西非(2天)

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Student Learning Objectives
::学生学习目标

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West Africa
::西非西非

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The region of West Africa includes the southern portion of the bulge of the continent, which extends westward to the Atlantic Ocean. This region is bisected by the African Transition Zone, which borders the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. The main physical features include the Sahara Desert and the Niger River. The Cameroon Highlands are located on the eastern border between Nigeria and Cameroon. At 4,100 miles long, the Nile River is the longest, while the Congo River is Africa’s second longest at 2,922 miles in length. The Niger River is Africa’s 3rd-longest river and extends more than 2,600 miles from the Guinea Highlands through Mali, Niger, and Nigeria before reaching the Atlantic Ocean in the Gulf of Guinea.
::西非地区包括该大陆向西延伸至大西洋的海隆南端,由与撒哈拉沙漠南端接壤的非洲过渡区分两部分,主要物理特征包括撒哈拉沙漠和尼日尔河,喀麦隆高地位于尼日利亚和喀麦隆之间的东部边界,长4 100英里,尼罗河是最长的,而刚果河是非洲第二长的,长2 922英里,尼日尔河是非洲第三长的河流,从几内亚高地延伸至马里、尼日尔和尼日利亚2 600多英里,然后到达几内亚湾的大西洋。

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Some geographers include the country of Chad or portions of it within the region of West Africa. In this textbook, Chad is listed with Central Africa. The portions of Chad located north of the African Transition Zone share similar characteristics with North Africa. Off the coast of Mauritania are the Cape Verde Islands, which are united as an independent country associated with Africa. Cape Verde was once a Portuguese colony but received its independence in 1975. Western Sahara has been in conflict with Morocco over independence and is most often associated with the region of North Africa because of the influence of Islam and because of its connection to Morocco.
::一些地理学家包括乍得或乍得的一部分位于西非地区,在教科书中,乍得被列入中非,非洲过渡区以北的乍得部分与北非具有相似的特点,在毛里塔尼亚沿海,佛得角群岛作为与非洲有联系的独立国家统一在一起,佛得角曾是葡萄牙殖民地,但于1975年获得独立,西撒哈拉曾与摩洛哥发生独立冲突,而且由于伊斯兰教的影响以及与摩洛哥的联系,往往与北非地区有联系。

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The African Transition Zone cuts across the region of West Africa, indicating a division between Islam and Christianity and between the Sahara Desert and the tropics. This diversity in religion and climate is usually exhibited with a north/south division. Islam is the dominant religion on the north side of the African Transition Zone. Christianity is more dominant to the south. The two religions often clash in the areas where they meet. Traditional beliefs and animist religions are also practiced in the African Transition Zone.
::非洲过渡区横跨西非地区,表明伊斯兰教和基督教之间以及撒哈拉沙漠和热带地区之间的分裂,这种宗教和气候的多样性通常表现为南北分化,伊斯兰教是非洲过渡区北侧的主要宗教,基督教在南部占主导地位,这两种宗教经常在它们相遇的地区发生冲突,在非洲过渡区也信奉传统信仰和反动主义宗教。

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The terms “state” and “country” are often used interchangeably by the world community outside of the United States. Both are meant to refer to a physical unit with a sovereign and independent government. In Sub-Saharan Africa the term “state” is commonly used to refer to a country in any one of the various regions.
::“国家”和“国家”两词经常被美国以外的世界社会互换使用,两者都指一个拥有主权和独立政府的实体单位,在撒哈拉以南非洲,“国家”一词通常用来指任何一个区域的国家。

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Niger
::尼日尔 尼日尔

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The former French colony of is landlocked, with the Sahara Desert making up its largest portion. Niger is a land of subsistence farmers, and most of the population lives in the southern regions. The country is less than 20 percent urban. Other economic activities include uranium mining, which is the country’s main export. The world demand for uranium has not been strong in recent years. Oil exploration has begun and international oil corporations have garnered contracts for drilling.
::前法国殖民地是内陆国,撒哈拉沙漠占其最大部分。 尼日尔是自给农民的土地,大部分人口生活在南部地区。 尼日尔还不到20%的城市。 其他经济活动包括铀矿开采,这是法国的主要出口。 近年来,世界对铀的需求并不强劲。 石油勘探已经开始,国际石油公司也获得了钻井合同。

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The Sahara Desert is moving southward, and the agrarian culture at the base of Niger’s society is often plagued by drought and famine. The Niger River flows through the southwestern region and provides fresh water, but the northern region is mainly the Sahara Desert, and large portions are covered with sand dunes.
::撒哈拉沙漠正在向南移动,尼日尔社会基础的农业文化经常受到干旱和饥荒的困扰。 尼日尔河通过西南地区流动,并提供了淡水,但北部地区主要是撒哈拉沙漠,大部分地区被沙丘覆盖。

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The country has extreme demographics. Niger has the highest fertility rate in the world, and half the population is under the age of 15, causing a population explosion that taxes the sparse natural resources and brings even more poverty to a country at the bottom end of the index of economic development. Infant mortality rates in Niger have been the highest in the world.
::尼日尔的人口统计极端极端,尼日尔是世界上生育率最高的国家,一半人口不满15岁,造成人口爆炸,对稀少的自然资源征税,使经济发展指数最低端的国家更加贫穷,尼日尔的婴儿死亡率是世界上最高的。

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The mainly Sunni Muslim country has a rich cultural base but suffers from economic problems that appear to increase with the increase in population and desertification. Heavy national debt has hindered social services and has required a considerable amount of foreign aid from a number of sources. France has been a main contributor of providing economic aid along with the United Nations (UN).
::以逊尼派为主的穆斯林国家拥有丰富的文化基础,但经济问题似乎随着人口和荒漠化的增加而增加,沉重的国家债务阻碍了社会服务,需要若干来源的大量外援,法国是与联合国一道提供经济援助的主要捐助国。

