Africa during the 20th Century Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of the following countries was NOT a French colony?

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.

2. Louren�o Marques was the former name of this African capital city.

Answer: Maputo, Mozambique

Louren�o 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.

3. Which one of the following leaders was NOT a President of South Africa?

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.

4. Which one of the following countries has English and French as the official languages?

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.

5. Kinshasa is the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo. What capital city is located on the other side of the Congo River?

Answer: Brazzaville, Congo

Kinshasa used to be known as L�opoldville in honour of L�opold, the Belgian king who owned the land.

6. Which city was formerly known as Salisbury?

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.

7. Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi was the President of this African Country for decades. Which?

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.

8. What guerrilla movement fought for Namibia's independence during the South African occupation of the country?

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.

9. South Africa granted independence to four black "bantustans" during the apartheid era. Which one of the following was NOT one of them?

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.

10. Which one of the following countries was formerly known as Bechuanaland?

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".

11. Which one of the following countries was formerly known as Dahomey?

Answer: Benin

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

12. Which one of the following countries was formerly known as Upper Volta?

Answer: Burkina Faso

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

13. Which one of the following countries was formerly known as Northern Rhodesia?

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.

14. The United Republic of Tanzania is formed by the mainland territory known as Tanganyika and what island?

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.

15. Which one of the following islands did not want to be part of the Comoros during the independence and is still a French Territory?

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.

16. The Biafra war took place in this country. Which?

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.

17. Which country was formerly known as the Gold Coast?

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.

18. The African Union headquarters are located in this city. Which?

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.

19. What is the first name of former South African President Mandela?

Answer: Nelson

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

20. Which African country did Idi Amin rule this African country for many years?

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.

21. In which African country has FRELIMO been the ruling party since independence in 1975?

Answer: Mozambique

FRELIMO stands for "Frente de Liberta��o de Mo�ambique" or Mozambican Liberation Front. It opposed Portuguese rule in the country and the apartheid in South Africa and Rhodesia.

22. The Auzou region was invaded by Libya because of its uranium. What country owns the Auzou Region?

Answer: Chad

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

23. Which country was formerly known as Basutoland?

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.

24. Which one of the following countries was NOT once a German colony?

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.

25. Which one of the following territories was NOT a Spanish colony?

Answer: Cape Verde

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

Source: Author colombia

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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