Chapter 15 : An African Village

 AN AFRICAN VILLAGE

Ø SUMMARY OF “AN AFRICAN VILLAGE”:

Africa is the second largest continent. It contains more than thirty five independent countries. Its northern parts have relations with Europe and Asia for centuries, but till the mid of its nineteenth century, it was called 'the dark continent' as very little was known about it. The village life is unusually associated with agriculture and the villages in Nigeria are also agricultural based. It is the largest country of the West. A great part of Nigeria is covered with a dense forest, which thins out into bushes in the north. The bush consists of scattered trees with heavy undergrowth in the form of thick bushes and grass. The farmer's settlements or villages are scattered in the bushes where hey grow their food.

The villages of Nigeria are different from other villages as they consist of a dozen to about three dozen huts. These are separated by cultivated patches of land. Since the huts are not too much close, there are no streets or lanes. They are connected through bushy paths that may lead to other villages in the same bushy area Formerly, a farmer's hut consisted of a single room. It was built simply just by striking thick branches of trees in a large circle. These branches were joined at the top and bound firmly together. Thus, a cone-shaped room was made. The spaces between the branches were filled up with straw and the roof was also thatched with a thick layer of straw, grass, reeds or palm-leaves. A narrow opening was left for entrances on the side towards the sun. ith the development and modernization in different areas, the Nigerian huts are now made better and bigger. More modern building methods and materials are being used. A farmer's house may now have two or more rooms. It is built round a compound. Some rooms have four walls, which open into a courtyard, which is the center of all activities, while the others have only three walls with a verandah. The walls are made of wood and are plastered with mud. The roof is still thatched with grass, reeds or palm-leaves. Some houses are circular and others may be square or rectangular in shape Wood is still used in African villages for lightening and heating purposes as electricity has not reached these remote villages. This light and heat also protects them from cold, mosquitoes and wild beasts. The farmers grow food crops, which include plantains, potatoes, yam, ground nuts and pepper. Usually, women look after the food crops. The cash crops include oil palms and cocoa tree. Men tend the cash crops, like oil-palms and cocoa tree, which are the major export of Nigeria. The fruit of oil palm is boiled and preserved. It gives oil, which is filled in drums and exported, to other countries. Similarly, the fruits of cocoa tree yields beans which are ground into powder from which chocolate is made. Cocoa beans and powder are also a major export of Nigeria.

One thing which African village missed is the rearing of cattle. This is impossible on account of a kind of fly. whose sting kills the cattle and causes sleeping sickness in villagers. As there are no cattle in these areas. people have to carry load to market and walk long distances. The farmer also has to plough the fields with his hands. It is expected that whenever these villages are connected with the cities and owns by roads, they will get the facilities of transport and communication and then there will be school and hospital in their approach.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q1: How many independent countries are there in Africa?

Ans. There are approximately more than thirty five independent countries are there in Africa.

Q2: Why was Africa once called “Dark Continent”?

Ans. Only the northern part of Africa were connected with the Europe and Asia for centuries and very little was known about this continent. For the same reason, and because of lack of transportation and difficult passages it was called as Dark Continent.

Q3: What are bushy area of Nigeria made up of?

Ans. The bushy area were consisted of scattered trees with heavy undergrowth in form of bushes and grass. The formers’ settlements or village scattered in bushes where they grow there food.

Q4: How are Nigerian villages are different from villages in Pakistan?

Ans. The villages of Nigeria are different from villages in Pakistan because they consisted of a dozen or three dozen of huts. These are separated by cultivated patches of land. Since the huts are not too much close there are no streets or lanes. They are connected through bushy paths which may leads to other villages.

 

Q5: Give a description of an old former’s huts in the Nigeria?

Ans. An old farmer’s hut in the Nigeria was made up of striking thick branches of trees in large circle. These branches were joined at the top bounded firmly together. Thus a can-shaped room was made. The spaces between the branches were filled with straw.

Q6: Describe the changes in the hut that are taken place now a days?

Ans. The Nigerian huts are made better and bigger. More modern building methods and materials are being used. A Formers’ house may now have two or more rooms. It is built round a compound. Some rooms have four walls which open in the courtyard.

Q7: What is the roof of farmers’ hut made up of in Nigeria?

Ans. The roof of farmers’ hut is thatched with grass, reeds or palm-leaves.

Q8: What is the center of all the activities in the village?

Ans. Courtyard is the center of all the activities in the village.

Q9: What is condition of electricity in the Nigerian Village?

Ans. Wood is still used in African villages for lighting and heating purpose as electricity not reached at these places. This heat also protect them from cold and mosquitoes.

Q10: What are the food crops of Nigeria and who tends it?

Ans. The food crops of Nigerian villages are Plantains, Yams, potatoes, Ground nuts and peepers. Usually women look after the food crops.

Q11:  What are the cash crops of Nigeria and who tends it?

Ans. The cash crops of Nigerian villages are Oil Palms and Coca-tree. Usually men look after the food crops.

Q12: What is made from oil palm tree and coca beans?

Ans. The fruit of oil palm tree is boiled and preserved. It gives oil which is filled with drums and exported to other countries. Similarly the fruit of coca tree yields beans which are ground into powder from which chocolate is made.

Coca beans and powder are also a Major export of Nigeria.

Q13: Why there is no cattle in any part of Africa?

Ans. One thing which African village misses is the rearing of cattle. This is impossible on the account of  a kind of fly whose sting kills the cattle and also causes sleeping sickness to the villagers.

Q14: What will happen if villagers are connected to city towns?

Ans. It is expected that whenever these villages are connected with the cities and town by roads they will get the facilities of transport and communication and then there will be schools and hospitals in their approach.