How many countries are there in Africa? If you guessed 54, you're WRONG! We all have our own stereotypical image of Africa. But what if I told you there was ANOTHER Africa? An Africa that's often overlooked. An Africa that doesn't fit into the stereotypical image you have of this continent, but Africa nonetheless. I'm about to take you on a journey through a DIFFERENT side of Africa. Join me for the next few minutes as I take you through Europe's last African strongholds. Because this, is Africa TOO......
Pelagie Islands (Italy)
The Ìsuli Pilaggî are a series of three subtropical semi-arid islands located halfway between Malta and Tunisia. They consist of three islands, Lampedusa, Linosa and the uninhabited Lampione. The islands which have a population of around 6500 people, are part of Italy and are the southernmost point in the country. Although in recent years Lampedusa has been in the news as a major landing ground for economic migrants and refugees arriving from North Africa, the islands are also home to beautiful beaches and water, colorful towns and villages, extinct volcanoes, an abundance of marine and bird life, and a unique blend of Italian and North African culture and architecture. Their main economic activities are agriculture, fishing and tourism. Though due to larger and more commercialized islands such as Sicily, Sardinia and Malta, the Pelagie Islands, especially Linosa, remain largely off the tourist radar.
Pantelleria (Italy)
Staying in Italy, we move northwest to the island of Pantelleria, the largest and most populous of Italy's African islands, located halfway between Sicily and Tunisia, and home to around 7300 residents. The island was once home to Greco-Romans and pre-Greco-Roman tribes, and some remnants of their culture can still be found on the island. These days, the island is a mix of North African and Sicilian influence, the latter is most evident in the regional dialect called Pantesco, which is a Sicilian dialect strongly influenced by Arabic and similar to Maltese. The island is also known for its unique geography, which is the result of the island's volcanic origins. Its subtropical Mediterranean climate and rich volcanic soil has allowed for the production of a unique sweet wine, which has earned it a spot on UNESCO's "Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity". Though the island is linked by air to several major Italian cities, it still remains largely off the tourist radar.
Spanish North Africa (Spain)
These are some of the most well-known of Africa's European territories and are the only ones that sit on the African mainland. So thanks to them, Spain is the only European country to share a land border with Africa. These territories consist of Ceuta, Melilla and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera (which are the only ones that share land borders with Morocco), the offshore island groups of Chafarinas and Alhucemas, and the individual islands of Alboran, Perejil and Santa Catalina. Of these places, Melilla and Ceuta are the only populated regions of sizeable area. The tiny outcrop of Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera is owned by the Spanish military and the islands are all uninhabited and serve mainly as bird sanctuaries. While these territories have much to offer in terms of history, architecture, nature and culture and may be beneficial to both Spanish and foreign continent collectors, Ceuta and Melilla have in recent years have sadly become major entry points for illegal migrants, drug smugglers and terror cells, as their land border with Morocco provides an easy entry point into the EU and Schengen Zone.
Canary Islands (Spain)
Spain can also boast about having the largest and most popular European territory in Africa. And with what meteorologists have proclaimed, to be "the best climate on earth", it's no wonder these islands off the coast of northwest Africa are a holiday favorite for many Europeans. With 7 different islands, all with their own distinct geography, attractions and culture, you're guaranteed to find something that suits your interests, whether it be camel riding on Lanzarote, beach lounging on Fuertaventura, releasing your inner history buff on Grand Canaria, climbing Spain's highest mountain on Tenerife, whistling with locals on La Gomera, hiking on El Heiro or watching volcanic eruptions on La Palma. While the European influence is strong, you will find that the Canaries still look and feel "African" in some aspects. Sadly in recent years however, these islands have too begun to fall victim to the migrant crisis, specifically of people from west African countries like Senegal, which have sadly brought diseases to the islands.
The Madeira & Savage Islands (Portugal)
Though not exactly famous for its beaches, the birthplace of football legend Cristiano Ronaldo offers visitors a wealth of unspoiled wilderness, and authentic Portuguese culture. If you enjoy hiking in rugged temperate mountains or riding a makeshift sled through picturesque Portuguese villages, away from hordes of tourists, this may be the island for you. The island still possesses somewhat of an old-world vibe, reminiscent of something one might see in a "Pirates of the Caribbean" film. Only the main island of Madeira and its smaller and less scenic neighbor of Porto Santo are inhabited, and the landscape is so rugged that the government literally had to build an elevated airport to be able to get people here. The archipelago also includes the aptly named Ilhas Desertas, which serves as a wildlife refuge.
The llhas Selvagen are another Portuguese territory in Africa located between Madeira and the Canary Islands. I decided to just include them as an honorable mention in this post, as the islands are completely uninhabited, aside from the few plants and animals and seasonal researchers.
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (United Kingdom)
As these three islands and their sub-islands, all constitute one British Overseas Territory, I've decided to save time by just grouping them together. The islands are the most isolated on earth, and due to their bizarre location on the mid-Atlantic ridge, there is much debate as to which continent these islands actually belong to. Though typically considered part of Africa, South America has also tried to claim the island as theirs. However, the general consensus amongst geographers, is that the islands are neither part of the African nor South American continent, making them very unique in the world. Politically however, they have always been considered part of Africa, since that's where the only supply vessels to the islands sail from. So I think they meet the criteria for this list. The entire British territory has a population of just 5600 people, but has its own unofficial football leagues and array of breathtaking landscapes and historical sites.
