North and West Africa
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Egypt
Algeria
Its two main ethnic groups, Berbers and Arabs, have similar tradition, important aspects of their culture set them apart. The Sahara covers all of Algeria south of the Atlas Mountains and water is in short supply in this area.
Berbers have lived in the North, they have lived in rural areas and still follow their traditions. They make a living by farming and herding. They build terraces for their crops.
Arabs conquered the North and peace came when Berbers accepted the Islam. Algeria's people live in cities called souqs.
Nigeria
Niugeria is Africa`s most populated country, with many ethnic groups that have learned to cooperate and unify as one independent nation. Nigeria's most spoken languages are Hausa, Yoruba, and Ibo, these three are also ethnic groups that ruled Nigeria before the Europeans came. When Nigeria became independent from Great Britain in 1960, all the ethnic groups that lived there became one nation. To unify the country, the government changed the capital from Lagos, in the south, to Abuja, in the central region.
33% of the people are Hausa or Fukani, but most of them are Muslims. Hausa-Fulani have made their living by trading with Egypt, Italy, and Spain. In 1991, there was a censusin Nigeria that showed that over 88 million people lived there and most of them were Hausa-Fulani, this gave them more political power.
Ghana
While facing many challenges, the people of Ghana strive to maintain a democratic government. Kwame Nkrumah was a student that wanted freedom for Gold Coast (Nigeria's name in 1935). Gold Coast was named for its gold, which is one of the most important natural resources, but most people were poor. He wanted their wealth to benefit Gold Coast's people, so he went all around the country convincing people to demand independence from Great Britain.
Akan is the largest ethnic groupin Ghana, they are democratic since people have control over who rules them. They made an Asante kingdom, it became rich and controlled parts of the northern savanna and coastal south. They did everything in their power to stop Europeans from taking west Africa.
When Ghana became independent in 1957, many ideas and lifestyles had come to traditional communities. Nkrumah became the leader and later on the president of this new country and changed the country's name from Gold Coast to Ghana. It was the first colony in the south to become independent.