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The political conditions in Niger are typical of the region. For the first 30 years after independence from France, the country was ruled by a single political party and military rule. There have been several coups and various political leaders have been in power. A dispute remains with Libya over its northern border. Ethnic infighting with a minority Tuareg group has emerged in recent years, bringing conflict and discord.
::尼日尔的政治条件是该地区典型的,在脱离法国独立后的头30年中,该国由一个单一的政党和军事统治统治,发生了几次政变,各种政治领导人掌权,与利比亚在北部边界仍有争端,近年来,与图阿雷格少数民族的族裔争斗出现了,引发了冲突和不和。

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The Tuareg, found throughout northwest Africa in the interior Saharan region, have many ethnic clans and have been masters of camel caravans, often with a nomadic heritage. Their clothing is often made of cloth colored with an indigo dye that distinguishes them from other ethnic groups. The Tuareg fought historic battles for an independent homeland against the French during the colonial era.
::图阿雷格人遍布非洲西北部,位于撒哈拉内陆地区,拥有许多种族部族,是骆驼大篷车的主人,往往具有游牧遗产,他们的衣着往往用衣着染色,与其他族裔群体区别开来,图阿雷格人在殖民时代为独立祖国与法国人进行历史性斗争。

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Mali
::马里 马里

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To the west of Niger is , another landlocked Muslim country dominated by the Sahara Desert. Mali was home to ancient empires. Wealth was historically gained from the mining of gold, salt, and copper. The Niger River flows through the entire southern region, providing a means of transportation and fishing as well as fresh water. The ancient city of Timbuktu, once a port on the Niger River, was a center of commerce and trade for the region and was used by the Tuareg as early as the 10th century.
::尼日尔西部是另一个以撒哈拉沙漠为主的内陆穆斯林国家,马里是古代帝国的家园,历史上财富来自金、盐和铜的开采,尼日尔河在整个南部地区流动,提供了交通、捕鱼和淡水,古城廷巴克图曾经是尼日尔河的港口,曾经是该地区的商业和贸易中心,早在10世纪就被图阿雷格人利用。

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Timbuktu has played an important role as an educational focal point for many of the peoples of the region. The University of Timbuktu is noted for its educational activities,  colleges and madrasas (Islamic schools of learning). At one point in its history, it claimed to hold the largest collection of books in Africa. The capital city of Mali is not Timbuktu but Bamako, which is located in the southwest. Timbuktu remains a main tourist destination for the country and the region.
::廷巴克图大学以其教育活动、学院和伊斯兰学校(伊斯兰学习学校)著称,在历史上的某一时刻,它声称拥有非洲最大的书籍收藏,马里首都不是廷巴克图,而是位于西南部的巴马科,廷巴克图仍然是该国和该区域的主要旅游目的地。

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Mali shares similar political dynamics and demographics with Niger and the rest of the region. However, Mali now has a stable democratic government with little political conflict. There are issues with the Tuareg in the north and refugees from Ivory Coast in the south, but the country is politically stable in spite of the low standard of living and high population growth.
::马里与尼日尔和该区域其他地区有着类似的政治动态和人口结构,但马里现在有一个稳定的民主政府,几乎没有政治冲突,北部的图阿雷格人和南部的象牙海岸难民都存在问题,但尽管生活水平低,人口增长率高,但该国的政治稳定。

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Mauritania
::毛里塔尼亚 毛里塔尼亚 毛里塔尼亚

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is also dominated by Islam and the Sahara Desert. Niger, Mali, and Mauritania are the largest of the West African states and together would cover the area of the United States east of the Mississippi River. The term “state” refers to countries with independent governments. Mauritania’s access to the Atlantic coast provides a shipping connection to the rest of the world. For years, the country fought over control of portions of Western Sahara but gave up those areas in 1975.
::伊斯兰和撒哈拉沙漠也以伊斯兰和撒哈拉沙漠为主。 尼日尔、马里和毛里塔尼亚是西非国家中最大的国家,加在一起将覆盖密西西比河以东的美国地区。 “国家”一词是指拥有独立政府的国家。 毛里塔尼亚进入大西洋沿岸提供了与世界其他地方的航运连接。 多年来,该国争夺西撒哈拉部分地区的控制权,但在1975年放弃了这些地区。

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Unfortunately, the political and economic problems that are common in the region are evident in Mauritania. In 1960, the country gained its independence from the French, and a number of political coups and changes in government occurred as a result. Inter-ethnic conflicts exist between the African groups of the south and the Arab-Berber groups of the north.
::不幸的是,该地区普遍存在的政治和经济问题在毛里塔尼亚是显而易见的:1960年,毛里塔尼亚脱离法国独立,因此发生了若干政治政变和政府更迭,南部的非洲集团与北部的阿拉伯-伯伯尔集团之间存在族裔间冲突。

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Political unrest and economic hardships continue to add to the challenge of a growing population. Poverty, health care, and education have been major issues that require government support. Foreign aid has been critical to the operation of the country.
::政治动荡和经济困难继续加重人口不断增长的挑战,贫穷、保健和教育一直是需要政府支持的主要问题,外援对该国的运作至关重要。

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Large amounts of iron ore make up about 40 percent of the country’s exports. Fishing off of the coast has great potential but has been exploited by international fishing vessels. Thus, Mauritania is in danger of losing revenues and a declining resource base if protection is not secured. Even though the country is largely desert, most of the population works in subsistence agriculture.
::大量铁矿石占该国出口的40%左右。 沿海捕鱼具有巨大的潜力,但已被国际渔船所利用。 因此,如果保护得不到保障,毛里塔尼亚将面临收入损失和资源基础下降的危险。 尽管该国大部分是沙漠,但大部分人口仍从事自给农业。

