West Africa: countries and their features. West Africa general information about the region on the African continent

Population of West Africa

West Africa- a region characterized by a great diversity of peoples inhabiting it, as well as language families and anthropological groups to which these peoples belong, their forms economic activity and religious ideas.

The territory of the region is crossed by the border of settlement of representatives of two large races - Caucasian and Negroid. In the northern regions, in Mali and Niger, live Berber-speaking Tuaregs. They belong to the Mediterranean marine type large Caucasian race. However, the overwhelming majority of the peoples of West Africa belong to the large Negroid race, the formation of which, apparently, took place in the basins of the Niger and Congo rivers. Features hers are very dark skin, very curly hair, prognathism (protruding jaws), a wide nose with a low bridge, swollen lips.

Negroids belonging to different peoples of West Africa differ from each other in skin color, degree of development of prognathism, thickness of lips, height, etc. For example, the Hausa (northern part of Nigeria and neighboring countries) have much lighter skin than the inhabitants Guinea and Senegal; the average height of a Wolof is 171-173 cm, a Yoruba is 165 cm, etc. Based on these characteristics, modern anthropologists distinguish several groups among the Negroids of West Africa: Senegalese (Wolof type), Niger (Man Dingo type), Chadian (Hausa type).

The centuries-long proximity of Caucasians and Negroids led to the emergence of many transitional groups combining the characteristics of two large races. Their existence was sometimes used to construct anti-scientific theories about alien Caucasians who allegedly brought a higher culture to the Negroid peoples. In particular, a similar role was attributed to the Fulbe people, who now live scattered among the purely Negroid population throughout West Africa. An idealized type of “true Fulbe” was created: light-skinned, with a high straight nose, devoid of prognathism, etc. A detailed study of the anthropology of the Fulbe showed that they combine the features of the Caucasoid and Negroid large races, with a certain predominance of the latter.

The great diversity of the ethno-linguistic map of West Africa is the result of a long historical development region. The gradual "drying out" of the Sahara led to significant migrations of peoples to the south and southwest of it.

The existence of large medieval trading states in the Sahel zone of West Africa - Ghana (III-XI centuries), Mali (XIII-XV centuries), Songhai (XVI-XVII centuries) - contributed to the intensification of the processes of ethnic rapprochement within these political associations. The broad policy of conquest was accompanied by resettlement, the creation of settlements of captives of a different ethnicity, mixing of the population and the formation of new, dependent “tribes,” as was the case, for example, in the Songhai state. The involvement of West Africa in the European slave trade also made noticeable changes to the ethnic map of the region: some tribes disappeared, others migrated, and still others assimilated. In the XVIII-XIX centuries. During the wars of conquest under the slogans of Islam, the Fulani, who had previously lived only in the west of the region, widely settled in West Africa.

Nowadays there are several large language families in West Africa1. Languages Afro-Asian family represented in the region by the Berber language Tamashek (Tuareg) and the languages ​​of the Chadian group (Hausa and related ones).

The languages ​​of the population of the territory stretching from the Ivory Coast to Nigeria are part of the Niger-Cordofanian family. Within it, languages ​​fall into several groups. The most significant of them is the Guinean subgroup (Kwa), which includes the languages ​​of the people of the Ivory Coast (Abron, etc.), Ghana (Akan, Twi, Fanti, Ashanti), Togo (Ga, Guang and Ewe), Benin (Fon) , Southern Nigeria (Yoruba, Ibo, Edo, Nupe). Outside the coast, many linguists include the Songhai language in this group (the Songhai people live along the middle Niger in Mali and Niger), although it is more common to classify this language as a separate group of the Nilo-Saharan language family.

Linguistic unity is most characteristic of the Mande subgroup. Mande languages ​​are spoken by the population of the steppe regions of Western Sudan (Mali, Senegal), the northern regions of Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Ivory Coast. Mande languages ​​are divided into two groups. The northern (Mandetan) unites Mandingo with its three dialects (Malinke, Bambara, Di Ula), Soninke, Khasonke, Toronke, etc. The southern (Mandefu) includes Coco, Kpelle, Mende, Toma, Gbande, etc., as well as some Nigerian languages. In total, this subgroup includes about 40 languages.

