530 CHAPTER 18

Economies of Western and Central AfricaMany Africans share not only a passion for soccer butalso a common economic history. Most African countriesonce had traditional economies, which followed age-oldtrading customs. Colonial governments introduced mar-ket economies, in which goods were bought and sold.Government-controlled economies, or commandeconomies, became common after independence. Today,most African countries again have market economies.

TERMS & NAMESsubsistence farmingcash croprite of passage

The economies in Western and Central Africa are mostly a mixof traditional and market economies.

Economic development is one ofthe keys to sustaining democracy in Africa.

MAIN IDEA WHY IT MATTERS NOW

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON, OCTOBER 1, 2000—Thrilled bytheir soccer team’s victory in the Summer Olympics inSydney, the people of Cameroon spent today celebrat-ing their first Olympic gold medal. In small villages andbusy cities, they watched the victory on television, thenran cheering into the streets.

The people in this Central African country, like manyAfricans, love soccer. Cameroon’s “Indomitable Lions,”already the African champions, outscored the teamfrom Spain 5–3. Four years ago, at the Olympics inAtlanta, Nigeria became the first African nation to winthe gold for soccer.

Economies andCultures

Place • At the gold-medal game, theLions grin proudly as thousands ofAustralian fans shout, “Cameroon!Cameroon!” to cheer them on. �

Economies andCultures

TAKING NOTES

European colonial powersdivided Africa . . .

In most African countries,governments are . . .

KeyEvidence

MyInferences

Statements

Use your chart to take notes about Western andCentral Africa.

Western and Central Africa 531

Agriculture in Western and Central AfricaMost people in Western and Central Africa are farmers. Manypractice subsistence farming. That is, they grow food, such as mil-let and sorghum, mainly to feed their own households. During thecolonial era, European and African business owners started largeplantations. They grew tropical crops—sugar cane, coffee, andcacao—for export. A crop grown only for sale is called a cash crop.

Edible Exports Have you eaten or used any-thing from Africa today? Chances are you have.Côte d’Ivoire (KOHT dee•VWAHR), formerlyIvory Coast, is the world’s largest producer andexporter of cacao beans, which are used to makechocolate. Coastal West African countries alsoexport coffee, bananas, pineapples, palm oil,peanuts, and kola nuts. Central African countries produce coffee, rubber, and cotton.These exports bring many African countriesincome for development, such as building roadsand schools.

African ArtisansAlthough the majority of people are farmers,some have other jobs. Some people craft itemsout of metal, leather, or wood. These workersmake things such as iron hoes, leather shoes,and beautiful pieces of art. Other people areentertainers and musicians. Musicians act as thehistorians in some traditional African societies.Their skills and stories are passed down fromgeneration to generation.

African MineralsAlmost every type of mineral in the world can be found somewhere in Africa. Valuableminerals exported from Central and WesternAfrica include diamonds, gold, petroleum,

manganese, and uranium. Many Africansearn their living by working in mines.

Culture • Kentecloth, exportedfrom West Africa,has becomepopular in manynon-Africancountries. �

Disappearing Tusks Ivory from African elephant tusks hasbeen used to make items such aspiano keys, jewelry, and billiardballs. Many elephants have beenkilled for their tusks, which you cansee below. To protect elephants,ivory products were banned inter-nationally in the 1980s. However,the demand for ivory is still sogreat that people continue to huntelephants illegally for their tusks.

Because elephants born withouttusks are not hunted, they live andreproduce. Often their offspringare tuskless. Biologists have notedthat about 30 percent of Africanelephants are now tuskless—animpressive increase from 1 percentin the 1930s.

A. Clarifying Issubsistence farming done forprofit or need?

Diamonds for Weapons Africa’s mineral wealth is sometimesused to help fund wars. During Angola’s civil war, the govern-ment used income from oil exports to buy weapons, while rebelforces traded diamonds for guns. Diamonds have also beenexported illegally to support brutal wars in Sierra Leone and theDemocratic Republic of the Congo. In Sierra Leone, diamondswere smuggled out of the country in small envelopes and sold tobuy weapons for rebel forces. World diamond markets are work-ing to prevent the sale of “conflict diamonds.”

