2.1 Major Geographical Regions and Their Cultural Characteristics

Africa's diverse geography shapes its cultures, from desert nomads to rainforest dwellers. The continent's five major regions—North, West, Central, East, and Southern Africa—each have unique landscapes that influence lifestyles, art, and traditions.

These environments foster varied ways of life: savanna pastoralists, coastal fishermen, and river valley farmers. This diversity is reflected in religious practices, social structures, artistic expressions, and economic systems across the continent.

Geographical Regions of Africa

Major regions of Africa

Top images from around the web for Major regions of Africa

• 

  File:Map-Africa-Regions.png - Wikitravel View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Africa map regions.svg - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Africa map regions-es.svg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Map-Africa-Regions.png - Wikitravel View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Africa map regions.svg - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Major regions of Africa

• 

  File:Map-Africa-Regions.png - Wikitravel View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Africa map regions.svg - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Africa map regions-es.svg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Map-Africa-Regions.png - Wikitravel View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Africa map regions.svg - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• North Africa stretches along Mediterranean coast includes vast Sahara Desert and fertile Nile River Valley
• West Africa encompasses Sahel region semi-arid transition zone Guinea Coast tropical forests and Niger River Basin major waterway
• Central Africa dominated by Congo Basin tropical rainforest and Great Lakes region with numerous freshwater bodies
• East Africa features dramatic Rift Valley Ethiopian Highlands high-altitude plateau and Swahili Coast Indian Ocean shoreline
• Southern Africa includes arid Kalahari Desert temperate Cape region and Zambezi River system vital water source

Geography's impact on African cultures

• North Africa Islamic influence from Middle East proximity desert nomads in Sahara agricultural societies along Nile
• West Africa trade-based cultures in Sahel coastal kingdoms shaped by Atlantic trade river civilizations along Niger
• Central Africa forest-dwelling cultures in Congo Basin fishing communities around Great Lakes
• East Africa pastoralist societies in savanna Ethiopian highland agriculture Swahili maritime culture on coast
• Southern Africa hunter-gatherers in Kalahari cattle-herding cultures in grasslands mixed farming in fertile areas

Cultural Characteristics and Environmental Relationships

Environment and African lifestyles

• Desert environments nomadic lifestyles camel-based transport oasis-centered settlements (Tuareg)
• Savanna regions pastoralism cattle-based economies seasonal migration mixed farming (Maasai)
• Tropical forests hunting and gathering societies shifting cultivation forest product use (Mbuti)
• Coastal areas fishing-based economies maritime trade networks seafaring traditions (Swahili)
• River valleys irrigation-based agriculture river transportation flood-adapted building (Nile Valley)

Cultural diversity across African regions

• Religious practices North Africa predominantly Islamic Sub-Saharan mix of indigenous Christianity Islam
• Social structures West Africa hierarchical kingdoms East Africa age-set systems in pastoralist societies
• Artistic traditions Central Africa elaborate mask-making West Africa bronze casting (Benin Bronzes)
• Economic systems Sahel trans-Saharan trade routes Swahili Coast Indian Ocean maritime trade
• Language families North Africa Afroasiatic Sub-Saharan Niger-Congo Nilo-Saharan Khoisan
• Architectural styles West Africa adobe mosques and palaces (Great Mosque of Djenné) East Africa stone buildings in Swahili city-states (Kilwa Kisiwani)