The languages ​​of the population of the Atlantic coast from the mouth of the river are also combined into one group. Senegal to Liberia. The Western Atlantic (or Western Antioid) subgroup includes the Wolof and Serer in Senegal, Balante, Bidyogo and others in Guinea-Bissau, Nalu, Landuma and Kisi in Guinea, Bullom, Temne, Limba in Sierra Leone, Gola in Liberia, etc. .

The population of the Niger Bend region speaks languages ​​of the Gur or Voltaic subgroup (Mosigrusi). These are mainly the peoples of Upper Volta: Moi, Grusi (Gu Runsi), Gurma, etc. In Mali, this group includes the Bobo, Dogon, and Senufo languages.

Another significant one. linguistic subgroup - Benue-Congolese. These are the languages ​​of the peoples of the central part of Northern Nigeria: Tiv, Birom, Ergum, Boki, etc.

In Northern Nigeria, a small part of the population speaks languages ​​of the Saharan group of the Nilo-Saharan family (Kanuri).

Among the languages ​​of West Africa, the Hausa language stands out. It is the language of one of the largest peoples in the region. The number of Hausa proper and peoples similar to them in language and culture exceeds 10 million people. Hausan Tsi - people ancient culture, played a major role in the history and economic development of the entire region, and their language has long become the language of interethnic communication in West Africa. The total number of Hausa speakers (including as a second language) is at least 15 million people. The role of the language of interethnic communication has also been played and continues to be played by the Diula language.

The languages ​​of the Benue-Congo subgroup are spoken by over 7 million people, Voltaic by about 8 million, and Western Atlantic by more than 10 million. About 1 million people speak Songhai. The total number of peoples of the Guinean group is more than 23 million people. The number of speakers of Mande languages ​​is over 7 million. Tuaregs live in Mali (more than 200 thousand) and Niger (more than 300 thousand).

Some languages ​​of West Africa had writing in the Middle Ages and in modern times. The Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri used the Arabic graphic base ("Ajami") with the introduction of additional icons to indicate sounds that were not available in Arabic. There was literature in the Hausa language: poems, historical chronicles (some of them were translated into Russian), etc. Particularly interesting are the documentary written monuments of the mahrams - letters of merit that granted privileges for services to the state (including for services in the field of culture) ; the earliest of them date back to the 12th - 13th centuries. Original fiction(religious, historical poems, glorifying the work of the farmer and cattle breeder) were also among the Fulani. Representatives of the Kanuri people also wrote in these languages, as well as in Kanur.

In addition to the borrowed writing system, many peoples of West Africa had original systems for transmitting information (notches, sketches, pictograms). On the coast of Southern Nigeria, the Nsibidi script of simplified pictographic (drawing) characters was widespread. Close to the systems of pictographic writing are the wall bas-reliefs of the palace of the ruler of Dahomey, telling about the deeds of the rulers of this people, and the reliefs on Yoruba elephant tusks. At the beginning of this century, the Bamum developed a writing system based on pictograms. In Liberia and Sierra Leone, among the Vai, Mende, and Loma peoples since the beginning of the 19th century. there was a syllabary. On weights for weighing gold among the Ashanti (Ghana; a special system of recording numbers was used.

Nowadays, many peoples of West Africa have a written language based on the Latin script with the addition of signs to indicate sounds that are not found in European languages. The states of this region have not yet accepted them as state local languages. At the same time, work is underway to compile a written language for the still unwritten main languages, to develop newly written languages ​​(Mali - Bama Na, Guinea - Malinke, Fulfulde and Coco, Ghana - Ashanti, Fanti, etc.).

Feature region, as well as the whole Tropical Africa, - the discrepancy between the ethnic territories of individual peoples and the borders of states artificially formed during the colonial division of Africa. Nowadays all Western states African states multi-ethnic. The processes of modern national development are dual. On the one hand, there is an assimilation of small peoples by large ones, such as the Hausa. On the other hand, there is the formation (not on the basis of the ethnic territory of individual peoples, but within the framework of multi-ethnic states) of unified stable communities, which are usually called “national-political”.

