Term
| Why is 1960 a watershed year? |
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Definition
| The number of independent states increased from 5 to 22 |
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Term
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Definition
| A socio-political world view and movement which seeks to unify native Africans and members of the Diaspora since the early 20th century |
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Term
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Definition
American civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author, historian, sociologist, editor
Hosted 5th Pan-African Conference in 1945 |
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Term
| Paths of independence: Kenya |
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Definition
| Kenyans continued to engage in passive resistance and staged many organized protests against land, labor, and taxation policies. British military expeditions succeeded in quelling armed resistance between 1896 and 1905. The Mau Mau secret society launched guerrilla attacks on white settlers and black allies of the British from 1952 to 1958. In 1963 Kenya became independent under the leadership of Jomo Kenyatta, a member of the Mau Mau who had been imprisoned |
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Term
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Definition
Publisher, Black Nationalist, Pan-Africanist, and orator
Founder of National Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ALC) |
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Term
| 2 paths to political independence in African countries: |
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Definition
Protracted armed struggle against the colonizers
and
Changing colonial policies in response to events elsewhere |
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Term
| Paths of independence: Gold Coast |
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Definition
Began in 1947 following the return of Kwame Nkrumah from the U.S.
Nkrumah organized campaigns of passive resistance; later imprisoned
Later pursued more militant strategy
Full independence in 1957 |
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Term
| Paths of independence: Cote d'Ivoire |
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Definition
Supported gradual transition to self-gov’t
Opted for independence in 1960 to stop any move toward a regional federation
Remained president for over 30 years
Conservative advocate |
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Term
| Paths of independence: Eritrea |
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Definition
| the only country to have succeeded in winning internationally recognized independence by a secessionist movement. Formerly a colony of Italy, Eritrea was awarded to Ethiopia by the United Nations in 1952. The armed struggle for independence started in 1961 and lasted for 3 decades. The collapse of the Ethiopian government in 1991 resulted in large part from the debilitating effects of its unsuccessful Eritrean campaigns. The referendum of April 1993 produced a 99% vote in favor of independence. After five years of mostly peaceful coexistence, Eritrea and Ethiopia went to war in 1998 over a disputed border area. Two year war; total of 100,000 lives lost; displaced 750,000 Eritreans from homes which caused much destruction and economic disruption |
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Term
| Paths of independence: Namibia |
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Definition
| Achieved independence in 1990 after a quarter-century of armed struggle by the South West African People’s Organization (SWAPO). Starting in 1940s, several major strikes were launched by African workers to protest social and labor conditions. SWAPO began its war of independence in 1966. Guerrilla activities were concentrated in the northern part of the country near the border with Angola. There was growing international pressure on South Africa to get out of Namibia. South Africa finally agreed in 1989 to hold elections leading to independence |
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Term
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Definition
| a government that extends the personal wealth and political power of government officials and ruling class at the expense of the population |
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Term
| Struggle for responsible government |
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Definition
Weaknesses in African political institutions can be traced to colonial period
Hand picked leaders who did not challenge European interests
Struggle for Responsible Gov’t
Military, trade unions, and civil service under close gov’t control
Development controlled by charismatic leaders
Between 1960-2002, over 85 successful coup d’etats in 35 countries
Military v. Civilian gov’ts—a mixed record
One party political systems v. multi-partyism
Multi-partyism and democratization begins to emerge in 1990s
Prior to demise of apartheid, South African efforts to destabilize the gov’ts of neighboring countries retarded the development of democratic institutions in these countries |
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Term
| Zaire/DRC's political struggle |
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Definition
1996—tensions from Rwandan genocide spilled into Zaire
Mobutu toppled by Laurent Kabila in 1997
Much of eastern and northern DRC captured by rebels sponsored by Rwanda and Uganda
High foreign troop presence
Kabila assassinated in 2001
Withdrawal of foreign troops in 2001
Conflict over natural resources reignited in 2002; ended in 2003
Transitional gov’t from 2003-2006
First multi-party elections in 2006 since independence
Joseph Kabila won 70% of the vote
Continued human rights abuses
People still dying at a rate of an est. 45,000/month since 2004 due to widespread famine and disease |
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Term
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Definition
