The History of Central Africa

Central Africa has very unique geography.  Many different resources such as cocoa, coffee, and rubber, are found within the Central Africa region. The Congo River is the most prominent water body in Central Africa. The Congo is the deepest river in the world, at depths greater than 750 feet, and runs through the second largest rain forest in the world. One thing that has been a issue in the region has been logging. Although it is profitable, it is becoming uncontrolled in some parts. 

Image via Wikipedia

There are some major problems that the people of Central Africa have to face when it comes to geology. It is nearly impossible to do large scale agriculture there, so most people have make do with subsistence plots. Most of the people in the north are Islamic, but the indigenous people maintain their own belief systems. The Mbuti people live in the forests of Central Africa, and are very isolated from the outside world. They have stayed the same and practiced the same traditions for generations. Perhaps, because of this isolation, the average height of a Mbuti person is around five feet tall.

The European slave trade was a big part of Central Africa’s history. Europeans hauled away boat loads of African slaves to places such as South America and North America. Gabon became the center of the slave trade. The journey from Africa to the Americas was a long and hard passage. Millions of Africans died traveling across the sea. Sadly, the slave trade system wiped out whole ethnic groups that once prospered in Central Africa.

Seven hundred languages are spoken just in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and vast amounts of unique languages live in Central Africa as a whole. The Mangbetu people are famous for the art that they share with the world. The group makes poetry, and sculptures, and the beautiful art pieces make us remember what a beautiful place Central Africa can be.

Things are not easy in Central Africa at the moment. There are ethnic group clashes, corrupt leaders, and human rights violations. Even though there are all the problems, the people and the art of the region help to drive it forward. Recently, some countries have started to become improve by making better use of their resources. Although it is bleak right now, I believe that Central Africa will can work to solve it’s problems in the future.