Africa is the world's second largest and second-most populous
continent after
Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of
Earth's land area and 6% of its total surface area. With 1.4 billion people0 as of 2021, it accounts for about 18% of the world's
human population. Africa's population is the youngest amongst all the continents; the
median age in 2012 was 19.7, when the worldwide median age was 30.4. Despite a wide range of
natural resources, Africa is the least wealthy continent
per capita and second-least wealthy by total wealth, ahead of
Oceania. Scholars have attributed this to different factors including
geography,
climate,
lack of democracy,
tribalism,
corruption,
colonialism, the
Cold War, and
neocolonialism. Despite this low concentration of wealth, recent economic expansion and the large and young population make Africa an important economic market in the broader global context.
Zebras (US: /ˈziːbrəz/, UK: /ˈzɛbrəz,ˈziː-/) (subgenus Hippotigris) are African
equines with distinctive black-and-white striped
coats. There are three
living species:
Grévy's zebra (Equus grevyi), the
plains zebra (E. quagga), and the
mountain zebra (E. zebra). Zebras share the genus Equus with
horses and
asses, the three groups being the only living members of the family
Equidae. Zebra stripes come in different patterns, unique to each individual. Several theories have been proposed for the function of these patterns, with most evidence supporting them as a deterrent for biting flies. Zebras inhabit
eastern and
southern Africa and can be found in a variety of habitats such as
savannahs,
grasslands, woodlands,
shrublands, and mountainous areas.
Zebras are primarily
grazers and can subsist on lower-quality vegetation. They are preyed on mainly by
lions, and typically flee when threatened but also bite and kick. Zebra species differ in
social behaviour, with plains and mountain zebra living in stable
harems consisting of an adult male or
stallion, several adult females or
mares, and their young or
foals; while Grévy's zebra live alone or in loosely associated herds. In harem-holding species, adult females mate only with their harem stallion, while male Grévy's zebras establish
territories which attract females and the species is
promiscuous. Zebras communicate with various vocalisations, body postures and facial expressions.
Social grooming strengthens social bonds in plains and mountain zebras. (Full article...)
Portrait of a Maasai woman, with shaved head, stretched earlobes, and beaded adornments, typical of the Maasai culture. The Maasai are a
Niloticethnic group of semi-
nomadic people located in Kenya and northern Tanzania. They are among the best known of African ethnic groups, due to their distinctive customs and dress and residence near the many game parks of East Africa. Their primary language
Maa (ɔl Maa) is a member of the
Nilo-Saharan language family that is related to
Dinka and
Nuer.
Chamaeleo jacksonii (common names Jackson's Chameleon or Three-horned Chameleon) is an African chameleon belonging to the chameleon family (
Chamaeleonidae). It is native to the humid, cooler regions of
Kenya and
Tanzania.
The roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) is a species of
savanna antelope found in western, central and southern Africa. Named for its reddish-brown coat, it has a black face with white patches around the eyes and the mouth, and a short erect mane of greyish brown hair extending from the back of the neck to the rump. This roan antelope, of the
subspeciesH. e. koba, was photographed in Senegal; the subspecies's range extends from Senegal to Benin in western Africa.
Idi Amin (c. 1925 – 16 August 2003) was President of
Uganda from 1971 to 1979. While President, Amin committed acts of violence against the people of his country; an estimated 300,000, possibly 500,000 civilians may have been killed under his regime. In this
caricature by
Edmund S. Valtman, Amin is depicted as a bloated, powerful figure in military dress covered with medals and insignia, holding a scepter, and crowned by a small head with heavy features.
Panoramic view of the Amphitheatre of El Jem, an archeological site in the city of
El Djem, Tunisia. The amphitheatre, one of the best-preserved Roman ruins and a UNESCO
World Heritage Site since 1979, was built around 238 AD, when modern Tunisia belonged to the Roman province of
Africa. It is the third-biggest amphitheatre in the world, with axes of 148 m (486 ft) and 122 m (400 ft) and a seating capacity of 35,000, unique in Africa.