| political chaos erupted almost immediately after the Belgians precipitously declared in independent. Because of the chaos, Congo instantly became the symbol for Africa’s unreadiness for independence—the evidence that chaos and corruption would be the hallmark of independent states |
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Term
| Struggle adjustment programs |
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Definition
| a package of reforms designed by the IMF and World Bank to restore nations’ economic health through reforms to devalue currency, reduce public-sector expenditure, and strengthens market forces. Structural adjustment programs have been implemented in virtually all African countries |
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Term
| Structural adjustment programs II |
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Definition
Policy changes implemented by IMF and World Bank in developing countries
Currency devaluation
Cutbacks in social spending
Intro of user fees in health and education
Privatization of enterprises
Very unpopular in the public and they have led to strikes and protests
Has been renamed Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers |
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Term
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Definition
| When Botswana achieved independence in 1966, it was one of Africa’s poorest countries with virtually no export economy and a small population dependent on earnings as labor migrants in South Africa. Several major mineral discoveries changed its economic prospects. Botswana’s per capita income of $3,300 per year is the highest in Africa |
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Term
| Paths of independence: Kenya |
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Definition
Mau Mau uprisings, 1952-60
Jomo Kenyatta – president 1963-1978 |
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Term
| Paths of independence: Namibia |
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Definition
Independence in 1990 after ¼ c. armed struggle by SWAPO
S. Africa annexed the territory in 1949 and implemented many apartheid policies
SWAPO began war in 1966
S. Africa agreed to hold elections in 1989
SWAPO won |
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Term
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Definition
| Uganda once had one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates, but with the help of effective health promotion strategies, they have reduced the rate of HIV/AIDS within just a few years |
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Term
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Definition
The Struggle Continues
The motto of independence movement in the Portuguese colonies
Epitomizes the situation that prevails in Africa |
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Term
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Definition
refers to the increased pace of global change as societies and economies in different parts of the world become increasingly interconnected and interdependent
Africa has been a bystander in the economic globalization of the world |
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Term
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Definition
| Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries |
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Term
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Definition
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
A cartel of 12 countries to best safeguard their petroleum interests
Has had notable success
Their ability to control the price of oil has diminished somewhat since the discovery of new oil reserves |
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Term
| Import substitution Industrialization |
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Definition
An economic policy based on the premise that a country should attempt to reduce its foreign dependency through local production of industrialized products
Used during the 1960s and 1970s to reduce dependence on imported goods
In 1990s, many countries unable to withstand competition from imported goods after SAPs were implemented |
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Term
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Definition
Specifies the correct way of using a specific writing system to write the language
It defines or describes the set of symbols used, and the rules about how to write these symbols
Spelling, punctuation, capitalization, etc. is part of orthography |
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Term
| example of African Capitalism |
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Definition
| Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, Gabon |
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Term
| examples of Populist Socialism |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
The private sector was encouraged to take a leading role in development, and foreign investment was welcomed
Economic growth is the primary objective
Not particularly interested in rural-urban disparities and the redistribution of wealth
Small elite class have access to most of the wealth at the expense of the poor |
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Term
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Definition
Argued that African traditional societies are inherently socialist
Had charismatic presidents who led in the fight for independence and who articulated the vision of egalitarian, self-reliant development
Individualism and competitiveness of capitalism highly criticized
Community mobilization for self-help projects and communal production encouraged
Heavy reliance on state owned industrial and trading companies
Strict controls on foreign investment |
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Term
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Definition
Until late 1980s, several African states committed to Marxism-Leninism
Soviet Union and other communist states provided assistance
Social, as well as economic progress was primary goal
Failed to achieve their objectives of rapid economic growth and comprehensive social and economic transformation
