The Central African Republic is a landlocked country located in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Cameroon. The Central African Republic is home to a wide variety of cultures, landscapes, and wildlife. Let’s explore this unique country through 55 riddles!
Geography Riddles
1. I am a large river that forms part of the border between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. What am I?
Answer: The Ubangi River
2. I am a sparsely populated region in the northeast of the Central African Republic. Most of my area is covered by savannas and swamps. What am I?
Answer: Vakaga
3. I am a region in the northwest of the Central African Republic. I am known for my rolling savannas and isolated massifs. What am I?
Answer: Bamingui-Bangoran
4. I am a prefecture located in the northernmost part of the Central African Republic. My capital is Ndelé. What am I?
Answer: Bamingui-Bangoran
5. I am the largest city in the Central African Republic and serve as the country’s capital. I am situated on the Ubangi River. What am I?
Answer: Bangui
6. I am a city located in the western part of the Central African Republic, near the Cameroon border. I lie on the Chari River. What am I?
Answer: Berbérati
7. I am a city in the southwest of the Central African Republic near the border with Cameroon. I am an important commercial center. What am I?
Answer: Carnot
8. I am a city located in the northern part of the Central African Republic near the Chadian border. I am an important transport junction. What am I?
Answer: Birao
9. I am a city located in the center of the Central African Republic. I lie at the confluence of the Ouaka and Kotto Rivers. What am I?
Answer: Bambari
10. I am a city located in the east of the Central African Republic near the border with South Sudan. I am the country’s second largest city after Bangui. What am I?
Answer: Bria
History Riddles
11. I am the pre-colonial empire that occupied parts of what is now the Central African Republic between the 17th and 19th centuries. My people were renowned for their horsemanship skills. What am I?
Answer: Bornu Empire
12. I am the kingdom that arose in the savannas of northern Central African Republic in the 16th century. My people were renowned for their military prowess. What am I?
Answer: Dar al-Kuti
13. I am the Sudanese slave raider who created an empire encompassing parts of Chad, Sudan, and the Central African Republic in the 1870s. Who am I?
Answer: Rabih az-Zubayr
14. I am the French colonial territory that consisted of parts of today’s Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, and Gabon. What was I called?
Answer: French Equatorial Africa
15. I am the president of the Central African Republic who led the country to independence from France in 1960. Who am I?
Answer: Barthélémy Boganda
16. I am the president of the Central African Republic from 1981 to 1993. I seized power in a coup d’état and ruled as a dictator. Who am I?
Answer: André Kolingba
17. I am the president of the Central African Republic from 1993 to 2003, when I was overthrown in a coup led by François Bozizé. Who am I?
Answer: Ange-Félix Patassé
18. I am a rebel militia formed in 2005 to oppose President François Bozizé. I triggered a civil war in the Central African Republic when I took up arms. What am I called?
Answer: Union of Democratic Forces for Unity
19. I am an alliance of predominantly Muslim rebel groups that seized power in the Central African Republic in 2013, triggering reprisals from Christian militias. What am I?
Answer: Séléka
20. I am the Christian anti-balaka militia that carried out reprisal attacks against Muslims after the Séléka seized power in 2013. What am I?
Answer: Anti-balaka
Culture Riddles
21. I am the main local language spoken in the southwest of the Central African Republic. I belong to the Niger-Congo family of languages. What am I?
Answer: Sango
22. I am a musical tradition from the northern savannas of the Central African Republic, played on the xylophone and accompanied by dance. What am I?
Answer: Ngbaka music
23. I am a 3-stringed musical bow played by the Pygmy peoples of the Central African Republic rainforests. What am I?
Answer: Mvet
24. I am a popular sport in the Central African Republic that involves wrestling opponents to the ground. What am I?
Answer: Bokassa
25. I am a war dance traditionally performed by warriors across the Central African Republic before going into battle. What am I called?
Answer: Lifoungou
26. I am a traditional hut built by the Gula people of the Central African Republic savannas. My thatched conical roof helps keep the interior cool. What am I called?
Answer: Boutou
27. I am a traditional embroidered tunic worn by Central African women on special occasions. What am I called?
Answer: Boubou
28. I am a popular sweet beverage brewed from hibiscus flowers and spices, commonly drunk in the Central African Republic. What am I?