The Larabanga Mosque was built in the
Sudanese architectural style in the village of
Larabanga,
Ghana. It is the oldest mosque in the country and one of the oldest in West Africa, and has been called the "
Mecca of West Africa". It has undergone
restoration several times since it was founded. The
World Monuments Fund has contributed substantially to its restoration, and lists it as one of the 100 most endangered sites.
Banknote design credit: Deutsch-Ostafrikanische Bank; photographed by
Andrew Shiva
The rupie was the unit of currency of
German East Africa between 1890 and 1916. During
World War I, the colony was cut off from Germany as a result of a wartime
blockade and the colonial government needed to create an emergency issue of banknotes. Paper made from
linen or
jute was initially used, but because of wartime shortages, the notes were later printed on commercial paper in a variety of colours, wrapping paper, and in one instance, wallpaper. This five-rupie banknote was issued in 1915, and is now part of the
National Numismatic Collection at the
Smithsonian Institution.
Other denominations: '"`UNIQ--templatestyles-00000016-QINU`"'
The lion (Panthera leo) is a
mammal of the family
Felidae and one of four "
big cats" in the
genusPanthera. The lion is the second largest feline species, after the
tiger. The male lion, easily recognized by his
mane, weighs between 150–250 kg (330–500 lb). Females range 120–150 kg (260–330 lb). In the wild, lions live for around 10–14 years, while in captivity they can live over 20 years. Though they were once found throughout much of
Africa,
Asia and
Europe, lions presently exist in the wild only in Africa and
India.
Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The government is an
absolute monarchy, the last of its kind in Africa, and the country has been ruled by King
Mswati III since 1986. One of the country's important cultural events is
Umhlanga, the reed-dance festival, held in August or September each year. This photograph shows Princess
Sikhanyiso Dlamini, the eldest daughter of Mswati III, at the 2006 festival.
Adansonia digitata is a sub-Saharan African species of baobab tree. The genus, scientifically known as Adansonia, consists of nine species native to Madagascar, Africa, Arabia and Australia, and can reach heights of 5 to 30 m (16 to 98 ft) with trunk diameters of 7 to 11 m (23 to 36 ft).
Mikumi National Park is a
national park in
Mikumi, near
Morogoro,
Tanzania. The park was established in 1964, currently covers an area of 3230 km² and is the fourth largest in the country. The landscape of Mikumi is often compared to that of the Serengeti. The road that crosses the park divides it into two areas with partially distinct environments. The area north-west is characterized by the alluvial plain of the river basin Mkata. The vegetation of this area consists of
savannah dotted with
acacia,
baobab,
tamarinds, and some rare
palm. In this area, at the furthest from the road, there are spectacular rock formations of the mountains Rubeho and Uluguru. The southeast part of the park is less rich in wildlife, and not very accessible.
Dar es Salaam is the largest city in
Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts:
Kinondoni to the north,
Ilala in the center of the region, and
Temeke to the south. The Dar es Salaam Region had a population of 2,497,940 as of the official 2002 census. Though Dar es Salaam lost its official status as capital city to
Dodoma in 1974, it remains the center of the permanent central government bureaucracy and continues to serve as the capital for the Dar es Salaam Region.
Dallol is a
cinder-cone volcano in the
Danakil Depression, northeast of the
Erta Ale Range in Ethiopia. The area lies up to 120 m (390 ft) below sea level, and has been repeatedly flooded in the past when waters from the Red Sea have inundated it. The Danakil Depression is one of the hottest places on Earth, and the evaporation of seawater after these flooding episodes produced thick deposits of
salt, as seen in this landscape. The deposits at Dallol include significant quantities of the carbonate, sulfate and chloride salts of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Hot springs discharge brine to form the blueish ponds, and small, temporary
geysers produce cones of salt.
The Rose Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) is a plant indigenous to various parts of southern Africa, and in particular
South Africa. This specific species has great importance in the
perfume industry. Its
cultivars have a wide variety of smells, including
rose,
citrus,
mint,
coconut and
nutmeg, as well as various
fruits.
