Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Did you know?

1. No African country names begin with the letters F, H, I, J, O, P, Q, V, W, X, or Y.

2. Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent.

3. The Republic of the Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa.

Systems of Government in Africa today that are not Tribal

There are many different forms of government types in Africa but really just five apply today not including local tribal leaders which wield just as much influence as official government systems throughout Africa.

The five types of systems of government in Africa are Absolute Monarchy, Federal Parliamentary Republic, Transitioning, Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Republic.

The key characteristic of African governments is how two main forms obtain political power; being voting and traditional succession. The governance of African nations differs significantly based on who has power.

The are 36 African counties that are Presidential Republic government systems, seven are Parliamentary Republic, six are Semi-Presidential Republic, two are Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy, two are Federal Parliamentary Republic, one is a Federal Presidential Republic, one is In Transition, and one is an Absolute Monarchy. For reference, the United States of America is a constitutional republic.

Zulu King Goodwill is a monarch who holds no formal political power, fulfilling the spiritual and ceremonial needs of the South African Zulu nation. KwaZulu-Natal is the only province with a monarchy specifically provided for in South Africa's Constitution that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu and Natal Province were merged. KwaZulu-Natal is the home to the Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu who receives an income from the government for his position. King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu salary is in the range of $6 million a year to cater to the needs of his royal household.

Africa’s last absolute monarch, King Mswati III, rules the nearly 1.5 million Swazi of eSwatini in South Africa. The Southern African Country of Swaziland no longer exists, King Mswati III renamed Swaziland eSwatini. The monarch Mswati III announced the official change in a stadium during celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Swazi independence. He explained that the name had caused some confusion.

Republic of South Sudan Independence day
Republic of South Sudan.

African Country Name System of Government
Algeria Presidential Republic
Angola Presidential Republic
Benin Presidential Republic
Botswana Parliamentary Republic
Burkina Faso Presidential Republic
Burundi Presidential Republic
Cabo Verde Parliamentary Republic
Cameroon Presidential Republic
Central African Republic Presidential Republic
Chad Presidential Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo Semi-Presidential Republic
Republic of the Congo Presidential Republic
Cote d'Ivoire Presidential Republic
Djibouti Presidential Republic
Egypt Presidential Republic
Equatorial Guinea Presidential Republic
Eritrea Presidential Republic
Eswatini Absolute Monarchy
Ethiopia Federal Parliamentary Republic
Gabon Presidential Republic
The Gambia Presidential Republic
Ghana Presidential Republic
Guinea Presidential Republic
Guinea-Bissau Semi-Presidential Republic
Kenya Presidential Republic
Lesotho Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
Liberia Presidential Republic
Libya In Transition
Madagascar Semi-Presidential Republic
Malawi Presidential Republic
Mali Semi-Presidential Republic
Mauritania Presidential Republic
Mauritius Parliamentary Republic
Morocco Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
Mozambique Presidential Republic
Namibia Presidential Republic
Niger Semi-Presidential Republic
Nigeria Federal Presidential Republic
Rwanda Presidential Republic
Sao Tome and Principe Semi-Presidential Republic
Senegal Presidential Republic
Seychelles Presidential Republic
Sierra Leone Presidential Republic
Somalia Federal Parliamentary Republic
South Africa Parliamentary Republic
South Sudan Presidential Republic
Sudan Presidential Republic
Tanzania Presidential Republic
Togo Presidential Republic
Tunisia Parliamentary Republic
Uganda Presidential Republic
Zambia Presidential Republic
Zimbabwe Presidential Republic

Definition of types of the five systems of government in Africa; Absolute Monarchy, Federal Parliamentary Republic, In Transition, Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Republic.

Absolute monarchy is a form of government where the monarch rules by divine right unhindered without any laws, constitution, or legally organized opposition.

Constitutional is a government by or operating under a constitution that sets forth the system of fundamental laws and principles that determines the nature, functions, and limits of that government.

Constitutional monarchy is a system of government in which a monarch is guided by a constitution whereby their rights, duties, and responsibilities are spelled out in written law or by custom.

Federal republic is a state in which the powers of the central government are restricted and in which the states, colonies, or provinces retain a degree of self-government; ultimate sovereign power rests with the voters who chose their governmental representatives.

Monarchy is a government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a monarch who reigns over a state or territory, usually for life and by hereditary right; the monarch may be either a sole absolute ruler or a sovereign is such as a king, queen, or prince is with constitutionally limited authority.

Parliamentary democracy is a political system in which the legislature parliament selects the government is a prime minister, premier, or chancellor along with the cabinet ministers is according to party strength as expressed in elections; by this system, the government acquires a dual responsibility: to the people as well as to the parliament.

Parliamentary government is a government in which members of an executive branch are nominated to their positions by a legislature or parliament, and are directly responsible to it; this type of government can be dissolved at will by the parliament by means of a no-confidence vote or the leader of the cabinet may dissolve the parliament if it can no longer function.

Parliamentary monarchy is a state headed by a monarch who is not actively involved in policy formation or implementation true governmental leadership is carried out by a cabinet and its head is a prime minister, premier, or chancellor is who are drawn from a legislature.

Presidential is a system of government where the executive branch exists separately from a legislature to which it is generally not accountable.

Republic is a representative democracy in which the people elected representatives, not the people themselves, vote on legislation.


Together we build awareness that boost harmony, education, and success, below are more links to articles you will find thought provoking.

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Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

Africa is surrounded by water but is not an island, here are a few African Island facts.

Madagascar is the 4th large island in the world and is located in the Indian Ocean supporting a unique biology, about 90% of its plants and animals are found nowhere else on earth.

Composed of 155 islands, Seychelles is Africa's smallest country. By far the largest island is Mahe, home to about 90% of the population and the site of its capital city of Victoria.

Cabo Verde has a strategic location 310 miles or 500 km from the west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site.

Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent. Continents can not be considered islands because of their size and also by historic definition since many people who study geography define islands and continents as two different things.

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African cultures express, encourage, and communicate energy

African cultures express, encourage, and communicate energy

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Being African in America I have grown up learning about different ethnic cultures. My father and mother are historians of African culture and history and their influence expanded my activities to several best-selling cookbooks, magazine columns, self-branded products, and a popular African culture and food blog.

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Be better than average and support African history and culture. Since 2008 Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet highlight Africa through her food and culture. Contact us culture1africangourmet@gmail.com

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