This is one of a series of blog posts linked to the research I did for the 'Discover Geography' series, and mentioning some of the reading I did to prepare some of the chapters.
Not all of this material made it into the final book so I'm sharing it in these posts. Click the link in the right hand toolbar to take a look at the books.
He very kindly agreed to come to do the Keynote Lecture at the GA Conference 2022 - my Presidential conference. This was important to me to continue a process which was quite slow at the time, of changing the nature of the speakers and attendees at the annual conference. It was a pity that attendance was down as the lingering legacy of COVID meant it had to be a hybrid event that year. I was pleased that he also brought some of his family members. As a result of his involvement, he was very much supported by the geography community and invited to speak at a range of other events.
1. Africa is the most diverse continent in the world.
Comprising 54 countries, 1.4 billion people, and over 2,000 different languages, spread across over 30,000,000 square kilometres, Africa is home to more languages and ethnic groups than any other continent in the world. DNA studies show that Africans exhibit higher levels of genetic variation than any other continent. This variation has produced a uniquely rich mosaic of histories, cultures, and traditions.
2. Africa’s land and climate are uniquely varied.
It’s not only the people that are unique and diverse, but also the land itself! Africa is home to incredible wildlife and vast landscapes from rainforest to savannah to desert, as well as densely populated cities. Climates vary across the continent, too, with some areas enduring extreme heat while others live with mild, cold temperature.
3. Pre-colonial Africa was ahead of the world in many respects
Prior to colonisation, Africa was home to some of the most culturally and technologically advanced civilisations the world has known. The Kingdom of Benin included architecture that was celebrated by visitors as far back as the 1700s. The Kingdom’s walls: four times the length of the Great Wall of China and built before the mechanical era’. The streets and houses of its capital were laid out with mathematical precision. Unfortunately, most of the histories of these great nations remains untold and unknown to many.
4. African people have made the best of a difficult situation
Most modern-day African countries were created by European countries through a process of violent colonisation. Through colonisation, communities were destroyed and their natural resources stolen. Borders were created where they previously didn’t exist, splitting up 10% of ethnic groups, and forcing disparate groups to join in forming new nations they didn’t want to be part of.
5. African culture heavily influences global culture
Colonisation saw Africa lose 90% of its material cultural legacy. Many of these artefacts are still being held today in museums and private collections around the world. Despite the challenges inherited by the realities of colonisation, African countries have built some of the most vibrant and exciting cultural movements across food, fashion, art, music and film. Nollywood, Afrobeats, and Amapiano represent some of the fastest growing scenes, while food cultures from across Africa continue to influence the way people eat around the world.
When I was creating the chapter on African development for the Discover Geography project I remembered Dipo's book, and was keen to include the thoughts of someone from an African country in what I wrote.
This representation was important.
Dipo very kindly responded positively to my invitation, and was able to send me through some text despite being busy with work and travelling.
This forms part of the chapter I wrote for Book 8, which is called "What factors contribute to the diverse lived experiences of people across Africa?"
I had to edit down what Dipo sent me to fit into the spaces that we had available.
Comprising 54 countries, 1.4 billion people, and over 2,000 different languages, spread across over 30,000,000 square kilometres, Africa is home to more languages and ethnic groups than any other continent in the world. DNA studies show that Africans exhibit higher levels of genetic variation than any other continent. This variation has produced a uniquely rich mosaic of histories, cultures, and traditions.
2. Africa’s land and climate are uniquely varied.
It’s not only the people that are unique and diverse, but also the land itself! Africa is home to incredible wildlife and vast landscapes from rainforest to savannah to desert, as well as densely populated cities. Climates vary across the continent, too, with some areas enduring extreme heat while others live with mild, cold temperature.
3. Pre-colonial Africa was ahead of the world in many respects
Prior to colonisation, Africa was home to some of the most culturally and technologically advanced civilisations the world has known. The Kingdom of Benin included architecture that was celebrated by visitors as far back as the 1700s. The Kingdom’s walls: four times the length of the Great Wall of China and built before the mechanical era’. The streets and houses of its capital were laid out with mathematical precision. Unfortunately, most of the histories of these great nations remains untold and unknown to many.
4. African people have made the best of a difficult situation
Most modern-day African countries were created by European countries through a process of violent colonisation. Through colonisation, communities were destroyed and their natural resources stolen. Borders were created where they previously didn’t exist, splitting up 10% of ethnic groups, and forcing disparate groups to join in forming new nations they didn’t want to be part of.
5. African culture heavily influences global culture
Colonisation saw Africa lose 90% of its material cultural legacy. Many of these artefacts are still being held today in museums and private collections around the world. Despite the challenges inherited by the realities of colonisation, African countries have built some of the most vibrant and exciting cultural movements across food, fashion, art, music and film. Nollywood, Afrobeats, and Amapiano represent some of the fastest growing scenes, while food cultures from across Africa continue to influence the way people eat around the world.
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