アフリカの地理学

Abstract

This paper describes the academic themes, lessons and social problems geographers are addressing in modern Africa, as well as university geography education and the education levels in Sub-Sahara Africa, related to colonial policy, socio-economic stability, and population. Nature, culture, and society in Africa are both diverse and attractive to academic researchers. According to one estimate, there are more than 1,000 languages and ethnic-groups on the continent. We hope to research the uniqueness of nature, cultures, and societies of Africa. African people face social problems of poverty, economic disparity, social conflict, civil war, diseases, land degradation, etc. Japanese geographers should tackle these problems with African researchers in order to contribute to political stability, social welfare and development. South Africa is the most active country engaging in geographical research and education in Sub-Sahara Africa. According to the history of South African academe, the South African Geographical Society and the Society for Geography were integrated in 1994 to establish the Society of South African Geographers. South African geographers considered this movement to be a historical event under political changes that emerged during the new era following the policy of apartheid. Geographers are tackling social problems of Sub-Sahara Africa and social responsibility is important for academic researchers in Africa. Japanese geographers need to build stronger and wider partnerships with African geographers to achieve further social responsibility.