Canadian Medical Guide > Geographic Locations > Geographic Locations > Africa > Africa South of the Sahara > Africa, Central Terms and Definitions




Africa, Central

Medical Definition: The geographical area of Africa comprising CAMEROON; CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC; CHAD; CONGO; EQUATORIAL GUINEA; GABON; and DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO.
Guide Notes: a geog area; prefer specific countries
Africa, Central Categories.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Cameroon - A republic in central Africa lying east of CHAD and the CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC. Its capital is Yaounde. As the Cameroons, it existed from 1884 under German, British, French, and UN mandates until it achieved independence in 1960. It united with the former British trust territory of Southern Cameroons in 1961. Its name is from the river that runs through it, Rio dos Camaroes, river of prawns, so called by 16th century Portuguese explorers impressed by the abundance of prawns in its waters. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p208 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p93)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Central African Republic - A republic in central Africa lying south of CHAD, west of SUDAN, north of DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, and east of CAMEROON. In 1906 it united with Chad to form the French colony of Ubangi-Shari-Chad and, through various changes in status, achieved independence in 1960. The earlier name Ubangi-Shari comes from the Bantu u (land or country) + bangi (rapid), with reference to the current of the river and territory through which it flows, and Shari or Chari, a native word for river. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p233 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p370, 562)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Chad - A republic in central Africa, west of SUDAN. Its capital is N'Djamena, called Fort-Lamy before 1973. Explored in 1891 by the French, it became part of French Equatorial Africa in 1910 and, after many changes of status, became independent in 1960. The republic is named from Lake Chad, from the Arabic tsad, a local word meaning large expanse of water (or lake). (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p239, 407 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p104)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Congo - A republic in central Africa lying between GABON and DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO. Its capital is Brazzaville. It became a territory of French Equatorial Africa in 1910, a French overseas territory in 1946, an autonomous republic within the French Community in 1958, and achieved independence in 1960. The country takes its name from the Congo River running through it: the Bantu name for the river means mountain, with reference to the local topography. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p285 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p123)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Democratic Republic of the Congo - A republic in central Africa, south of the CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC and north of ANGOLA and ZAMBIA. Its name changes bespeak its history: 1885-1908 Congo Free State, 1908-60 Belgian Congo, 1960-71 Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1971-97 Zaire. It changed its name back to Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1997. The name Zaire is an alternate name for the Congo River from nzai, a Kikongo dialect form of nazdi, river. (From Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p608)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Equatorial Guinea - A republic in central Africa, north of GABON and bounded on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Its capital is Malabo. Equatorial Guinea was discovered by the Portuguese in 1491 and ceded to Spain in 1778. The country gained independence in 1968. Equatorial refers to its location near the equator in the broad region long known as Guinea (from the Tuareg aginaw, black people). (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p375 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p173, 222)
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Gabon - A republic in west equatorial Africa, south of CAMEROON and west of CONGO. Its capital is Libreville. It was the first part of French Equatorial Africa to be settled in 1841. Gabon achieved independence from France in 1960. Gabon was named for the Gabon River, whose estuary was discovered by the Portuguese in the late 15th century: gabao is the word for hood, probably with reference to its shape. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p423 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p198)

Africa, Central Medical Definitions and Terms

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