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Within certain communities in Mauritania, especially within the Arab Moor group, the concept of female beauty and prosperity was often associated with ample body size. Young girls were encouraged to eat high-fat foods in high quantities and at times were force-fed to put on weight. Being fat was an indication of wealth, and being thin was a sign of poverty and low self-esteem. This custom resulted in many women being considered overweight and obese by today’s health standards. This trend is not as common today, though it still exists. Many Mauritanian women consider this old-fashioned, and natural eating habits are more the standard. Global views regarding women might be contributing to the country’s current concept of beauty and health.
::在毛里塔尼亚的某些社区内,特别是在阿拉伯摩尔群体内,女性美貌和繁荣的概念往往与身体大小相当大有关。年轻女孩被鼓励大量地吃高脂肪食品,有时还被强迫喂食以喂肥。胖是财富的标志,瘦是贫穷和自尊低的标志。这种习俗导致许多妇女被今天的健康标准视为超重和肥胖。尽管目前还存在着这种趋势,但这一趋势并不像现在那样普遍。许多毛里塔尼亚妇女认为这种老式的,自然饮食习惯更是标准。 关于妇女的全球观点也许有助于国家当前的美与健康概念。

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Senegal and the Gambia 
::塞内加尔和冈比亚

           

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The country of on the Atlantic coast totally surrounds the independent country of . Senegal was a French colony, while the Gambia was a British colony. The Gambia is an enclave of Senegal and extends on both sides of the Gambia River for about 186 miles. It is the smallest country on the mainland of Africa and is about the size of the US state of Connecticut. The two countries of Senegal and the Gambia were united into the confederation of Senegambia from 1982 to 1989 when it was dissolved. They have kept separate political identities ever since.
::大西洋沿岸国家完全环绕着独立的国家。塞内加尔是法国殖民地,冈比亚是英国殖民地。冈比亚是塞内加尔的飞地,在冈比亚河两岸延伸约186英里。冈比亚是非洲大陆最小的国家,面积相当于美国康涅狄格州。塞内加尔和冈比亚两国1982年至1989年解散时联合成为塞内甘比联盟,此后保持了不同的政治身份。

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The capital of Senegal, Dakar, is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula, which is the most extreme western extension of the African continent. Dakar was a main colonial port for French West Africa during colonial times. The French influence remains. The common currency in what were former French colonies is the West African Central African franc, which has a fixed rate in relation to the euro.
::塞内加尔首都达喀尔位于Cap-Vert半岛,这是非洲大陆最极端的西部延伸,达喀尔在殖民时期是法属西非的主要殖民港口,法国的影响依然存在,前法属殖民地的共同货币是西非中非法郎,与欧元相比具有固定的汇率。

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Guinea and Guinea-Bissau
::几内亚和几内亚比绍

   

        

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Freeing itself from the grip of Portuguese colonial rule was a hard-fought battle for , which became independent in 1974. The political upheaval that followed up to the present has resulted in various coups, military rule, changes in leadership, and the assassination of their president in 2009. Without political stability, it is difficult to develop a growing economy. Graft, corruption, and civil war have devastated the country’s infrastructure and hindered its economic development, making it among the poorest nations in the world. The country has to depend on outside aid to supply its basic needs.
::摆脱葡萄牙殖民统治的束缚是一场艰难的斗争,这场斗争于1974年获得独立。 直至现在的政治动荡导致了各种政变、军事统治、领导权的改变以及2009年总统的暗杀。 没有政治稳定,就很难发展一个不断增长的经济。 严重、腐败和内战摧毁了葡萄牙的基础设施,阻碍了其经济发展,使其成为世界上最贫穷的国家之一。 该国必须依靠外部援助来满足其基本需求。

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The French colony of , which is larger than Guinea-Bissau, holds more promise due to its generous natural resource base, but Guinea has suffered the same types of political and economic disasters as its smaller neighbor. Though mineral resources are abundant, there is potential for increased agricultural production, where most of the people make their living. Guinea has a large amount of bauxite and other minerals, including diamonds and gold. The lack of infrastructure and political stability has discouraged investors from helping to develop these natural resources and converting them into national wealth.
::法国的殖民地面积大于几内亚比绍,由于其慷慨的自然资源基础,拥有更大的希望,但几内亚遭受了与其较小的邻国相同的政治和经济灾难。 尽管矿产资源丰富,但有提高农业生产的潜力,而大部分人民都生活在其中。 几内亚拥有大量的铝土和其他矿物,包括钻石和黄金。 缺乏基础设施和政治稳定阻碍了投资者帮助开发这些自然资源并将其转化为国家财富。

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Sierra Leone
::塞拉利昂塞拉利昂

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has been devastated in the past decades due to brutal civil war and political turmoil. As a result, the country was one of the lowest in the world on the . There has been little political stability. Military factions have wreaked havoc on the country since it gained independence from Britain in the early 1960s. After independence, the country’s contested elections and multiple coups resulted in a ban on all but one political party and established military rule. At the core of the conflicts was competition for the control of the diamond industry, which was also a primary factor in the civil war.
::在过去几十年里,由于残酷的内战和政治动荡,国家遭受了毁灭性的破坏。 结果,该国是世界上最低的国家之一。 几乎没有政治稳定。 军事派别自1960年代初从英国独立以来就对该国造成了严重破坏。 独立后,该国有争议的选举和多次政变导致除一个政党之外所有政党的禁令,并建立了军事统治。 冲突的核心是争夺对钻石业的控制,而钻石业也是内战的一个主要因素。

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The abuses of power escalated to a breaking point in the late 1980s, which set the stage for a decade-long civil war in the 1990s. A group calling themselves the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) pushed to take control of the eastern diamond mining sector through terrorist tactics and brute force. Thousands of people died and thousands more were mutilated by having their arms, legs, or other body parts cut off by machetes. Whole villages were destroyed and the residents killed, tortured, or maimed.
::1980年代后期,滥用权力行为升级到一个破碎点,为1990年代长达十年的内战奠定了基础,一个自称革命联合阵线(联阵)的团体通过恐怖主义战术和野蛮武力,推动控制东部钻石开采部门,数千人死亡,另有数千人因被砍刀砍掉的胳膊、腿或其他身体部位而致残,整个村庄被摧毁,居民被杀害、酷刑或致残。

