been consistently dropping over the past century by
any measure. In 1820, the average European worker earned about three times what the average
African did. Now, the average European earns twenty...show more content...
On each of these occasions, my only thoughts have been that God did not destine poverty, wars and
suffering for Africans, else Africa would not have been richly blessed with abundant natural and
human resources.
As much as there are very genuine disadvantages hampering our progress economically like:
?Overpopulation, this is so with any society that largely depends on agriculture, African families are
often very large. Most of the elderly rely on their children for support, and as much agriculture in
Africa is labor–intensive, large numbers of children provide much needed labor for plowing,
planting and harvesting. However, overpopulation is a serious problem in urban areas, which have
grown enormously since the beginnings of African independence in the in the late 1950s and later.
For example, in 1960, 14.5% of Nigeria's population lived in urban areas, that number had grown to
43% by 2000, and is growing at an estimated 5.5% per year, compared to a 2.9% national population
growth rate. This is a trend that can be seen throughout the continent.
?Misused Money, Over $500 billion (U.S.) has been sent to African nations in the form of direct aid.
The consensus is that the money has had little long term effect. In addition, most African nations
have borrowed substantial sums of money. However, a large percentage of the money was either
been invested in weapons (money that was spent back in developed nations and

africa Essay example
African Cultures
Africa has more than 800 languages native to its continent. African cultures are so diverse that they
are different from any other culture of the world. African cultures contain many different languages.
African languages range from common French to languages unheard of to most people such as
Swahili. African arts are much different than American arts. Their art involves much more creative
pottery, masks, and paintings. Africa has a very interesting culture. Reasons being the people are
very creative and like to express their individuality. The most diverse cultures in the world belong to
Africa.
There are more than 800 languages spoken in the continent of Africa. Most Africans speak two or
...show more content...
It is the national language of Tanzania and the official language of Kenya (African Languages). It is
also the official in German East Africa (Reader 265). Approximately 50 million people speak this
language (African Languages).
Art is very important to the Africans. In fact it is part of their everyday life (Fetzer 106). South
African artists are active in many areas of art including sculpture, pottery, mask making, and many
more (African Arts Information).
Like African paintings, poetry, and woodcarvings, sculptures tell a tale and immortalize cultures
and beliefs. Different artists have different styles (African Arts Information). Materials and styles
differ from village to village. Most sculptors use green wood, copper, tin, zinc alloys, bronze, ivory,
or terra cotta, a kind of earth ware. Most sculpture figures are believed to contain ancestor's
spirits. Others represent sacred ideas or events (Fetzer 106). Some objects are said to be magical and
believed to have magical powers (African Arts). Africans carve figures, make masks, and decorate
articles for ceremonies (Fetzer 106).
Masks were created to be placed over the face, on the top of the head, or even over the head. Most
masks represent spirits of ancestors (Fetzer 106). Some villages make masks with full costumes and
use them with music to dance in ritual performances. They used masks for social control,

African Cultures Essay
African Cultures
Africa has more than 800 languages native to its continent. African cultures are so diverse that they
are different from any other culture of the world. African cultures contain many different languages.
African languages range from common French to languages unheard of to most people such as
Swahili. African arts are much different than American arts. Their art involves much more creative
pottery, masks, and paintings. Africa has a very interesting culture. Reasons being the people are
very creative and like to express their individuality. The most diverse cultures in the world belong to
Africa.
There are more than 800 languages spoken in the continent of Africa. Most Africans speak two or
three languages, their...show more content...
The most common languages in South Africa are Xhosa, Tswana, Zulu, and Swahili (African
Languages).
Zulu is one of nine Bantu languages spoken in East Southern Africa. Approximately 8.8 million
people speak this language (African Languages).
Swahili is spoken as a mother language vast along the coast of East Africa. It is the national
language of Tanzania and the official language of Kenya (African Languages). It is also the official
in German East Africa (Reader 265). Approximately 50 million people speak this language (African
Languages).
Art is very important to the Africans. In fact it is part of their everyday life (Fetzer 106). South
African artists are active in many areas of art including sculpture, pottery, mask making, and
many more (African Arts Information). Like African paintings, poetry, and woodcarvings,
sculptures tell a tale and immortalize cultures and beliefs. Different artists have different styles
(African Arts Information). Materials and styles differ from village to village. Most sculptors
use green wood, copper, tin, zinc alloys, bronze, ivory, or terra cotta, a kind of earth ware. Most
sculpture figures are believed to contain ancestor's spirits. Others represent sacred ideas or events
(Fetzer 106). Some objects are said to be magical and believed to have magical powers (African
Arts). Africans carve figures, make masks, and decorate articles for ceremonies (Fetzer 106).

