What is West Africa known for?

West Africa has a rich ecology, with strong biodiversity and several distinct regions. The climate and ecology are heavily influenced by the dry Sahara to the North and East, which provides dry winds during the Harmattan, and the west and humid climate to the south and of the Atlantic which provides seasonal monsoons.

What are the characteristics of Africa?

Africa is the most tropical of all continents. Climate and vegetation range from equatorial rainforests, tropical deserts and savanna grassland to Mediterranean. The Sahara Desert, the largest of its kind anywhere in the world, is over 10.4 million km2 n North to south is approx. 1800 kms and east-west is 5600km.

What are two facts about West Africa?

Mansa Musa I ruled West Africa’s Malian Empire in the early 1300s, making his fortune by exploiting Mali’s salt and gold production. 4. West Africa is more culturally diverse than the whole of Asia. Nigeria alone has over 500+ languages.

What are three major physical features of West Africa?

Most of West Africa’s mountain massifs and highlands, such as the Aïr Mountains, the Tibesti Mountains, the Adrar des Ifoghas, and the Fouta Djallon, originated as Precambrian folds (Church, 1966).

What is the culture of West Africa?

West African culture is an amalgamation of various tribes and cultures that have come together over time to create a diverse and fascinating regional subculture. Similar to other regions on the continent, West African culture is rich with traditions and customs.

What is a very important part of West African culture?

Music has always been an important part of West African lives. The West African music traditions continue to influence art in our country. Two in particular are a technique called ‘call and response’ and the custom of playing drums.

What is West Africa called?

western Africa, region of the western African continent comprising the countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

What are some of West Africa’s major resources?

The country is endowed with rich natural resources. Timber, gold, diamonds, bauxite, manganese, and oil contribute to making Ghana among the wealthier nations in West Africa. While its economy is one of the most successful in the region, it remains heavily dependent on international finance.

What is a very important part of West African culture?

Music has always been an important part of West African lives. The West African music traditions continue to influence art in our country. Two in particular are a technique called ‘call and response’ and the custom of playing drums.

What is the main language in West Africa?

Except for Arabic and Hausa, the major languages are from the Niger-Congo family: Yoruba, Igbo, Fulfulde/Pulaar, Akan, and Wolof. However, the remaining language groups are well-represented as the continental sub-region is home to native speakers of over 500 languages.

What is the most common food in West Africa?

To most West Africans, foods like yams, corn, cassava, rice, and groundnuts are indispensable in their diet. Other common foods are green vegetables, dried peas, pumpkin, squash, eggplants, okra, garlic, and tomatoes. A few common dishes in West Africa are gari and fufu.

What religion is West Africa?

Although Christianity and Islam have spread so widely across Sierra Leone and West Africa, tribal religions and their traditions still influence everyday life in these West African countries. Even Christian and Islam practices carry similarities and long-rooted traditions unique to African tribal religions.

What is the economic development of West Africa?

Overall economic growth in West Africa is projected to be at 3.6 percent in 2019 and 2020, boosted by the recovery of commodity prices and improved production and service sectors in the region, although challenges and uneven performance would remain, the African Development Bank’s regional economic indicator report …

What is the oldest language in Africa?

Egyptian
1. Egyptian – 2690 BC (circa. 4700 years old) The first known language ever was a proto-language on the African continent, and the first known proto-writing system was created in Nigeria. So, it is perhaps no surprise that the oldest language on this list is also from and used in Africa – Egyptian.