Transcript Slide 1
Chapter
8 Section 4
Objectives
In this section you will:
• Learn about the cultural diversity of Southern
Africa.
• Examine the different ways of life in Central
Africa and learn about the diverse cultures of
the region.
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8 Section 4
Key Terms
• migrant worker (MY grunt WUR kur) n. a laborer who
travels away from where he or she lives to find work
• compound (KAHM pownd) n. a fenced-in group of
homes
The Cultures of Southern and Central Africa
Chapter
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Central and Southern Africa is a huge region made up of
nearly all of the southern “half” of Africa.
The region includes countries bordering the Atlantic
Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and those in between.
Like other regions on the continent, Central and Southern
Africa is a land of great diversity.
The Cultures of Southern and Central Africa
Chapter
8 Section 4
Central and
Southern Africa
The Cultures of Southern and Central Africa
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Southern Africa’s cultural diversity is reflected in its
people. Most are black Africans who:
• belong to many different ethnic groups
• speak many different languages
Southern Africa also has large numbers of people of
European descent—more than in other regions of Africa.
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Europeans have a long history in Southern Africa.
Portuguese explored the coastline, arriving in
Mozambique in 1500s.
Dutch and British arrived in Cape of Good Hope in 1600s.
Dutch settlers moved north to Malawi and other lands.
British settlers moved north to Zimbabwe and Zambia.
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European Ethnic Groups in Southern Africa
Portuguese
• descended from Portuguese settlers
• speak Portuguese
Afrikaners
• descended from Dutch settlers
• speak Afrikaans
British
• descended from British settlers
• speak English
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Southern and
Central Africa:
Languages
Each major language
group, shown here, includes
many different languages.
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Southern Africa’s cultural diversity is also evident in its
mixture of rural and urban areas.
For many years, most people lived in villages and small
cities. Today, several cities have more than 1 million
people:
• Cape Town, South Africa
• Johannesburg, South Africa
• Maputo, Mozambique
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The country of South Africa is a leader in the region and
on the continent.
Of all the countries in Africa, South Africa is the:
• wealthiest
• most urban
• most industrialized
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During the 1900s, South Africa’s booming industries
created a huge demand for labor.
This demand was met by migrant workers who left their
homes in other countries to work in South Africa’s mines.
Most migrant workers were men. Their absence from
home led to new roles for African women, many of whom
took on new responsibilities and gained new rights.
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Central Africa also is an area of great cultural diversity.
The people of Central Africa belong to hundreds of
different ethnic groups and speak many different
languages.
Democratic Republic of the Congo alone has 200 ethnic
groups.
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Central Africans are members of many different religions:
• Roman Catholics
• Protestants
• Muslims
• people who practice a blend of Christianity
and traditional African beliefs
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Diversity also is reflected in different lifestyles—
traditional, modern, and a mixture of both.
Many people in Central Africa live in rural areas or small
villages. They make a living by farming or herding.
Millions of others have an urban lifestyle in busy and
crowded cities. They live in houses and apartments and
work in factories, offices, and hotels.
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Much of Central Africa’s diversity is tied to economic
differences among its people.
On the Atlantic coast, several countries have large oil
reserves.
• Angola
• Congo
• Gabon
• Cameroon
• Equatorial Guinea
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Southern and
Central Africa:
Mineral and Energy
Resources
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Oil has brought wealth to many of those living in cities
along the coast.
City dwellers also benefit from more frequent contact with
people outside Africa, leading to the exchange of new
ideas.
In the region’s interior, however, people often face
economic hardship. Living conditions are poor, and
people follow more traditional ways of life organized
around kinship groups.
The Cultures of Southern and Central Africa