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East Africa 172-
EAST AFRICA IS A REGION of physical contrasts, ranging from the
semidesert of the north to the fertile highlands of Ethiopia and Kenya, and
from the coastal lowlands to the forest-covered mountains of the west. Most
people live off the land. Coffee, tea, and tobacco are grown as cash crops,
while nomadic groups herd cattle in the savanna grassland that dominates
much of the region. Four of the world’s poorest countries—Ethiopia,
Eritrea, Somalia, and Djibouti—lie along the Horn of Africa. Their
traditional livelihoods of farming, herding, and fishing have been disrupted
by drought, famine, and civil war between
ethnic groups. Kenya, with its fertile land
and warm, moist climate is, by contrast,
comparatively stable, its income
boosted by wildlife tourists. Ethnic
conflict has brought chaos to
Sudan, Rwanda, and Burundi,
while Uganda is slowly
recovering from civil war.TEA CULTIVATION
The highlands of Ethiopia and
Kenya are major tea-producing
areas. The flavor of tea grown
slowly in cool air at altitudes of
3,000-7,000 ft (1,000-2,000 m) is
considered the finest. The leaves are
dried, rolled, and blown with hot air,
which ferments them, producing a
rich black color and strong flavor.MOGADISHU
The capital of Somalia was one of the
earliest Arab trading settlements in
eastern Africa, dating to the 10th century.
The city is dominated by a major port, and
is a mixture of historic Islamic buildings
and modern architecture. Civil war in the
1980s and 1990s has, however, destroyed
much of the city.
LALIBELA
The kings of Ethiopia converted to Christianity in the
4th century, but it was not until the 12th century that
Christianity held sway over most of the population.
King Lalibela built 11 remarkable churches, which were
carved out of rock below ground level. They are still
major pilgrimage centers for Ethiopian Christians today.KAMPALA
Since 1962, Kampala has been
the capital of independent
Uganda. It is located in the
southern part of the country,
on the hills overlooking Lake
Victoria. It is an export center
for coffee, cotton, tea, sugar,
and tobacco. Locally produced
foods, such as cassava, millet,
and sweet potatoes, are sold
at lively street markets. Kampala
has rainfall on nearly every
day of the year, and violent
thunderstorms 242 days a year.DINKA
The Dinka (above) are a nomadic people
who live in the highlands of Sudan.
They move their herds of cattle around
according to the seasons, taking them to
graze the savanna grasslands in the spring,
when the rivers flood and the land is fertile.
Cattle are of supreme importance to the
Dinka. They form part of a bride’s wealth,
and are offered as compensation, or
payment, for marriage. Young men are
presented with a special ox, and their adult
name is inspired by the shape and color
of the animal.
East Africa straddles the Horn
of Africa, and is bordered by both
the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
It is dominated by the Great Rift
Valley and, in the north, the upper
reaches of the Nile River. Desert in
the north gives way to savanna
grasslands in much of the region.Tea bushes are regularly clipped
to stimulate the growth of tender
young shoots and new leaves.
They are harvested by hand.The various
styles of
architecture in
Mogadishu (right)
reflect the city’s history.