Chapter 19 Section 4

Central Africa 

I) Bantu Migrations and Colonial Exploration 
Central Africa includes Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Sao Tome and Principe.
a. Bantu Migrations 
  1. The Bantu are groups of peoples and cultures who speak one of the Bantu languages.
  2. The Bantu migrations are a key event in Africa's  history.
  3. They produced a great diversity of cultures but also helped link various areas of the continent.
b. The Slave Trade
  1. Europeans wanted slaves for their plantations in the Americas.
  2. In the 15th century, the Portuguese established the island of Sao Tome, off the coast of what is now Gabon, as the initial base for trade in African captives.
c. Start of Colonialism
  1. In the mid-1800s, Central Africa consisted of hundreds of different ethnic groups, which followed traditional religions and spoke hundreds of different languages.
  2. Europeans had been in Africa since the mid-15th century, but stayed mainly on the coast.
  3. King Leopold II of Belgium developed an interest in the Congo after it had been explored in the 1870s.
d. Effects of Colonialism
  1. During the 19th and 20th centuries, primarily the Belgians and French colonized Central Africa.
  2. Before colonization, a village, a tribal chief, or a group of elders would consult with various leaders within a village to make decisions that affected only that village.

II) The Economic Legacy of Colonialism
a. Economic Effects
  1. Central Africa's economy is still trying to recover from the effects of colonialism: the loss of recourses, the disruption of its political systems, and the cultural and ethnic oppression of its people.
b. Congo's Economic Chaos 
  1. A good example of economic problems caused by colonization can be seen in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  2. The country possesses huge amounts of natural recourses such as gold, diamonds, and copper.
  3. Although, European colonization and a personal desire for power and riches by post colonial leaders left the country in a state of dismay.

III) The Influence of Central African Art
a. Central African Art
  1. During the 20th century, some Central African Art reflected attitudes towards colonialism.
  2. After gaining independence in the 1960s, many countries wanted to establish their own identities.
  3. In the 1970s, Mobutu Sese Seko launched a program to promote African, in particular, Congolese culture above that of the west.
b. Fang Sculpture 
  1. Prior to the 20th century, very few people knew about African art.
  2. In 1907, the famous Spanish artist Pablo Picasso saw a display of African Fang sculpture.

IV) Improving Education 
a. Education Faces Barriers 
  1. Adequate schooling for many of Africa's young people is in short supply.
  2. Education problems in Africa include shortage of trained teachers, a high dropout rate, and shortage of secondary school.
b. Learning In Central Africa
  1. Because the high rate of dropouts, most kids leave school around the age of 12.
  2. Many Central African countries are improving their educational systems.
  3. In 1991, Cameroon create two hem universities.
  4. The republic of the Congo offers vocational, agriculture, and teacher training courses.