A significant number of Africans adhere to Islam and Christianity. Local traditional cults are no less widespread. Finally, there are also syncretic, Afro-Christian sects.

Islam in West Africa has long history. Having been brought into the 9th-10th centuries. Muslim merchants from North Africa, with which the peoples of West Africa had long-standing trade ties, it quickly spread throughout the Sahel zone. In many pre-colonial states it became state religion; Arab culture and language became the culture and language of the ruling classes. In the Middle Ages, the region developed its own centers of theology and science. The largest of them existed under Tsechet Sankore in Timbuktu (modern Mali). Islam in West Africa has adopted a lot from local traditional cults; here it is not as orthodox as in the Middle East and North Africa. In particular, he did not suppress the love of dancing and singing that is common to all Africans. Quite preserved high position women: in Zaria and Bornu, Muslim countries, there were even female rulers in the Middle Ages. During the colonial division of Africa, resistance movements against the colonialists were often organized under the banner of defending Islam.

West African Islam - Sunni; There are several Muslim sects active here. The Muslim population is concentrated mainly in the west of the region and in the Sahel zone. In countries such as Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Muslims make up the vast majority of the population (in Senegal - approximately 80%, in Niger - 96, in Gambia - 80%, etc.). In Nigeria, almost half of the inhabitants are Muslims (they are concentrated mainly in the northern regions). In Upper Volta, Ghana there are about 20% Muslims. Wolof, Fulani, Hausa, Tukuler are either completely or mostly Muslim peoples.

A significant number of West Africans retain local traditional beliefs, which are extremely diverse. Most of these peoples have widespread cults of ancestors, tribal cults, fetishism, belief in nature spirits, etc. Some peoples of West Africa also knew developed polytheistic religions. To this day, polytheism exists among the Akan (Ivory Coast and Ghana) with a host of gods led by the sky god Nyame. The Yoruba have the most developed pantheon. From the crowd of spirits, the great gods “stood out”: the lord of the sky Olorun, the lord of the earth Obata la, the god of water Olokun, the goddess of the hearth Oloraz, the god of iron and war Ogun, etc. e. The peoples who reached the level of class formation before colonization and created early class states (Yoruba, Akan, Ashanti, Moi, etc.) developed a cult of the sacred ruler, and a priesthood arose. Among all nations professing different shapes traditional beliefs, belief in magic, talismans, amulets, and witchcraft is widespread.

Local traditional cults are followed by the majority of the population of Liberia - three-quarters, Ivory Coast - more than two-thirds, Upper Volta and Ghana - more than three-quarters, Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau - about half. “Pagan” peoples are predominantly Dogon, Akan, Balante, Yoruba, etc. Among many peoples of West Africa, adhering to local traditional beliefs, the cult of ancestors is widespread (the cult masks of the Dogon, Senufo and Bam Bara are especially widely known).

Christianity began to spread in West Africa from the end of the 19th century. The first attempts by Europeans to Christianize the states with which they entered into trade contacts (for example, at the end of the 15th century the ruler of Benin was baptized) were sporadic and unsuccessful. Only the active work of many missionary societies (the most active was Catholic order White Fathers) led to the Christianization of part of the population of West Africa. The region is represented different directions Christianity: Catholicism, evangelicalism, Anglicanism, Protestantism. After the Second World War, the “Africanization” of the church was carried out: in West Africa there are many African archbishops (in Senegal, Guinea, Ghana, Benin), there is also an African cardinal (in Upper Volta). But in no West African country are Christians a majority. Their largest number is in Benin (over 10% of the population) and Ghana (about 17%). The predominance of Catholics or Protestants in the Christian population of a given country is historically connected with its colonial past: the former colonies of France are mostly Catholic, and those of Great Britain are Protestant.

