II Africas Economies A Types of Economies Market

II. Africa’s Economies

A. Types of Economies • Market Economy – Controlled by supply and demand • Was the economy introduced by Europeans • Command Economy – Government controls the economies • Economies of most African countries following independence

B. African Agriculture • Most African make a living as subsistence farmers • Plantations – Huge farms where tropical cash crops are grown • Cash Crop – Crop that is grown only for sale • Examples: Sugar Cane, coffee, and cocao

Coffee Plantation

C. Ivory • Ivory – Material made from elephant tusks • Was banned for international sale during the 1980 s • Poaching – Illegally killing animals • A little more than ½ a million elephants live in the wild today

Nice Ivory

African Poachers

D. African Minerals • Majority of the world’s minerals are located somewhere within Africa • Some of the world’s largest supplies of diamonds, gold, and petroleum • In recent time have been traded on the black market for guns

E. Family Structure • Majority of Africans live in urban areas • African homes included many members of one’s extended family • Most Africans spend their work time and free time with family members

F. Social Status • Older people have more power and influence in African societies • Rite of Passage – Transition from one stage in life to another • Major transition includes being recognized as adults

• In tradition African cultures old men rule the rest of the people • As education increases the rite of passage is becoming less common in African culture • People are able to gain higher social status through their talents

Let’s Get Educated!