Victory Amah published in Africa, African Beauty, African Countries and Places, African Countries and Places, African Culture and Traditions, November 1, 2023

Double Celebration as Oba’s Birthday Coincides with Seventh Coronation Anniversary.

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II recently celebrated the 7th anniversary of the throne of his forebears in Benin. This royal celebration also doubled as his birthday celebration as his birthday was coincidentally on the same day.

Every available space at the palace was filled by the friends and well-wishers of the Oba from all walks of life.

The celebration started with two days of free healthcare and ended with Thanksgiving on Saturday at the National Church in Benin.

Omo N’Oba Ewuare on Saturday rose from the inner chambers amidst drumming and praise singing by Iweguae society, waving to the seated audience who responded with a thunderous ovation.

The Friday event ended in the early hours of Saturday before the Thanksgiving service.

The royal father sat on the ancient throne of his ancestors at the Aruo- Ozolua axis of the palace where he received homages.

The traditional homages were paid for by different traditional rulers, dignitaries, palace chiefs and functionaries, native doctors of various classifications, priests, and priestesses of different deities, traditional worshipers, and a host of others.

The Inne Theatre Troupe, Efesoghoba Palace Troupe, Epko-Avbiama, Igbabonelimi from Esan land, and others from different states took turns to perform to the delight of the audience.

Oba Ewuare, who was full of praises to almighty God and ancestors, thanked everyone for celebrating with him. Traditional Chiefs, including Osaro Idah, the Obazelu of Benin Ozigbo Esere, and the Osuma Of Benin, hailed the Benin king for his achievements since ascending the throne of his ancestors.

However, the Benin ruler urged members of the Edo State House of Assembly to consider some important cultural bills that would promote and strengthen cultural norms and value systems in the land.

According to Oba Ewuare, such bills would in no small measure curtail the surging social crimes amongst youths in the country. The royal father made the call when the speaker of Edo House of Assembly Mr Blessing Agbebaku led principal officials of the house to celebrate with Oba at his palace.

He admonished Edo lawmakers to be focused on their legislative business rather than being tied to the apron string of the executive arm of government. Omo N’Oba posited that the independence of the legislature was key to robust democracy, insisting that the lawmakers must live up to the expectations of the people who voted them into power.

Oba Ewuare hailed the assembly’s leadership, just as he pledged palace support for the lawmakers.

The speaker, Agbebaku had told the monarch that they were at his palace to congratulate him on the occasion of his birthday and the 7th coronation anniversary on the throne.

Agbebaku also pledged the Edo assembly’s loyalty and promised to work with the palace for the overall development of the state.

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Admin published in Africa, African Countries and Places, African Facts, African Health & Wellness, African News, April 14, 2023

Healthcare in South Africa progresses as Diabetes management enjoys technological boost.

While Diabetes keeps raging in most parts of the world, the Department of Health in South Africa as well as private health establishments are working assiduously to better the lives of people living with the ailment in the country.
Technology has proven invaluable in Diabetes management in the country.
While the ailment may be chronic, with sustained technological efforts it can be handled effectively.

Diabetes has long been classified as a chronic disease; it is a known source of challenges for patients and, if poorly managed, a known cause of blindness, renal failure, heart attack, and even death. According to the International Diabetes Federation, IDF, cited in www.africa.com, 24 million adults in Africa are currently living and dealing with diabetes, and by 2045, the number is likely to swell up to 55 million. In South Africa, healthcare is administered by the Department of Health. However, South Africa does not have a system of universal healthcare; a private healthcare system runs together with a public healthcare system and the systems have faced Diabetes headlong.

Source https://www.samagame.org Source www.unsplash.com

The International Diabetes Federation also recently revealed in a report that roughly 4.5 million people live with diabetes in South Africa. The good news is that the 2020 Global Healthcare Index, puts South Africa’s healthcare system at number 49 out of 89 countries; also, the treatment range for managing the ailment has advanced speedily in recent times, with new and expanded technological inventions adding up to the development of new methods of dealing with diabetes, including the development of pills and other medications that lower glucose, as well as a broad list of insulin provisions that manage both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes more efficiently.

With this expansive list of effective glucose-lowering agents, remarkable progress has been made in diabetes technology. Diabetes technologies help people with diabetes manage blood glucose levels, avoid complications, improve patients’ quality of life, as well as lighten the load of living with diabetes. People living with diabetes used injectable animal-based insulin for years, but advancement in treatment have been made recently. Diabetes technology has come a long way. Devices are easier, from blood glucose meters and continuous glucose monitoring, CGM, to state-of-the-art insulin pumps.

Wearable technology has been introduced to ease the tracking of blood glucose levels over time and they are considered the most effective options for diabetes management. The CGM system is made up of a sensor, which is a small wire catheter inserted under the skin on the patient’s arm or abdomen, and a handheld receiver or smartphone that displays your glucose data in real-time. Real-time CGM has become reliable and has demonstrated effectiveness in diabetes management, and daily monitoring of glucose levels.

Source www.hopkinsmedicine.org

The improvement in CGM system technology is evident in the Dexcom G7, recently launched in South Africa for diabetic two-year olds. This product’s launch signifies another milestone in the revolutionary diabetes management technology in South Africa. The Dexcom G7 is Dexcom’s most accurate CGM system ever developed. It has the fastest CGM in the market, a 30-minute sensor warm-up, and an improved alert settings for enhanced discretion, among several other features. The availability of Healthtech innovations like the Dexcom G7 will allow people with diabetes to live better lives despite their health conditions.

Source www.weforum.org

Law student and a diabetes activist Thapi Semenya, has lived with the disease for more than 17 years, she is one of the benefitiaries of this technology in diabetes management. Her journey battling diabetes has been quite bumpy, like it has been for many. She has endured severe pains from needles. She sporadically experiences very high and low glucose levels without knowing. But now, with the availability of CGM, Thapi is living her life normally because she can monitor her glucose levels better. Indeed, an improvement in CGM, is still an integral part of diabetes management, in a world where the number of people with diabetes is rising.

There is little worry that South Africa may not surmount the possible health crises posed by diabetes. The country has seen substantive health sector reforms, and, yes South Africa boasts of the highest standard of healthcare in Africa with more than 200 private hospitals across the country. It is also a hugely famous destination for tourists and expats too, hence, South Africa’s healthcare system is regularly tested.

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Admin published in Africa, African Countries and Places, African Entertainment News & Features, African Facts, African Foods, April 12, 2023

Davido’s ‘Timeless’ debuts remarkably on Billboard 200, streaming platforms.

Davido’s ‘Timeless’ album lends credence to his talent and mastery of the art.
After several losses, he has stamped his feet solidly on the path to recovery with this new body of work.
Teeming fans hope that the Album’s name will speak; they hope to see it stand the test of time.

