Mixed Sites in Africa Trivia

1. The Medina quarter of which of the four imperial cities of Morocco is home to the Grand Mosque, as well as the Dar Jamai Museum?

From Quiz Traveling the Maghreb

Answer: Meknes

The Medina of Meknes (the Historic City of Meknes), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was founded by the Almoravids in the 11th century. It originally functioned as a military settlement, but Sultan Moulay Ismail converted it into a capital in the 17th century and the city became a shining example of Spanish-Moorish architecture, a merging of European and Islamic styles. The Grand Mosque was built in the 12th century, and one of its distinguishing features is its green-tile roof. The Dar Jamai is a small museum, but it houses a sizable collection of historic artifacts, including jewelry, religious texts, and art. Additionally, it is still decorated as it would have appeared in the 19th century, and offers a view of the decorative style of that period of Meknes history.

From Quiz UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Africa (Part 2)

Answer: Algeria

The entrances to the Tassili n'Ajjer region are in the Algerian towns called Illizi and Tamanrasset. There are over 15,000 cave paintings in this cave area that is spread over 72,000 square kilometres. The phrase 'Tassili n'Ajjer' means 'plateau of the rivers' in Arabic. The cave paintings are really old, with some dated back to the early Neolithic era. The paintings depict animal life such as antelopes and crocodiles, as well as humans hunting and dancing.

From Quiz World Heritage Sites of Africa

Answer: Robben Island

Robben Island is a living museum and became a cultural World Heritage Site in 1999. The five square kilometre (two square miles) island was used as a prison base from 1961 to 1996 and three of its former inmates (Nelson Mandela, Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma) have gone on to become president of South Africa.

From Quiz UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Africa (Part 1)

Answer: Mauritania

The Banc d'Arguin National Park is located between the cities of Nouakchott, the capital city, and Nouadhibou. Small offshore islands such as Tidra, Nair and Kijji are noted for being breeding grounds. Other birds found in this are include the ringed plover, the grey plover and the broad-billed sandpiper.

From Quiz Monumental Pretoria

Answer: Union Buildings

The Union Buildings were designed by architect Sir Herbert Baker and are considered his greatest achievement. Build on top of Meintjieskop it overlooks Pretoria with beautiful gardens laid out in front of it that contain various monuments from South Africa's history. The semicircular building has two wings at either end representing the Afrikaner and British people of the country who where united after the Anglo-Boer wars when the Union of South Africa was formed on 31 May 1910. It is the official seat of the South African government and the offices of the President of South Africa are located here. On 10 May 1994 the Inauguration of Nelson Mandela and his Vice-Presidents took place in front of the Union Buildings after the country's first free elections. I was one of the thousands standing in the beautiful gardens in front of the buildings on this historic occasion.

From Quiz Traveling the Maghreb

Answer: Cemetery

Tarofalt, or Grotte des Pigeons, could potentially be the oldest cemetery in North Africa. Many of its skeletons are from the Epipaleolithic period, but it shows archaeological evidence of usage dating as far back as the Middle Paleolithic. In addition to human remains found in the cave, archaeologists have discovered tools, like bladelets and scrapers, and plant and animal remains. In 2018, scientists were able to test DNA from the bones in the cave dating from about 15,000 years ago. The results showed similarities in ancestry with people groups from parts of sub-Saharan Africa and the Levant in the Near East.

From Quiz UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Africa (Part 2)

Answer: Egypt

Saint Catherine's Area is located at a mouth of a gorge at the foot of Mount Horeb, in the South Sinai Governorate in Egypt. Saint Catherine's Monastery is part of the Church of Sinai, which is affiliated to the Eastern Orthodox Church. The monastery was built under the orders of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I and hosts a library that is widely believed to be one of the world's longest continually-operating libraries. Mount Horeb is particularly significant in Christianity, as it is believed that Moses received the Ten Commandments of God here.

From Quiz World Heritage Sites of Africa

Answer: Uganda

Apart from its much treasured gorilla population, Bwindi is also home to an incredible selection of flora and fauna, including the giant forest hog, the side-striped jackal and over 200 species of butterfly. The park also contains over 200 different species of tree and over 100 different types of fern. The 331 square kilometres (128 square miles) of the park was declared a World Heritage Natural Site in 1994.