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The government fell under various military coups and eventually resorted to hiring mercenaries to help push back the RUF forces. By 1998 the whole country resembled a military camp with arms and ammunition being trafficked to all sides. There was a total breakdown in state structures and institutions. At various times, there were agreements between the sides in hopes that a stable government could emerge, but the agreements broke down and the country continued to scramble for civility. Nigerian forces were actively fighting in the conflict. In 2000, British troops were employed to help evacuate foreign nationals and establish order. Military forces from neighboring Guinea also entered the country to attack RUF bases.
::政府受到各种军事政变的影响,最终雇用雇佣军帮助击退联阵部队。到1998年,整个国家都象一个军营,武器和弹药被贩运到所有方面。国家结构和机构完全崩溃。在各种时候,双方达成协议,希望政府能够稳定,但协定破裂,国家继续为文明争斗。尼日利亚部队在冲突中积极战斗。2000年,英国部队被用来帮助撤离外国国民,建立秩序。邻国几内亚的军队也进入该国攻击联阵基地。

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UN forces with US support eventually established a sense of control of the country. By 2003, major fighting was over and attempts were made to establish a civilian government. Approximately 50,000 people were killed in this civil war and as many as two million people were displaced. Sierra Leone set up a special court to address crimes against humanity. Sierra Leone has been working to establish a stable government and maintain a sense of order.
::在美军的支持下,联合国部队最终建立起了对这个国家的控制意识。 到2003年,重大战斗已经结束,并试图建立文职政府。 大约5万人在这次内战中丧生,多达200万人流离失所。 塞拉利昂设立了一个特别法庭处理危害人类罪。 塞拉利昂一直在努力建立一个稳定的政府并保持秩序感。

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Diamond Fever
::钻石发烧

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Diamonds have been used as currency to fund armed conflicts in this region, hence the term conflict diamonds or blood diamonds. The diamond trade still dominates and political factions still vie for control. Much of the diamond mining is uncontrolled, allowing considerable smuggling operations to operate. After the civil war, revenues from diamond mining increased from less than $10 million in 2000 to an estimated $130 million in 2004. The civil war destroyed the infrastructure of the country, and most of the resources were looted by forces on one side or another.
::钻石一直被用作资助该地区武装冲突的货币,因此称为冲突钻石或血腥钻石,钻石贸易仍然占主导地位,政治派别仍在争夺控制权,大部分钻石开采活动不受控制,使大量走私活动得以进行,内战后,钻石开采收入从2000年不到1 000万美元增加到2004年的估计1.3亿美元,内战摧毁了该国的基础设施,大部分资源被一方或另一方的部队掠夺。

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The economy has had a difficult time recovering. Most of the people make their living in subsistence agriculture. Medicine, food, and goods have been in a short supply. Many people have died due to the lack of these items during and after the civil war. Today the country struggles to recover as it works toward stabilization.
::经济在复苏中经历了一段艰难的时期。 大多数人靠维持生计的农业为生。 医药、食品和商品供应短缺。 内战期间和之后,许多人因缺少这些物品而死亡。 如今,随着国家走向稳定,他们为恢复而奋斗。

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Liberia
::利比里亚利比里亚利比里亚利比里亚

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To fully understand where is today as a country and as a people, one has to understand its background and its geopolitical history. Liberia has a unique background in that it was not a European colony and was not included in the Berlin Conference of 1884 as a country up for grabs in the scramble for African territory. The conference of colonial European powers who divided up Africa did establish borders for the majority of African countries. Liberia, which means “Land of the Free,” was a destination for freed slaves from the United States.
::为了充分理解今天作为一个国家和人民,人们必须了解其背景和地缘政治历史。 利比里亚有着独特的背景,因为它不是欧洲殖民地,也没有被列入1884年柏林会议,作为争夺非洲领土的国家。 分裂非洲的欧洲殖民大国会议确实为大多数非洲国家划定了边界。 利比里亚,即“自由之地 ” ( Land of the Free of the Free)是释放美国奴隶的目的地。

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In 1847, Liberia became an independent country patterned after the US government, even naming its capital Monrovia after President James Monroe, the fifth US president. Many of the freed slaves from the United States returned to Africa and relocated to Liberia. The slavery experience in the United States gave returning Africans a different culture and history from those indigenous to the African continent. Assimilation between the two groups was difficult. The division between the Americanized settler communities along the coast and the indigenous Africans of the interior continued to widen over the years.
::1847年,利比里亚成为一个以美国政府为模式的独立国家,甚至以第五任美国总统詹姆斯·门罗总统命名首都蒙罗维亚。 许多从美国获释的奴隶回到了非洲并迁移到利比里亚。 美国的奴隶制经历使非洲回归者的文化与历史与那些原居于非洲大陆的非洲人不同。 这两个群体之间的融合是困难的。 沿岸的美国化定居社区与内地的土著非洲人之间的分裂多年来继续扩大。

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Centrifugal forces within the country surfaced in 1980 when a military-backed coup overthrew the government. This event became a turning point that escalated into social division and political unrest. Elections were held in 1985, which resulted in accusations of election fraud. Successive coups by various factions continued to plague the political arena. By 1989, civil war had commenced.
::1980年,一场军事支持的政变推翻了政府,导致国内的离心部队出现。 这一事件演变成社会分裂和政治动荡的转折点。 1985年举行了选举,导致选举舞弊指控。 各种派别接连发动的政变继续困扰着政治舞台。 1989年内战爆发。

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Military forces from the neighboring countries of Ghana, Guinea, Senegal, and Nigeria entered the conflict. Whoever was in charge of the government at any one time had plenty of opposition from the various factions. A warlord by the name of Charles Taylor became a major player and eventually took control of the government in 1997 following a bloody insurgency in the capital.
::来自邻国加纳、几内亚、塞内加尔和尼日利亚的军队进入了冲突。 任何一次领导政府的人都受到不同派别的强烈反对。 查尔斯·泰勒的军阀成为主要角色,最终在1997年在首都发生血腥叛乱后控制了政府。

