Overview

 Angola is a large, southwestern land with a population of 24.3 million people.  This vast country is home to a wide variety of landscapes–boasting semi-desert shores,  rugged southern highlands, bustling northern cities and a thinly populated rainforest interior.   Although Angola is one of the major producers of oil in Africa, it still bears the scars of a 27-year civil war that devastated the country after its independence.  

Arts and Humanities

The official language of Angola is Portuguese, but many Angolans speak Bantu languages along with Umbundu, Kimbundu and Kikongo.  Angolan culture is a mixture of Portuguese and African traditions and music has a central role in Angolan life. The drum is often highlighted in Angolan music. Other noteworthy instruments are the mpungu, a trumpet, and the hungu and mbulumbumba, types of gourd resonated with a musical bow.  Sadly, the civil unrest and resulting poverty that has ravaged Angola has provided little opportunities for musical professionals. In fact, the Ministry of Culture has had tight-fisted control over Angola’s production of commercial music since the country’s independence. However, despite these barriers, the informal sectors of musical expression have blossomed and flourished in Angola. Contemporary Angolan music weaves traditional African sounds with influences from Brazil, Cuba, the Caribbean and the United States.

Environmental Conditions

Angola is home to many species of fauna customarily found in Africa’s savanna lands, such as lions, elephants, and zebras, along with a rich variety of birds and reptiles. Until the late 1800s, portions of northern Angola were blanketed by a lush rainforest.  However, much of this rainforest has been drastically diminished by logging, agriculture and subsequent desertification. The country’s climate has a considerable dry season and its land is frequently afflicted by droughts, particularly in the south. As such, Two-thirds of Angola is now covered by savanna (scattered trees and grasslands) and deep deposits of infertile sands. Its biodiversity has been gravely threatened. Additionally, because of Angola’s inadequate infrastructure and swelling population, food and potable water are  scarce, particularly in rural areas.

Leadership

Angola has suffered a long history of political unrest.  After Portuguese colonial masters withdrew from Angola in 1975, rival independence movements fought for power up until 2002.  Decades-long separatist conflicts still simmer in Angola.  Abuses against civilians have been alleged by human rights groups. Jose Eduardo dos Santos has been in power in Angola since 1979. President dos Santos has a strict control over all aspects of political life in Angola.

Media Profile

The internet has become the primary medium for expression in Angola and in 2014, there were 4.3 million internet users. However, In 2015, President dos Santos called for stricter regulation of social media to crack down on political activism and dissent. Radio is now the most influential form of media outside the capital of Angola, but, the state controls all media nationwide. The state-run Radio Nacional de Angola (“RNA”) is the only radio station that offers programs in indigenous languages. Although RNA is the only broadcaster that has almost national coverage, private stations operate in cities and the Angolan constitution provides for the freedom of expression.

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Coming soon… “Natureza” by Banda Progresso, brought to you by the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project.

Overview  

True to its name, South Africa is the southernmost country on the African continent and is home to over 50.7 million people.  This southern country is celebrated for its rich natural beauty–ranging from broad deserts and grassy savannas to natural forests and mountainous valleys. This fertile land is home to more than 20,000 species of flowering plants and 1,000 species of mammals and birds. South Africa has a relatively stable economy and its political equality has increased since the legal ending of apartheid (racial separation). However, ethnic tensions, great economic disparities, increased crime rates and the HIV pandemic are some of the major problems still faced in South Africa.    

Arts and Humanities

South Africa has eleven official languages.  These include Afrikaans, English, Sesotho, Setswana, Zulu and Xhosa.  The country is incredibly culturally diverse.  As such, popular South African music is often a wonderful fusion of different cultural influences–from pop music, traditional indigenous music and township jazz to religious ballads and the lifela song-poems of Sotho migrant workers.  South African music has international popularity.  For example, township music (an energetic form of music that developed in South African townships during the apartheid) has flourished in popularity not only within the country, but internationally. Even when segregated, musicians of different backgrounds often collaborate musically, forming mixed-race bands with delightful multi-cultural flavor.  

Environmental Conditions

South Africa has some of the best-maintained parks, reserves and gardens in the world.  However, the country still suffers from serious environmental problems.  Most threatening are unbridled livestock grazing, urban development as well as surface pollution and disturbance from mining.  Additionally, many environmental issues still cling to South Africa as a result of the apartheid era. Overpopulation of the former bantustans (black homelands) resulted in the overgrazing and overfarming of limited areas of land.  This, in turn, led to widespread erosion, degradation, deforestation and desertification. Over half of South Africa’s population still lack access to clean water and adequate waste and sewage disposal methods. This is particularly apparent in South Africa’s shantytowns (informal settlements on the fringes of major cities).  The water courses many residents rely upon for drinking water are often polluted by waste and refuse.  Carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and open fires and subsequent acid rain are major sources of pollution in South Africa.

Leadership

South Africa was controlled by a white minority until 1994.  This minority enforced the apartheid, a separation of races.  After decades of protests and opposition, the apartheid government was negotiated out of power and replaced by a democratically-elected leadership.  This democracy encouraged reconciliation and set about amending social imbalance.  Jacob Zuma of the African National Congress party was elected president by parliament in May of 2009.  President Zuma was a major opponent of the apartheid most of his adult life.

