Sub-Saharan Africa
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A geographical map of Africa, showing the ecological break that defines the sub-Saharan area |
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A polical map showing national divisions in relation to the ecological break |
Sub-Saharan Africa is the term used to describe those
countries of the African continent that are not considered part of
North Africa. In
19th Century Europe and the
Western world, the area was sometimes referred to as Black Africa. Africa as a whole was commonly known as "the Dark continent", a term that was usually intended to refer to the Sub-Saharan region. This was partly due to the
skin color of its
indigenous inhabitants and partly because much of it had not been fully
mapped or
explored by
Westerners. These terms are now obsolete and often considered to be pejorative. Further, they are misleading, as black Africans are indigenous to much of North Africa, as well.
Since the end of the last
Ice Age, the north and sub-Saharan regions of Africa have been separated by the extremely harsh climate of the sparsely populated Sahara, forming an effective barrier interrupted by only the
Nile River. The modern term
sub-Saharan corresponds with the standard representation of North as above and South as below.
Tropical Africa is an alternative modern label, used for the distinctive
ecology of the region. However, if strictly applied, this term would exclude
South Africa, most of which lies outside the
Tropics.
Generally, sub-Saharan Africa is the poorest region in the world, still suffering from the legacies of colonial conquest and occupation, neocolonialism, inter-ethnic conflict, and political strife. The region contains many of the
least developed countries in the world. (See
Economy of Africa.) Sub-Saharan Africa, especially East Africa, is regarded by geneticists as being the birthplace of the human race.
Mitochondrial Eve, whom all humans alive are descended from, is thought to have lived in present day
Ethiopia or
Tanzania. Sub-Saharan Africa has been the site of many empires and kingdoms, including Nubia, Axum, Wagadugu (Ghana), Mali, Nok, Songhai, Kanem-Bornu, Benin and Great Zimbabwe.
There are 42 countries located on the sub-Saharan African mainland.The 6 island nations include
Madagascar,
Seychelles,
Comoros,
Cape Verde and
Sao Tome and Principe.
Mauritius is generally not considered to be a sub-Saharan African island because the ethnic make up of the country is predominatly
East Indian,
Chinese and
French. According to this classification scheme, the countries of sub-Saharan Africa are:
*
Democratic Republic of Congo*
Republic of Congo*
Central African Republic*
Rwanda*
Burundi*
Kenya*
Tanzania*
Uganda*
Djibouti*
Eritrea*
Ethiopia*
Somalia (including
Somaliland)
*
Sudan*
Angola *
Botswana*
Lesotho*
Malawi*
Mozambique *
Namibia*
South Africa*
Swaziland*
Zambia *
Zimbabwe*
Benin*
Burkina Faso*
Cameroon *
Chad *
Côte d'Ivoire*
Equatorial Guinea *
Gabon *
The Gambia*
Ghana*
Guinea*
Guinea-Bissau*
Liberia*
Mali*
Mauritania*
Niger*
Nigeria*
Senegal*
Sierra Leone*
TogoAfrican island nations
*
Cape Verde (West Africa)
*
Comoros (Southern Africa)
*
Madagascar (Southern Africa)
*
Mauritius (Southern Africa)
*
São Tomé and Príncipe (West Africa)
*
Seychelles (East Africa)
Territories, possessions, départements
*
Mayotte (
France)
*
Réunion (
France)
*
USA State department travel tips*
Photos and information from Malawi, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe*
Afro textured hair*
Countries*
Blind map