Ways of Life in Western and Central AfricaIn Western and Central Africa, hundreds of different ethnicgroups speak more than 1,000 languages. People practice many dif-ferent religions, including Islam and Christianity. Most Africanslive in small villages, but more Africans are moving to large,crowded cities, such as Lagos, Nigeria, or Accra, Ghana. City liv-ing has put strains on traditional African family life and culture.

Family Structure Society in Western and Central Africa is basedon extended families that include children, parents, grandparents,and other close relatives such as aunts and cousins. Some ethnicgroups trace ancestry through the mother’s family; others,through the father’s family. People share both work and free timewith their family.

532 CHAPTER 18

$$

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$$

10°N

10°W 0°

LIBERIA

CÔTED’IVOIRE

GUINEA

SIERRALEONE

BURKINAFASO

G u l f o f G u i n e a

ATLANTICOCEAN

0

0 200 400 kilometers

200 400 miles

Mined diamonds

Place where uncut diamondsare bought for cash

Place where weapons aresold in the black markets

$$

N GEOGRAPHYSKILLBUILDER:Interpreting a Map1. Location • Where are

diamonds mined?2. Movement • In

Liberia, where doesthe money come fromto buy weapons?

The Arms Trade in Western Africa, 2001

B. MakingInferences Whataspects of city life do you thinkwould put new strains onAfricans fromsmall villages?

Social StatusIn many African societies, older people have higher status andmore influence than younger ones. For example, when men of theIgbo people in Nigeria gather for discussions, they sit in order ofage. The eldest men are served food and drink first. In someAfrican communities, each age group has different responsibili-ties. Men of the most senior rank settle legal disputes and policethe village. Female elders punish behavior that harms women,such as unfair treatment by husbands.

Seats of Art In Central and Western Africa,artists—not carpenters—make the most valuedpiece of household furniture: the stool. TheAshanti of Ghana believe that a person’s spiritflows into a stool each time the person sits on it.Because of this, each individual in a householdhas his or her own stool. Nobody else is allowedto sit on the stool.

Each stool is decorated with special carvingsthat indicate the person’s social status. The stoolsof the Luba people living in the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo reflect the importance theLuba place on their ancestors. Like the one at theright, most Luba stools feature a carving of animportant ancestor of the owner.

THINKING CRITICALLY

1. Recognizing ImportantDetailsWhat do you think is the symbolism of the carved person holding up the seat of the stool?

2. Drawing ConclusionsWhy do you think the artistmade this figure a woman?

Place • ManyAfrican extendedfamilies live incompounds suchas this one. Inaddition to livingareas, there arestorage buildingsand an openspace for community life. �

Western and Central Africa 533

For more on African art, go to

CL AS SZONE .COM

RESEARCH LINKS

Because age is so important, a special ceremony, which iscalled a rite of passage, marks the transition from one stage oflife to another. A major rite of passage occurs when young menand women are recognized as adults. However, this tradition isdying out in parts of Africa. Some younger people are gaininghigher status because they have skills that are needed. For exam-ple, as people move to cities, educated youths who can speak aEuropean language are highly valued.

534 CHAPTER 18

Many Americans participate in rites of passage, such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals. Pretend you arestudying American culture. Make a poster illustrating an American rite of passage.

SECTION ASSESSMENT

Using Graphics2. Use a chart like this one to list

characteristics of this region’seconomy and way of life. Howmight the economy affect howpeople live?

Main Ideas3. (a) What types of economies are

present in Western and CentralAfrica?

(b) How is the use of Africa’s min-eral resources both beneficialand harmful to Africans?

(c) How is African family structuresimilar to and different fromAmerican family structure?

Critical Thinking4. Drawing Conclusions

Do you think Africans will continueto have rites of passage in thefuture? Why or why not?

Think About◆ how city life is affecting African

societies◆ other societies around the world

Terms & Names1. Explain the significance of: (a) subsistence farming (b) cash crop (c) rite of passage

Economy Way of Life

Culture • Theseyoung boys ofthe Ituri forest inthe Congo dancein outfits madeof straw andwoven cordsduring a rite of passage. �