As already mentioned, in some areas of West Africa, unique Afro-Christian sects became widespread, syncretically uniting the dogma and cults of Christianity and local traditional religions. Such sects arose as unique forms of protest; in the first periods of their existence they often played important role in national liberation movements. Nowadays they mostly unite several tens of thousands of people and do not play a significant role in the public life of their countries.

The culture of the peoples of West Africa has a long history. One of the most ancient forms of art - rock painting and petroglyphs dating from the X-VIII millennia BC. e. Although the bulk of monuments of this kind are concentrated in the Sahara, they are also found within West Africa, in the republics of Mali and Niger.

The region has one of the most interesting cultures Iron Age - Nok (named after the village of Nok in Nigeria). It existed in the 1st millennium BC. e. over a vast territory (500 km from west to east and 300 km from north to south). Terracotta nok heads, amazingly plastic and original, still cause admiration all over the world. It was probably on the basis of this culture that the medieval art of Ife and Benin (Nigeria) grew. Ife culture flourished between the 12th and 14th centuries. The discoveries of the first bronze sculptures in Ife at the beginning of this century amazed Western scientists, who could not believe in the local origin of the sculptures and attributed them to the Etruscans, Atlanteans, Egyptians, or Renaissance Europeans. Now, after numerous finds of not only individual heads, but also entire figures, the local origin of this sculpture is beyond doubt. One of the features of African sculpture, both bronze and wooden, is the tendency to significantly increase the size of the head as the main receptacle of “life force,” according to traditional ideas. This sharply distinguishes African sculpture from European and allows us to dismiss all attempts to explain the appearance of this unique culture by foreign influences.

All along the western coast of Africa there are small plastic casting areas. The metal work (including gold) of the Ashanti people is especially widely known. Their weights for weighing golden sand are miniature sculptural groups depicting genre scenes, illustrating proverbs and sayings.

Large casting of Benin, Ife and small plastic of Ashanti were performed using the “lost wax” technique. A layer of wax was applied to the clay base, on which all the details were worked out, then the blank was covered with a layer of clay, in which a hole was left. Molten metal was poured through it, melting the wax and replacing it.

Another area of ​​traditional art in West Africa is wooden sculpture. Like bronze casting, it was closely associated with beliefs and cult and had ritual significance. However, her character was different. Bronzes of Benin are a receptacle for the souls of rulers, while wooden religious products are not only sculptures, but also masks. The most interesting woodcarving masters are the Dogon, Senufo and Bambara. Bambara head masks, depicting the mythical ancestor - an antelope, stylized, not decorated with any materials, complemented by a costume that covered the entire figure of the dancer, played an extremely important role in ceremonies before the start of agricultural work, during initiation rites, etc.

The peoples of West Africa have long been famous as skilled artisans and skilled traders. They not only supplied their neighbors with their products, but also traded with the countries of North Africa. Camel caravans carried gold, salt, and handicrafts to the north of the continent.

Traditional architecture, which developed in the Middle Ages, nourishes and modern architecture. The palaces of the Benin and other rulers were destroyed, but the adobe mosques in the middle reaches of the Niger were still preserved, the palace of the Dahomey rulers was restored, where the National Museum is now located, and the palaces of the Sultans of Sokoto and Kano. Modern architects strive to use the Hausa and Ashanti traditions in their creations, which intricately decorated the walls of their homes.

The peoples of West Africa have preserved a rich tradition of oral literary creativity. Storytellers - griots - passed on historical legends, epic tales from generation to generation, and composed songs and fairy tales. The art of dance and music has long been widespread. These genres of folk art continue to exist today. On their basis, professional writers, actors, and musicians grew up. Writers Sem ben Ousmane and Leopold Senghor, Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka, etc. often use folk heritage in their works. Folklore ensembles have been created in many countries that are well known outside Africa. Theaters stage both translated and original performances. New directions in contemporary art of West Africa - painting and cinematography. There was no place for painting in the traditional art of West African peoples, partly due to Islam's prohibition on depicting animals and people. Currently working in West Africa whole line interesting artists, both painters and sculptors, creatively using the artistic heritage of peoples. The young cinematography of African countries (Senegal and Guinea, for example) has already become known outside the continent.