Media Profile

South Africa is the major contributor of media in Africa and its press and broadcasters reflect the diversity of its inhabitants.  Both state-run and commercial television broadcasts across the country with hundreds of thousands of viewers.  There are dozens of state-owned and private radio stations available in the nation’s capital alone. Additionally, many radio stations targeting local ethnic groups and neighborhoods are available.  The constitutionally provided freedom of press is generally respected and there is little evidence that expression is repressed.  Nearly 14% of South Africans have internet access–catalyzed by the popularity of mobile phones and social media.  

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Overview

Namibia is a large country that graces the southwestern coast of Africa.  Namibia has a spectacular landscape that varies from grassy savanna to arid desert. Breathtaking mountains reach towards the sky and deep canyons carve across the land. However, this dazzling country is sparsely populated as only its northern frontier is passable.  In fact, Namibia is home to only 2.4 million people.  The skeleton coast (a collection of treacherous coastal shoals and reefs), the fevered Namib desert and dry Kalahari region geographically frame Namibia.  Both the Kalahari and Namib are home to fragile and exotically beautiful desert plants. Namibia also hosts a significant amount of game animals–most notably the antelope and giraffe.

Arts and Humanities

English is the official language in Namibia, but German, Afrikaans, German, Oshivambo, Herero and Nama are also widely spoken across the country.  Namibia is incredibly diverse. Artists often sing in their native tongue, but popular songs can contain up to three different languages.  Before the country gained independence, political music was incredibly popular, particularly in the 1960s to 1990s.  Modern song lyrics still often contain messages of love, peace, resistance, friendship and family. Namibia’s modern music scene has a number of popular genres.  These include Kwaito, a South African-based genre that expanded into Namibia; Shambo, a lyrical genre pioneered by the Oshiwambo-speaking people of Namibia and popular in the rural parts of the country; reggae; gospel; Africaans pop music; hip-hop and Afro-pop.  

Environmental Conditions

Despite Namibia’s sparse population, excessive farming has damaged the fragile ecology in the northern regions. Most of the perennial grasses and woodlands have vanished.  Overhunting and drought has significantly depleted game herds. However, in recent times, progress has been made. In the 1980’s, the government began employing persons from local communities to search for and report poachers and to act as tourist guides around the vicinities of their home. In return, they would receive a monthly stipend and food ration.  By making wildlife preservation lucrative and non-disruptive, wildlife is rebounding and ecotourism has begun to flourish.  

Leadership

South Africa controlled Namibia during WWI.  However, the country gained its independence in 1990 after a 25-year long war. Namibia is still culturally diverse and inter-racial reconciliation has long been encouraged.  In November of 2014, while serving prime minister, Hage Geingob was voted in as Namibia’s president. President Geingob was Namibia’s first prime minister since the country gained independence.  As President, Geingob will share executive power with Namibia’s cabinet. His presidency is limited to two five-year terms.  

Media Profile

Namibia is very media-friendly.  The government respects the constitutionally provided freedom of press.  News is freely circulated and opposition views are openly expressed.  There are currently more than 20 community and private radio stations that broadcast across the country. By June of 2012, there were 260,000 internet users in Namibia.  

Overview

 With a population of two million people, the Republic of Botswana is positioned in the center of Southern Africa.  It is situated in a sand-filled basin consisting of plains and gently sloping hills that rise into the highlands of its neighboring countries.  Botswana is lush with animal life and is home to more than 800 different species of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles.  Before its independence from British control in 1966, Botswana was one of the most undeveloped, poverty-stricken states in the world.  However, since gaining independence, the peace and prosperity of this republic has greatly increased.  Botswana is now internationally renowned as one of the most peaceful, stable democratic states in Africa.

Arts and Humanities

Currently, Tswana is Botswana’s dominant ethnic identity.  Although English is the official language of Botswana, Setswana is widely spoken in the republic.  The culture of Botswana is a mixture of Tswana and English heritage.  Traditional music in Botswana is largely based around stringed instruments.  Though interest in traditional music and dance declined in popularity during Botswana’s colonial period, it revived after the republic gained independence. This can especially be seen in music on the radio.   

Environmental Conditions

 Botswana’s climate is marked by months of dry weather.  The rainy season is limited to sporadic downpours in December through March. Botswana suffers from cyclic droughts which occur every two decades and frequently last up to six years. As such, very little soil is suitable for cultivation, harvests are often destroyed and livestock frequently die of starvation. Due to drought, the population of Botswana is entirely dependent on groundwater.  Although the use of groundwater eases the effects of drought, it has greatly harmed Botswana’s land. Drilling in order to retrieve groundwater is commonplace. Such drilling leads to harmful erosion and desertification.  Out of all Southern Africa, Botswana is one of the countries most severely affected by desertification in the Kalahari Region.  

Leadership

 Botswana’s government is a multi-party democracy. The republic has very little corruption and has a good record of defending human rights. Botswana’s current president is Sereetsi Khama Ian Khama.

Media Profile

 Radio is an important medium in Botswana as the circulation of media is limited outside the urban sectors of the country. Botswana has a tradition of unimpeded, public debate via radio.  In fact, the republic’s constitution provides for the freedom of expression–a freedom that is generally respected by the government.  Satellite pay TV is available in the republic along with the state-run Botswana Television (BTV). By 2011, there were about 167,000 internet users in Botswana.

Our Botswana Portfolio