Very little access to Western aid and investment
Trade embargoes
Attempts at political destabilization
Withdrawal of Soviet support forced these states to reach out to Western aid agencies and investors |
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Term
| Paths of independence: Eritrea |
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Definition
The only SSA country to succeed in succession with int’l recognition
A former colony of Italy later awarded to Ethiopia by the UN in 1952
Armed struggle for independence lasted 3 decades
Referendum in 4/93 set stage for independence a month later
Went to war with Ethiopia 1998-2000 over border dispute |
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Term
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Definition
| it is not uncommon in African societies. It has remained an important part of the strategies used by households to maintain a presence in both urban and rural settings. Families living in the city often send their young children to stay with grandparents or other relatives in the countryside. This arrangement helps to relieve pressure on crowded living conditions and extremely tight family budgets. The countryside is also seen as a safe place for children to learn about their cultural roots and go to school |
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Term
| what is indigenous education? |
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Definition
| Long before the arrival of the Europeans, African societies relied on oral communication to convey traditions, beliefs, values, and knowledge from one generation to the next. Some societies incorporate formal instruction in the rituals, beliefs, and traditions of the community into the ceremonial initiation into adulthood. These forms of indigenous education are still widely practiced, and they are still the basic means by which African values and knowledge are passed to children |
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Term
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Definition
| apartheid is the strict racial segregation of beaches, buses, sports teams and others. The petty apartheid disappeared during the 1980s as pressure for the abolition of apartheid mounted |
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Term
| Struggle for responsible government |
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Definition
Much of the weakness in African political institutions can be traced back to the colonial period, particularly the transition to independence
Many countries opted for single party states, believing that interparty maneuvering was a luxury they could not afford
Institutions such as the military, trade unions, and civil service were typically brought under closer control, and decision making became increasingly concentrated in a few hands
The absence of a political opposition has provided a ready excuse for sections of the military to intervene and overthrow allegedly ineffective or corrupt regimes
Between 1960 and 2002, there were over 85 successful coups d’état in 35 countries and many more attempts that did not succeed |
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Term
| South Africa had its first democratic election in... |
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Definition
| South Africa had its first democratic election in 1994. The end of the apartheid was in April of 1994 |
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Term
| Paths of independence: Cote d'Ivoire |
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Definition
| a wealthy farmer, became the leading Ivoirian politician and served in several French cabinets during the 1950s. He supported a gradual transition to self-government and strongly opposed the aspirations if several other leaders from French West Africa for rapid transition to independence and a federation of West African states. 1960- Independence was opted for Côte d’Ivoire by Houphouet-Boigny. He remained president for over 30 years until his death |
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Term
| Paths of independence: Gold Coast |
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Definition
| The struggle for independence began in 1947. In 1948, the violent suppression by the police of a peaceful demonstration of ex-servicemen, followed by jailing of Nkrumah and other leading citizens, served only to radicalize the movement for self-government. After Nkrumah was release from prison, he left the UGCC (United Gold Coast Convention) to form a new political organization, the Convention People’s Part (CPP), and to pursue a more militant strategy to achieve “self-government now”. He was imprisoned again but the CPP won 90% of the vote in a municipal election in 1951. 1957- Full independence |
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Term
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Definition
| Apartheid was a complex system that grew out of a long history of radical oppression, and that operated on many levels to shape South African society |
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Term
| Apartheid era in South Africa |
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Definition
The implementation of apartheid as official ideology began in 1948 following the electoral victory of the Afrikaner-based National Party, discrimination and separation by race had been integral to South African society for a very long time before that, legitimized through a series of increasingly discriminatory laws
The history of South Africa was said to have begun in 1652, with the establishment of the first European settlement in Cape Town. When the Europeans first arrived, there were four main groups of indigenous Africans already living there:
Khoikhoi pastoralists living near the cape
San hunter-gatherers of the semiarid interior
Nguni peoples, including the Zulu, Swazi, and Xhosa, living in the Natal coastal plain and the interior
Sotho and related groups occupying the central interior
When the Europeans arrived in South Africa, they were primarily made up of poor white Dutch (the Boers), followed by the British. The Boers fought numerous battles one of which was with the Zulu people. The Zulus were defeated at the battle of Ulundi in 1879
