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Gabon Facts & Worksheets

Gabon, officially known as the Gabonese Republic, is a central African sovereign state that is situated on the equator.

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Gabon, officially known as the Gabonese Republic, is a central African sovereign state that is situated on the equator. Gabon is is bordered to the north by Cameroon, to the east and south by the Republic of the Congo, to the northwest by Equatorial Guinea, and to the west by the Gulf of Guinea.

See the fact file below for more information on the Gabon or alternatively, you can download our 20-page Gabon worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

INTRODUCTION

  • Gabon’s capital city is Libreville, which is also the largest city.
  • Gabon’s national anthem is called “La Concorde” (The Concord).
  • The country’s national motto is “Union, Travail, Justice” (Union, Work, Justice).
  • The sovereign state of Gabon has had three presidents since its independence from France in 1960.
  • The name Gabon originated from gabão (Portuguese for “cloak”), which is roughly the shape of the estuary of the Komo River by Libreville.

HISTORY

  • The earliest human settlers in Gabon were pygmies.
  • In the 13th century, the Bantu tribes entered the area, largely to escape from enemies or to find new land.
  • The first Europeans to visit the country were the Portuguese in the 15th century. They provided the name gabao, or coat, to the land because they thought the shape of the Komo River seemed like a coat.
  • Shortly the French, the Dutch, and the English arrived in Gabon. The region became a major center for the slave trade.
  • In 1885, France occupied Gabon and declared it part of French Equatorial Africa in 1910.
  • Gabon would be a member of this group until 1960 when it gained its independence.
  • Since that time, the country has had two long-serving president dictators.
  • Leon M’ba was the first, and El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba was the second.
  • On June 8, 2009, President Omar Bongo died of cardiac arrest.
  • Omar Bongo’s son, Ali Bongo Ondimba, was formally declared the president of the country after a 3-week review by the Constitutional Court. His inauguration took place on October 16, 2009.

GEOGRAPHY

  • Gabon is situated on the Atlantic coast of central Africa. It sits on the equator between latitudes 3°N and 4°S and longitudes 8° and 15°E
  • The country’s total land area is 267,667 sq km (103,347 sq mi), which is smaller the state of Colorado in the United States.
  • The general terrain in Gabon is a narrow coastal plain with a hilly interior. There is savanna in the east and south.
  • Gabon’s geographical low point is in the Atlantic Ocean at sea level, and the highest point is Mont Iboundji, which is 1,575 meters tall.
  • Gabon experiences a tropical climate with a constantly hot and humid temperature.

ECONOMY

  • The currency used in Gabon is called Central African CFA franc (XAF).
  • Gabon’s natural resources include niobium, uranium, manganese, phosphate rock, iron ore, cement, natural gas, petroleum, gold, and diamond.
  • Cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, cattle, okoume (a tropical softwood), and fish are the main agricultural products of Gabon.
  • The country’s major industries are manganese, ship repair, lumbering and plywood, textiles, food and beverages, cement, chemicals, and petroleum extraction and refining.
  • The country makes $6.803 billion (est. in 2010) from exporting timber, uranium, manganese, and crude oil, while it spends $2.433 billion (est. in 2010) on importing foodstuff, chemicals, construction materials, machinery, and equipment.

PEOPLE

  • The people of Gabon are called Gabonese (Gabonaise).
  • The nation’s major religion is Roman Catholicism, with other fractions like Islam, Bwiti, and indigenous animistic religion.
  • The official language of Gabon is French, and the other languages spoken are Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, and Banjabi.

CULTURE

  • Gabon is described as a male-dominated country, with the men controlling the family, as well as the financial decisions. The males are also dominant in the military, governments, and schools. The females are allowed to be outspoken, but they are normally left to carry out manual labor for the family.
  • A significant part of the Gabonese culture is mask making and face painting for rituals. The style differs between ethnicities, but the purpose is always either to celebrate important life events or to praise their ancestors.
  • Gabonese cuisine is influenced by French cuisine, however staple foods are also available.

Gabon Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Gabon across 20 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Gabon worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Gabon, officially known as the Gabonese Republic, which is a central African sovereign state that is situated on the equator. Gabon is is bordered to the north by Cameroon, to the east and south by the Republic of the Congo, to the northwest by Equatorial Guinea, and to the west by the Gulf of Guinea.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Gabon Facts
  • Gabon Profile Page
  • Gabon Intro
  • Significant Events
  • Presidents of Gabon
  • Economic Status
  • Only in Gabon
  • Male-Dominated
  • Gabon Coat of Arms
  • Traditional Dishes
  • Significant Culture

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Link will appear as Gabon Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, July 29, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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