On the 31st of March 2023, Nigerian ace afrobeats musician, Davido, stirred global and African news platforms with the release of his keenly expected fourth album, titled ‘Timeless’. In the week of release, the album achieved ground-breaking triumph; it broke several records within the continent and internationally. ‘Timeless’ recently debuted on United States’ Album chart, Billboard 200. Different reactions have since trailed the Album’s progress so far.

After early commercial profits, ‘Timeless’ got tipped for a debut in the upper part of the chart, and, in the latest episode of the Billboard Chart dated April 15, 2023, Davido’s ‘Timeless’ unveiled itself at number 37 making it the second topmost Nigerian album to ever debut on the chart next to Burna Boy’s ‘Love, Damini’ which made an entrance at number 14. ‘Timeless’, so far, has crushed multiple records, in Nigeria, Africa, and globally, across major streaming platforms. On Spotify, ‘Timeless’ set a fresh all-time record for the biggest entrance of any album in Spotify Nigeria history; the Album tallied 14.5 million streams during its release week, March 31st — April 6th, exceeding the preceding record of 4.89M streams by Burna Boy’s ‘Love, Damini’.

Source www.bellanaija.com

On Apple Music Nigeria, Davido’s ‘Timeless’ broke the previously existing record of the biggest debut week for any album on Apple Music Nigeria, and while breaking one record, it equally, set a new record for the most streams on a debut day for an African album on Apple Music globally. Davido’s ‘Timeless’, on Audiomack, had more than 12 million streams in its first 24 hours, more than any other album in Audiomack’s history. Also, its release week is the biggest release week on record for any African album in the history of Audiomack. Similarly, the album also set a new record on Boomplay Nigeria, it created the biggest debut week ever on Boomplay Nigeria, four days after release ‘Timeless’ amassed more than 22 million streams on the platform surpassing the previously existing highest record of 18.8 million streams by ‘Love, Damini’, from July 8^th to July 14th, 2022.

Source www.bellanaija.com

Even on YouTube, ‘Timeless’ carved a new record; with 4.10 million streams, it created the biggest debut week for any album on YouTube Nigeria. The Album waxed powerful in its release week, reinforcing Davido’s place as one of Africa’s contemporary music greats. The album showed off an impressive performance as well as Davido’s commercial dexterity which are both evident in the way it is being received and consumed by teeming lovers of Afro Music. In addition to making a significant entry into the respected Billboard 200, ‘Timeless’ also made a resounding statement on major streaming platforms, continentally and globally.

The buzz from the Album has got people asking: ‘how can an African album make such a global impact on streaming platforms in such a short while? Clearly, the album’s US success is not accidental as it has also ranked 1st in the UK Apple music top albums chart; it has ranked 14th in Germany, 12th in Italy, 17th in France, and 24th in Switzerland. ‘Timeless’ sits comfortably on each of the mentioned country’s lists of top 200 albums.

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Admin published in Africa, African Beauty, African Countries and Places, African Facts, African News, April 5, 2023

Rwanda soars as female solo sojourners’ second safest country.

Rwanda has earned global recognition for standing out on the subject of gender equity.
Women who decide to travel alone to Rwanda will have little to worry about as the country has scored high in the protection of women.
Rwandese women’s participation in politics, governance, and nation building in quite significant.

The British Broadcasting Corporation – BBC, on the 3rd of April, revealed through a ranking, after due consultations with the internationally renowned Global Peace Index – GPI, the Georgetown University’s Women’s Peace and Security Index, the Institute for Economics and Peace – IEP, and the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report, that Rwanda, in East Africa, is the second safest country for any female who is travelling solo; this is credited to its steadfast hospitality and visible interest in women’s safety and protection.

Also, the BBC, in trying to understand what made female travelers feel safe, pick travel tips from them, as well as find out the best exploration ideas for solo adventurers, found, after a chat with women who have single-handedly toured top-standing countries, that Rwanda ticks the right boxes when the question of inclusion for women is raised.

Globally, according to the Women’s Peace and Security Index, Rwanda sits on the number one spot on the list of countries with gender equality in parliament; there is no surprise because its parliament boasts of more than 60 per cent of female representatives. According to the index, the East African country is also graded highly in community safety awareness and is ranked sixth in the world according to the Global Gender Gap index, which weighs how much attention a country pays to equity when it comes to education, healthcare, economics, and political participation. Even the government of the country agrees that its women are a force to reckon with in fueling its progress, expansion, and transformation.

Even though situations recurrently require a woman to travel alone, especially now that the trend of lone travels seem to be catching on, women are still prone to unique challenges when they move solo. It is also believed in some quarters that a woman travelling solo might be characteristically dangerous. Ideally, every part of the world should be secure enough for women to get to; but in reality, women still deal with safety and security concerns in different parts of the world. Based on the foregoing issues, many countries of the world have focused their efforts on improving the safety of women, even as most countries regularly review female inhabitants’ behavior towards the subject of safety in their country.

According to the BBC, Rwanda shares this enviable position with other countries making up the top five list including Norway, Slovenia, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates. These countries share several factors like a low number of conflicts – internal or external, absence of legal discrimination, women’s financial inclusion, women’s community safety, and a minimally reduced rate of violent crime. In their cities, walks at night are quite safe, which makes it relaxed as well as comfortable for women to explore and feel secured while doing so. These countries have put in significant amounts of work to ensure safety for women, and they are getting duly recognized for these great traits.

According to Toronto-born tourist, Lydia Klemensowicz, with some precaution, and courage to look beyond misconceptions and stereotypes, one can easily tell a dangerous city from the ones where it is safe for women to move around solo. She visited Rwanda as a lone female traveler and she talked about how secured, empowered, and assured she felt as she confidently moved around the beautiful country. Many female tourists consider Europe first when looking to sojourn solo, however, in East Africa, in Rwanda to be precise, a touring female will find warmth. Based on her Observations, Klemensowicz, who has also been to Tanzania, outlines reasons the whole world should see Rwanda as the next best destination for unaccompanied female travelers.

Top on her list are the friendly locals. Rwandans, according to the Canadian tourist, are unbelievably friendly. The tour guides, bus drivers, and passing natives are all hasty in offering help or guidance. She enjoyed warmth in Kigali as the neighbors shared food, danced under the stars, and exchanged pleasant banters. Also, there are activities good enough for solo travelers including seeing the famous mountain gorillas, learning more about women’s social enterprises or Rwandan history, and generally touring the city. She references the Nyamirambo Women’s Center where classes are offered, and tours are utterly run by the natives.

Rwanda, even with French, English, and Kinyarwanda as its official languages, English is extensively understood and spoken thinning out the barriers that communication might pose to tourists. When travelling alone, especially as a woman, it is undoubtedly helpful to have little or no communication barriers because a traveler might ask questions or take local transport and unavoidably rapport with locals. French speakers are also in luck as some locals speak French. Also, because the ground to cover is not overwhelming, chiefly because the country is not intimidatingly massive, travelling within the country is a lot more comfortable and safer for tourists. It will typically take about four hours to move from Kigali to any part, hence, traveling to different locations around the country within a short period of time becomes an easy fun activity.

