Physical Features
This longest river in Africa runs north through Egypt.
The Nile River
This ancient kingdom, famous for its rock-cut churches at Lalibela, was located in what is today Ethiopia and Eritrea. Name the historical kingdom or civilization.
The Kingdom of Aksum (Axum).
A common musical feature in many Sub-Saharan traditions uses complex, interlocking rhythms often played on drums and xylophones. What general family of instruments is central to this tradition?
Percussion instruments / drums (and melodic percussion like xylophones/lamellophones).
A lack of clean water and sanitation can lead to outbreaks of this type of illness spread through contaminated water. What general type of disease is often caused?
Waterborne diseases (e.g., cholera, diarrheal diseases).
Many cities in Sub-Saharan Africa are growing quickly. The movement of people from rural areas to cities is called what?
Urbanization.
This vast desert, located in southwestern Africa and known for its dunes and coastal fog, is the oldest desert in the world. What is it called?
The Namib Desert.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, European countries divided Africa into colonies in a meeting known as this. What is the event called?
The Berlin Conference (1884–1885)
Many Sub-Saharan communities pass history and stories orally from one generation to the next using storytellers often called by this name. What are these storytellers called?
Griots (or oral historians/storytellers).
This factor—where farmers cannot produce enough crops due to too little rain—contributes to food insecurity in some regions. What is that environmental problem called?
Drought.
Mobile phones and mobile banking services (like M-Pesa) have changed everyday life in parts of East Africa. Give one example of how mobile banking helps people.
Enables people without bank accounts to send and receive money, pay bills, save, or conduct business easily using a phone.
The highest mountain in Africa is found in Tanzania and is a volcanic mountain with a snow-capped summit. Name this mountai
Mount Kilimanjaro.
This West African empire (flourishing around the 13th–16th centuries) was famous for its wealth and for the city of Timbuktu. Name the empire.
This traditional West African textile, characterized by handwoven, brightly colored cloth strips, is commonly used for clothing and ceremonies. What is it called?
Kente cloth (or similar regional textiles; accept regional names).
Many Sub-Saharan countries face challenges with this economic problem where a country owes large amounts of money to other countries or institutions. What is this called?
National debt (or external debt).
This term describes the growth in manufacturing, services, and technology jobs that help an economy move beyond relying mostly on farming. What is the economic process called?
Economic diversification (or industrialization).
These deep freshwater lakes in the East African Rift (like Tanganyika and Malawi) were formed by tectonic activity. What general landform are they called?
Rift lakes or rift valley lakes (East African Rift lakes).
In the 20th century many Sub-Saharan countries gained independence. Name one common reason why movements for independence grew in Africa after World War II (short answer).
Rise of nationalism, weakening of European powers after WWII, influence of independence movements, economic strains on colonial powers.
This language family includes Swahili and is widespread across much of East Africa. Name the language family.
The Bantu language family (note: Swahili is a Bantu language within the larger Niger-Congo family; accept “Bantu” or “Niger-Congo” with teacher discretion).
This health crisis, starting in the late 20th century, had a major impact on Sub-Saharan Africa and required global public health responses. Name the disease.
HIV/AIDS.
Name one positive and one challenge associated with tourism in Sub-Saharan countries (short answer; one sentence each).
Positive: creates jobs and income, supports conservation through ecotourism. Challenge: can cause environmental damage, cultural disruption, or unequal benefits for local people.
This large plateau region covers much of southern and eastern Africa and influences climate and river flows; it is often referred to by the term that means “upland” or “tableland.” What is this feature?
A plateau (or the African Plateau; tableland).
This 19th-century freed-slave settlement became the capital of a West African colony and later the capital of an independent country; its name is associated with a modern capital of Sierra Leone. What is the city?
Freetown (Sierra Leone).
Name one way that traditional cultural practices influence modern celebrations or daily life in Sub-Saharan communities (short answer).
Traditional music and dance used at weddings and festivals; customary greetings or dress used in ceremonies; agricultural rituals informing planting seasons.
Explain (in two or three sentences) how deforestation can affect both the environment and local communities in Sub-Saharan regions.
Deforestation removes trees that protect soils and hold water, increasing erosion and reducing rainfall retention; this harms wildlife habitats and can reduce firewood and farming land for local communities, hurting livelihoods and food supplies.
Describe (in two or three sentences) how access to education and technology can change opportunities for young people in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Better education and access to technology increase skills, improve job prospects, and allow young people to start businesses or access global information. This can lead to higher incomes and community development but depends on equitable access.