The most populous of the three islands is St. Helana, where the administrative center and capital of Jamestown is. It was on St. Helana where Napoleon was sent to live out the rest of his days in exile. Here you can find most of the territory's historical sites, including some old plantation homes and British forts, the grave of Napoleon and a Boer cemetery which allegedly contains the remains of a man who lived to be 140. The island's lush mountains also provide ample hiking opportunity. Until a few a years ago, the only way to get to this remote island was on a two weeklong trip by cargo ship from Cape Town.
Ascension is the second most populous island, home to a staggering 800 people, which is smaller than my family's village in Poland. The landscape here is more volcanic, and here you can find some of the islands' best wildlife areas and most scenic beaches and rock formations. This is the best connected of the three islands, with commercial flights from South Africa and military charter flights from the U.K.
The southernmost inhabited island in the chain is Tristan da Cunha, home to a whopping 234 people. Named after a famed Portuguese explorer, the island holds the record for being the "most isolated island on earth", with a monthly cargo ship that sails out of Cape Town, being the only way to reach it. Its 234 residents speak a unique English dialect and live at the foot of a dormant volcano. When the volcano erupted in the 1960s, its residents were evacuated to the U.K., but most chose to return to their remote island home. And why wouldn't they? Surely there must be some benefits to living on the world's most isolated islands, such as no COVID or mask mandates. But don't bother paying Amazon extra for priority shipping.
In addition to the three populated islands, the territory also consists of several uninhabited islands, including Botswain Bird Island, the Nightingale Islands and Gough Island, the two latter being part of Tristan da Cunha and the former of St. Helena.
Department of Mayotte (France)
We leave the U.K. for France, and Département de Mayotte. Unlike a colony or territory, departments are part of the political boundaries for France, like the Canary Islands for Spain, Madeira for Portugal or Hawaii for the U.S. Mayotte is very different from the other territories we've explored in this article. Despite being part of France, it's probably the least French of France's five overseas departments and by far the least European territory in Africa. The department is made up of a series of three islands, Grande-Terre (Mayotte), Petite-Terre (Pamanzi) and Chissioua Mtsamboro (Zamburu Island), which are geographically part of the Comoros archipelago. In fact, many Comoros people claim the island belongs to them, but at the same time, many migrate to Mayotte because of the higher standard of living. French may be the official language, but the culture is very much Comoran. Arabic and some local languages are also spoken and it's the only region on our list, and in fact the only region in France, where Islam is the dominant religion. It's also the only place in France where you can find those cute little lemurs. Despite having a higher standard of living than Comoros, the architecture is quite ramshackle and its beaches aren't exactly world class, so it isn't exactly on people's holiday bucket list. It's by far the least popular and least known of the five French overseas departments.
Department of Réunion (France)
Staying in France, we cross Madagascar and arrive on the beautiful island of La Réunion, another French overseas department. The island is part of the Mascarene Islands, a region which includes the island nation of Mauritius, and has a strong French history and influence. Unlike Mayotte, La Réunion has a strong French vibe. It is one of the most developed regions in Africa and one can find elegant French restaurants, ornate colonial mansions, historic forts and fine art museums. But the island also has a strong Creole and Indian presence, as well as rugged volcanic mountains, miles of lava tubes and lush tropical rainforests. The island, which has become a mecca for adventure tourism looks like something straight out of "Jurassic Park." This blend of varied cultures and landscapes, give the handful of people who can afford to come here, a unique island experience unlike any other. Even few French people know about this place. But if you're planning to do some swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving, you may want to consider a different island, as La Réunion is notorious for its rough seas, and has the unfortunate distinction of being the "shark attack capital of the world."
Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean (France)
In case the name wasn't a dead giveaway, this is by far the strangest place on this list and unlike any of the places we've explored thus far, but I felt it should be included anyways, as after all, this is Africa too. Officially known as Îles Éparses de l'océan Indien in French, this small group of islands surrounding Madagascar are exactly that. Don't worry if you've never heard of these islands before, most African and French people have probably never heard of them either, and why would they? The territory is composed of a series of tiny atolls, the main ones being, Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island and Tromelin Island. While the islands have some of the most beautiful and pristine sand, water and coral reefs you'll ever see, don't think about planning a holiday here, unless you're Bear Grylls or Robinson Crusoe. The islands have no permanent population aside from the few small animals that live on and around the atolls. It's no surprise that the Portuguese didn't want to hang on to these islands. The neighboring islands for whatever reason have all at one point or another, attempted to claim the islands for themselves, but their owners are quite persistent about holding on these atolls, as some of them are still used by the French to conduct military exercises, and meteorological research.
What makes someone "African?" It's a question that comes up a lot. And if you managed to make it through this whole MyTake, I hope it at least made you rethink the entire concept of "Africa". Personally, I think the people who call all these places home can proudly say that they are African too.
Thanks for reading.
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