Transportation is quite essential to travelling and touring, and Rwanda has operative local and international transportation options, including buses. The international airport sits prominently in Kigali, the capital city, while the main bus station in the capital connects centers across the country with reasonably priced buses frequently crisscrossing various destinations. The sparkly lakes, mountainous arrays, and picturesque rivers are enough to entice tourists into trips. Traveling round this country alone, according to Klemensowicz, becomes even more special with heightened awareness. Foreign expats and travelers have found the country welcoming enough which explains why there are numerous foreigners in Rwanda who travel to the country alone but are hardly alone, especially in Kigali, where there is a display of famous social events in restaurants, bars, and other conducive atmospheres for relaxation and networking.

Another interesting social feature of the country is the culture of coffee shops. These spots provide food for solo travelers as well as food for thought for the soul; it presents nice spaces to refresh as well as relax. The Coffee culture is not so much of a surprise because Rwanda grows enjoyable coffee beans, even as coffee franchises, chains, and cafés grow in the country which is reliably and rapidly recovering in spite of the historic imprint from the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. The country has gone ahead to pave paths to economic growth, government conscientiousness, educational expansion, and protection of women’s rights.

Tourism and Coffee are two big deals in Rwanda that visitors can explore. Rwanda has something for every solo female traveler. There is an abundance of activities, experiences, and even food for different budgets and interests as well, but more importantly solo female travelers have minimal worries in Rwanda. Kigali is widely regarded as the cleanest and safest city in Africa.

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Admin published in Africa, African Countries and Places, African News, Developments in Africa, Ethnic Groups in Africa April 3, 2023

Sobriety, solemnity as African Christians, Muslims mark holy season.

With hundreds of millions of Christians and Muslims scattered across Africa, this period certainly is a solemn one for the continent.
The sacred month of Ramadan is running concurrently with the Holy season for Christians.
Muslim faithful draw close to The Almighty through fasting, prayers, almsgiving, and abstinence; Christians, similarly, honor the Supreme Being through prayers, Palm Sunday, the Holy Week, and Easter.

Across major cities of Africa, from the tail of this year’s first quarter to the beginning, through to the middle, of the second quarter, devout Muslims and Christians have been neck-deep into religious activities believed to help keep worshipers pious and bring them a tad closer to their Maker.

The traditionalists, seemingly out of season, are not necessarily left out as there have been reports of religious precessions from various traditional religious groups in different parts of Africa recently. But, in Africa, prominent this season are the Islamic and Christian respective observances – Ramadan for the Muslims, Palm Sunday and the Holy Week for the Christians.

In the southern Nigerian City of Lagos, one of the most populated African cities with about 20,384,299 people living in it, the 13,249,749 Muslims in the city are purportedly observing the Islamic rite of Ramadan while over five million Christians are supposedly involved in activities building up to the Easter Celebration.

Since Nigeria is shared nearly equally between Christians, largely in the southern part, and Muslims chiefly in the north, many Nigerians are either fasting or prepping for Easter. Like Lagos, other big cities in Nigeria, and even across Africa, are in similar situation with Christian and Muslim faithful seeking religious refuge through series of outlined activities. Thousands were involved in Palm Sunday processions in different blocs across the city on Sunday to herald the Holy Week for Christians, while Muslims held fast to the month-long daily Ramadan fast.

In Kampala, the largest Ugandan City, top clerics, religious leaders of different rights, and Preacher after Preacher dwelled on different messages drawn from the significance of Palm Sunday. At the Catholic church in Rubaga, Kampala, the occasion was an opportunity to reprimand rich politicians who used their influence exploitatively rather than for problem solving. Rev Father Pius Male, the Chief celebrant, said: “Judas got money and betrayed Jesus. How do we get our money? Do we get it through the right ways? You have a big house with many rooms, but you go to the poor to take their iron sheets.” The Priest asked that Christians should follow Jesus’ paths, and serving the poor rather than stealing from them is a major step on that Holy path. He highlighted Christ’s meekness displayed when he travelled on a donkey, instead of a healthy horse, during his triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

Also, Rev Canon Patrick Mutalwa, while preaching to Christians at St James Church in Jinja, admonished Christians to think deeply on their shortcomings during this season. He said Christians in the African country must let go of the bitter rifts against one another and seek repentance during the Holy Week. In Soroti City, Rev Emanuel Elianu, during a sermon at St Peter’s Cathedral, admonished the congregation to practice the spirit of love without attaching strings to it. At Uganda Martyrs Cathedral Nyangole in Tororo District, Rev William Ojulo, the parish priest, counseled Christians on friendship: “Some of them may end up betraying you as Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus,” he said.

Sighting a crescent moon kicked off the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims and sent many of the world’s nearly 1.9 billion Muslims into a monthlong dawn to dusk fast. Ramadan, the ninth and most sacred month on the Islamic calendar, is when Muslims accept as true that the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad.

The fast is seen as a very comforting time for Muslims rather than a period of deprivation or turure; it is a period of charity, self-reflection, and gratitude. During this period, Muslims believe in drawing near to God not by abstinence from food and drink from dawn to dusk alone, but by also staying away from things like gossip, sexual activities, swearing, arguing, lying and similar vices. 29-year-old Amr Murad, who has been fasting since he was nine, says: “Ramadan and fasting’s main objective are to achieve taqwa, which is getting closer to God spiritually, secondarily, it’s to practice patience, self-control and discipline. Then, comes to feel for the less fortunate’’.

Back in Lagos, Tolu Piero, an art Curator who was part of the procession around the city said, “Palm Sunday means love. Palm Sunday for me also means willingness to be used.” This was his own version of the central message from Pope Francis who led Mass in St Peter’s Square on Sunday, kicking off the year’s Easter services, just a day after leaving hospital. “The Pope is like a father, maybe grandfather to all Catholics. And so, if you have a father who has been in hospital for ill health, and then he is discharged to go home, naturally it will bring joy that he’s getting better. That is why he is able to leave the hospital and go home. So naturally this news brings about joy. It also helps us to understand that we are humans after all.” Rwandan Reverend Father Raymond Emedo, said.

Palm Sunday honors the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem only a few days before Jesus would be betrayed by Judas. Jesus’ death and resurrection followed. According to Gospels of Christians, people flanked the streets saluting him, waving palm branches and praising him. Christians the world over mark the day in different ways. Many Christians celebrate this holy occasion simply by attending a church service. Similarly, church worshipers usually carry with them crosses made out of palm fronds which they eventually affix somewhere in their homes. During Palm Sundays, it is also common for churches, especially in Catholicism, to burn the palm leaves and keep the ashes for Ash Wednesday.

Palm Sunday is always celebrated on the Sunday before Easter but, just like Ramadan, the date each year is different. This year’s Palm Sunday was observed on the 2nd of April 2023., while Ramadan started, in most African cities, on the 23rd of March 2023.