The population dynamics of West Africa are typical of economically underdeveloped countries. The birth and death rates are very high, and the average life expectancy is low. The average birth rate in Africa is 47 people per 1000. In West African countries, the birth rate is approximately the same as the continental average (for example, in Ghana - 46.6 people), average mortality rate is 24 people per 1000. The average life expectancy in most countries of the region is 35-40 years, although there have been isolated cases of significant longevity - 100 years or more.

The excess of the birth rate over the death rate leads to rapid natural population growth, and low life expectancy leads to a rapid change of generations. The average annual natural population growth is 2.5%.

The age structure of the population of West African countries is characterized by high percentage children's ages and low - elderly. Typically, about 40% of the population are children under 15, over 40% are people aged 15-44, about 9% are 45-60 years old and 4-5% are over 60. In some countries this discrepancy is even sharper . In Mali and Togo, children under 15 make up almost half the population.

Not all countries in the region carry out birth control policies. Moreover, in different countries The problem of demographic growth is faced in different ways. The government's family planning program was adopted in 1969 in Ghana; The Nigerian government provides some support for such plans. More often than not, governments have a negative attitude towards attempts at family planning. The reasons for this are the still weak population of the territory of many countries, traditional large families (the desired number of children in an African family is 6-7 people) and the belief that a high birth rate can contribute to the development of new lands and, ultimately, strengthening the political position of the state.

Demographic growth is outpacing economic growth, which naturally aggravates the employment problem, especially among young people. In all countries, labor supply significantly exceeds demand. On average, about 80% of the population is employed in agriculture (in Niger - 90%, in Sierra Leone - 75%), mainly in traditional, unproductive types of farms. There is hidden unemployment and underemployment in the village. Many countries experience seasonal unemployment (in Senegal, it affects about 30% of the agricultural population). Unemployment is also growing in cities, where young people from all over the country are flocking. Urban unemployment is usually 5-8% total number busy. With the exception of certain areas of the mining and manufacturing industries, the bulk of the employed population is concentrated in the fields of transport and services (in many countries also in the administrative apparatus).

Governments of young countries are trying to combat this unfavorable situation. Special youth employment programs are being developed and public Works of a temporary nature, long-term plans are being prepared for the development of agriculture with the involvement of the unemployed population. But ultimately, the solution to the employment problem is associated with a sharp increase in the rate of economic growth, the implementation of social policies that meet the interests of the masses, the introduction of planned principles in economic development, the implementation of democratic agrarian reform, etc.

The distribution of the population in West Africa is extremely uneven. Its average density is about 10 people per 1 square. km. The Atlantic coast and valleys are the most densely populated large rivers- Niger, Voltas, Senegal, Gambia, industrialized areas and areas of plantation agriculture.

In the northern regions of the dry lands, on the borders with the Sahara and in the Sahara itself, as well as in the moist equatorial forests of the Guinea coast, the population is quite sparse. Average density Nigeria's population is 68 people per 1 sq. km, and in the northern regions of Niger the population density drops to 0.2 people per 1 sq. km.

West Africa has a fairly developed migration movement. Significant interstate and intrastate migrations are associated with the nature of activities and the problem of employment of the population. In West Africa, there are peoples and individual population groups that continue to lead a nomadic lifestyle. Their main occupation is nomadic cattle breeding. First of all, the ego of the Tuareg and Fulbebororo. All members of such ethnic groups roam with cattle.

Migrations caused by unevenness economic development different regions within the country are of a different nature. They can be permanent, long-term or seasonal. Migration, which is permanent, is associated with the process of urbanization; As a rule, young people aged 15-30 move to cities for permanent residence. Long-term migrations (leaving for several years) are caused by wage and contract work in cities, centers of extractive industries, plantation and commercial agriculture. Seasonal migrations are caused by the needs of agriculture and fishing. The centers of attraction for such migrations in West Africa are Ghana (cocoa plantations, ports, mining), BSC (cocoa, coffee plantations), Senegal and Gambia (groundnut plantations), some areas of Nigeria (mining industry), as well as Sierra Leone. The countries predominantly supplying migrants are Upper Volta and Mali. The vast majority of migrants are men. This results in the fact that although there are approximately equal numbers of men and women in most West African countries, their distribution is extremely uneven. In cities and centers of commercial agriculture and industry, men tend to predominate, and in areas of traditional agriculture, women predominate.

