The history of Chad is long and complex. The area that is now Chad is believed to be one of the places from where the human species originated; and it has been settled from as long as 6000 B.C. The earliest known civilization in Chad was a group called the Sao. These people were later taken over by the Kanem Empire. In the late 1800s, Europeans arrived in the area that is now Chad. In the early 1900s, Chad became a French colony––later becoming a part of French Equatorial Africa. Several years after gaining independence from France in 1960, Chad was immersed in a small-scale war with Libya. In the following years, Chad suffered from both internal conflict and fighting with bordering countries.

National Flag

The National flag of Chad is a tricolor with vertical stripes of blue, gold, and red. The blue represents the sky and hope, yellow represents the sun, and red represents the nation’s unity. This design was adopted on November 6, 1959.

Geography

Chad is a landlocked country located in northern central Africa. The topography of Chad is mostly flat, with some more hilly areas in the northeast part of the country. About one-half of the country is desert. Lake Chad, which is a historically large freshwater lake located in the western part of the country.

 

World Land Mass Ranking: 21st

 

Highest Mountain: Emi Koussi, 5,250 m (11,204 ft)

 

Longest River: Logone River, 1,000 km (620 mi)

Main Languages

French and Aribic

Chad Population: 15.9 million (as of 2019)
Capital City: N’Djamena

Capital City Population: 1.5 million (as of 2021)

Climate

Although temperatures vary depending on area, the overall climate of Chad is hot and tropical. Northern Chad receives very little rain year-round, but the southern rainy season runs May-October, and the center rainy season runs June-September. Chad is desert in the north, semi-desert in the center, and tropical with a wet season in the south.

Key People

• Salam Khalil Alio
• Idriss Deby
• Saleh Haroun
• Hissène Habré

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  Cuisine

  The cuisine of Chad varies depending on the region. In northern Chad, diets are influenced by the nomadic lifestyle and often include milk and meat. Fish is more common in southern Chad, including perch, tilapia, carp, and catfish. Fruits, vegetables, and spices are also more prominent in Southern Chad due to the tropical climate. Boule, a porridge made from millet, is one of the most common dishes in Chad.

  The picture is a picture of Kisra, a popular Chadian dish.

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  Sports

  Chadians are great sports lovers and enjoy participating in a variety of sports and activities. The most popular sport in Chad is soccer, followed by basketball. In 2011, the Chadian basketball team qualified for the African Basketball Championship. Other sports that are becoming increasingly popular in Chad include wrestling, judo, rugby, and boxing.

  The picture is a picture of the National Chad basketball team.

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  Culture

  Chad is an ethnically diverse nation with a unique culture. In the country, over 120 indigenous languages are spoken, and there are over 200 different ethnic groups. Over half of the population of Chad identifies as Muslim, followed by Christianity, Catholicism, and Protestantism. A small portion of the population continues to practice indigenous religions. Music is an integral part of Chadian culture and incorporates instruments including the kinde––a type of bow harp, and the kakaki––a long tin horn.

  The picture is a picture of a Chadian tailor selling traditional dresses.

   

  Chad is a beautiful country with wonderful people.

   

  Download questions about the Chad here: Chad (answers are on this page)

   

  For further reading and more info on Chad visit https://kids.kiddle.co/Chad