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Admin published in Africa, African Countries and Places, African Entertainment News & Features, African Music, African News, March 31, 2023

Ghana garners global goodwill after American artistes’ applause.

Hiphop fans from Africa as well as African followers of the renowned Steve Harvey have continued to express satisfaction after eulogies about Ghana went viral online.
Two key American entertainers were at the fore of the praise-singing.
Africans, Ghanaians especially, have received the tributes happily.

Recently, on two different occasions, the west African country of Ghana received unusual recognitions from two American entertainers – Tv personality Steve Harvey and Musician Chance the rapper; they both promoted the Gold Coast, in their own unique ways, to their large western audience. The humorous 66-year-old Tv Host, Harvey, advised his audience to visit Ghana first, then Botswana and South Africa. Harvey claimed it’s a way to gain a better understanding of African culture and the significant contributions made by Africans to the world.

Harvey who once visited Ghana in 2019 to film and broadcast a season of Family Feud, encouraged his American audience to disregard their preconceived notion of Africa and visit first. He said, “them Africans is us mhen; they are the beat; they are the rhythm; they are the song. They are hard work; we get our courage from them. When you see them, people, they look just like your family.”

In a similar development, American rapper, Chance The Rapper, in a recent freestyle, dropped a few lines in Twi language – one of Ghana’s native languages. Chance also referenced Osu and Kumasi, two Ghanaian towns, in his rap. He did not just make reference to the towns; he actually eulogized them in his rap in which he sprinkled some Twi language.

The rapper went beyond praising the African towns, he also saluted Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe of Nigeria, Dr Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, and the revered Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia in the short electrifying performance. His line went: “Akwaaba medaase, that’s the end of my speech. Tell them to spread the word from Osu to Kumasi…This for Dr Kwame, Selassie and Nnamdi.”

These separate events have since attracted reactions from Ghanaians especially, and other Africans alike. People say that these mentions and recognitions reinforce the idea that Africa, its culture, and its people have garnered massive global recognition for its contribution to the arts, world politics, and global markets.

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Admin published in Africa, African Countries and Places, African Entertainment News & Features, African Facts, African News, March 31, 2023

Trevor Noah breaks record with Dutch Erasmus Prize.

South African comedian has clinched a globally renowned Prize for his contributions to the arts.
The young African has enjoyed stints on stage, on TV, and across other media platforms making him one of Africa’s most sought-after talents.
Noah had quit hosting a popular TV show but his impact while at it did not go unnoticed and unrewarded.

Trevor Noah, South African stand-up comedian, Television host, author of international repute, entertainment entrepreneur, and renowned media personality, has registered yet another first; by winning the Dutch Erasmus Prize, the admired European prize named after humanist scholar and philosopher Desiderius Erasmus, he has become the first black comedian to clinch the prestigious recognition.

The Praemium Erasmianum Foundation selected the former host of popular TV show, The Daily Show, for his brilliant input to the theme ‘In Praise of Folly,’ named after one of the most famous books by Erasmus, filled with social criticism, humor, and political satire. Although numerous fans across the world received the news of his exit from the daily show after seven years with immense shock, the foundation celebrated Noah for being a worthy custodian and ambassador of what they called the ‘Erasmian Spirit’.

The prize which comes with a cash sum of €150,000 ($159,000) is given yearly to a “person or institution that has made an exceptional contribution to the humanities, the social sciences or the arts, in Europe and beyond.” The foundation commended Noah for sustained efforts at gathering a youthful, diverse, and global audience and dishing out freshness to consumers of Media content, especially during unusual moments like the COVID 19 era, Donald Trump’s presidency, as well as during the Black Lives Matter movement.

A Hollywood Reporter had reported, earlier this year, that fans of the 39-year-old should stand by for his new book about forgiveness, reception and the secret to harmony.

Noah, an advocate for political and social issues, was born in Johannesburg in 1984; this means he was raised during the apartheid era. His mother’s root is traced to the Xhosa ethnic group in South Africa, while his father is of Swiss-German ancestry. His career in comedy commenced in the early 2000s, in South Africa, when he went round performing in local comedy clubs and hosting his own comic radio show. He attracted national attention with “The Trevor Noah Show,” an electrifying talk show that aired from 2010 to 2011, on a South African television.

In 2011, Noah debuted on U.S. television with “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Ever since, he has featured on numerous American talk shows, including “The Late Show with David Letterman” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” He became the new host of “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central, In 2015, after Jon Stewart.

Noah is also the brain behind several comedy specials, including “The Daywalker” in 2009, “That’s Racist” in 2012, and “Afraid of the Dark” in 2017. He published his engaging memoir “Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood” In 2016, and it became a New York Times bestseller. He frequently speaks up against police brutality and racial profiling; he has also advocated for gender equality. In 2018, he donated a sum of $10,000 to the Chicago Public Schools Foundation to help support arts education.

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Admin published in Africa, African Countries and Places, African Entertainment News & Features, African Facts, African News, March 29, 2023

‘Mama’s Sleeping Scarf,’ Chimamanda’s first children book.

One of the hallmarks of a skilled writer is versatility; ability to put out works cutting across genres.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has not only established herself as a skilled writer, but she has also registered her voice as one to reckon with.
In addition to the assorted works credited to her, she has also, with this new work of hers, touched on a vital area – the child/mother relationship.

Best-selling and globally renowned Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie announced her latest book titled ‘Mama’s Sleeping Scarf’ in an Instagram post recently. The forthcoming literary work, published under the Pseudonym ‘Nwa Grace-James’, scheduled for release in September 2023, will be the first children’s book from this ace African author, and the 11th book of her eminent career.

‘Mama’s Sleeping Scarf’ is based on a day in the life of Adichie’s daughter, who was three years old at the time, and celebrates the modest pleasures of everyday life, in Lagos. It revolves around a little girl’s fondness for her mother’s scarf and the countless escapades that follows. The beautifully illustrated book centers on Chino, a young girl, as she plays with her mum’s head tie, sights her grandfather on his walk and, eventually, retires to her bed; chiefly a picture of family life – with its associated natural moments and all the marvels packed in the day – as seen through the rose-colored lenses of an infant.

Joelle Avelino, a London-based artist of Congolese and Angolan descent, illustrated the creative work. The story, spirited and ecstatic, is inspired by the Adichie family; and will be published under a pseudonym. Its attention on family and the emotive timbre of everyday items promises to make it a riveting read. The book will be available in hardcover and e-book formats, and as an audiobook by Penguin Random House. The US rights were acquired from Sarah Chalfant at the Wylie Agency.

Adichie’s editor at Knopf, Lexy Bloom, said: “At the heart of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s bold, big-hearted novels are the essential themes of love and family, which she excels in narrating from a variety of perspectives. It is fitting, then, that she now turns her exceedingly talented eye to a children’s book, wherein we see the daily life of a little girl who worries when her mother leaves for the day, who turns a scarf into a plaything, who takes comfort in the warm embrace of the family around her. Through this lens, we are privileged to see Chimamanda as a mother, as a daughter, and as a powerful storyteller for a new generation.”

