Africa. Did you know it had 53 Countries?

When you think about Africa what comes to mind? Widespread poverty? AIDS? Civil War? Tribes and Villages? What about the fastest growing cell phone market? There is truth to the first four, but also the last one. What about it being a continent of nearly a billion people or having more than 800 distinct ethnic groups? What about it being a continent with 53 countries? Yes, countries, not cities, countries. Here's 48 of them (some you've no doubt heard of, others you probably haven't):

North Western Countries (Left side of continent)

1. Morocco

2. Tunisia

3. Algeria

4. Western Sahara

5. Mauritania

6. Mali

7. Senegal

8. Gambia

9. Guinea-Bissau

10. Guinea

11. Sierra Leone

12. Liberia

13. Ivory Coast

14. Burkina Faso

15. Ghana

16. Togo

17. Benin

South Western Countries (Left side of continent)

1. Equatorial Guinea

2. Gabon

3. Republic of Congo

Central Countries

1. Libya

2. Chad

3. Niger

4. Nigeria

5. Cameroon

6. Central African Rebublic

7. Democratic Republic of the Congo

8. Rwanda

9. Burundi

North Eastern Countries (Right side of continent)

1. Egypt

2. Sudan

3. Eritrea

4. Ethiopia

5. Djibouti

6. Somalia

South Eastern Countries (Right side of continent)

1. Uganda

2. Kenya

3. Tanzania

4. Malawi

5. Mozambique

Southern Central Countries

1. Angola

2. Zambia

3. Zimbabwe

4. Namibia

5. Botswana

6. Swaziland

7. Lesotho

8. South Africa

Why is it that many of us know so little about these countries? Why is that we refer to Africa not by a specific country in question, but by an entire continent. That's like saying I went to North America. People would naturally ask you, "The United States or Canada?" Yet people have entire conversations about Africa talking about it like it's a country.

So with this information perhaps we can begin to say "Where in Africa are you referring to?"

We can all stop this miseducation about Africa by learning more about what's going on in each country. Learning about the similarities and the differences. The struggles and the triumphs.

In the spirit of this blog being "Dedicated to the Good", I'd like to share a resource I recently picked up that is chock full of information about Africa and the incredible initiatives taking place in many of the countries. What is this resource you ask?

It is the current edition of Vanity Fair Magazine (July 2007). Vanity Fair has dedicated their entire July edition to the continent of Africa. They've hired the world-renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz to take pictures of a broad range of notable businessmen, entertainers, politicians and public figures to grace 20 separate covers for this Africa Special Edition.

The individuals included Barack Obama, Muhammad Ali, H.M. Queen Rania of Jordan, Bono, Condoleezza Rice, George W. Bush, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Brad Pitt, Djimon Hounsou, Madonna, Maya Angelou, Chris Rock, Warren Buffett, Bill and Melinda Gates, Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Iman, and Don Cheadle -- all who have some active connection with Africa.

I picked up the cover with Muhammad Ali and Barack Obama on it. But all the covers are incredible.

The magazine's content is extraordinary. The writers take you all over the continent of Africa providing you with information rarely covered in mainstream media.

Check it out. There is much to learn and much to share. - CB