African Tour I - Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the DRC | Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast

We’re off to visit some of the populous countries in Africa for this week’s globe-trotting episode of the Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast.

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Book of the Week

An African History of Africa

Already a major international bestseller, Zeinab Badawi’s sweeping and much-needed survey of African history traces the continent’s extraordinary legacy from prehistory to the present from the African perspective.

“Equal parts gripping and galvanizing. . . . Researched across more than 30 countries, it brings the dazzling civilizations of pre-colonial Africa vividly to life. A book that feels both long-overdue—and wholly worth the wait.” —British Vogue

Everyone is originally from Africa, and this book is therefore for everyone.

For too long, Africa’s history has been dominated by western narratives of slavery and colonialism, or simply ignored. Now, in this work of decolonized history, Zeinab Badawi sets the record straight.

In this fascinating nonfiction history book, Badawi guides us through Africa’s spectacular history—from the very origins of our species, through ancient civilizations and medieval empires with remarkable queens and kings, to the miseries of conquest and the elation of independence. Visiting more than thirty African countries to interview countless historians, anthropologists, archaeologists and local storytellers, she unearths buried histories from across the continent and gives Africa its rightful place in our shared world history.

The result is a gripping new account of Africa: an epic, sweeping history of the oldest inhabited continent on the planet, told through the voices of Africans themselves.

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Episode Transcript/Quiz

Episode Intro

Grab your hat and some good walking shoes, we’re heading to Africa. It’s not our first foray in the continent, but this time we’re rounding three big ones: Nigeria, Ethiopia, and The Democratic Republic of the Congo (or DRC).

We visited Egypt not long ago, so if you missed that one, be sure to search for it on Spotify or DorkyGeekyNerdy.com.

All packed? Good. I’m your tour guide who gratefully accepts tips, Brian Rollins. This is Episode 394 of the Dorky Geeky Nerdy trivia podcast.

Let’s begin.

The Dorky Round

Nigeria Trivia

Which Nigerian city is the most populous in Africa?
a. Lagos
Which river is the longest in Nigeria?
a. The Niger river. It’s also what gives the country its name.
At about 54%, what is the dominant religion in Nigeria?
a. Islam. Christianity makes up almost 46%.
What is the capital of Nigeria?
a. Abuja
In 1960, Nigeria won independence from what European power?
a. Britain. They began occupying Lagos in 1861.
What is the name of Nigeria’s film industry, one of the largest in the world?
a. Nollywood
What is the official language of Nigeria?
a. English
What is the official nickname of Nigeria’s national football team?
a. The Super Eagles
What two colors will you find on the Nigerian flag?
a. Green and White.
What is the name of the large national park famous for elephants and lions in northeastern Nigeria?
a. Yankari National Park

The Geeky Round

Ethiopia Trivia

Which city is the capital of Ethiopia?
a. Addis Ababa
What country occupied Ethiopia from 1936 to 1942?
a. Italy
Which major river begins in Ethiopia and flows north into Egypt?
a. The Blue Nile
According to tradition, what Jewish relic is hidden in Our Lady Mary of Zion in Ethiopia?
a. The Ark of the Covenant. Indy was looking in the wrong place.
What symbol is at the center of the Ethiopian flag?
a. A five-pointed star
With 67% of the population, what religion is the most followed in Ethiopia?
a. Christianity
The holiday, Meskel, is celebrated in Ethiopia to commemorate St. Helena’s supposed discovery of what Christian artifact?
a. The True Cross. That is, the wood on which Jesus was crucified.
Ethiopia borders what large bodies of water?
a. None, the country is landlocked. Though, it’s less than 50 miles through Eritrea to the Red Sea.
What country wraps around Ethiopia’s southeast corner?
a. Somalia
Which ancient kingdom in Ethiopia was known for its obelisks and powerful trade networks?
a. The Kingdom of Aksum

The Nerdy Round

Democratic Republic of the Congo Trivia (The DRC)

What is the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
a. Kinshasa
The DR Congo shares a very small portion of its border with what ocean?
a. The Atlantic Ocean
What rain forest covers much of the DR Congo?
a. The Congo Rain Forest
Which mineral is the DR Congo the world’s leading producer of?
a. Cobalt
Lake Tanganyika, one of the deepest lakes in the world, makes up the border between DR Congo and what other nation?
a. Tanzania. The lake is the second largest freshwater lake in the world.
The DR Congo won its independence from what European nation in 1960?
a. Belgium. It was taken as a colony in 1908.
In terms of landmass, where does DR Congo rank in Africa?
a. It’s the second-largest country in Africa. It’s the 11th largest in the world, just after Algeria.
Before the First Congo War, what name was used for the DR Congo?
a. Zaire.
Named for a Welsh colonist, which DR Congo mountain is the highest peak in the country?
a. Mount Stanley. At 5,109 m, it’s the fourth highest mountain in Africa and 28th in the world.
What is the official language of the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
a. French

Episode Conclusion

And that’s it for episode 394. How did you do? I’ll have more African tours episodes coming later this season. If you have countries you want the show to visit, let me know on social media. I’m all ears.

Next week, it’s comic book trivia. We’re doing three X-Men characters in depth again. This time…they’re all…blue. Start guessing. See if you get any right for next week’s topic. I’ll see you back here on Wednesday.

This was the Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast. If you’d like to help support the show and get extra stuff, consider becoming a patron at Patreon.com/dorkygeekynerdy.

This podcast is written, produced, and hosted by Brian Rollins. If you love audiobooks or are looking to have a book turned into an audiobook, contact me at TheVoicesInMyHead.com.

The theme music is Punchfunk by the band, Punchfunk. Listen to all their music on Spotify.

Thanks for listening.