Chimamanda, born in Nigeria, is the author of the short story, ‘The Thing Around Your Neck’, the popular ‘Purple Hibiscus’, ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’, and ‘Americanah’; she is the winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award. She has also authored three nonfiction books: ‘Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions’, ‘We Should All Be Feminists’ which was inspired by, and based on, her TED Talk of the same title, and, most recently, the autobiography ‘Notes on Grief’. A mother, an Afrocentric writer, a deep thinker, and a recipient of the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, Adichie shuttles between Nigeria and the United States.

Joelle Avelino is a Congolese and Angolan illustrator who grew up in the UK. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Illustration with Marketing from the University of Hertfordshire. Avelino has illustrated several titles, including the twenty-fifth-anniversary edition of Baroness Floella Benjamin’s classic memoir ‘Coming to England’.

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Admin published in Africa, African Beauty, African Countries and Places, African Entertainment News & Features, African Facts, March 28, 2023

Benin’s Kidjo sustains rise, bags popular Polar Music Prize.

Angelique Kidjo has reinforced her worldwide influence by adding yet another feather to her cap.
The prestigious Polar Music Prize has been added to her repertoire of universally recognized laurels.
This is yet another rewarding recognition for her, her family, Africa, and her fans globally.

On Tuesday, 28^th March 2023, five-time Grammy winner and Africa’s own Angelique Kidjo was announced as one of three winners of the 2023 Polar Music Prize. She was named a recipient of the prestigious Prize together with Island Records founder, Chris Blackwell of Britain, and Arvo Part, a composer from Estonia, giving her a hallowed place in this unique company of greats.

Blessed with a profound and strong vocal, the Beninese singer-songwriter who sings in her native Fon and Yoruba languages as well as in French and English, earned a rather usual compliment from the organizers of Sweden’s Polar Music Prize; they labelled the polyglot singer “one of the greatest singer-songwriters in international music.”

Time magazine had named Kidjo “Africa’s premier diva”, and this year, she joins only two former recipients of the Polar Music Prize from Africa: Miriam Makeba from South Africa who won the Prize in in 2002, and Youssou N’Dour from Senegal who won in 2013. Blackwell founded the Island Records and signed legendary stars like Bob Marley, Cat Stevens, Roxy Music and U2. Estonia’s Arvo Part, who the judges called “the world’s most performed living composer”, got recognized for his “unique compositional technique, tintinnabuli” which he invented in the 1970s.

Founded in 1989 by ABBA manager Stig “Stikkan” Anderson, the Sweden-based Polar Music Prize has been presented since 1992 and is considered one of the most prestigious honors in the music industry rewarding the laureates with about $58,000 each. The Polar Music Prize honored Iggy Pop and US songwriter Diane Warren, Last year. Previous winners include Paul McCartney in 1992, Elton John in 1995, Stevie Wonder in 1999, Björk in 2010, and Sting in 2017.

Expressing how delighted she is, Kidjo says, “To be awarded the Polar Music Prize is humbling, I have no words to say how important this is for me. It comes with a sense of responsibility that is bestowed upon me as an artist to continue to do great work. I will do my best to be a proud recipient of the Prize through my work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, on behalf of the children, and as an ambassador of music, to help create a world in which we can all live in peace.”

Kidjo has put her creative might into thirteen premium albums credited to her. The West African music icon was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2002 and she has remained an avid crusader for the rights of children, climate change, and girls’ education. Angélique who has been to many parts of the world advocating for UNICEF-supported programmes also created her own charitable foundation, Batonga, devoted to wholistically supporting the education of young girls in Africa. She says “I believe music is a language beyond the color of skin, country or culture. I want to inspire people to work to help educate, nourish and protect our children.”

Kidjo’s major hits include “Agolo” and “We We”. In a chat with CNN’s African Voices in 2018 she said, “having a beautiful voice is one thing, you always have to think about what you want to do with that voice.”

The ceremony for the 2023 Polar Music Prize will take place on May 23 in Stockholm, the capital and largest city of Sweden as well as the largest urban location in Scandinavia.

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Admin published in Africa, African Beauty, African Countries and Places, African Foods, African Health & Wellness, March 22, 2023

Zimbabwean women make money making more room for mushrooms.

“Nature alone is antique, and the oldest art a mushroom”, says Thomas Carlyle.
These arty yet nourishing fungi are found in generous quantities in Zimbabwe.
Separating the edible ones from the poisonous ones is a vital skill.

In Zimbabwe, a group of women defy the odds in their search for mushrooms. A rich source of antioxidants, protein, and fiber, wild mushrooms have become a cherished delicacy as well as an income source in Zimbabwe, and these native women who are armed with the skill to tell edible and poisonous mushrooms apart, in wee hours, dutifully collect just enough mushrooms to push out for sale. These women, when they have gathered the mushrooms in marketable numbers, run to meet trucks on the Harare-Bulawayo highway hoping to persuade drivers to buy beautiful wild mushrooms from their harvest.

The native women painstakingly scan through the land, identifying what type is good enough for their target market. But they must do so before sunrise because landowners may not be so welcoming. Diana Chiwara, a native mushroom picker said “this is the bush where we pick mushrooms, we wake up early morning around past 3 am and walk deep into this bush. We can’t come late in the day because it’s restricted to be in this place. The owners of this place don’t always allow people to come and pick mushrooms here. So, we come early and will be hiding from them, so that by the time it’s lunch time we are already leaving.”

Chiwara’s trip before dawn to the forest is just the first of several steps in the day-long process. She moves from the bush to a busy highway. She tidies up the mushroom, cleaning and scrapping where necessary, using a knife, then she joins the strong struggle involving other mushroom sellers; she is in competition, eager to entice passing motorists. Knowing what mushrooms to sell is a vital skill for this trade as several thousands of varieties exist.

Not all the varieties are safe for use. While some are quite good for food like shitake, portobello, and the more popular ones sold in supermarkets, several other wild mushrooms can be gravely poisonous, causing stomach upset or other allergic reactions that could cause harm to the body. Expert knowledge as well as some trainings are necessary to learn which ones are edible. People who do not have the training are not to try picking mushrooms for human consumption. So, mothers in this African nation, who have been drilled on the fields and have also received handed-down trainings, pass down the requisite expert knowledge and training needed to their daughters, and the chain goes on.

One of the natives, Polite Mugobo, on her way out to collect mushrooms with her husband and son, spoke about mushroom picking, she says ‘’sometimes we meet thugs, and they steal everything from us. Sometimes the farm owners chase us from their land. So, we try to do this while hiding, it’s tough. We also have to be careful so that we don’t get attacked by dangerous wild animals.” This family rakes through the land, defying the early morning dew, a task bigger than faint hearts. They screen litters of dry leaves and look under trees for shoot-ups. They gather enough, clean them up, and arrange them for sale. “We sell this mushroom for US$1 a bowl like this during the rainy season. Our customers regularly stop on highway to buy mushrooms. On a good day or during the weekend we go home with about US $20 – $15 each,” Mugobo said.