The political and economic transformation of South Africa began with the discovery of Diamonds at Kimberley in 1974 and of gold in Johannesburg in 1886. The discoveries brought massive influx of capital and technology, as well as white immigrants. The conquered people eventually lost their land to the miners and were confined to scattered pieces of land called reserves, or homelands
Laws were passed that increasingly restricted blacks’ freedom of movement and rights to employment
The British seized control of South Africa following the Boer War of 1899-1902. In 1910, the union of South Africa was formed through the amalgamation of the formerly separate colonies in South Africa
Under the new government, discrimination against blacks continued to intensify. Legislation was passed that reserved skilled mining jobs for whites, declared illegal the occupation of land by blacks outside their reserves, and decreed the segregation of white and black residential areas in cities
The African National Congress- ANC
They wanted a democratic, non-racist South Africa, although racist laws excluded blacks from parliament. Blacks also pressed their claims for justice by engaging in strikes, protests, and innumerable forms of passive resistance
The National Party government based its case for implementing apartheid on the premise that different groups needed to live and develop separately, each at its own pace and in accordance with its own cultural heritage, resources, and abilities. To do otherwise would defy the natural laws of peaceful coexistence between peoples. The government, it was claimed, was sincerely committed to protecting the best interests of all residents of the country. In short, apartheid was said to exemplify ideals of fairness, justice, and freedom, and to have nothing to do with exploitation.
The reality of the apartheid was nothing like the picture perfect ideas said above. Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd’s dream became a nightmare for black South Africans |
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Term
Four major pillars upon which apartheid was constructed:
The white monopoly of political power
The manipulation of space to achieve racial segregation
The control of black labor
Urban social control |
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Definition
White monopolized the power even though they made up 85% of the population
Asians and so called “coloreds” were granted limited political rights in 1983, but the exclusions of blacks from the political system continued for a decade more
The government set up a program that forcibly removed blacks from their long-established homes in areas now designated for white use and dumping the blacks in the remote, inhospitable relocation areas designated as reserves, with little or no provision for their welfare
The state implemented a series of policies know as influx controls to severely limit the mobility of black South Africans. Blacks were forced to carry passbooks indicating wherever they were supposed to be. Anyone found to be illegally present in an urban area was subject to prosecution
Social control was perpetuated through various political and social institutions. The police, secret police, and armed forces, whose role was allegedly to maintain law and order, repeatedly used their power to terrorize black citizens, murder key leaders of the resistance movement, and foment violence between various groups |
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Term
| Struggles to end apartheid |
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Definition
Series of strikes by black workers in 1973 paralyzed mines and industries. These strikes paved the way for significant concessions, including higher wages, improved trade union rights, and the removal of some regulations that had strictly limited access to skilled jobs
Another strike, sponsored by the ANC in 1992 again showed the importance of the workplace as a focus of antiapartheid struggle
Worldwide campaigns against the apartheid contributed greatly to apartheid’s demise; the UN, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Organization of African Unity (OAU)
The World Trade Agreement of November 18, 1993. This agreement mapped out a new constitution for South Africa, with a National Assembly to be chosen by proportional party representation, thus eliminating such contentious issues as constituency boundaries. The senate was to be appointed by the legislatures of the nine newly created regions that incorporated both the former provinces and all of the homelands. A stipulation that all parties gaining at least 5% of the vote would be represented in the Cabinet ensured that smaller political—and racial—groups would not be totally marginalized as a result of the reforms. In the new constitution, there was a Bill of Rights and the arrangements for restructuring the armed forces |
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Term
| Post-Apartheid South Africa |
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Definition
brought profound changes, including a fundamental restructuring of the country’s spatial economy
there were major political transitions. During the election of 1994, there was a lot of tension
The ANC, with 63% of the vote, scored a clear victory over the National Party and other opposition forces. The ANC also won power in six of the nine provinces. The election gave a strong mandate to govern to Nelson Mandela, who took office as the country’s first black president
In the 1999 election, voting patterns remained much the same, but levels of tension were considerably lower than in 1994
Economic transitions—under apartheid, South Africa’s prosperity depended heavily on foreign investment and the ability of businesses to make huge profits, mainly because of state-enforced control over labor
The ANC-led government made a concerted effort to reassure the business community
Social transitions—One structures social class. Race did not categorize anyone
