A Few Key Facts About Africa.
Posted On Wednesday, August 01, 2007 at at Wednesday, August 01, 2007 by UnknownLooking for facts about Africa? You are in the right place! Whether you need information for a report, want to know more about Africa for decorating purposes, or are just curious about this amazing continent, this article is a great resource. With many great African facts condensed into just a few paragraphs, this article will make you knowledgeable about this corner of the world in no time at all!
Our first set of facts about Africa includes just the basics to get you started. Africa is the second largest continent in the world, with Asia being the first. It is also second only to Asia in terms of population. It is home to more than 900,000,000 people and accounts for 14% of the world’s population. Africa boasts the widest range of wild animals, ranging from carnivores to rare amphibians. This is due partly to its wide climate range, with deserts and jungles alike.
Our second set of facts about Africa applies to the continents history. Among the scientific community, there is a consensus that Africa is the original home of the human race. Fossils and evidence have been found there that date back to seven million years ago. Proof of our evolutionary ancestors has also been found there, making this a hotbed of science and, essentially, the cradle of our civilization as we know it.
Our next set of facts about Africa applies to the cultural aspects of the continent. Because there were so many ancient tribes in Africa at one time, the culture varies quite a bit from country to country. Different art forms, musical techniques and religions pepper the land of Africa. From Egypt to South Africa, the continent is diverse and constantly changing. The countries of Africa are slowly but surely entering the urban age and adopting globalization and the traditions of more westernized areas.
Our final set of facts about Africa is about the name “Africa” itself. Some people believe that the word Africa comes from the Latin word “aprica”, which means “sunny”. Others say that it comes from the Greek word “aphrike”, which means “without cold”. Another interesting theory comes from Roman history, which says a large portion of people who lived in northern Africa were named “afri” when the Romans happened upon them. The Romans supposedly applied their suffix “ca”, which means “country” or “land”. Whatever the reason for the name, we now know Africa as a beautiful and diverse.
East Africa: Darwin's Nightmare becomes tanzanian nightmare
Posted On Tuesday, December 05, 2006 at at Tuesday, December 05, 2006 by UnknownThe documentary, directed by Hubert Sauper, focuses on the area surrounding Lake Victoria in the African country of Tanzania. The lake has been over-run by the Nile Perch, a large fresh-water fish that was accidentally introduced 50 years ago. This has created a huge supply of fish for export to Europe, which has made a few businessmen quite wealthy and provided jobs for many of the people who live around the like. But the species has decimated the eco-system, including the smaller fish that used to provide much of the food for Tanzania's population. And because Europeans can pay much more for the Nile Perch than ordinary Tanzanians, few of the people living around the lake and in the wider countryside can afford to eat what was once a staple of their lifestyle. Economists talk about globalization bringing down the price of commodities, but the opposite is often true in the Third World.
Darwin's Nightmare is shot in ugly-looking digital video, but the format certainly makes it easier to get the range of interviews Sauper does. A pair of scenes that focus on a group of boys is both touching and harrowing, as is a long sequence that shows how resourceful Africans use the cast-offs from the fish factories. Sauper also spends a great deal of time shooting the apparently empty planes that fly into the local airport. At first, it seems as if he's emphasizing that Europe doesn't provide anything to Africa in return for the food. But he finally gets around to the presumption that illegal arms shipments are actually flying in. That's an even more provocative argument--that Europe takes Africa's food and offers only warfare in return--and the film would've been helped if that argument had been made earlier on. Still, this is a compelling examination on the impact of globalization and a heart-felt look at an area of the world we rarely see.
East Africa : Kenya gifts six key oil blocks to China
Posted On Sunday, October 08, 2006 at at Sunday, October 08, 2006 by UnknownThe Chinese have lately taken a keener interest in oil exploration in sub Saharan Africa – regarded as one of the fastest growing oil arenas in the world. A STAFF WRITER reports
Two major European oil exploration companies have protested that they are unable to access Kenya even as the country emerges as the latest frontier in the ferocious global battle between Europe and China for oil resources.
Africa: Jay-Z perfomed LIVE in Tanzania.
Posted On at at Sunday, October 08, 2006 by Unknown