An associate professor of horticulture at the Marondera University of Agricultural Science and Technology, Wonder Ngezimana, while speaking about the mushroom trade said that women like Mugobo are foremost players in Zimbabwe’s mushroom trade, “Predominantly women have been gatherers and they normally go with their daughters. They transfer the indigenous knowledge from one generation to the other,” she says. According to a research by Ngezimana and some of her colleagues at the university in 2021, about one in four women who search for wild mushrooms usually go with their daughters, save for “just few cases” where the boys came along. About 1.4% of the boys follow their mothers to pick mushrooms, “mothers were better knowledgeable of wild edible mushrooms compared to their counterparts – fathers,” the researchers theorized.

The researchers conducted an interview with about a hundred people and meticulously observed mushroom collection in the district of Binga, western Zimbabwe, where Zimbabwe’s staple food, maize, suffers from droughts and poor land quality making it quite unviable in the district. So mushroom season is vital for the native families. According to the research, averagely, each family makes just above $100 a month selling wild mushrooms, even as they rely on the fruitful fungi for their own domestic subsistence. Though mushrooms are fast becoming key to household use, authorities routinely advise the people on the dangers of eating wild mushrooms.

In order to encourage safe mushroom consumption and income generation all year round, the government is backing small-scale profitable production of select types healthy for consumption like the oyster mushrooms. But the popularity of the varieties of wild mushroom are not waning at all.

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Admin published in Africa, African Beauty, African Countries and Places, African Culture and Traditions, African Facts, March 16, 2023

Green Ghana 2023: Queen Mothers encouraged to begin bamboo farms.

Ghana’s potential in the area of agriculture is undisputed.
The authorities are making efforts to maximize Ghanian green lands for subsistence and commercial purposes.
Bamboo and rattan are invaluable plants grown in Africa.
Demand has been placed on the influences of the Queen Mothers of Ghana to enhance the growing of the cash plants.

Efforts are going into the restoration of Ghana’s landscapes, as well as into the lasting fight against global warming; and the country’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Forest Plantation Fund Board, organized a two-day preparation workshop for Asanteman queen mothers on bamboo farms development.

This supports the government’s tree planting works, as at least 22,671,696 trees planted in 2022 outdid the government’s target of 20 million trees across the 16 regions of Ghana. The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana, Samuel Abu Jinapor, said that the government hopes to plant no fewer than 10 million trees this year under the Green Ghana program. Speaking on the downward review of the number of trees to be planted, the Minister said that government wants to be more dedicated and devoted to nurturing the over 30 million trees planted already in recent years so that all the trees can reach maturity as soon as possible.

The workshop, strategically placed to leverage on the immense traditional and political powers of the revered queen mothers’ stools, follows the government’s prior regeneration moves, and comes after the Minister had visited Ashanti Region in December last year to enlist the support of the queen mothers in fighting against unlawful mining, and to promise them that they will be integral parts of the 2023 Green Ghana agenda aimed at planting bamboos in marketable amounts.

While speaking with the queen mothers at the workshop, in Kumasi, on the 9th of March, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Lands and Forestry, Mr. Benito Owusu-Bio, expanded on the pertinence of the workshop to the government since it acknowledges the potential of bamboo and rattan resources as valuable materials that can better the livelihoods of several scores of inhabitants around forest ecosystems.

He went on to expound the benefits of the workshop, among other things, clarifying that queen mothers will be armed with good knowledge and insight into the degree to which bamboo and rattan in Ghana could aid sustenance of communities; he pointed to the vast prospects in the area of job creation, especially for youngies and women alike. He believed that the workshop would birth critical outcomes as it would increase the number of stakeholders, in government and private settings, putting in efforts to meet the planting goals in the country’s Forest Plantation Strategy, which plans to establish more than 500,000 hectares of new bamboo plantations between 2015 -2040.

Owusu-Bio reassured the queen mothers that the first sensitization package was simply to kick off, that the Ministry would assemble more resources to spread the program to other regions so as to optimize the bamboo industry. “I wish to assure you of the unflinching support of my Minister and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to support this initiative. We will do our maximum best to provide the necessary technical and logistical support to promote this bamboo plantation development enterprise,” he said. He also counselled the Forestry Commission, the Director of International Association of Bamboo and Rattan Development, INBAR, and the Plantation Fund Board to continue providing the needed backing to ensure that the program succeeds.

The queen mother of the Mampong traditional area, Nana Agyakuma Difie II and Chairman admonished the queen mothers to see the programs as an opportunity to advance, as well as a responsibility to their children and yet-to-come generations seeing that with one swoop, global warming is reduced and the government’s reafforestation agenda gets a shot in the arm. While motivating them to take up the project heartily and make it a reality, she stressed that the bamboo project was not exclusive to Asanteman queen mothers but for all Ghanian queen mothers and women traditional authority figures countrywide.

In his own statement, the Board Chairman of the Forestry Plantation Fund Board and Chief of Chiraa traditional area, Nana Osei Yaw Barima, promised a smooth and cooperative partnership with the queen mothers to see the bamboo project through to a resoundingly successful end. Mr Joseph Osiakwan, the Technical Director for Forestry at the Ministry, in his short presentation on the justification for the workshop, expressed hope that queen mothers will have adequate knowledge on growing healthy bamboo and making vital marketable products from the plant by the end of the two-day workshop.

Bamboo and rattan come in handy in the making of fanciful Furnitures, mats, decorations, as well as other household and fashion items, and with these products boldly taking their places in the global market, producers of bamboo and rattan are in for a swell time. With about one million hectares of home-grown bamboo, Ethiopia sits kingly as the biggest bamboo grower in Africa. It houses about 67% of all African bamboo.

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Admin published in Africa, African Beauty, African Countries and Places, African Culture and Traditions, African Entertainment News & Features, March 13, 2023

Africans earn world’s biggest financial reward, recognition in history discipline.

Two Africans stood out in the 2023 Dan David Prize – Saheed Aderinto and Chao Tayiana Maina.
Both scholars have done significant and recognition-worthy works in the discipline of history.
Each of them is to receive a financial reward of $300,000.

Nigeria’s Saheed Aderinto and Kenya’s Chao Tayiana Maina have earned additional labels that consolidate their achievements; both the Nigerian professor of History and African Diaspora Studies and the founder of the African Digital Heritage, this February, won foremost global award that distinguishes and supports outstanding contributions to the study of history and other disciplines that shed light on the human past, a recognition considered the biggest history prize in the world – the Dan David Prize.

