Bet you didn't know all THIS about Africa!!

[Zurie]

1. The oldest archeological remains relating to humans (homo sapiens) were discovered in Africa.

Most anthropogists accept this fact, but some are still not sure if this is the truth, the whole truth ... or whether humankind also "appeared" elsewhere on the planet.

2. "Colonialism" is a very negative term today. That means that far more sophisticated European countries took over large areas of Africa in the 19th century because of its mineral resources or for strategic reasons. The indigenous peoples were exploited and used as slave labour. Yet the Europeans brought with them their architecture and many skills.

3. Africa (at the moment) consists of 54 self-governed states.

4. Africa is generally divided into 5 areas (many countries are not mentioned here):

EAST AFRICA, with main countries such as Ethiopia, Madagascar (an island off the east coast), Kenya and Tanzania.

CENTRAL AFRICA, which includes Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Central African Rebublic.

NORTH AFRICA, including Egypt, Morocco, Sudan. Libya and Tunisia.

SOUTHERN AFRICA, which includes Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Swaziland.

WEST AFRICA, with among others Burkina Faso, Côte D'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali and Nigeria.

5. Sad to say -- certain African states are amongst the poorest and least developed countries. But there are great potential for development and hope for the future.

6. Population increase is a cause for concern. In 1950 Africa had 221 million people, but by 2009 the continent's population went over 1 billion. This places huge pressure on the infrastructure, malnutrition problems and unemploymnt problems.

7. Africa is known for its fantastic wildlife -- but this is under heavy threat by the onslaught of -- mostly -- Asian countries on its wildlife. Thousands of elephants are killed for their ivory, and the slaughter amongst the (protected!) rhino population is so scary that soon there might be no rhinos left at all.

(Africa's wildlife is a source of income (tourism) and for most people, a source of pleasure and leisure, in the many game parks).

8. Africans, from north to south, speak more than 1,000 languages. This means Africa is the most multi-lingual continent on the planet.

Due to colonialism French, English and Portuguese are some of the languages still spoken widely. In Namibia German is a "second language" as this country was under German occupancy until 1915.

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[JoyfulCook]

Thanks Zurie, Africa in general has an amazing history. so many other countries came and went as you say from the Portuguese, Germans and the British etc.

Today much of Africa seems to be so much worse off since they have gained independence which is a pity. Mainly due to the corruption, tribal inter fighting, geneside, floods, famine and governments that just dont look after their own people

Tourism is a big draw card but poaching just has to stop and the continent seems rife with this dreadful problem. Africa is always in my heart and my heart aches for the poor.