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Marines from the United States were deployed to protect the US embassy and personnel. Nigerian military troops pushed into the conflict. By 2003, more than 15,000 peacekeeping soldiers from the United Nations (UN) were active in Liberia. The power of the government was reduced to a minimum, and the warlord president Taylor was allowed asylum in Nigeria and later brought before the UN court in The Hague for war crimes against humanity.
::来自美国的海军陆战队被派往保护美国大使馆和人员,尼日利亚军队卷入冲突,到2003年,联合国(联合国)的15,000多名维和士兵正在利比里亚活动,政府的权力已减少到最低程度,军阀泰勒总统被允许在尼日利亚避难,后来因战争罪被送交海牙联合国法庭。

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In the end, more than 200,000 people were killed and the country was devastated. With UN troops bringing stability, the 2005 presidential election brought Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, an economist with a Harvard degree. She became the first elected female head of state in Africa.
::最终,超过20万人丧生,国家遭受严重破坏。 随着联合国部队带来稳定,2005年的总统选举带来了具有哈佛学位的经济学家埃伦·约翰逊·瑟里夫(Ellen Johnson-Sirlef ) 。 她成为非洲第一位当选女性国家元首。

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Poverty and the lack of goods and services have been a persistent problem for the people of Liberia. An agrarian society, few global corporations have made investments because of the long-standing civil war. As was true for Sierra Leone and other African countries such as Angola, the diamond trade helped fund the civil war. Diamonds from Sierra Leone had an estimated export value of more than $300 million annually in 2010.
::利比里亚人民长期面临贫穷和缺乏商品和服务的问题,作为一个农业社会,全球公司很少因长期内战而进行投资,塞拉利昂和安哥拉等其他非洲国家的情况也是如此,钻石贸易为内战提供了资金,塞拉利昂的钻石估计2010年每年出口价值超过3亿美元。

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Diamonds from these countries are often called blood diamonds because of their use as currency to fund death and destruction. The concept of blood diamonds originated in the civil war in Angola years earlier. The UN banned the export of blood diamonds from Liberia during the war and finally lifted the ban in 2007. Looting and corruption by warlords and military forces pillaged the country’s other resources, leaving most of the population with few opportunities and advantages for the future.
::来自这些国家的钻石常常被称为血钻,因为它们被用作用于资助死亡和破坏的货币。 血钻石的概念起源于几年前的安哥拉内战。 联合国禁止在战争期间从利比里亚出口血钻石,并最终于2007年解除禁令。 军阀和军队抢劫和腐败掠夺了该国的其他资源,使大部分人口在未来的机会和优势都微乎其微。

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Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) 
::象牙海岸(科特迪瓦)

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The former French colony of is often referred to by its French name of Côte d’Ivoire. Before independence in 1960, Ivory Coast was one of France’s most prosperous West African colonies. During the 1960s and 1970s, the economy grew, and its production of cocoa beans became the largest in the world. Its coffee production became the third highest in the world after Brazil and Colombia. Ivory Coast is the leading exporter of palm oil and pineapples in Africa. The potential for economic prosperity remains but has been diminished over the past two decades because of the economic downturn in commodity prices and political instability that resulted in a devastating civil war.
::前法国殖民地经常被其法国名称科特迪瓦所称为。 1960年独立前,象牙海岸是法国最繁荣的西非殖民地之一。 1960年代和1970年代,经济增长,可可豆生产成为世界第一。 咖啡生产成为继巴西和哥伦比亚之后世界第三高。 象牙海岸是非洲棕榈油和菠萝的主要出口国。 经济繁荣的潜力在过去20年中仍然有所减弱,但由于商品价格下跌和政治不稳定导致破坏性内战。

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From 1960 to 1993, the country only had one political leader. Though this brought continuity to the government and the economy grew in the early years, authoritarian rule resulted in civil unrest and dissatisfaction with the conditions in the country. Coups in 1999 and 2001 triggered the beginning of political division. Rebel leaders from the northern part of the country challenged the government’s legitimacy and pushed for land reform and a change in citizenship qualifications. Rebel groups took over the northern regions and vied for control over the prime cocoa-growing lands. Fighters under warlords and militias from Sierra Leone and Liberia encroached on the western sectors to gain a foothold.
::从1960年到1993年,该国只有一位政治领导人,尽管这在最初几年给政府和经济带来了连续性,但独裁统治导致了内乱和对国家状况的不满。1999年和2001年的政变引发了政治分裂的开始。来自该国北部的反叛领导人挑战政府的合法性,推动土地改革和改变公民资格。反叛团体占领了北部地区,并争夺了主要可可种植地。来自塞拉利昂和利比里亚的军阀和民兵统治下的战斗者侵占了西部地区以获得立足之地。

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By 2003, French troops patrolled the western border region to provide security and stability. The country experimented with a unity government, but this broke down when the rebel groups failed to disarm. By 2007 the government and rebel leaders from the north worked out an agreement to reunite the country and dismantle the dividing zone between the north and south. French and UN troops remain to help implement the peace process.
::到2003年,法国部队在西部边境地区巡逻,以提供安全和稳定,该国试行了团结政府,但反叛团体未能解除武装,这种情况就破灭了。 到2007年,法国政府和北方反叛领导人达成一项协定,使该国重新统一,并拆除北部和南部之间的隔离区。 法国部队和联合国部队仍协助执行和平进程。

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The people of Ivory Coast are highly diverse. Religious affiliations are evenly split between Muslim, Christian, and animist. The economic success in agricultural production and recent oil exploration have attracted people from neighboring countries seeking opportunities and advantages. After the 2007 political agreements, approximately 20 percent of the population was made up of immigrant workers from neighboring countries, which are predominantly Muslim.
::象牙海岸的人民差异很大。 宗教归属在穆斯林、基督教和动因主义者之间均分。 农业生产的经济成功和最近的石油勘探吸引了来自邻国的人寻找机会和优势。 在2007年的政治协议之后,大约20%的人口由来自邻国的移民工人组成,而这些国家主要是穆斯林。

