and South America. They also took century. the European as ivory, gold. or diamonds In the nineteenth nd much rulers divided up the conunentinto coun They did not nor match the about African tribal traditions, and so ulte bordeus of these countries did traditional bordes ot tribal lands when the countries of Africa became independenLin the twentieth century, there were oren several different tribes in a country, and each tribe wanted to tule- The resu was connict and civil war. In many countries, the civil wars have been going on for decades diferent groups fight for control at uhe government. Governing means having not only wer, but also years, having accessiuo wealth-and one of the few ways out of a life of poverty it has also meant having control over international aid and, there(ore, ent access to food in times of starvation Many of the problems facing Africa today have been worsened by thistfighting over control of the government. Countries that are at war have little time or resources to deal ith poverty, hunger, ot disease. They are unable to take any measures forabeltertuture. and so many countries are becoming poorer and their problems are growing. For example, HI, the virus that causes ADS, has spread rapldly in Africa because of the lack of education and health care, as well as the lack of medical supplies Other diseases, many preventable, have spread qulckly for the same reasons. In splte of these problems, however, many Africans are hopeful about their future. people in many countres are joining together to change and improve their lives ordinary and talented Afrlcans are looking out to the tcst of the world. They are experimenting Young with ways to use the Intemet and other new technology to try to solve some of their problems. In the arts, and especially in music, many talented performers are showing the world what it means to be African. In this unit, the passages will focus on both the continuing problems tacing Africa today and some of the interesting and positive developments there.