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Angola, officially: República de Angola; Repubilika ya Ngola; Republic of Angola A former Portuguese colony, it has considerable natural resources, among which oil and diamonds are the most significant. The capital and largest city is Lwanda and independence from Portugal was gained on November 11, 1975. Angola was ruled by Portugal and both countries share cultural aspects: language (Portuguese) and main religion (Roman Catholic Christianity). But since most Angolans are blacks, the Angolan culture is mostly native Bantu which was mixed with Portuguese culture.

Cameroon, officially République du Cameroun; Republic of Cameroon Cameroon's coastline lies on the Bight of Bonny, part of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean. The country is called "Africa in miniature" for its geological and cultural diversity. Natural features include beaches, deserts, mountains, rainforests, and savannas. The capital and largest city is Yaoundé and Cameroon attained independence from France and Britain on January 1st 1960 and October 1st 1961, respectively. Estimates identify anywhere from 230 to 282 different ethnic and linguistic groups in Cameroon. n lowlands, and the Fulani, who are spread throughout northern Cameroon. A small number of Shuwa Arabs live near Lake Chad. Southern Cameroon is inhabited by speakers of Bantu and Semi-Bantu languages. Bantu-speaking groups inhabit the coastal and equatorial zones, while speakers of Semi-Bantu languages live in the Western grassfields. Some 5,000 Pygmies roam the southeastern and coastal rainforests or live in small, roadside settlements. The European languages introduced during colonialism have created a linguistic divide between the English-speaking fifth of the population who live in the Northwest and Southwest provinces and the French-speaking remainder of the country. Both English and French are recognized as official languages, though Cameroonian pidgin English is the most common lingua franca. Cuisine varies by region, but a large, one-course, evening meal is common throughout the country. A typical dish is based on cocoyams, maize, manioc, millet, plantains, potatoes, rice, or yams, often pounded into dough-like fufu (cous-cous). This is served with a sauce, soup, or stew made from greens, groundnuts, palm oil, or other ingredients.

Central African Republic, officially: République Centrafricaine; Ködörösêse tî Bêafrîka; Central African Republic is a landlocked Central African country. Its capital is Bangui and the Central African Republic gained independence from France on August 13^th 1960. The nation is divided into over 80 ethnic groups, each having its own language. The largest ethnic groups are the Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, and Yakoma 4%, with 2% others, including Europeans. Religiously, about 35% of the population follows indigenous beliefs, 25% is Protestant, 25% is Roman Catholic, and 15% is Muslim.

Chad (Arabic: تشاد; French: Tchad), officially: جمهورية تشاد; Jumhūriyyat Tshād; République du Tchad; Republic of Chad is the most northerly of the Central African countries. Its capital and largest city is N'Djamena and it gained independence from France on August 11^th 1960. While many political parties are active, power lies firmly in the hands of President Déby and his political party, the Patriotic Salvation Movement. Chad remains plagued by political violence and recurrent attempted coups d'état, and is one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in Africa. Chad's peoples may be classified according to the geographical region in which they live. In the south live sedentary people such as the Sara, the nation's main ethnic group, whose essential social unit is the lineage. In the Sahel sedentary peoples live side-by-side with nomadic ones, such as the Arabs, the country's second major ethnic group. The north is inhabited by nomads, mostly Toubous. The nation's official business languages are French and Arabic, but over 100 languages and dialects are spoken. Due to the important role played by itinerant Arab traders and settled merchants in local communities, Chadian Arabic has become a lingua franca. In terms of beliefs some 54% of Chadians are Muslim, 20% Roman Catholic, 14% Protestant, 10% animist, and 3% atheist.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, officially: République Démocratique du Congo; Democratic Republic of the Congo and commonly referred to as DR Congo, DRC, RDC; formerly known as the Congo Free State or Belgian Congo has Kinshasa as it's capital and largest city and gained independence from Belgium on June 30^th 1960. The country's post-independence name was the Republic of the Congo until August 1, 1964, when its name was changed to Democratic Republic of the Congo (to distinguish it from the neighboring Republic of the Congo). On October 27, 1971, then-President Mobutu renamed the country Zaire, from a Portuguese mispronunciation of the Kikongo word nzere or nzadi, which translates to "the river that swallows all rivers." Following the First Congo War which led to the overthrow of Mobutu in 1997, the country was renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo. From 1998 to 2003, the country suffered greatly from the devastating Second Congo War (sometimes referred to as the African World War), the world's deadliest conflict since World War II. However, related fighting still continues in the east of the country. As many as 250 ethnic groups have been distinguished and named. The most numerous people are the Kongo, Luba, and Mongo. Although seven hundred local languages and dialects are spoken, the linguistic variety is bridged both by the use of French and the intermediary languages Kongo, Tshiluba, Swahili, and Lingala. Christianity is the majority religion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, followed by about 80% of the population, comprising Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%. Of the remaining 20% of the population, up to 10% are Muslim, and the rest follow traditional beliefs or syncretic sects. The DR congo shares much of it's cuisine with the neighbouring 'Republic of the Congo' and in culinary terms at leat both countries can be treated together as 'Congolese Cooking', though there are a few dishes that distinguish them, in particular the Swahili influence in the DRC.