Since all the countries of West Africa are agricultural, naturally the rural population predominates. However, West Africa has a long history of urban civilization. In the Middle Ages, there were about 70 cities here. They arose either as shopping centers(Auda Gost, Timbuktu, Djenne, etc.), either as trade and craft centers (Kano and other Hausa cities), or as administrative (Ouagadougou, etc.) and religious (Ife, Oyo) centers. Some of these ancient cities perished (Audagost, KumbiSale, Niani, etc.), others, although preserved, lost their former significance (Timbuktu), others, very few, grew into large modern cities(Ouagadougou, Kano and a number of others). Ancient urban zones population of the earth Hausa and Yoruba in Nigeria. To this day, it still has the highest level of urbanization.

Most modern cities are of more recent origin: they grew up on the bridge of colonial outposts, trading posts, mission stations, and later in mining zones. Currently, the urban population is growing at a high rate (4.1% per year). The urban population in West Africa is unevenly distributed. Low level of urbanization (city dwellers make up 5-10% of the country's population) in Niger, Liberia, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Upper Volta, average (10 -20%) in Benin, Guinea, Gambia, Sierra Leone, high (20 - 40%) - in Senegal, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria. A characteristic feature of urbanization is the concentration of more than half of the total urban population in several (sometimes one or two) large cities. In Senegal, about 60% of the urban population lives in such cities, in Nigeria - 60-70, in the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Mali - about 80, in Guinea - 80-90%. Largest cities West Africa - Lagos (about 3.5 million inhabitants), Abidjan (900 thousand), Accra (about 1 million), Dakar (about 800 thousand), Conakry (575 thousand), Bamako (404 thousand) , Freetown (274 thousand), Monrovia (160 thousand).

Part of the African continent located south of the central Sahara and washed on the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean. The natural border in the east is the Cameroon Mountains.

West Africa covers the Sahel and Sudan regions, as well as the rainforests of the Guinea region. Due to the trade winds, the climate is variablely humid with varying seasons of drought and rain. There is almost no vegetation in the Sahel, savannas dominate in Sudan, and there are strips of tropical forest along the coast.

Before the arrival of Europeans, West Africa had significant states such as Ghana, Mali and Songhai. In the 15th century, the Portuguese, and later the French and English, began to establish their colonies on the Guinea coast, engaging in the slave trade, in particular with America.

Guinea region for a long time was considered a "grave" white man" Tropical diseases such as malaria, yellow fever or sleeping sickness killed between 25 and 75 percent of newly arrived Europeans in the first year in the 18th century. In subsequent years, about ten percent more died. Diseases were spread by large numbers of mosquitoes and tsetse flies, and poor hygienic conditions during the rainy seasons also affected the situation. In the 20th century, colonial borders in West Africa strengthened, but in the 1960s. The wars of independence began.

West Africa is divided by contradictions between French-speaking and English-speaking countries, consisting not only of a language barrier, but also of different mentalities and worldviews. The ties of former colonies with former metropolises are often closer than with neighboring states. The West African community ECOWAS serves integration in the region and tries to create peace in various hot spots: Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire.

The road infrastructure is poorly developed, railways exist only from internal regions to the coast and are a legacy of colonial economic policy. Significant ports are Dakar, Conakry, Abidjan, Accra, Lomé and Lagos.

The Sahel states are among the poorest countries in the world; Nigeria, despite its rich oil reserves, is also far behind in development. On the coast, agriculture produces monocultures intended for export. Most West Africans are self-sufficient.

West Africa is home to more than half of African languages. Most of them belong to the Congo-Kordofanian and Afro-Asian language group. Great importance For the traditional culture of peoples living in savannas and tropical forests, there is oral folklore and the transmission of knowledge, as well as the use of masks and dances for ceremonial purposes.