Essay on Africa
Africa's Resistance to the Portuguese
The African history has been affected tremendously due to the influence of some European countries.
Portugal, who probably had the greatest impact on the continent, was not shy in invading what they
thought to be profitable circumstances. One of these areas that they profited from was the kingdom
of Kongo. Kongo was a major Bantu–speaking kingdom astride the Congo River in west–central
Africa, probably founded in the 14th century. It was governed by a king, the manikongo, whose
economic power was based upon trade in ivory, hides, slaves, and a shell currency of western Africa.
Within a few years after the Portuguese first encountered the kingdom in 1484, the sixth manikongo,
Nzinga Mbemba, later...show more content...
By 1570 the power of the Kongo kingdom had begun to decline, and severe internal tensions had
developed. Alfonso I knowing what was going on wrote a series of papers to King Joao III of
Portugal. In these papers, Alfonso I pleaded with the king to take away all the corrupt Portuguese
from his kingdom. With false assurance from the king of Portugal, he asked to have sent those
people of religious and medical backgrounds to help modernize his kingdom. With the corruptness
still noticeable in the Kongo, Alfonso I was forced to pass a law stating that "...any white man
living in our Kingdoms and wanting to purchase goods in any way should first inform three of our
noblemen and officials of our court whom we rely upon in this matter..." (57). These futile attempts
of writing letters to the king were not making any significance. The king of Portugal was money
hungry along with the majority of all his servants who worked for him down in Africa.
Some of the areas of Africa knew that letters to the king would not work alone. They were forced to
use action against the Portuguese. People known as Zimba did the military launches. Most of the
attacks were economically motivated. They were being used for the trade circuit. Zimba attacks
were successful against the Portuguese but they did not succeed in reestablishing the traditional
market for their ivory.

Ethnic Diversity In Africa
Almost 75% of all Africans are black, yet Africa is one of the most diverse continent in the world.
The amount of Melanin a person determines skin color, yet people use this to define a person. With a
continent that has so much history, people still assume everyone in the continent have the same
color skin. Africa has a wide range of ethnicities and colors due to the different regions of Africa, the
Indigenous Africans, and the immigrants in Africa. Although Africa has a majority of dark
–skinned
people, Africa has the largest range of ethnic diversity in the world.
Commencing with Africa's many diverse regions, is the most effective way to illustrate Africa's
range of ethnicity. For Instance, Egyptians, Libyans, and Moroccans are a part of North Africa, and
are considered white. This is because Egyptians, Libyans, and Moroccans were confused with a
blonde haired, blue–eyed Swede, having lighter skin tones and straighter hair (Diamond). As clearly
executed, these white people who live in Africa prove that not all Africans are black. In another case,
South Africa, called "rainbow nation," is known for their wide range of diversity. More specifically,
in Southern Africa Cape, Coloureds is the name given to an ethnic group composed primarily of
persons of mixed race, including one of the lighter races in Africa (Nurock). If South Africa is
known for its diversity, it should hardly be considered that all Africans are black. To put in another
way, tribes and regions that are closer to the equator have darker skin than those farther from the
equator, having more melanin than others. In this instance, East Africa is closest to the equator and
houses the darker tribes, whereas North Africa has lighter skinned Africans, including the lightest
African ethnic group, Bebers (O'Neil). As elucidated, It is unjust to call all Africans black, when
there are clearly different ethnicities and races all throughout the large continent of Africa.
Africa's diversity can also be illustrated by the indigenous Africans, or the Africans who originated on
this Continent. To elaborate, the Africa encountered by the first European explorers in the fifteenth
century had already been home to five human races: blacks, whites, Pygmies,

South Africa Essay
South Africa is a nation with a wonderful and varied culture. This country has been called "The
Rainbow Nation", a name that reflects the diversity of such amazing place. The different ethnic and
cultural groups of the South Africa do, however, appreciate their own beliefs and customs. Many of
these traditions, besides African culture, are influenced by European and Western heritage. The
complex and diverse population of the country has made a strong impact to the various cultures.
There are forty–five million people; about thirty million are black, five million white, three million
coloured and one million Indians. The black population has a large number of rural people living in
poverty. It is among these inhabitants that cultural...show more content...
Many black musicians who sang in Afrikaans and English during the apartheid period began to
sing in traditional African dialects developing a singular style called Kwaito. This is a music
genre that became the favorite way of representing social and economic issues. I believe that in
certain way, Kwaito is a political power that shows activism in its apolitical actions. In the other
hand white and coloured South African singers were strongly influenced by European music.
African Indigenous Churches were the largest of the Christian groups during the apartheid period.
It is argued that many of the people who claimed no relation with any religion were part of
indigenous religions. This is a religion that combines Christian and indigenous influences. Many
South African Muslims are described as Coloureds, especially those whose ancestors were slaves.
Others are described as Indians including those whose ancestors came as traders from South Asia.
Religion plays such an important fact in South Africa giving an special taste to the culture.
The culture during the apartheid time is still powerful in much of South Africa countryside. For
example, across the many ethnic groups, marriage traditions are different, but all the beliefs are
based in a masculine deity, ancestral spirits and supernatural forces. Usually, plural marriages are
permitted and a lobolo (dowry) is usually paid. Cattles play an important part in many of