Removal of employment barriers and restrictions on movement have helped to stimulate the growth of a black middle class with a lifestyle more closely resembling that of middle-class whites that that of most blacks |
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Term
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Definition
The health care in Africa prior to the colonial period was designed to protect the health of the Europeans in the “white man’s grave”
Hospitals were constructed in the major cities to care exclusively for white patients
Public health measures—ranging from the strict segregation of African and European residential areas, to drainage as means of reducing insect populations—were designed to protect Europeans from the threat supposedly posed by “unhealthy” Africans
Basic health care was made available to African employed by colonial governments or European companies
In much of the continent, the only health care was provided by Christian missionaries. Missionary medicine was very unevenly distributed
African societies have had their own healers charged with responsibility for the health of the community |
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Term
| constraints to biomedical health care |
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Definition
Lack of financial services
Inadequate transportation
No time to seek care
Poor road networks
Long waiting times
Long distance to health facility
Providers incompetent/rude
Unsanitary conditions
Not enough doctors
Alternative health care more affordable |
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Term
| Health care in Africa prior to the colonial period |
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Definition
Colonial health policy was designed to protect Europeans
Introduced biomedicine
The only biomedical health care available to Africans was provided by Christian missionaries
African societies have always had their own healers responsible for the health of their community
African healing traditions restricted and loathed during colonialism
After independence, countries attempted to enhance health services in neglected rural areas and provided free health care
Since 1980s, most African states have imposed user fees for health care as a condition for aid |
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Term
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Definition
White monopoly of political power
The manipulation of space to achieve racial segregation
The control of black labor
Urban social control |
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Term
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Definition
Boers formed the “Purified” Nationalist Party in 1934
Won elections in 1948
Est. apartheid
Different groups need to live and develop separately, each at its own pace and according to its own cultural heritage, resources, and ability
The gov’t claimed it was committed to protecting the best interests of all country residents
“Petty” apartheid—racial segregation at beaches, buses, with sports teams, etc.
Disappeared in 1980s
Very undemocratic
3.5 million moved into homelands or bantustans
2 million threatened with displacement from their homes
Forced resettlement into remote areas led to high unemployment rates
Blacks had to carry passbooks
Political and social institutions used to perpetuate apartheid |
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Term
| The Struggle to End Apartheid |
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Definition
Nelson Mandela
Anti-apartheid activist
Convicted for sabotage and other crimes
Served 27 years in prison
Steve Biko
Anti-apartheid activist in 1960s and 1970s
A martyr of the movement
The heart of the struggle remained the daily resistance of millions of ordinary people
Worldwide campaigns against apartheid helped in its demise
In 1989, Pres. DeKlerk realized reform was needed
ANC leaders released from detention
Negotiations with the gov’t and ANC leadership
New constitution in 1993
Elections in 1994 |
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Term
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Definition
Mandela served as president 1994-99
1st decade a time of profound changes
Africa’s economic powerhouse
Country continues to experience a number of economic and social transitions |
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Term
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Definition
Transnational Corporations
AKA multinational corporations (MNC) or multinational enterprises (MNE)
A corporation or enterprise that manages production or delivers services in more than one country
Have become a powerful influence in local economies as well as global economy
Major TNCs have more economic power than all but the largest countries
Often compete with domestic companies and squeeze them out of the market
Profits are either reinvested or repatriated back to home country
Have a small but noticeable presence in SSA
Foreign investment reflects SSA colonial histories |
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Term
| Transnational Corporations have been criticized... |
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Definition
| Transnational corporations have been widely criticized for distorting the economic development of poorer nations. A drain in resources, they rely heavily on imported technology, production inputs, and expertise. Instead of supporting indigenous development through strong local economic linkages, transnational corporations often compete with domestic companies and squeeze them out of the market |
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Term
| Examples of TNCs Transnational Corporations |
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Definition
-Lonrho Corporation
-Royal Dutch/Shell
-Nestle |
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Term
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Definition
Many companies invested in apartheid South Africa
Shell has been accused of damaging the enviroment in the Niger Delta |
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Term
| Globalization as a process |
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Definition
Many views, many definitions
A process; it is dynamic