Equatorial Guinea, officially: República de Guinea Ecuatorial; République de Guinée Équatoriale; República da Guiné Equatorial; Republic of Equatorial Guinea is one of the smallest countries in continental Africa. Equatorial Guinea is comprised of a mainland territory known as Río Muni (including several offshore islands); the island of Bioko (formerly Fernando Pó), where the capital, Malabo (formerly Santa Isabel) is located; and the island of Annobón in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is Africa's only Spanish speaking country and gained independence from Spain on October 12^th 1968. The majority of the people of Equatorial Guinea are of Bantu origin. The largest tribe, the Fang, is indigenous to the mainland, but substantial migration to Bioko Island has resulted in Fang dominance over the earlier Bantu inhabitants. The Fang constitute 80 percent of the population and are themselves divided into 67 clans. The Bubi, who constitute 15 percent of the population, are indigenous to Bioko Island. In addition, there are coastal tribes, sometimes referred to as "Playeros" (Beach People in Spanish): Ndowes, Bujebas, Balengues, (Kombi)s, and Bengas on the mainland and small islands, and "Fernandinos", a Creole community, on Bioko. Together, these groups compose five percent of the population. Spanish and French are the official languages, though the indigenous languages are enshrined in the constitution as: "integral parts of the national culture". Equatorial Guinea is one of the largest oil producing nations in Africa, yet little or none of this oil wealth has trickled down to the local population.

The Gabon, officially: République Gabonaise; Gabonese Republic is one of the most prosperous countries of both Central and West Africa due to a small population, abundant natural resources, and foreign private investment. The capital and largest city is Libreville and the Gabon gained independence from France on August 17th 1960. Almost all Gabonese are of Bantu origin. Gabon has at least forty ethnic groups with separate languages and cultures. The Fang are generally thought to be the largest, although recent census data seem to favor the Bandjabi (or Nzebi). Others include the Myene, Bakota, Eshira, Bapounou, and Okande. Most inhabitants are Christians (with estimates of the Christian population ranging from 55 to 77 %), mostly members of the Roman Catholic Church. Other religious groups include animists, Muslims, and practitioners of indigenous African religions. French is the official language and it could be argued that this has provided an uniying force in the country.

The Republic of the Congo, officially: French: République du Congo; Kongo: Repubilika ya Kongo; Lingala: Republiki ya Kongó; also known as Congo-Brazzaville (locally, "Congo-Brazza") or the Congo has Brazzaville as it's capital and largest city and gained independence from France on August 15^th 1960. Following independence, the country became Marxist, but this was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government installed in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis Sassou Nguesso. The main ethnic groups are: Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%. Various languages are spoken, of which the most important are: French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread). Christianity is the majority religion, though almost 48% of the population follow traditonal animist beliefs and 2% are Muslim. The DR congo shares much of it's cuisine with the neighbouring 'Democratic Republic of the Congo' and in culinary terms at leat both countries can be treated together as 'Congolese Cuisine', though there are a few dishes that distinguish them.

São Tomé and Príncipe, oficially: República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe; Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe is an island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Africa. It consists of two islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, located about 140 kilometres apart and about 250 and 225 kilometres respectively, off of the northwestern coast of Gabon. The capital and largest city is São Tomé and the islands gained their independence from Portugal on July 12>sup>th 1975. São Tomé and Príncipe is the second smallest (in terms of population) African country (larger only than Seychelles). It is the smallest country in the world that is not a former UK dependency, a former US trusteeship, or a European microstate. It is also the smallest Portuguese-speaking country. All of the island's populatoin represent various ethnic groups that have migrated tothe islands since they were discovered by the Portugese in 1485. The seven identifiable groups are: Mestiços, or mixed-blood, descendants of Portuguese colonists and African slaves brought to the islands during the early years of settlement from Benin, Gabon, and Congo (these people also are known as filhos da terra or "sons of the land"); Angolares, reputedly descendants of Angolan slaves who survived a 1540 shipwreck and now earn their livelihood fishing; Forros, descendants of freed slaves when slavery was abolished; Serviçais, contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde, living temporarily on the islands; Tongas, children of serviçais born on the islands; Europeans, primarily Portuguese and Asians, mostly Chinese minority, including Macanese people of mixed Portuguese and Chinese blood from Macau. São Tomé and Príncipe has four national languages: Portuguese (the official language, spoken by 95% of the population), and the Portuguese-based creoles Forro (85%), Angolar (3%) and Principense (0.1%). French is also learned in schools, as the country is a member of Francophonie.