VOCABULARY: WEST AFRICA
WORD / DEFINITION / CONTEXTWest Africa / The section of Africa that contains all of the countries from Mauritania to Chad and along the coast. / This is the first section of Africa that we will cover. It is known for its farmland and diversity.
Savanna / A region of tall grasses that often appear between the rainforests and the drier climates. / The Savanna in Africa is home to many of the continent’s people and animals.
Basin / A lower area of land that is drained by a river and its tributaries. / The Niger River delta creates a Basin where it empties into the Gulf of Guinea.
Diversity / Variety. / In Africa, there is a great amount of diversity amongst the people of the various countries. They also want to add diversity to their economies by producing more than one product.
Tribe / People united by common ancestors, similar customs and traditions, and/or following the same leaders. / There are many tribes within Africa.
Ethnic Group / A group that shares a common language, a religion, family ties, and customs. / There are hundreds of different ethnic groups in countries in Africa.
Nationalism / A feeling of pride in one’s homeland, which (usually) leads to an identity as a country. / To gain independence, many African countries began to attempt to develop a unified identity through nationalism.
Boycott / A refusal to buy or use certain products or services. / In Africa, countries such as Ghana used boycotting to gain independence.
Subsistence Farming / Raising just enough crops to support one’s family. / Many people in Africa are subsistence farmers, which makes it difficult to make money.
Commercial Farming / The large-scale production of crops, where the surplus crops are sold to make money. / Commercial farming in Africa can lead to more profits, but can be dangerous if the price of the crop fails.
Exploitation / To use something to make a profit; usually in a selfish manner. / During the colonial period, the European countries exploited Africa and used the continent to make their own countries wealthy.
Displaced / To take over a place or position from others / The Bantu people displaced many people in Africa when they migrated to new areas.
Islam / A monotheistic religion that follows the teachings of Muhammad. They believe in the same God as Jews and Christians. / Most people in North Africa are Muslims (followers of Islam) and it is spreading into East and West Africa.
Imperialism / Seizing political control of an area to create an empire. / Imperialism is one of the beliefs that led to European colonialism throughout Africa.
Coup / When the government of a country is violently overthrown by people within the country. / There were occasionally coups in some African countries after they gained independence.
Pidgin / A simplified language used by people who cannot speak each other’s languages but must communicate. / Due to the large amount of languages spoken in African countries, there are many pidgin languages.
Creole / When two languages blend so well that they form their own language within the country. / Creole languages are spoken in places like Cape Verde, where the language is part African and part Portuguese.
Animist / A broad term for people who believe in spirits (of their ancestors, Earth, etc.) as part of their faith. / Animist beliefs are common amongst practitioners of Traditional African religions and often blend them with Christianity and Islam.
Infrastructure / The underlying framework of a country consisting of roads, schools, etc. / It is important for countries to have a well maintained infrastructure to succeed. Many African countries struggled because their original infrastructure had been set to help the colonies – not independent nations.
Christianity / The belief in one God and His Son, Jesus. They believe in the same God as Jews and Muslims. / Christianity is common in sub-Saharan Africa and is the dominant religion in some of the countries.