If you check out the history of Africa, then you will see how it was effectively divided up by different countries that were seeking to create their Empire. The British, French, Portuguese, Belgians, the list goes on and it takes away from a rather startling fact about Africa that has long been forgotten.
Before the Colonial forces appeared on the continent, it is believed that Africa consisted of a staggering 10,000 different states. Inside the states were autonomous groups, and they had their very own culture and language. Of course, the idea of colonization took all of that away as groups were forced to live together and their history was disrupted.
So, the next time you look at the map of Africa, just imagine how different it could have been if things had been left alone.