From Quiz UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Africa (Part 1)

Answer: Libya

Leptis Magna is located in Khoms, Libya and was part of the Carthaginian Empire and Roman Libya. The arch of Septimius Severus is a notable feature. Cyrene is located near the city of Shahhat, and is famous for the Necropolis of Cyrene. Sabratha, in the Zawiya district, was an ancient Phoenician trading port.

From Quiz Monumental Pretoria

Answer: Louis Botha

Louis Botha was a member of the parliament of the South African Republic in 1897 that was still an independent republic at the time. After fighting as a General in the Second Boer War, he worked towards peace with the British and represented the Boers at the peace negotiations in 1902. Botha became the Prime Minister when the South African Republic gained self-governance in 1907. When the Union of South Africa was formed on 31 May 1910 he became the first Prime Minister of what would become the modern South Africa. The statue of Botha on horseback was erected in front of the Union Buildings, which were built for the newly established Union of South Africa. I was standing nearby this monument when Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the first fully democratically elected President of South Africa on 10 May 1994.

From Quiz Traveling the Maghreb

Answer: Martyrs' Memorial

The Algerian War lasted from 1954 to 1962 and ended with Algeria becoming independent from France. The Martyrs' Monument opened in 1982, twenty years after the war ended. President Houari Boumediene came up with the idea to build a monument to commemorate the lives lost during the war, but the project was completed and inaugurated by President Chadli Bendjedid. Built on the location of an old military fort, the monument can be seen along the entirety of the city's coastline. The monument contains an eternal flame, and its three large fins represent palm leaves, each with a statue of a soldier at its base.

From Quiz UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Africa (Part 2)

Answer: Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Kahuzi-Biega National Park is located on the western bank of Lake Kivu, near the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It covers an area of about 6000 square kilometres. It is one of the few remaining habitats of the eastern lowland gorilla species. In the past, the biodiversity of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park was threatened by activities such as deforestation and illegal poaching.

From Quiz World Heritage Sites of Africa

Answer: Kasubi Tombs

The Kingdom of Buganda is home to the Ganda people and dates back to the 14th century, when the first king was Kato Kintu. The four kings buried there are Muteesa I (died 1884), Mwanga II (died 1903), Daudi Chwa II (died 1939) and Sir Edward Muteesa II (died 1969). In 2010, a fire broke out at the tombs, causing so much damage that the tombs, which had been a world heritage site since 2001, were placed on the list of "sites in danger". Since then, much rebuilding work has been carried out, funded mainly by the Japanese government.

From Quiz UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Africa (Part 1)

Answer: Egypt

Wadi El Hitan is located in the Faiyum Governorate in Egypt. It contains numerous fossils of whales, as well as sharks, crocodiles, turtles and other aquatic animals. Whales, although being aquatic organisms, are mammals, and - based on the fossils of archaeoceti (extinct sub-order of whales) - scientists have discovered crucial evidence of how the species evolved.

From Quiz Monumental Pretoria

Answer: Paul Kruger

Paul Kruger, known as Oom Paul (Afrikaans for "Uncle Paul") among his people, was State President of the South African Republic from 1883 until he went into exile in 1900 during the Second Boer War (1899-1902). Church Square was founded in 1855 as a square for market and church purposes. The Church sold the square to the government in 1899, who commissioned a statue of Paul Kruger to be placed in the square. The pedestal was already in place in 1900, but further work was delayed by the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War and an ornamental fountain was donated in its place. In 1911 the square was redesigned and the fountain was moved to the Zoological Gardens. Anton van Wouw's statue of Paul Kruger moved about a bit, first standing in front of Princes Park, then it was moved in front of the Pretoria Station, but was finally moved to Church Square on 10 October 1954, Paul Kruger's birthday. I worked near by and walked by Oom Paul many times on my way to work. There's an urban legend/joke that if a woman who is still a virgin passed Oom Paul he will lift his hat to her. Many women have answered "no" with a red face when asked if Oom Paul lifted his hat when she walked by him.