Essay about Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub–Saharan Africa
Africa is the second largest of the earth's seven continents, covering about twenty–two percent of the
world's total land area. From its northern most point, to its southern most tip is the distance of nearly
five thousand miles. Africa is both north and south of the equator. The Atlantic Ocean is located west
of the continent, and the Indian Ocean is on the east. Width of the continent is also nearly five
thousand miles. Although Africa is so large, much of it is inhabitable. Desertsoils, which have little
organic content, cover large areas. The Sahara Desert, in the northern part, covers more than one
fourth of Africa, and the Kalahari Desert is in the southern part of the continent. These two deserts
are a...show more content...
Most are relatively infertile due to mineral leaching from heavy rainfall and high temperatures.
Achieving effective control of the water supply is a major problem. Many areas suffer low
rainfall and must store water as insurance against delayed rains. Other areas have an
overabundance of water, causing swamps to exist. Large areas suffer from periodic flooding. In
recent years, progress has been made in the area of dams and reservoirs. With the continent's large
rivers and waterways, Africa has probably the most potential for hydroelectric power in the world.
However, the economic and the political standing of the region are not in a position to take
advantage of this natural asset.
Africa's people are divided not only by country, but also by religion, race, and class. The Sahara also
serves as a vast barrier between the people of northern Africa and those of sub–Saharan Africa.
South of the Sahara, Negroid peoples, which constitute about seventy percent of the population,
predominate. Primarily concentrated in southern Africa, are some five million people of European
descent. Europeans began to appear in Africa in the last half of the nineteenth century. Even though
they were small in number they had a lasting impact on the African way of life. Their purpose in
Africa was for raw materials for their industries, naval bases, new markets, investments and their ever
present quest for new

Sub-Saharan Africa Essay
Sub–Saharan Africa:
The Causes of Postcolonial State Failure
On the vast continent of Africa, there are fifty–three countries; of these only six are not located
below the Sahara Desert. This leaves the Sub–Saharan region of Africa to encompass a total of
forty–seven countries. Many of these countries south of the Sahara have been in state failure, either
partial or complete collapse of state authority. This has led to an inability to...show more content...
In colonial Africa, colonial officials created political borders based on the claims of European
powers. This arbitrary boundaries making failed to take into consideration the previous settlement
patterns , which created political systems that, bunched and split distinct pre–colonial communities.
Scholars suggest that colonial officials would systematically grant favorable treatment to the
members of those groups who seemed intellectually superior or more cooperative while all the
others were demoted to the lower echelons of society. Evidence of this is provided in Rwanda where
the Belgian colonial officials granted social and political privileges to the Tutsis in order to catalyze
colonial domination. The Hutus faced discrimination and exploitation at the hands of the colonials,
which promoted ethnic violence between the Hutus and Tutsis cumulating in the death of more than
800,000 people during the mass genocide in 1994. * In Sub–Sahara Africa, during the last four
decades thirty–five major armed conflicts have occurred, taking the lives of almost ten million
people. There is a high correlation between the risk of conflict and a low ranking on the Human
Development Index (HDI), due to the weak capacities and inability of these poor countries to
guarantee the security of its citizens, rebellions and conflict have a high occurrence rate. United
Nations has observed that conflicts

Essay on Africa
Europe tried to take many countries, Africa being one of them. The European countries had an
effect on Africa today throughout all the primes. Europe had an effect on the African way of life,
that in some ways were good, and in some ways bad.
Imperialism is defined as the extension or rule or influence by one government, nation, or society
over the political, economic, or cultural life of another. European nations decided they wanted land
in the mostly unexplored continent, and they took it, without the consent of the African people.
Europe brought Christian ideas into Africa. Religion was changed from what it would have been to
Christianity today. If you look at most of the countries in Africa such as Angola, Congo, Ghana or
Zimbabwe...show more content...
European Imperialist Policies made Africa lose history of their culture and brought racism to Africa.
Europeans wanted to change Africans to be more like them, changing their religion, changing their
life style and making them slaves. Slavery led to the loss of culture because after a while Africans
began to think of themselves as lower class; since that's what they were treated like. The Westernized
minority, influenced by European culture and Christianity, first rejected African traditional culture.
Slavery lead to people hating Africa, Africans and the African culture. Which leads to the Africa
culture and traditions being diminished. Why would anyone want to practice a certain religion or
traditions if they were labeled as wrong, or unethical.
Traditionally, the majority of Africans have been farmers and herders who raised crops and
livestock. When Europeans started colonizing they demanded agricultural and mineral products.
Safer technology and ways of farming were learned and brought to Africa. European technology and
crops were introduced and a modern exchange economy started. The technology was starting to
grow, there were new machines and easier ways to do things Africans never thought of.
Africa today has changed a lot from European countries and the imperialist policies. The Europeans
tore into the African continent and succeeded in destroying the Africanway of life. Thousands of
people were

Essay Of Africa

More Related Content

Essay Of Africa