Geography is less constraining
People, governments and corporations become increasingly aware that the “world is getting smaller” and act accordingly
Main forms of globalization
Cultural / social globalization (homogenization)
Political globalization (transnational agreements)
Economic globalization (new markets, new products) |
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Term
| Role of World Trade of SSA |
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Definition
During 1980-90 period, value of exports declined
By 2000, SSA accounted for only 2% of total world trade, down from 5% in 1980s
Countries that are highly dependent on one or a small # of export commodities are vulnerable to demand and price fluctuations on world market
Countries dependent on 1-2 export commodities may be affected by natural occurrences that reduce quantity or quality of harvest
Several countries successful in diversifying farm exports
Diversification doesn’t fully protect demand and price fluctuations in world market
Villagers seek new ways to commercialize their products
Some countries have become less diversified over time
Nigeria’s exports now consist of entirely one commodity—petroleum
Most African commodities tend to be price inelastic—declines in price do not usually bring large increases in demand
SSA countries have faired poorly in their terms of trade (the relative price of a country’s export to import) between 1980-90
The problem: the prices of both exports from Africa and imports to Africa are est. in London, NY, and other world economic centers
African countries cannot predict (or control) the value of their commodities on the world market so they cannot plan long term with any certainty
Africa only accounts for 0.4% of total world exports of manufactured goods
A growing portion of African trade is with newly industrialized countries (i.e. Brazil, China, Korea, India)
More than ¾ of African exports still go to older industrialized countries
Less than 8% of trade is between African countries b/c of heavy reliance on non-African trade partners and inefficient transportation |
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Term
| Africa's position in the world economy |
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Definition
| their position in the world economy has declined rather than grown stronger. During the 1980-1989 period, the value of exports from Africa has declined. |
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Term
| What does it mean when we say that most African commodities tend to be price inelastic? |
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Definition
| Declines in price do no usually bring large increases in demand. This inelasticity applies both to foodstuffs such as coffee and cocoa, and to industrial raw materials such as copper and iron ore |
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Term
| How have African economies terms of trade changed in the last 30 years? |
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Definition
| the main change in trade over the last 30 years lies mostly in their trading partners. generally, they usually had a single trading partner, whereas now they have started to branch out to the newer industrializing countries, such as Brazil, nations in east and southeast Asia, etc. |
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Term
| Can African economies set the prices for the commodities? |
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Definition
| No, the prices of both exports from Africa and imports to Africa are effectively established in London, New York, and other major centers of the world economy. African countries cannot predict, much less control, the value of their commodities on the world market, and so cannot under-take medium- to long-range development planning with any certainty |
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Term
| Compare Africa's trading partners in the colonial period versus today |
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Definition
| African countries are much less closely tied to a single trading partner. A growing portion of African trade is now with the newer industrializing countries. Nevertheless, over three-quarters of African exports still go to the older industrialized countries |
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Term
| Most of Africa's exports go... |
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Definition
| Older industrialized countries |
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Term
| Trade between European Union and African countries |
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Definition
| ...has been governed since the mid-1970s by a series of treaties known as the Lome Conventions. The agreements have been notable for recognizing some of the problems. Tariffs and other trade barriers restricting African access to European markets have been progressively removed |
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Term
| Aid, Debt, and Adjustment |
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Definition
Since the mid 1980s, the IMF and WB have been net recipients of funds from SSA
The decline in net transfers has been offset by increased lending from the Int’l Development Association
Bilateral loans and multi-lateral loans increased only slightly in the 1990s
Did not contribute to development
Debt repayment a major constraint on economies of poorer countries b/c it thwarts their attempts to develop
There have been calls for debt alleviation programs and rescheduled payments
Implementation has been slow |
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Term
| Are all African women the same? |
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Definition
| No, there is no single, unified geography of African women. Their situations and strategies are extremely diverse, reflecting differences in social class, ethnicity, religion, and place of residence. |
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Term
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Definition
European and Men
The Victorian ideal was that women should stay at home and concentrate on child rearing and domestic labor.