From Quiz Archaeological Sites around Lake Nubia (Nasser)

Answer: Thoth

Specifically Thoth of Pnubs (the sycamore fig tree). Here his wife is Tefnut the goddess of moisture, not the obscure Nehmetaway as at Khmun. There is a Nubian legend that Tefnut was angry with her father and devastated Nubia until Thoth and her brother Shu persuaded her to return to Egypt. The town this temple was in was called Pselkis (Scorpion) in Ptolemaic times so it is surprising the temple was not dedicated to the scorpion goddess Selket.

From Quiz Traveling the Maghreb

Answer: Notre Dame d'Afrique

Construction for the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa, or Notre Dame d'Afrique, began in 1858, and was finished in 1872. Built under architect Jean-Eugène Fromageau, the style of the basilica is Byzantine Revival. The basilica has been damaged and then restored several times during its history, including damage from a WWII bombing in 1943 and an earthquake in 2003. The inscription on the apse reads, "Notre Dame d'Afrique priez pour nous et pour les Musulmans" (Our Lady of Africa, pray for us and for the Muslims). The inscription is reflective of the church's message, which, according to its website, is one of integration and not exclusion.

From Quiz UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Africa (Part 2)

Answer: Chad

The lakes of Ounianga consist of eighteen lakes located in the Sahara desert in the Ennedi region in north-eastern Chad. The existence of the lakes are remarkable considering that the region experiences less than two millimeters of rain per year. The lakes can be broadly grouped under three categories: the Ounianga Kébir group consisting of six lakes, the Ounianga Sérir group consisting of eleven lakes, and Lake Motro, which is relatively isolated.

From Quiz World Heritage Sites of Africa

Answer: Zambezi

Victoria Falls were named for Queen Victoria by explorer David Livingstone in 1855. They are also known as "Mosi-oa-Tunya", meaning "the smoke that thunders" and "chongwe" meaning "the place of the rainbow" in indigenous languages. The falls became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1989.

From Quiz UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Africa (Part 1)

Answer: Mali

The city of Djenne has been inhabited since at least 250 AD. It was a major city from the viewpoint of the Trans-Saharan gold trade. The nearby city of Timbuktu was part of the Mali Empire, and goods travelling through Timbuktu used to pass through Djenne as well. Djenne is noted for its buildings made of adobe, such as the Great Mosque of Djenne.

From Quiz Monumental Pretoria

Answer: Palace of Justice

The Palace of Justice was completed in 1896. The Rivonia Trial, Probably the most famous political trial in South Africa's history, was held here. During this trial, Nelson Mandela and a number of other members of the liberation struggle against Apartheid were charged with treason and send to prison on Robben Island. In the movie "Cry, the Beloved Country" (1995) starring James Earl Jones and Richard Harris, the trial scene was filmed here even though it is supposed to be in Johannesburg in the movie. During filming I once saw James Earl Jones standing outside the building but was too much in awe to approach him.

From Quiz Archaeological Sites around Lake Nubia (Nasser)

Answer: A Meroitic (Nubian) king (300 BCE-350 CE)

It was founded by king Arkamani (whose name was mangled by the Greeks into Ergames). His contemporary, Ptolemy IV (222-205 BCE), also did some work. Work continued into the Roman period. There are some reused new kingdom blocks, but they probably came from elsewhere.

From Quiz Traveling the Maghreb

Answer: Libya

Leptis Magna is known for its excellent examples of Roman architecture, but its history began long before its Roman occupation. It began as a Phoenician settlement, but there is some disagreement as to when it was founded. Some ancient sources say that it was founded in the 10th century BC, but archaeological evidence of its earliest occupation levels place it in the 7th century BC. It came under Carthaginian control in the 6th century BC. It wasn't until Carthage lost to Rome in the Second Punic War in 202 BC that it came under Roman influence. The city reached its greatest height during the reign of Septimius Severus, a native of the city who turned it into one of the most important and beautiful Roman cities of the time. The city was taken from the Romans by the Vandals, then reclaimed by the Romans to become part of the Byzantine Empire. It began to decline and was nearly abandoned by the time it came under Arab control during the Muslim conquest in the 7th century AD, and was completely abandoned soon after the conquest.