Aderinto, 44-year-old professor of History and African Diaspora Studies at the Florida International University, and Maina, emerged as two from the nine winners announced on the 28^th of February as recipients of $300,000 each, for their respective contributions to history research and to support their future works in the discipline. The Prize, described by The Washington Post as “the new MacArthur-style ‘genius grant’ for history”, and its financial attachment, which is an integral part of it, sits huge as the biggest history prize in the world.

Maina, a Kenyan historian and digital humanities scholar working at connecting culture and technology, focuses her work principally on using technology to preserve, engage, and disseminate African heritage.

Professor Ariel Porat, President of the Tel Aviv University, and Chairman of the Dan David Prize Board, while announcing the winners, said “the nine recipients exemplify outstanding research in history and related fields. They were chosen by a committee of international experts, following an open nomination process. Their scholarship reflects the interests of Dan David, the founder of the prize who was a businessman with a passion for archaeology and history.”

Porat clarified that the prize had since 2022 focused exclusively on history in its many facets. He continued, “giving this annual prize provides the opportunity to celebrate the exceptional work of scholars and practitioners who surprise us with insights into people, places and ideas that might otherwise remain forgotten or misunderstood.”

About the winners, Porat held that “they are scholars and practitioners who have the potential to reshape their fields in the future, and it is our hope that this prize will assist them to do so.”

The selection board applauded the winners’ work “for situating African history at the cutting edge of diverse literatures in the history of sexuality, nonhumans, and violence, noting that it is exceptional to see a single person leading scholarship in all of these fields.”

Aderinto took his celebration to facebook, he wrote: “Yes! I just won the largest history prize in the world. It’s $300,000. For me, alone. One lump sum. 220 million, in Nigerian currency. I have just received the highest financial reward for excellence in the historical discipline, on planet earth. It’s a Prize, not a grant. I don’t think there is any history prize worth $100,000 in cash—much less $300,000. While 300k is a lot of money in any strong global currency, the true value of the Dan David Prize is not the cash per se but what it would help me do for my students and mentees, institutions, global infrastructure of knowledge, and communities of practice. Hence, the award is about my scholarly achievement as much as about the people, institutions, and communities I represent.”

On the award he wrote: “The Dan David Prize was founded in 2000 with an endowment by Romanian-born Israeli businessman and philanthropist Dan David. Between 2001 and 2021, it awarded $1 million, each, to three very senior extraordinary humans in science, medicine, public health, politics, economics, art, and literature. Past recipients include Dr. Anthony Fauci, the public face of the US fight against COVID-19, former American Vice-President Al Gore, and MIT economics professor and Nobel Prize Winner Esther Duflo, among others. In 2022, the Dan David Prize was redesigned to become the largest history prize on earth to recognize nine exceptional historians with $300,000, each. $ 2.7 million in total. Recipients’ Ph.D. mustn’t be older than 15 years. I received my Ph.D. 13 years ago. I’m among the second cohort of the new history-focused Dan David Prize.”

It “recognizes outstanding scholarship that illuminates the past and seeks to anchor public discourse in a deeper understanding of history.” Recipients must be engaged in “outstanding and original work related to the study of the human past, employing any chronological, geographical and methodological focus.” They “should exhibit strong potential for future excellence, innovation and leadership that will help shape the study of the past for years to come.” While the Prize winners “must have completed at least one major project, the prize is not given for that project, but rather in recognition of the winner’s overall achievements as well as their potential for future excellence.”

He went ahead to admonish younger folks, he penned: “To all young and up-and-coming people out there—how hard are you working towards extraordinary rewards that don’t exist today, but will emerge tomorrow? Do you spend more on depreciables like cars, owambe, clothes, and phones, than on appreciables like knowledge, technology, skills, or a living condition that would enhance your creativity, increase your productivity, and strengthen your problem-solving abilities?

Are you seeking selfless mentors/sponsors who would help you get off the ground so you can fly beyond limits—with your own wings, on your own terms, at your own pace? Are you investing selflessly in your subordinates? Do you believe in and work for a cause that is bigger than you and your name, and that places people and institutions at the center of collective growth, shared honor, and democratized progress? Are you real to yourself, people, and circumstances? Are you building sustainable personal and professional relationships across gender and sexual orientation, nationality, religion, ideology, race, ethnicity, generation, e.t.c.? Are you learning the art of leadership within your community, profession, or network?

How strong is your faith in God or whatever you believe in? Do you have the discipline to wait, and wait, and wait—while also maintaining consistently high productivity—until your labor and investment begin to yield the best results? Do you believe in an instant or delayed gratification? How intentional, audacious, conscientious, and gritty are you? Do you have friends, colleagues, and family who would say—Mafo, mo wa pelu e (meaning ‘don’t relent, I am with you’ in Yoruba language) —even at the peak of your failures and vulnerabilities? If you have honest and self-reflective responses to these questions, then you can achieve something bigger than the largest history prize on planet earth”.

Aderinto, born in Ibadan in 1979, received his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Ibadan in 2004 and his Ph.D. from the University of Texas, Austin in 2010. Later that year his teaching career took off at Western Carolina University where he became a full Professor of History in 2021. In 2022, he moved to Florida International University.

The professor has published 8 books, 41 encyclopedia articles, 37 journal articles and book chapters, and 21 book reviews. His new book ‘Animality and Colonial Subjecthood in Africa’ inspects the roles of animals in Nigerian history. Also, he is currently writing a book as well as creating a documentary on Fuji music.

Aderinto is also the founding president of the Lagos Studies Association and a senior research fellow of the French Institute for Research in Africa.

Chao Tayiana Maina holds an MSc in International Heritage Visualisation and a BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science. Her research work explored the possibilities of implanting intangible histories in 3D digital environments. She is widely acknowledged for her bright work in documenting Kenyan history in innovative ways.

Maina, also the co-founder of Museum of British Colonialism and Open Restitution Africa project, and she specializes in using digital technologies to study unseen historical narratives with the intent to make them reachable to broader audiences. Her work centers on supporting African and Afro-diaspora communities to regain their identities and cultural heritage.

She is renowned for successfully upholding collaborative and interactive histories, where communities are invited to join the process of historical examination and findings.

The two awardees have since been collecting congratulations from different quarters.

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Admin published in Africa, African Beauty, African Countries and Places, African Culture and Traditions, African Entertainment News & Features, March 13, 2023

Kenya leads world tea production, exportation.

Because tea is in high demand globally, efforts are being made by primary growers of the product to double up on production.
Africa is at the fore front of tea production and export globally.
Kenya, though not necessarily a major consumer, has sustained its position as a leading grower of different types of tea in the world.
Other than water, tea follows as a highly consumed beverage; next to China and India, Kenya is big on the global tea production stage.

Next to water, tea is the world’s most consumed drink; this accounts for its high demand across the world, and Kenya has stood tall as the only African country to be listed in the top ten tea manufacturing countries worldwide, and the biggest global exporter of black tea particularly.

