Africa is the continent with the most countries. There are 54 African countries in total. This makes Africa a hugely diverse continent with many different nations. However, it also begs the question… why does Africa have more nations than other continents? And simply… why does Africa have so many countries?
Let’s take a look…
1. The Legacy of Colonialism
A first reason why Africa has so many countries is the legacy of colonialism.
Starting in the 19th Century, Africa was divided by European countries who directly ruled much of the continent. The Europeans arbitrarily divided Africa between themselves, with little regard for local peoples, tribes, ethnicities or cultures. The divisions created by European colonialism is one of the most important reasons Africa is split into many different countries today.
The colonialist powers in Africa divided the areas they controlled into sub-divisions, making it easier to govern. When African countries began gaining independence from the 1950s onwards, many retained their colonial-era borders. As so many divisions had been created across Africa, it was feared that if states redrew their boundaries that enormous conflicts could arise across the continent in attempts to completely redraw the map. A major result of this was that Africa was divided into many different countries.
The impact of European colonialism in Africa can still be felt strongly today. One of its most lasting legacies has been the splitting of Africa into many smaller countries, as opposed to larger nation states.
2. Africa’s Geography
A second reason why Africa has a lot of countries is because of its geography.
Africa is enormous. At 30.37 million square kilometers, it is the second largest continent in the world. Its sheer size is a big reason why Africa has as many countries as it does.
As well as being really big, Africa is also highly diverse geographically. The landscapes of Africa change from coastal areas to deserts, from grasslands to mountains, from lakes to jungles and from arable land to wild tundra.
Changes in geography have enormous impacts of the development of societies and cultures. The range of Africa’s geography, and the extent of different ethnic and lingual groups this has created, is an important reason why today Africa has so many countries.
Geography is a key factor in the development of nations. Historically, people group around geographical features such as rivers, mountains and farmable land. Africa’s size, combined with its diversity in landscapes, is a major factor in why there are so many different peoples on the continent, and, as a result, so many countries.
3. The Continent’s Many Tribes
African society is made up of many tribes. This is another reason why the continent has so many countries.
There are over 3,000 tribes in Africa. A tribe is defined as a social division within a society that links communities by social, economic religious or blood ties, often with a common culture and dialect. Tribes are not the same as ethnicities, as in Africa there are many tribes within ethnic groups.
The number of tribes in Africa means there are many divisions between people across the continent. Historically, Africa had tribal kingdoms that ruled over parts of the continent. Almost all of these were taken over by colonial powers, but it led to them dividing the continent in places along tribal lines.
Not all countries in Africa contain a single tribe. In fact, almost all countries on the continent contain multiple tribes. However, tribes are a major societal factor in Africa that divide the continents populations. Traditional and historical divisions between people are a key reason for many countries modern borders, and this is especially true in Africa.
4. Africa’s Ethnic Divisions
As well as tribal divisions, Africa has many different ethnicities. This is another reason why the continent is made up of so many different countries.
There are thousands of distinct ethnicities in Africa. There are also up to 2,000 languages spoken across the continent. Societal and cultural factors such as ethnicity and language are key to a nations foundation The huge number of ethnicities in Africa lea to the creation of many different cultural groups, and, as a result, many countries.
Another factor that has led to Africa having lots of countries is the size of its population. Africa has 1.39 billion people. This makes it the second most populous continent in the world. The huge number of people in Africa is key factor for why the continent has so many ethnic groups as well as why the continent is split into many different countries.
Africa is probably the most ethnically diverse continent. The huge range of societies and cultures in Africa is key to why it has as many countries as it does.
5. The Many Religions Across Africa
Another reason why Africa has so many countries is because of the religious divides on the continent.
Africa has dozens of religions. The major religions are Christianity, with around 49% of the population being Christian, and Islam, with 41% of the population being Muslim. However, alongside these two main religions there are many traditional African faiths that people across the continent follow. Religion, like culture, is a key factor that nations are built around. The diversity of religion in Africa is another reason why there are lots of African countries.
As well as there being a divide between the most established faiths, such as Christianity and Islam and traditional faiths in Africa, there are also splits between religious sects. Christian communities in Africa especially are divided between different denominations. As well as large denominations, such as Catholicism, Anglicans and Baptists, some African communities also have unique African branches of Christianity.
Religion is a major divider between countries. Africa is hugely diverse in terms of religious belief and this an important factor for why there are so many countries on the continent.
6. Africa’s Climate
As well have having a varied geography, Africa also has many different climates. This is another factor that has resulted in the development of many countries on the continent.
Climates are key to a nation’s development. Agriculture, land-use, locations of settlements and culture all develop because of a country’s climate. Africa has four main climate zones, with many more micro-climates. One reason for this is because the continent is larger north to south than east to west. This is unique from many other landmasses. As climates change as we move nearer or farer from the equator, this resulted in Africa having many different climates.
A major result of the different climatic regions in Africa has been the development of many different groups of people. This is because societies and cultures develop due to their climatic conditions. As a result, the many climates of Africa is seen as a key reason why the continent has so many countries today.
7. The Many Pollical Movements of Africa
A final reason why Africa has so many countries is because of the mixture of political movements across the continent.
Historically, Africa has had a range of pollical movements. To fight against colonialism, many African countries developed multiple movements fighting for independence. Often, different political movements in Africa competed during the independence struggles and for control of the newly independent African countries.
Political movements are key to a country’s foundation. They often build on the history and culture of a people and create a defining ideology for a country. The huge number of political movements in Africa, especially in the second half of the 20th Century, is an important reason why the continent has many countries today. The continents political movements rarely united, and often fought against each other. This isolated many African countries and often resulted in them developing separately.
A key factor that fed into the range of political movements across Africa, especially throughout decolonization, was the Cold War. Competition, between Western and Communist influences, as well as between Russian and Chinese communism, meant African countries often became aligned to different global blocks. This is another reason why Africa, today, still has many countries.