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The small percentage of non-Africans are from France, Lebanon, Vietnam, and Spain. There are also a high number of missionaries from North American Protestant churches. Attacks against non-native-born citizens have occurred; qualification for citizenship is a major concern, and natural-born citizens often support stronger restrictions on non-natives becoming citizens or holding political offices.
::非非洲人中来自法国、黎巴嫩、越南和西班牙的比例很小,北美新教教会的传教士也很多,对非本地出生公民的袭击已经发生;获得公民身份的资格是一个主要关切,自然出生的公民往往支持对非本地人成为公民或担任政治职务实行更严格的限制。

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Ghana
::加纳 加纳 加纳 加纳

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Named after the former Ghana Empire, the region of the Gold Coast was home to the Ashanti kingdom, which thrived in the slave trade. Many of the European colonial powers had sought to build fortified beachheads on the coast and profit from the lucrative trade in slaves, gold, and ivory. In the end, it was the British that dominated the region and established the Gold Coast colony. The push for independence came in 1957. was the first European colony to gain independence in Sub-Saharan Africa.
::以前加纳帝国命名,黄金沿岸地区是阿桑蒂王国的家园,该王国在奴隶贸易中蓬勃发展,许多欧洲殖民大国试图在沿岸建造强化的海滩头,并从奴隶、黄金和象牙的有利可图贸易中获利。 最后,英国控制了该地区,建立了黄金沿岸殖民地。 1957年,争取独立的动力来了。 欧洲第一大殖民地在撒哈拉以南非洲获得了独立。

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Ghana remains a poor country, but it is endowed with natural resources. Even with half the population employed in agriculture, the country is experiencing positive economic growth. Gold and other mining operations contribute to the economy. Individual remittances and foreign aid remain a necessary component of the country’s economic well being.
::加纳仍然是一个贫穷国家,但它拥有自然资源。 即便有一半人口从事农业,该国也正在经历经济正增长。 黄金和其他采矿业为经济做出了贡献。 个人汇款和外援仍然是国家经济福祉的必要组成部分。

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Kwame Nkrumah was the first prime minister and the first president. He advocated for a Pan-African concept that would pull the African countries together, opposed neocolonial activity, and increased trade and interaction within the African community. His ideas were welcome and are still celebrated, but his authoritarian rule brought about his downfall. In 1966, he was ousted in a military coup and exiled to Guinea.
::夸梅·恩库鲁马是第一任总理和第一任总统。 他主张泛非概念,将非洲国家团结在一起,反对新殖民主义活动,增加非洲共同体内部的贸易与互动。 他的想法受到欢迎,并且仍然受到欢迎,但他的专制统治导致了他的倒台。 1966年,他在一次军事政变中被赶下台,流亡到几内亚。

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The political dynamics that followed were typical of the region with a pattern of corruption, coups, and authoritarian rule. It was not until 1981, when Jerry Rawlings came to power, that all political parties were banned and a new constitution was introduced. By 1992, the political parties were reinstated and the country began to experience political stability and democratic rule, which has endured to the present, making Ghana one of the most stable democracies in Sub-Saharan Africa.
::随之而来的政治动态是该地区典型的腐败、政变和专制统治模式。 直到1981年杰里·罗林斯上台,所有政党都被禁止,新宪法被引入。 到1992年,各政党恢复了原状,国家开始经历政治稳定和民主统治,这一直延续至今,使加纳成为撒哈拉以南非洲最稳定的民主国家之一。

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Ghana is diverse in its people and in its physical geography. The physical terrain ranges from coastal plains and interior hills to the large   Volta basin in the center. The Volta River was dammed up to produce hydroelectric power, resulting in the world’s largest artificial lake, Lake Volta, which covers a large portion of eastern Ghana.
::加纳的人口和地理分布各不相同。 地貌地形从沿海平原和内山到中部的大型沃尔塔盆地不等。 伏尔塔河被挤压以生产水力发电,由此形成了世界上最大的人工湖 — — 伏尔塔湖 — — 覆盖了加纳东部大部分地区。

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The cultural diversity is exemplified by many ethnic groups, more than 80 languages, and at least double that in the number of dialects spoken within the country. English is the official language and is used in all public education. Funding for education has been available, and the people have access to quality educational services and an increasing agenda of social services. Ghana is showing promise in providing its people with a stable and thriving prospect for growth and opportunities.
::文化多样性体现在许多种族群体,80多种语言,至少是国内方言数量的两倍,英语是官方语言,所有公共教育都使用英语,教育资金已经到位,人民可以获得高质量的教育服务,社会服务议程也越来越多,加纳在为人民提供稳定和繁荣的增长和机会前景方面表现出了希望。

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Burkina Faso
::布基纳法索

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Upstream on the Volta River is the former French colony of Upper Volta. In 1960, the former French colony attained full independence, and its name was changed in 1984 to , meaning “the country of honorable people.” Burkina Faso is a landlocked nation without a port city. The country lacks natural resources and has few industries. Subsistence agriculture is the main economic activity for about 90 percent of the population. Droughts and desertification continue because of overgrazing of the land and the natural southward shift of the Sahara Desert. Rainfall varies from forty inches in the south to only ten inches in the north. This is one of the poorest nations on Earth.
::伏尔塔河上游是前法国上伏尔塔殖民地,1960年,前法国殖民地获得完全独立,1984年改名为“光荣人民国家”。布基纳法索是一个内陆国家,没有港口城市,没有自然资源,工业很少,自给农业是大约90%人口的主要经济活动。干旱和荒漠化继续发生,因为土地过度放牧,撒哈拉沙漠自然向南转移。降雨量从南部的40英寸到北部的10英寸不等。这是地球上最贫穷的国家之一。