The following states belong to West Africa:

• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Gambia
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Cape Verde
• Ivory Coast
• Liberia
• Mauritania
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone

Sometimes West Africa includes Western Sahara and Chad.

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West African countries

West Africa is the part of the African continent that is located south of central Sahara and is washed to the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean. To the east, the natural border is the Cameroon Mountains.

History of West Africa

The culture of this region has its roots in the ancient West African empires of Ghana, Mali and Sopgai, which flourished between the 6th and 16th centuries. These empires fell into decline, and small independent kingdoms appeared in their place. In the 15th century, Portuguese merchants arrived here, followed by the British, French and Dutch.

Over the next 400 years, Europeans continually invaded and founded colonies. The conquerors exploited the people and the land, building gold mines, establishing plantations to grow coffee, coconuts, sugar cane and cotton, and forcing Africans to work for them as slaves. Europeans took the indigenous people on ships to America, where they sold them to local planters as slaves. Many died along the way, and those who survived faced a painful life as slaves.

Britain abolished slavery in 1807, but independence was still a long way off for these countries. Colonial authorities remained in West Africa until the mid-20th century. After this, military and dictatorial regimes were established in some countries. Today many countries have become democracies.

West African EGP

West African EGP is characterized by more high level development compared to hers eastern neighbor, but at a lower level of development compared to North Africa. This region is one of the richest mineral reserves in the world. Quite large reserves of manganese, tin, gold, diamonds, and iron ore are concentrated here. Oil and gas reserves are significant. The largest oil supplier in the region is Nigeria.

Mangrove forests and mudflats stretch along the coast of West Africa. They are washed by warm rains brought from the ocean. Further from the coast, lagoons and coastal swamps give way to wet tropical forests, which stretch over hundreds of kilometers.

Winding rivers are often the only means of communication as roads, already washed out during the rainy season, are swallowed up by the jungle. Evaporative forests cover the cooler central elevations. Rivers, breaking off high altitude into narrow gorges forming picturesque waterfalls. During rains, rivers flood the surrounding lands, releasing fertile silt, periodically washing away entire villages. And finally the landscape turns into endless savannas, shimmering under the hot sun.

Agriculture in West Africa

Despite the increasing Lately With the process of industrialization in the most developed countries of West Africa, agriculture in this region continues to be the basis of the economy. The main branches of agricultural production: nomadic and semi-nomadic cattle breeding, which is especially common in the Sahel zone.

In West Africa, cattle breeding is harmoniously combined with agriculture. Complementary sectors increase overall agricultural productivity. Main crops grown: corn, sorghum, peanuts, palm oil, cotton.

West African Industry

Industrial production is generally quite poorly developed. There is a preponderance towards extractive industries. The main development was in the mining industry and oil and gas production. Manufacturing industries are at the stage of initial development and are represented by the processing of mineral resources, textile production, cotton processing, and furniture manufacturing.

Some of the West African population works on modern machines on rubber plantations owned by foreign companies. Scarce land and an arid climate make farming difficult, but the land itself contains priceless treasures. Nigeria is one of the world's largest oil producers. Deposits of phosphorites, diamonds, bauxites and iron ore are the key to further prosperity.

Population of West Africa

The population of this region is about 300 million people. There is rapid population growth, the birth rate exceeds 50 babies per 1 thousand inhabitants. Consequently, West Africa is still in the second stage of the demographic transition.

Most of the population belongs to the Negroid race. In the northern part of Mali live the Berber-speaking Tuaregs, who belong to the Mediterranean type of the large Caucasian race. Negroid peoples are: Fulbe, Diola, Wolof, Kisi, Serer, Senufo, etc.

In the cities of West Africa, people live in modern multi-storey houses or in wooden, tin-roofed houses. Many city women go to the countryside every day to work in the fields or livestock farms and poultry houses. Around the coastal lagoons, village houses with thatched roofs are built on stilts above the water. Fishermen and traders living in these places travel by boats. Most West Africans live in rural areas, these are rather poor farmers and herders. They grow millet, cassava and rice for themselves. And cotton, peanuts and palm oil are sold.