From Quiz UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Africa (Part 2)

Answer: Namibia

Twyfelfontein is located in the Kunene region in northwestern Namibia. The region has been a site of human settlement for over 6000 years, especially by people belonging to the Khoikhoi tribes. The name '|Ui-||Ais' means 'jumping waterhole' in the local Damara language. The languages spoken by the Khoikhoi people have several click sounds in them, and in fact, '|' represents a sound called a dental click. The numerous petroglyphs in this region are usually made of desert varnish on sandstone rock. The petroglyphs contain images of humans and animals, as well as geometric and artistic patterns.

From Quiz World Heritage Sites of Africa

Answer: Matobo

Matobo National Park, incorporating the Matobo Hills, is in southern Zimbabwe and is also home to a protected game park which houses white rhinoceros. Mzilikazi died in 1868 and is buried at Matobo Hills. In 2003, the park was declared a world heritage site.

From Quiz UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Africa (Part 1)

Answer: Seychelles Islands

Aldabra is a part of the Outer Islands of the Seychelles, and is situated southwest of the capital city, Mahe. The island was a dependency of the French colony of Reunion. Other turtles such as the hawksbill sea turtle and the green sea turtle can also be found there, as can the coconut crab, the world's largest terrestrial arthropod.

From Quiz Monumental Pretoria

Answer: Ou Raadsaal (Old Council Chamber)

President Paul Kruger laid the cornerstone of the Ou Raadsaal (Old Council Chamber) on 6 May 1889 and the building was completed by 1891. The Volksraad, the Afrikaans name of the parliament (literally "people's council"), however already started to use the half-completed Raadsaal on 5 May 1890. The officially opening was in 1892 without any ceremony. The four bells in the tower were added in 1894. At first the Raadsaal consisted of only two floors, but a third was added when the Tweede Volksraad (Second Parliament) was established. The wood that was used for decoration of the building came from Norway and was decorated by carpenters on the Orkney Islands in northern Scotland. It was then shipped through Durban, South Africa. On top of the building a female figure was added to symbolise freedom. This female figure was bald at first but legend has it that President Kruger had a helmet made for her.

From Quiz Archaeological Sites around Lake Nubia (Nasser)

Answer: The pharaoh offering flowers to St. Peter

This is caused by the temple being plastered over and used as a church. Subsequently, plaster has fallen away leaving St. Peter and revealing Ramses II making an offering. Dancing pygmies are known from ancient Egypt - one old kingdom official had a letter from the young pharaoh Pepi inscribed on his tomb. In this letter, Pepi was so excited about the pygmy that he says guards are to be set so the pygmy does not fall overboard and drown.

From Quiz Traveling the Maghreb

Answer: Tripoli

In 1919, when Libya was an Italian colony, the city's fortified castle, the Red Saraya (Red Castle), was partially converted into a museum. The Italians needed a place to house all of the historic artifacts they had collected throughout the country. Architect Florestano di Fausto designed the square outside the castle in the 1930s. During the British occupation of the city during WWII, the museum was expanded to cover the entire castle complex, and in 1948, its name was changed to the Libyan Museum. During the 1980s, the Libyan government and UNESCO began a joint project to redevelop the museum, and it was reopened in 1988 with the name Assaraya Alhamra Museum, or Red Castle Museum.

From Quiz UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Africa (Part 2)

Answer: Tanzania

The Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara are located in the Kilwa district in Tanzania. Kilwa Kisiwani was the main power centre of the Kilwa Sultanate, which controlled a large portion of the Swahili coast area from the 10th to the 15th centuries AD. The Great Mosque of Kilwa and the Palace of Husuni Kubwa, built by Sultan al-Hasan ibn Sulaiman, are two notable attractions here. The nearby stone-town of Songo Mnara is noted for its mosques and cemeteries. The two port cities were used for trade across the Indian Ocean, mainly during the 13th to 16th centuries AD.

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Last Updated Apr 22 2024 11:05 AM

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