Nearly 200 million Africans practice local traditional religions. There are hundreds of local religions in Africa because each ethnic group has its own set of beliefs and practices. In general, however, local religions have many features in common. They explain how the universe was created and teach what is right and wrong. They define relationships between human beings and nature and between the young and the old. They give the reasons for human suffering and instruct people in how to live a good life and in how to avoid or lessen misfortune. All African religions recognize the existence of a supreme god. However, most of the African religions emphasize that people should seek help by appealing to lesser gods or to the spirits of dead ancestors. People pray or offer sacrifices to the gods or the spirits to gain such things as good health or fertile land. Many religions conduct ceremonies to celebrate a person's passage from childhood to adulthood. The more complex African religions include those of certain peoples of western Africa, such as the Dogon of Mali, the Yoruba of Nigeria, and the Ashanti of Ghana. The religions of these peoples include elaborate sets of beliefs about a supreme being and many lesser gods. Women as well as men hold important religious positions in western Africa. top

The six countries of northern Africa--Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt--have many things in common. A large majority of the people speak the same language--Arabic; practice the same religion--Islam; and share the same history--that of the Arab people. Many of the cultural features of the region extend into parts of neighboring countries to the south. But in general, the six northern nations form a distinct region that differs from the rest of Africa south of the Sahara.

Northern Africa lies along the Mediterranean Sea, and so the region has been in close contact with Europe and the Middle East throughout most of its history. France once controlled Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia; Italy controlled Libya; and Great Britain ruled Egypt. However, the Middle East has shaped much of northern Africa's history, and the region is an important part of the present-day Arab world.

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The great majority of people who live south of the Sahara are black Africans. Kingdoms, empires, and city-states ruled much of the region until the early 1900's, when European colonial powers gained control. France governed a large portion of western Africa. Portugal controlled parts of southern Africa. Britain had colonies in the west, east, and south. Today, Africans rule almost all Africa south of the Sahara. However, most schools still conduct classes in English, French, or Portuguese, and many educated Africans speak a European language. But for the most part, European influences do not affect the everyday lives of most Africans who live south of the Sahara.

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