West and Central Africa is home to many countries, each with its own characteristics, traditions and history.

General characteristics of the region

West Africa is a part of the African continent located south of the Sahara and washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Central Africa is the western part of the African continent, which is located on the equatorial and subequatorial strip.

The Cameroon Mountains serve as the natural border between Central and Western Africa. The countries of West and Central Africa are among the poorest countries in the world.

In many states the economy is completely absent. The inhabitants of these countries survive due to self-sufficiency. Agriculture and industrial production is at a low level.

Only some states are involved in foreign trade, in particular Nigeria, Chad, Guinea.

West African countries

The countries of West Africa include the following states: Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Nigeria.

Very common in West African countries infectious diseases, in particular AIDS and malaria. In Europe, this region is called the “grave for whites” - as many infections are fatal for visiting people.

The states of West Africa were Portuguese colonies for a long time, from this territory back in ancient times the slave trade began. After the wars of independence in the 60s of the 20th century, many West African states gained freedom.

However, to this day they are completely dependent on the former colonies in matters of social and economic security for the population.

The region's infrastructure is very poorly developed: roads and railways no buildings have been built here since colonial times. The average life expectancy of people does not reach 50 years. Most of the population is illiterate.

Central African countries

Central Africa includes the following states: Gabon, Angola, Congo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Sao Tome, Equatorial Guinea and Chad. Unlike the states of West Africa, the countries of Central Africa have good complex natural resources.

This allows them not only to develop industry, but also to be a subject foreign trade. For example, Congo has the largest reserves of gold, silver, diamonds and copper in the world.

In Chad, the mainstay of the economy is agriculture. This state exports wool, cotton and textiles to European countries. However, even the most developed states of Central Africa do not fully utilize their potential.

The main problem is that after the colonial period, new plants and factories are not opening here. There are no qualified personnel in these states - more than half of the population cannot read and write.

West Africa is one of the most interesting places on globe. The reason for this is big variety crops available here. There have been many claims to this area over the years. different nations. They had a huge impact on culture and religion. This is largely why the region has experienced so many wars and other conflicts.

Over the years, West Africa was colonized by Europeans. After World War II, the struggle for independence began here, and in the 50s and 60s of the 20th century, most countries in the region gained independence. Unfortunately, the situation only got worse after that. An outbreak has begun in the struggle for dominance civil wars, which can be called the most brutal on the planet. Various groups sought to completely destroy each other, resulting in many deaths.

Currently, the countries of West Africa exist quite peacefully. There are isolated conflicts, but their scale is incomparable with the destructive wars of past years. This period of relative calm has helped the region reap some benefits from its natural resources to enable people to escape poverty.

African cruises fascinate many people, and no wonder. Unfortunately, existing realities can scare tourists away from visiting the West African region. Of course, there are a number of challenges that you will encounter when traveling through this area, but they are not insurmountable. To enter each country you will need a visa, which is not easy to obtain. This is not because West Africa does not want to receive tourists, but because the countries in the region lack literacy in these matters.

Another situation you will have to face is the lack of tourism infrastructure. You won't find a single hotel outside of big cities, and even those that exist in cities leave much to be desired. An even bigger problem is the transport infrastructure: the buses available in most countries are very old and unreliable. Also be prepared for people to ask you for money wherever you go. If you do decide to visit West Africa, first analyze the political situation. None of the countries in the region are completely stable, and war could break out at any time.

As you travel around the region, you may notice interesting feature- local residents speak a huge number of languages. You might think that all these languages ​​are the same. But in reality they are all different. It can be assumed that the first settlers spoke the same language. But since they roamed a lot, long years a lot of linguistic differences appeared. The result is that there are now many languages ​​spoken in the region that have little in common with each other.

Despite all the difficulties, West Africa is definitely worth visiting. Firstly, you will be one of the few tourists who dare to come here. Secondly, the trip will be a real adventure. You'll be able to explore the long and fascinating history of this region, immerse yourself in a different culture, and meet friendly locals.