A
composite satellite image of the geography of Africa, the Earth's second-largest continent, and its adjacent islands. Separated from Europe by the
Mediterranean Sea and from much of Asia by the
Red Sea, Africa is joined to Asia at its northeast extremity by the
Isthmus of Suez. For
geopolitical purposes, the
Sinai Peninsula – east of the
Suez Canal – is often considered part of Africa, although geographically it belongs in Asia. Africa can be divided into a number of geographic zones: The
Atlas Mountains in the north, the
Sahara, the coastal plains, and the inner plateaus.
The sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) is an
antelope which inhabits wooded
savanna in
eastern and
southern Africa, from the south of Kenya to South Africa, with a separate population in Angola. The species is
sexually dimorphic, with the male heavier and about one-fifth taller than the female. It has a compact and robust build, characterized by a thick neck and tough skin, and both sexes have ringed horns which arch backward. The sable antelope has four subspecies.
This picture shows an adult male common sable antelope (H. n. niger) in the
Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa.
... that in 1948, Thomas Yarborough became the first African American to be elected as a city council member in California?
... that although it was only formed in late 1939, the French 87th African Infantry Division inflicted 6,600 casualties upon the German forces and fought until the very end of the
Battle of France?
Mido started his career with
Zamalek in Egypt in 1999. He left the club for
Gent of Belgium in 2000, where he won the
Belgian Ebony Shoe. This led to a move to Dutch side
Ajax in 2001, from where he joined
Celta Vigo on
loan in 2003. His next destination was
Marseille in France and he left them for Italian side
Roma in 2004. He joined English side
Tottenham Hotspur on an 18-month loan in 2005 and eventually joined the club permanently in 2006. He left the club in 2007 to join Middlesbrough, from whom he joined
Wigan Athletic,
Zamalek,
West Ham United and Ajax on loan. In 2011, he rejoined Zamalek, before joining Barnsley in 2012. He also played for
Egypt 51 times, scoring 20 goals. Mido retired from football in June 2013. (Full article...)
Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country in
Eastern Africa. It is bordered by
Ethiopia to the north,
Somalia to the northeast,
Tanzania to the south,
Uganda to the west, and
Sudan to the northwest, with the
Indian Ocean to the southeast. At 224,961 mi² (582,646 km²), Kenya is the world's forty-seventh largest country.
Mount Kenya, which reaches 5,199 meters (17,057 ft), is the highest point in Kenya and the second highest in Africa.
Nairobi, the capital, is the primary communication and financial hub of East Africa. It enjoys the region's best transportation linkages, communications infrastructure, and trained personnel, although these advantages are less prominent than in past years. A wide range of foreign firms maintain regional branches or representative offices in the city. In March 1996, the Presidents of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda re-established the
East African Community (EAC). The EAC's objectives include harmonizing tariffs and customs regimes, free movement of people, and improving regional infrastructures. In March 2004, the three East African countries signed a
Customs Union Agreement.
(Read more...)
Image 7An Ethiopian woman preparing Ethiopian coffee at a
traditional ceremony. She roasts, crushes, and brews the coffee on the spot. (from Culture of Africa)
Image 34Map of ancient Egypt, showing major cities and sites of the Dynastic period (c. 3150 BC to 30 BC) (from History of Africa)
Image 35A terra-cotta head sculpture (1100-1500) of the
Yoruba, showing extraordinary naturalism. This head represents the oni or king of
Ife. (from Culture of Africa)
Image 48Areas controlled by European powers in 1939. British (red) and Belgian (marroon) colonies fought with the Allies. Italian (light green) with the Axis. French colonies (dark blue) fought alongside the Allies until the Fall of France in June 1940. Vichy was in control until the Free French prevailed in late 1942. Portuguese (dark green) and Spanish (yellow) colonies remained neutral. (from History of Africa)
... that a 2020 study found that African countries which allowed foreign funding of NGOs had a higher voter turnout?
... that Essop Moosa, who was of Indian origin, became the first non-white player to play for an all-white
soccer team in South Africa, appearing under a pseudonym?