Answer: Bissap
29. I am a staple starch dish, made from cassava paste, chili pepper and palm oil, eaten across the Central African Republic. What am I?
Answer: Fufu
30. I am a semi-nomadic group concentrated in the northeastern part of the Central African Republic. We raise cattle and practice Islam. Who are we?
Answer: Mbororo
Wildlife Riddles
31. I am a large antelope found in the savannas of the Central African Republic. I have long curved horns. What am I?
Answer: Giant eland
32. I am an endangered wild dog species native to the forests and savannas of the Central African Republic. What am I?
Answer: African wild dog
33. I am a primate species found across the rainforests of the Central African Republic. I am named for my distinctive reddish fur. What am I?
Answer: Red colobus
34. I am one of the world’s biggest snakes, found in the swamps and rivers of the Central African Republic. I can grow over 5 meters long. What am I?
Answer: African rock python
35. I am one of Africa’s “Big 5” animals found in the savannas of the Central African Republic. I have large tusks. What am I?
Answer: African bush elephant
36. I am an antelope species endemic to the northern savannas of the Central African Republic. I have long spiraling horns. What am I?
Answer: Bongo
37. I am one of the largest primates in the world, living in the rainforests of the southwest Central African Republic. What am I?
Answer: Western lowland gorilla
38. I am a venomous snake found across the Central African Republic, recognizable by my brown and black blotched pattern. What am I?
Answer: Puff adder
39. I am a small primate species found across the forests of the Central African Republic. I have distinctive white ear tufts. What am I?
Answer: Crowned guenon
40. I am a large solitary cat found in the rainforests and savannas of the Central African Republic. I have yellowish-brown fur with black spots. What am I?
Answer: Leopard
Economy Riddles
41. I am the currency used in the Central African Republic since 1945. I am made up of 100 centimes. What am I?
Answer: Central African CFA franc
42. I am a major export crop grown in the Central African Republic, providing around 40% of export revenue. I am used to make cotton fabric. What am I?
Answer: Cotton
43. I am a precious metal mined in the Central African Republic that accounts for around 7% of export earnings. What am I?
Answer: Diamonds
44. I am a semi-precious stone mined in the Central African Republic, representing around 2% of export revenue. What am I?
Answer: Amethyst
45. I am a foreign financial institution that provides budgetary support to the government of the Central African Republic. I am based in Washington D.C. Who am I?
Answer: International Monetary Fund (IMF)
46. I am a mineral-rich region in the east of the Central African Republic where much of the country’s diamond mining takes place. What am I?
Answer: Bria
47. I am an economic initiative launched in 2007 to increase regional cooperation and economic integration between the Central African Republic and its neighbors. What am I?
Answer: Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC)
48. I am a sprawling open-air market in the capital city Bangui, where local artisans sell handmade crafts, textiles, and carvings. What am I?
Answer: Marché Central
49. I am a large dam located on the Kotto river which provides around half of the Central African Republic’s electricity. What am I?
Answer: Boali Dam
50. I am the main port used for exporting goods from the landlocked Central African Republic. I am located in Cameroon. What am I?
Answer: Douala
Food Riddles
51. I am a popular street food in the Central African Republic, made from grilled meat or fish in a peanut-based sauce. What am I called?
Answer: Brochettes
52. I am a savory porridge made from ground millet flour, often served for breakfast in the Central African Republic. What am I called?
Answer: Bouille
53. I am a traditional alcoholic brew made from millet in the Central African Republic. I have a sour, yeasty taste. What am I called?
Answer: Bil-bil
54. I am a type of sausage from the Central African Republic made with goat meat and dried in the sun. What am I called?
Answer: Kokobele
55. I am a popular street snack in the Central African Republic made from grilled plantain bananas. What am I called?
Answer: Gondo
Conclusion
The Central African Republic is a fascinating country with a rich culture and diverse landscapes. These riddles have hopefully provided some insight into the geography, wildlife, history, culture, economy, and cuisine that make the CAR unique. Although the country faces challenges like poverty and conflict, the resourcefulness and traditions of the Central African people endure.
