Animist

Pertaining to the religious beliefs of animism in which nature, such as animals and mountains, have spirits Historical Contexts: Traditional African spiritual practices across various ethnic groups Influence on modern religious syncretism (e.g., blending with Christianity and Islam) Colonial suppression and the resurgence of indigenous beliefs

Apartheid

(In South Africa) a policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race

Historical Contexts:

1. Institutionalized racial segregation in South Africa (1948-1994)

2. Nelson Mandela and the anti-apartheid movement

3. Lasting socio-economic effects post-apartheid

Bantu Migration

• A massive migration of people across Africa about 2,000 years ago

• Historical Contexts:

  1. Spread of Bantu languages and cultural influence across Sub-Saharan Africa

  2. Impact on agricultural practices and ironworking technologies

  3. Formation of centralized kingdoms and societies

Berlin Conference

In 1884, leaders of fourteen European countries came together to talk about control of Africa, specifically for natural resources

Historical Contexts:

1. Partitioning of African territories among European powers

2. Disruption of indigenous governance and cultural boundaries

3. Lasting effects of artificial borders on modern conflicts

Cash Crop

Farm product grown to be sold or traded rather than used by the farm family

Historical Contexts:

1. Role in colonial economies (e.g., cotton, cocoa, coffee production)

2. Economic dependency on global markets and price fluctuations

3. Impact on food security and subsistence farming

Conflict Diamonds

Diamonds that are mined in war-torn areas and are used to finance one or more parties involved

Historical Contexts:

1. Role in fueling civil wars (e.g., Sierra Leone, Angola)

2. International responses, including the Kimberley Process

3. Ongoing challenges in ensuring ethical diamond trade

Delta

A triangular section of land formed by sand and silt carried downriver

Historical Contexts:

1. Niger Delta and its role in oil production

2. Ecological significance and biodiversity

3. Environmental degradation and conflict over resources

Famine

Extreme lack of food

Historical Contexts:

1. Ethiopian famine (1983-1985) and international relief efforts

2. Impact of drought and climate change in the Sahel region

3. Role of political instability and conflict in food shortages

Groundwater

Water located underground within the Earth that supplies wells and springs

Historical Contexts:

1. Importance in arid regions such as the Sahel

2. Over-extraction and water scarcity issues

3. Role in sustaining rural communities and agriculture

Habitat

Area with conditions suitable for certain plants or animals to live

Historical Contexts:

1. Biodiversity of African savannas and rainforests

2. Impact of deforestation on species survival

3. Conservation efforts and national parks (e.g., Serengeti)

Harmattan

A hot, dry wind that blows from the northeast or east in the western Sahara

Historical Contexts:

1. Seasonal impact on agriculture and health

2. Role in desertification in the Sahel region

3. Cultural significance in folklore and daily life

Imperialism

The actions by which one country is able to extend power to control another country

Historical Contexts:

1. European colonization and exploitation of African resources

2. Resistance movements against colonial rule

3. Lasting effects on governance and economic structures

Less Developed Country

A country that, according to the United Nations, exhibits the lowest indicators of socioeconomic development

Historical Contexts:

1. Post-colonial struggles with poverty and underdevelopment

2. Foreign aid and debt dependence

3. Efforts towards economic growth and sustainable development

Oral Tradition

 The practice of passing down stories from generation to generation by word of mouth

Historical Contexts:

1. Preservation of history and culture in African societies

2. Role of griots (storytellers) in West African communities

3. Influence on modern literature and music

Overfarming

Situation in which land is repeatedly farmed so that soil nutrients are depleted

Historical Contexts:

1. Agricultural challenges in the Sahel region

2. Impact of colonial cash crop policies on soil depletion

3. Modern solutions such as sustainable farming techniques

Patriarchal

A family that is headed by a male family member

Historical Contexts:

1. Traditional gender roles in African societies

2. Influence of colonialism on family structures

3. Changing gender dynamics and women’s rights movements

Poaching

Illegal hunting

Historical Contexts:

1. Endangered species and illegal wildlife trade (e.g., rhinos, elephants)

2. Anti-poaching laws and conservation efforts

3. Role of international demand in driving poaching

Renewable Resources

A resource of which there is an endless supply because it can be replenished

Historical Contexts:

1. Hydropower development in Sub-Saharan Africa

2. Traditional reliance on renewable energy sources

3. Emerging focus on solar and wind energy

Rift Valley

A valley formed by the separation of tectonic plates

Historical Contexts:

1. Great Rift Valley’s geological significance

2. Human origins and early civilizations in the region

3. Modern tourism and scientific research

Rwandan Genocide

This 100-day period between April and July 1994, nearly one million ethnic Tutsi and moderate Hutu were killed

Historical Contexts:

1. Colonial roots of ethnic tensions

2. International response and failure to intervene

3. Post-genocide reconciliation and rebuilding

Sahel

The band of land extending from Senegal to Somalia; also called the African Transition Zone

Historical Contexts:

1. Climate challenges and desertification

2. Nomadic herding and agricultural adaptations

3. Political instability and terrorism concerns

Stateless Nation

An ethnic group without a formal state

Historical Contexts:

1. The Tuareg people and their struggle for autonomy

2. Somali clans and fragmentation of the Somali state

3. Challenges of state recognition and governance

Subtropical

climate which is specified by hot and humid summers and mild to cold winters. The climate zones are located to the north and south of the tropical zone

Historical Context:

1. Climate Classification and European Exploration (19th Century)

2. Colonial Agriculture and Cash Crops (19th–20th Century)

3. Disease Patterns and Tropical Medicine (19th–20th Century)

Transition Zone 

an area in which the properties of the land undergo a radical change

Historical Context-

1. The Sahel: Sahara-Savanna Transition

2. The Great Lakes Region: Forest-Savanna Transition

3. The Guinea Coast: Forest-Savanna Transition