This book is the first in a series of UNESCO guide books for teaching geography on a continental scale, dealing with either land masses or vast regional groups which have common characteristics. Written by African geographers, it is intended for primary and secondary school teachers, teacher-training institutions in Africa, and also for geography teachers in other countries to help them understand African people, their ways of life, and their problems. The first of three main divisions of the book consists of a study of various factors in development, showing how economic data may be brought up-to-date. In the second and largest part, the case study method is used, based on direct observation and explanation of facts. Various types of agricultural, forest, mining, or industrial exploitation are described to show actual conditions and thus encourage students to observe and study their own environment. The third part consists of practical advice for teachers, designed in a nontraditional form, with examples taken from the authors' experiences of teaching in Africa. (Author/ND)