this all usually clashed with African reality and the end of colonialism did not bring change to either colonialisms |
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Term
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Definition
refers not only to the dual focus of women’s work, but also to the amount of work performed by women
African women work longer and harder
Do more types of work
Struggle against more formidable barriers. Their work is not easily categorized as productive or reproductive |
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Term
| Five categories of women's work |
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Definition
Child rearing, the preparation of meals, and other types of domestic labor centered primarily in the home
Household subsistence activities that are usually done by women and performed outside the home, such as farming, collecting fuelwood, and fetching water
Money-earning activities centered in the informal economy, including the preparation of goods for sale, the provision of services, and retail trade
Employment in the formal economy—in factories, as civil servants, and so on
Voluntary activities in civil society, as members of social and political groups.
Rural women have few opportunities to work in the formal economy
The poorer the household, the more likely women are to partake in many types of work |
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Term
| Are women passive in their vulnerable situations? |
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Definition
| Women in Africa have a rocky road ahead of them but it is not stopping them from doing what they do; African women are not to be pitied as passive victims. Rather, they are proud, innovative, and assertive within the constraints imposed by their societies, and they are increasingly determined to shape their own destinies |
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Term
| What is female circumcision? |
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Definition
Forms of surgical alteration of females genitalia
A rite of passage in many African cultures
Many Western feminists have condemned it
Use the term female genital mutilation
Most African women condemn outside intervention and seek to address it according to African values |
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Term
| Western Women condemning female circumcision |
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Definition
| Western women have strongly condemned female circumcision calling it "Female genital mutilation" |
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Term
| What did the language expert reveal when he was asked to assess the different writing systems? (shona) |
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Definition
4 different dialects pushed into prominence
Divergent systems of spelling emerged
Words were split, joined or split in wrong places in different ways, by different people |
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Term
| Describe the debt load of most African economies. Specifically, are these economies receiving more than they are paying back or are they paying back more than they are receiving? |
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Definition
Debt repayment is a major constraint on the economies of poorer countries that constrains their attempts to develop. In the 28 least developed countries of Africa for which data is available, the debt load ranges from 28% of the annual GNI to 538%. The debt exceeds annual GNI in 15 of the 28 states. The annual cost of servicing this debt load is under 10% of export earnings in only 3 countries, and exceeds 30% of exports in 6 of Africa’s 28 least developed economies.
