African continent

African continent
Martin23230 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Africa
Area km2	30370000
Population	1.4 billion
Notable cities	Cairo; Lagos; Johannesburg; Kinshasa; Nairobi
Highest point	Mount Kilimanjaro
Longest river	Nile
Countries	54

Contents

African continent Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most-populous landmass, spanning the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Suez Canal and Red Sea to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The region includes diverse states such as Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia and Morocco, and hosts major cities like Cairo, Lagos, Johannesburg, Kinshasa and Nairobi. Historically and contemporaneously, Africa is linked to global networks through institutions including the United Nations, the African Union, the African Development Bank and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.

Geography

Africa's physical geography ranges from the Sahara Desert, the world's largest hot desert, to the tropical rainforests of the Congo Basin and the savannas of the Serengeti. Major rivers such as the Nile River, Congo River, Niger River and Zambezi River shape irrigation and transport, while highlands including the Ethiopian Highlands, Rwanda–Burundi plateau and Atlas Mountains influence climate and settlement. Island territories like Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius and Comoros add unique biogeography, while geological features such as the East African Rift and volcanoes like Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya reflect tectonic activity. Coastal features include the Gulf of Guinea, the Red Sea Rift and major ports such as Alexandria Port, Port of Durban and Port of Mombasa.

Human origins in Africa are attested by fossil finds at sites like Olduvai Gorge, Herto and Omo Kibish, associated with species described by researchers at institutions such as the Max Planck Society and Natural History Museum, London. Ancient polities include Ancient Egypt, the Kingdom of Kush, Carthage, Aksum and the Kingdom of Ghana (Wagadou), while medieval connections ran through the Trans-Saharan trade, the Swahili Coast city-states like Kilwa Kisiwani and empires such as the Mali Empire and Songhai Empire. European contact intensified with voyages by Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese Empire and trading hubs like Elmina Castle, followed by the Atlantic slave trade, the Berlin Conference (1884–85), and colonization by powers including the British Empire, French Third Republic, German Empire, Belgian Empire and Italian Empire. Twentieth-century decolonization involved leaders and movements such as Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, Nelson Mandela, Pan-Africanism and organizations like the Organisation of African Unity, culminating in independence for most states in the mid-20th century. Postcolonial conflicts and agreements—from the Rwandan Genocide and Second Congo War to peace processes like the Dayton Agreement and Arusha Accords—have shaped contemporary statehood.

Population dynamics feature rapid growth concentrated in countries such as Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Egypt and Tanzania. Urbanization centers include Cairo, Lagos, Kinshasa, Johannesburg and Accra, while migration corridors link regions such as the Maghreb, Sahel and Horn of Africa. Major religions present include Islam in Africa, Christianity in Africa, traditional belief systems in regions like Yorubaland and syncretic movements influenced by figures such as Haile Selassie and institutions like Al-Azhar University. Public health challenges have mobilized international responses via agencies such as the World Health Organization, the Global Fund, and research collaborations at the Institut Pasteur and University of Cape Town. Social movements and civil society organizations include African National Congress, Economic Freedom Fighters, Amnesty International chapters and grassroots networks like Sierra Leone's Civil Society activism.

African economies range from resource-rich exporters such as Angola, Nigeria, South Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Botswana to service hubs like Mauritius and manufacturing centers in Morocco and Egypt. Key commodities include oil (e.g. Niger Delta), minerals such as cobalt and diamonds from the Katanga Province and Kimberley fields, and agricultural exports like cocoa from Ivory Coast and Ghana. Regional economic initiatives include the African Continental Free Trade Area, the Economic Community of West African States, the Southern African Development Community and the East African Community. Financial institutions such as the African Development Bank, central banks like the Central Bank of Nigeria and stock exchanges including the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and Nairobi Securities Exchange underpin capital markets, while infrastructure projects have been financed by partners like the World Bank, China Development Bank and European Investment Bank.

Contemporary politics involve multiparty systems, one-party legacies and military governments across states such as Mali, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Eritrea, and democratic transitions in countries like Ghana, Benin and Senegal. Regional security institutions include the African Union Peace and Security Council, peacekeeping missions under the United Nations Security Council mandates and interventions by forces such as ECOWAS and AMISOM. Treaty frameworks shaping relations include the Cotonou Agreement, Lomé Convention precedents and newer accords under the African Continental Free Trade Area and Belt and Road Initiative partnerships. Diplomatic ties and foreign policy engage states including the United States, European Union, China, Russia and India, while international law disputes appear before bodies like the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court.

Cultural expressions encompass music genres and artists such as Afrobeats, Fela Kuti, Youssou N'Dour and Miriam Makeba; literary figures including Chinua Achebe, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, Wole Soyinka and Nadine Gordimer; and filmmakers like Ousmane Sembène and Djibril Diop Mambéty. Visual arts traditions range from Benin Bronzes to contemporary galleries such as Zeitz MOCAA and festivals like the FESPACO. Linguistic diversity includes families and languages such as Arabic language, Swahili language, Hausa language, Amharic language, Yoruba language, Igbo language, Berber languages and Khoisan languages, with scholarly work at institutions like SOAS University of London and Makerere University.

Africa's ecosystems include biodiversity hotspots like the Cape Floristic Region, the Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands biodiversity hotspot, and protected areas such as Kruger National Park, Serengeti National Park and Virunga National Park. Endangered species include African elephant, black rhinoceros, mountain gorilla and endemic fauna of Madagascar like the lemur. Conservation efforts involve organizations such as World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International and national agencies in countries like Kenya and Tanzania, while transboundary initiatives include the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park and the KAZA TFCA. Environmental challenges—desertification across the Sahel, deforestation in the Congo Basin, poaching in the Okavango Delta and climate impacts on Lake Chad—are addressed through programs by the United Nations Environment Programme, the Green Climate Fund and regional policies from the African Union.

Category:Continents