Africa during the 20th Century Quiz

Answer: Malawi

Malawi was a British Colony. It was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and was later known as Nyasaland. Gabon, Niger and Comoros were French colonies.

Answer: Maputo, Mozambique

Lourenço Marques was the name of the Portuguese explorer who first arrived at what is known today as the Maputo Harbour, probably Africa's best natural harbour.

Answer: Rhodes

Rhodes was Prime Minister of the Cape Colony and the Briton who first got to what is known today as Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi (hence the name "Rhodesian Federation"). After Zambia and Malawi gained independence from the British Crown, the only territory left (Zimbabwe) changed its name to Southern Rhodesia under the presidency of Ian Smith.

Answer: Cameroon

After Germany lost in WWI, its territories in Africa were given to the winners. Namibia and most of what is now Tanzania were given to Great Britain while Togo was given to France. Cameroon was divided in two, the northern part became British while the southern one became French. That is why they speak both languages.

Answer: Brazzaville, Congo

Kinshasa used to be known as Léopoldville in honour of Léopold, the Belgian king who owned the land.

Answer: Harare, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's capital city changed its name after the Lancaster House Agreements in 1979. The new government (ZANU - PF) changed both, the country and the capital's name.

Answer: Kenya

After independence from Britain in 1963, politics was dominated by the charismatic Jomo Kenyatta. He was succeeded in 1978 by Daniel arap Moi, who remained in power for 24 years. The ruling Kenya African National Union was the country's only legal political party for much of the 1980s.

Answer: SWAPO

SWAPO stands for South West Africa People's Organisation. It became the ruling party after the end of South African occupation in 1990.

Answer: Lesotho

The four Bantustans were Ciskei, Transkei, Venda and Bophuthatswana. They were given nominal independence in the drive by the Government in Pretoria to create a 100% white South Africa.

Answer: Botswana

Bechuanaland was the name given to Botswana by the British during the colonial era. Lesotho was called Basutoland and Namibia was "South West Africa".

Answer: Benin

Porto Novo is the capital and the most important city in the country is Cotonou.

Answer: Burkina Faso

It was called Upper Volta because the Black and Blue Volta rivers came together in its territory.

Answer: Zambia

The Federation of Rhodesia was created by the British Empire in what is known today as Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. The name of Rhodesia was used in honour of Cecil Rhodes, the British explorer who first came to the region.

Answer: Zanzibar

Zanzibar was a very important point for slave trade from continental Africa (Tanzania and Mozambique) to the southern region of India. It has a huge Muslim influence.

Answer: Mayote

The Comoros have had a very tough time trying to consolidate the country. A few islands have declared independence from the Federal Government and there have been a large number of coups.

Answer: Nigeria

Biafra is a region located in the Niger Delta Region which is very rich in oil. When Biafra tried to declare independence, the Nigerian army's strategy was to isolate the region so no food could get in. Millions of people died.

Answer: Ghana

The Gold Coast, Ghana, is located in the Gulf of Guinea. It was one of the most importan places in Africa during the slave trade. It's located right next to the Ivory Coast.

Answer: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Addis Ababa is known as the "New York of Africa". Most international organisations in the country are located there. However, Libya and South Africa wanted to host the organisation in Syrte and Durban respectively, finally, most African countries voted for Addis Ababa due to its historical significance as Ethiopia was the only country in Africa never to be colonised by Europe.

Answer: Nelson

Nelson Mandela was born in the former independent Bantustan of Transkei. He was the first democratically elected president of South Africa.

Answer: Uganda

One of the most important facts that took place during his government was the Entebbe Operation in which the Israeli army rescued the passengers of an Air France flight that had been kidnapped by Palestinians and taken to Uganda. It is said Mr. Amin was also a cannibal.

Answer: Mozambique

FRELIMO stands for "Frente de Libertação de Moçambique" or Mozambican Liberation Front. It opposed Portuguese rule in the country and the apartheid in South Africa and Rhodesia.

Answer: Chad

The Auzou strip is located in the middle of the Desert of the Sahara right on the border between Libya and Chad.

Answer: Lesotho

The Basuto people used to inhabitate Lesotho before the Europeans got there. It's a country totally surrounded by South Africa right on top of the Drakensberg Mountains.

Answer: Senegal

Senegal was a French colony, in fact, one of the most important French colonies after Algeria. The other German colonies in Africa were what are now Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

Answer: Cape Verde

Cape Verde was a Portuguese Colony. Ceuta is still a Spanish city on the Moroccan side of the Mediterranean.