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Political unrest and a series of military coups after independence have not provided stability. The current president has been in power since 1987 and continues to win in presidential elections. New limits may restrict his term in office past 2015. Many people seek employment in the neighboring countries of Ivory Coast and Ghana. This extremely poor nation occupies the second-to-last place on the UN’s human development index. At less than 25 percent, Burkina Faso has the lowest literacy rate in the world. The poor economy offers few resources to increase educational services.
::独立后的政治动荡和一系列军事政变并没有带来稳定。 现任总统自1987年以来一直执政,并继续在总统选举中获胜。 新的限制可能会限制他2015年的任期。 许多人在像牙海岸和加纳等邻国寻找工作。 这个极端贫困的国家在联合国人类发展指数中位居第二位。 布基纳法索的识字率不到25%,是世界上最低的。 贫穷经济体几乎没有增加教育服务的资源。

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Togo and Benin
::多哥和贝宁

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Both and were French colonies at the time of independence. The Berlin Conference in 1884 accepted Germany’s control over the coastal region that became Togoland in 1905. After World War I, Germany lost this colony and the territory was administered between the British and the French. The French colony of Dahomey eventually became independent in 1960 and changed its name to the People’s Republic of Benin in 1975.
::1884年柏林会议接受了德国对1905年成为多哥大陆的沿海地区的控制。 第一次世界大战后,德国失去了这一殖民地,领土由英国和法国管理。 达荷美的法国殖民地最终于1960年获得独立,并于1975年更名为贝宁人民共和国。

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Togo and Benin are both elongated countries with major port cities on the Gulf of Guinea along the Atlantic coast. Benin is about the same size in area as Liberia or the US state of Kentucky. Benin is twice the size in physical area as Togo. The south is a few degrees cooler than the north, where the scrub forests and grasslands of the savanna-type landscape can be more arid, as it is closer to the African Transition Zone. A nature reserve and a national park in Benin’s northern portion attract tourists to see big game animals such as elephants, lions, and hippos in their natural environment. Both countries have a poor economy with most of the people working in agriculture. The political dynamics are similar to other West African states.
::多哥和贝宁都是沿大西洋沿岸几内亚湾拥有主要港口城市的漫长国家。贝宁与利比里亚或美国肯塔基州面积大致相同。贝宁是实际面积的两倍。贝宁是多哥的两倍。南部比北部气温低几度,那里的稀树草原类型的森林和草原可能更干燥,因为它离非洲过渡区更近。 贝宁北部的自然保护区和国家公园吸引游客看大象、狮子和自然环境中的河马等大型狩猎动物。 这两个国家的经济都差,大部分人从事农业。 政治动态与其他西非国家相似。

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Nigeria
::尼日利亚 尼日利亚 尼日利亚

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Africa’s most populous country is . The exact population has been difficult to determine, but 2017 estimates report the population to be more than 190 million. This is a country of more than 250 different ethnic groups with twice that many separate languages or dialects. English is the official language, along with Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo (Ibo), all of which are spoken by 10 million people or more. The distribution of the major ethnic groups is illustrated by the different regions of the country.
::非洲人口最多的国家是非洲。 确切的人口很难确定,但2017年的估计数显示人口超过1.9亿。 这是一个拥有250多个不同民族的国家,语言或方言是非洲人口最多的国家的两倍。 英语是官方语言,豪萨语、约鲁巴语和伊博语(伊博语)都是官方语言,所有语言都由1 000万人或更多人使用,主要民族群体的分布以国家不同地区为例。

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Hausa groups are found mainly in the northern region, Kanuri groups in the northeast, Yoruba in the southwest, and Igbo (Ibo) in the southeast. Ethnic division has also caused serious confrontations and violence. In 1967, a separatist movement in the eastern Igbo region created the independent nation of Biafra. This sparked an all-out civil war that lasted more than two years and resulted in more than one million deaths. Political divisions did not end even after the two sides reconciled and the country was united under the same government in 1970. Political instability in Nigeria has resulted in an almost endless number of military coups and government leaders being removed from office.
::Hausa团体主要在北部地区,东北部的Kanuri团体、西南部的Yoruba团体和东南部的Igbo(伊博)团体,族裔分裂也造成了严重的对抗和暴力;1967年,伊格博东部的一个分裂主义运动创建了独立的国家比亚夫拉;这引发了一场历时两年多、造成100多万人死亡的全面内战;即使在双方和解、1970年该国统一在同一政府执政之后,政治分裂也没有结束;尼日利亚的政治不稳定导致几乎无休止的军事政变和政府领导人被撤职。

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The size and diversity of this country create a host of centrifugal forces that can bring about divisions along any number of cultural lines. Religious issues add to political instability. The north is mainly Muslim, as it is located in the African Transition Zone. The south is mainly Christian. A large percentage of the population follows animist religions with many different traditional beliefs. Clashes have erupted in the streets that pit Muslims and Christians against each other. Several northern provinces have pushed to have the Sharia criminal code made into the area’s civil law. There are regions where it is not uncommon for people to have a mix of Christian and animist beliefs.
::这个国家的面积和多样性创造了许多离心力量,可以造成任何文化分界线的分裂。宗教问题增加了政治不稳定性。北部主要是穆斯林,因为它位于非洲过渡区。南部主要是基督教。大部分人口信奉有多种不同传统信仰的无动于衷的宗教。街头爆发了冲突,使穆斯林和基督教徒相互对立。一些北方省份将伊斯兰教法刑法纳入该地区的民法。有些地区人们在基督教和无动于衷的信仰混杂在一起并不罕见。

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Family size has been large in Nigeria, which has caused an exploding population. Statistically, Nigeria has more people of African heritage than any other country in the world. The population density is equivalent to having half the population of the United States pushed into an area the size of Texas and Oklahoma. Most of the population makes their living on subsistence agriculture, but millions are employed in the growing urban service sector.
::尼日利亚的家庭规模很大,造成了人口暴增,根据统计,尼日利亚的非洲遗产人口比世界上任何其他国家都多,人口密度相当于美国一半的人口被挤到德克萨斯和俄克拉荷马这样的地区,大部分人口靠自给农业为生,但数百万人受雇于日益增长的城市服务部门。

