We should remember that the more we know about other areas of the world and understand their people, the better equipped – and motivated – we become to help them. But many of us do not fully understand the needs and potentials of Africa. Consider these three aspects:
Outline of Africa showing that the United States, China, India, and most of Europe would fit comfortably within this giant continent. Image by Kai Krause.
1) Size: At 30.2 million square kilometers (a little under 12 million square miles), Africa represents 20.4 percent of the total land area of the earth. If you haven’t already seen it, the “True Size of Africa” map above, by Kai Krause, startles in clarifying just how big the African continent is. As the map shows, Africa could comfortably hold the United States, China, Japan, India and most of Europe with room to spare. This huge size means that there is very little infrastructure – not even any roads – in many areas, and many schools, hospitals and churches have to serve huge territories.
2) Population: Growing at an amazing rate, the population of Africa is projected to reach huge proportions in the coming decades. At current growth rates, by 2050 African cities will hold over 6.25 billion people and Lagos, Nigeria, will be the largest city in the world. The high population density in many areas and the fact that 50% of Africans are 19 years old or younger already affects many aspects of life from social problems to agricultural needs. Some 40% of Africa's people live in slums. Starvation and malnutrition can be frequent realities under such conditions.
3) Peoples: Africa is home to a great number of peoples of different ethnic and cultural groups – ranging from indigenous Bantu and Swahili to “Bushmen” and Pygmies, as well as Arabs and others. Each people is further divided, in many cases, by language groups, and UNESCO has estimated that almost two thousand languages are spoken in Africa. Ethnic and religious differences lie behind much of the ongoing violence, claiming a great many lives in some areas. This situation makes missionary work and Bible translation more complicated, time-consuming and costly, but the need is considerable. This is a continent of people needing our prayers and support in a great many areas.
2) Population: Growing at an amazing rate, the population of Africa is projected to reach huge proportions in the coming decades. At current growth rates, by 2050 African cities will hold over 6.25 billion people and Lagos, Nigeria, will be the largest city in the world. The high population density in many areas and the fact that 50% of Africans are 19 years old or younger already affects many aspects of life from social problems to agricultural needs. Some 40% of Africa's people live in slums. Starvation and malnutrition can be frequent realities under such conditions.
3) Peoples: Africa is home to a great number of peoples of different ethnic and cultural groups – ranging from indigenous Bantu and Swahili to “Bushmen” and Pygmies, as well as Arabs and others. Each people is further divided, in many cases, by language groups, and UNESCO has estimated that almost two thousand languages are spoken in Africa. Ethnic and religious differences lie behind much of the ongoing violence, claiming a great many lives in some areas. This situation makes missionary work and Bible translation more complicated, time-consuming and costly, but the need is considerable. This is a continent of people needing our prayers and support in a great many areas.
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