africa has done a good job overall paying back loans and interest. They have been good with paying back but because of the market, and not being able to price their own exports, its hard for them to stay out of debt. |
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Term
| How do Africans view children? |
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Definition
| Children in African societies are valued greatly. Children are a blessing. To be childless is generally considered a tragedy; it is almost inconceivable for couples to choose to remain childless |
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Term
| Children's lives at home and in their community |
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Definition
Children are generally expected to help with the work of the household and for many, long hours of work mean that there is no time for going to school
HIV/AIDS epidemic are putting an increasing proportion of African children at serious risk
Infants establish a strong bond with their mothers during the first years of their lives. African babies tend to breastfeed for the first 18-30 months of their lives. They are with their mothers constantly, typically carried on their mothers’ backs
African fathers tend to have a more distant and formal relationship with their children. Responsibility for child care, as well as for routine daily decision making about children’s needs, rests with mothers
Children in rural communities entertain themselves with a variety of locally produced toys and games. Soccer is very popular
Sing songs of their specific society. Musical games
The rearing of African children is the responsibility not only of parents, but also of the extended family and the community as a whole. From a relatively early age, especially in rural areas, children are free to explore outside their homes with older siblings or on their own. Adults in the community participate actively in watching out for the safety of children at play, and disciplining them for inappropriate behaviors when necessary |
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Term
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Definition
The majority of African children contribute in tangible ways to the household or farm chores or by earning money to help support the family
Preadolescent girls help to care for their younger siblings
Children, especially girls, commonly fetch water or firewood
In many herding societies, boys are assigned responsibility for looking after herds of goats, sheep, or cattle
In agricultural communities, boys help their parents to plant, weed, and harvest crops
Children’s help may be critical to the viability of poorer households |
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Term
| Children's lives at school |
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Definition
Education in Colonial Africa
Education was not a high priority for the colonial rulers of Africa. It was feared that educated Africans could become a focus of political dissent; questioning the authority of both colonial rulers and compliant traditional leaders
Schooling was identified as a powerful tool for spreading the Christian gospel
Contemporary Africa: Modern Education
Modern education is the key to unlocking Africa’s potential
In many African families, scraping together money for children’s school fees takes precedence over all but the most crucial of other needs
Between 1960 and 1999-2000, the number of children in primary schools in Africa south of the Sahara increased sixfold, from 13 million to 80 million
Limited educational opportunities for girls reflect patriarchal attitudes in African and European (colonial) society. Because girls were generally seen as destined to bear children and keep house, female education had a low priority. Education was seen as an investment and women were not worth investing in school. Families would rather send the male children to school because of the future prospects and results in careers
In addition to the formal curriculum, children learn a “hidden curriculum” of ideas and values that are conveyed implicitly. The hidden curriculum includes: the message that indigenous African culture and knowledge is not important—that everything worth knowing comes from Europe. Education has been called the “enemy of the farm”, since so many graduates of rural schools seem determined to pursue their dreams in the city, regardless of how scarce jobs may be there
European languages remain preeminent in African education
Economic problems have affected the education system. From a lack of books to supplies and teachers. Many school buildings are being closed because there is no money for essential repairs
As a rule, urban areas have received proportionally more investment in education that rural areas |
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Term
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Definition
Childhood is a difficult phase of life for Africa’s children, exemplified by the fact that many newborns fail to survive to adulthood
Tens of millions of children live in deep poverty, and suffer hunger and material deprivation as a result
Children who are living in war zones, or whose parents have been infected by HIV/AIDS, cannot take the security of home and family for granted
Infectious and parasitic diseases are the prime reasons for the death of 92 of every 1,000 children born within the first year of life. About 15% of children fail to reach age 5
Mortality rates are typically considerably higher in rural than in urban settings within each country. Children in rural areas are less likely to have the benefits of safe water supplies, are less likely to have been vaccinated, and are less likely to have ready access to medical care when they become ill
The HIV/AIDS epidemic has given rise to a huge number of orphaned children, especially in eastern, central, and southern Africa. Over 30% of the adult population is infected with HIV in certain countries. It is estimated that 15-25% of all children in a dozen countries will be orphans by the year 2010
Many orphans face an uncertain future. They may be adopted by relatives and they may be overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for more children with very limited resources
Many orphans live on the streets where they use their wits to survive
Forced labor. Many children are kidnapped; children of poor families and orphans are at risk
War- many young children have been used as combatants which is very disturbing but happening more and more often in recent years |
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Term
| 3 Major shortcomings of the Shona writing systems? |
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Definition
Europeans failed to understand the existing political and state structures of Shona chiefdoms
Failed to understand that these chiefdoms shared the same language and culture while being politically independent.
Europeans saw them all as ‘tribes' and simplistically equated the groups they identified as tribes with language or dialect areas. |
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