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Nigeria’s main economic engine is the oil industry, which accounts for up to 80 percent of government revenues and is the number one export product. Nigeria is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and is one of the world’s top ten oil-exporting countries. The lucrative oil business has attracted many seeking to share in the profits.
::尼日利亚的主要经济引擎是石油工业,它占政府收入的80%,是头号出口产品。 尼日利亚是石油输出国组织(欧佩克)的成员,也是世界前十大石油出口国之一。 利润丰厚的石油行业吸引了许多人分享利润。

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The government’s distribution of oil revenues has brought about even more infighting, corruption, and mismanagement within the political leadership. Rebels and militant groups along the Niger Delta, where most of the oil activity is located, have attacked the oil industry’s infrastructure and taken workers hostage. They want a larger share of the revenues to remain in Nigeria and to go to their people rather than the government or CEOs of international corporations.
::政府的石油收入分配在政治领导层内部造成了更多的内斗、腐败和管理不善。 大部分石油活动所在的尼日尔三角洲一带的反叛团体和好战团体袭击了石油工业的基础设施并劫持了工人作为人质。 他们希望收入的更大份额留在尼日利亚,并流向他们的人民,而不是政府或国际公司的首席执行官。

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Poverty, a low standard of living, the lack of opportunities and advantages, a poor educational system, or the lack of social services does not diminish the human spirit. Confronting all these issues and more, the people of West Africa and Nigeria are vibrant, energetic, and hard working and value the institutions of family and religion. Just because they have not transitioned to a consumer society does not mean they cannot find fulfillment and happiness in their lives.
::面对所有这些问题,西非和尼日利亚人民充满活力、精力充沛、勤奋和勤奋,重视家庭和宗教机构,仅仅因为他们没有向消费社会过渡,并不意味着他们无法在生活中找到满足和幸福。

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A survey conducted by social scientists in 2001 and reported by BBC News in 2003, indicated that Nigeria had the highest percentage of happy people of any country in the world at that time. The status of each country may change from year to year, but the interesting part is that the survey confirmed that money or income level does not always equate to happiness.
::由社会科学家在2001年进行并由英国广播公司新闻在2003年报道的一项调查表明,尼日利亚当时在世界上任何国家中都拥有最高比例的幸福人口。 每个国家的地位可能逐年变化,但有趣的部分是,调查证实金钱或收入水平并不总是等同于幸福。

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Countries such as Nigeria, with a low level of per-capita income, can still highly value their heritage and the traditions that revolve around their family and community and transcend the global push for economic gain and the possession of consumer items. Much can be said for the vibrant cultural attributes of the people of West Africa and its developing countries.
::尼日利亚等人均收入低的国家仍然能够高度评价其遗产和围绕其家庭和社区的传统,超越全球追求经济收益和拥有消费品的动力,西非人民及其发展中国家充满活力的文化特征可以说很多。

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Vocabulary Terms
::词汇术语术语

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Applying Knowledge
::应用知识

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Discussion and Study Questions
::讨论和研究问题

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1. What has been the general political pattern after independence in West Africa?
   ::西非独立后的总体政治格局是什么?
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2. Which country has the highest number of ethnic groups? What are the four main ethnic groups there?
   ::哪个国家的族裔群体数量最多?那里的四个主要族裔群体是什么?
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3. Why are Senegal and the Gambia two separate countries? What river flows through this area?
   ::为什么塞内加尔和冈比亚是两个不同的国家?哪一条河流穿过这一地区?
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4. How do most of the people in West Africa make a living?
   ::西非大多数人如何谋生?
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5. What are blood diamonds? What two countries in West Africa have had civil wars based on them?
   ::哪些是血腥钻石?哪些西非国家有基于这些钻石的内战?
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6. How did Liberia become a country? Why was Liberia never colonized by Europeans?
   ::利比里亚如何成为一个国家? 为什么利比里亚从未被欧洲人殖民?
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7. With more than eighty indigenous languages, why is English the official language of Ghana?
   ::由于80多种土著语言,为什么英语是加纳的官方语言?
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8. What was the Pan-African concept, and how did it affect West Africa?
   ::泛非概念是什么,它如何影响西非?
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9. How have natural resources contributed to the wealth of the region?
   ::自然资源如何为该区域的财富作出贡献?
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10. How will these countries address their high population growth in the future?
    ::这些国家今后将如何解决其高人口增长问题?

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Real-World Geography Exercise
::现实世界地理演习

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1. Using , complete the following activities:
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   1. Locate each place on the bulleted list below.
      ::在下面的子弹名单上 找到每个地方
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   2. Find the nearest city with an international airport in proximity to each location on the bulleted list below.
      ::找到最近的城市,在下面子弹清单上每个地点附近有一个国际机场。
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   3. Calculate the distance and travel time by plane to each city from the .
      ::乘飞机计算距离和旅行时间,从该城市飞往每个城市。
   
   ::使用以下活动,完成以下活动: 定位以下圆点列表中的每个地点; 找到最近的城市,在下面的圆点列表中的每个地点附近有一个国际机场。 计算从该城市飞往每个城市的飞机的距离和飞行时间 。
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2. Using , determine the latitude and longitude for each location on the bulleted list below.
   ::使用,确定以下子弹列表中每个位置的纬度和经度。
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3. Be prepared to share and discuss your answers.
   ::准备分享和讨论你的答案

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• Cameroon Highlands
  ::喀麦隆高地
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• Gambia River
  ::冈比亚河
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• Lake Volta
  ::Volta湖
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• Niger Delta
  ::尼日尔三角洲
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• Timbuktu
  ::廷巴克图
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• Volta River
  ::Volta河

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Mapping Exercise
::绘图绘制作业