Africa: questions about the "country"

Who is the president of Africa? What is the capital of Africa? What do they speak in Africa?

Yes, these are real questions! I have been asked these many times!

If you read these questions and thought to yourself, “Yeah, who is the president?” Than this blog is for you.

First of all Africa is a continent, not a country! There are 47 countries in Africa (53 if you count the independent island nations of Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Madagascar, the Comoros, the Seychelles, and Mauritius). Wait, as of July 9th there are 48/ 54 countries (Southern Sudan just became its own country- The Republic of South Sudan)! We are going to the Central African Republic (CAR)!



Each country has its own government. There are muli-party democracies in which political parties control the government, some countries have equal power between the executive and legislative branches, there are parliaments, some governments are run by the military, and yes there are presidential systems. CAR is a presidential Republic and François Bozizé is elected president of the country. There is also a Prime Minister of the Parliament that is chosen by the president. The Prime Minister is Faustin-Archange Touadéra.


President Bozizé


Prime Minister Touadéra

Now that you know Africa is comprised of many countries, there are also many capitals for those countries! Bangui is the capital of CAR!

And every country speaks a different language, usually MANY languages. French and Sango are the official languages of CAR, but there are 70 other languages spoken in CAR! We will be learning French, Sango, and Fulfulde!

So now you know that Africa is not a country and that every African country is very diverse. Now you will not be like the lady that once told me her necklace was from Africa and when I asked what country, she looked at me like I was stupid and slowly repeated, “Africa.” :)