Tea has remained a major cash crop grown in Kenya and has been a leading source of foreign exchange earnings for the country. Regarding cultivation of the leaves, Kenya produced over 400 thousand tons of tea in 2022 thanks to the estimated 500,000 small-scale Kenyan farmers that grow tea across the country on approximately 236,000 hectares of land. The country’s regions that are famous for tea distribution include the Nyambene Hills, Kericho region, and Nandi. Many teas are produced in Asia and being the birthplace of the product, it is understandable that China sits on the very top of the ladder as the leader of the industry, in terms of production and even consumption. However, the input, innovation, and significant contribution of this younger participant in the industry, Kenya, has quickly earned it a spot as the largest exporter of black tea in the world.

Although Kenya is in Africa, its location close to the equator positions it for sufficient sunlight and ideal conditions to grow the plants. Other environmental factors, including high elevation in the mountains and an excessively rich volcanic soil, have made it favorable for the plants to thrive. This has subsequently enabled tea farmers in Kenya to grow an immense amount of the product and harvest some of the best teas the world has reckoned with. Kenya produces a lot of black tea and several other types of teas including green tea, yellow tea, and white tea grown on request by key tea producers, but one unique tea native to the country is the Kenyan Purple Tea. Purple leaf tea was developed in Kenya about 25 years ago. It is called the purple leaf tea because of its signature purple and healthy-looking leaves with high levels of antioxidants. It is believed to contain even more age-defying antioxidants than the green tea with potentials to curb cancer and other ailments.

This unique-tasting tea carries quite a smooth tang; rather than having a grassy taste, it has more of melon and honey flavors. Many also love and prefer the purple tea because it is low on caffeine, so it works well for a quick afternoon shot of antioxidant. Tea lovers have found that adding some lemon juice to purple tea changes its color to peach or even gold. China produces about 2,400,000 tons of tea yearly, this puts the country on the number one spot among biggest producers, exporters, and, to some extent, consumers of tea in the world. It exports 40% of the total tea in world. India is popular for being the second highest tea producing country in the world accounting for about 1,250,000 tons annually.

Kenya got acquainted with tea in 1903, it became a profit-oriented venture in 1924 when Malcom Bell stepped in for the company Brooke Bond, and it has been a key stapple in the African country ever since. The annual tea production in Kenya exceeds 500,000 tons, this makes it the third biggest producers globally; and number one producer of black tea globally. In Mombasa, a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean, tea is sold through automated public auction for an international community. In October 2011, tea was averagely actioned at $3.22 per kilogram.

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Admin published in Africa, African Beauty, African Countries and Places, African Culture and Traditions, African Entertainment News & Features, March 10, 2023

Africa’s oldest restaurant validates continent’s timeless cuisine.

The oldest restaurant in Africa, Café El M’Rabet, maintains the spirit of its founders.
Its staying power has also demonstrated the longevity of African staples.
Other than the classic meals, it has served as a nostalgic spot for relaxation.

In 1628, minister Ali Thabit, in Tunisia, put together what is now considered the oldest restaurant in Africa, and one of the oldest in the world – Café El M’Rabet, in Tunis. The classic restaurant is cited steps away from the Zaytuna Mosque, or popularly called the Zitouna Mosque by many who believe the restaurant itself was founded as a part of the Mosque.

Regular features of the restaurant include live music usually served in the evenings – a tradition that has continued up till today. The beautiful space also provides an outdoor beer barn.

The historic Jemâa Ezzitouna marketplace enjoys a pleasant viewpoint from the famous and ever bustling El M’Rabet restaurant giving it a majestic and relaxing feel. Also, the time-tested restaurant serves pies and roasts, inspired by the old-style British tavern foods. It has promptly responded to times and seasons, but it is yet to lose its ancient flavor and appeal. Young and old, natives and tourists, from time to time, visit this classic food spot in North Africa. Not only has it validated the time-tested cuisines of Africa, but it has also proven to be a favorite tourist destination, and a reliable spot for hospitality.

Not only is it one of the oldest, but it has also registered its reputation as one of the best restaurants in Africa particularly, and in the world generally, paying attention to different languages as many clients visit the spot from various parts of the world, hence commination should not pose a challenge.

Recently, clients who visited the classic restaurant observed that the services are top-notch, pointing out that the only possible glitch is the wait – a lot of people from different parts of the world visit the restaurant, hence it welcomes tons of food and fun lovers daily. Iraqi Anni-Voo Duhok said after her recent visit to the restaurant that “I was very empty during the lunchtime so was lucky to have excellent attentive service. As I don’t know French, the manager kindly explained to me with English and Arabic the dishes, the vegetables with lamb that I ordered were delicious and the Arabic coffee at the end was amazing. Plus, they also had a nice selection of starters. Veryt central location and there is also livelier coffeeshop downstairs.” The foods, the consistency of service, as well as the retention of ancient values, styles and cuisines, have singled out Café El M’Rabet from the pack.

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Admin published in Africa, African Beauty, African Countries and Places, African Facts, African News, March 10, 2023

Tunisian women stake claim in male-dominated industries.

Tunisian women are rising up to the labor challenge in their country.
They are not relenting; they are measuring up, filling up the unemployment gap.
Men-dominated trades are gradually getting infiltrated by talented Tunisian women.

It was rare, years ago, in the north African country of Tunisia to find women holding their own in masonry, auto repair, carpentry, and aircraft piloting, among other male-controlled work spheres, but recently, Tunisian women are gradually plunging headlong into some of these areas.

Sociologists say Tunisian women break into the business world of men because the social and living conditions in Tunisia have encouraged women’s involvement in work so that their families can benefit, especially in cases where they are singularly the providers of their families. Also, Tunisian sociologists believe that the high proportion of females working in male professions is an indication of the change in social roles and core stereotypes concerning men and women.

Traditionally, women tackled domestic and reproductive roles and jobs in Tunisian societies. Generally, jobs like teaching, nursing, and sewing were primarily to be taken up by women. However, the tides seem to be changing. Tunisian gas station attendant, Labib a Fer chichi, who has been working for over 20 years, told journalists that success’ sure route is persistence. In spite of social rejection and unfavorable conditions at work, she gave herself to the job and conquered obstacles in her path.

Heavy truck driver, Nadia Abu Fares, shared with journalists how she found it strange to initially do such a job that rallied several men around her, but, armed with skill, practice, and passion she has carved a path for herself in that masculine space. The young lady who is also a driving instructor says “I love trucks, as my father loved mechanics of all kinds, so I took the driving test and passed. Another reason is I was challenged in 2004 when it was the driving test for trucks, as one of my colleagues was an old man, he said I would never be able to pass, but I wanted to prove to him that I could pass without help, with my own effort. On the day of the test, I entered the hall and saw it was all men there. One of them looked at me and said I entered the wrong hall, as it was not the hall for light cars, so I answered him that I am in the right hall, and that I was there to take the test with him.”

Also, Fatima Al-Ferjani, a Service Technician shares her thoughts and feelings, she said “I worked as an accountant and then moved on to work as a mechanic and selling auto parts. I search for parts online, memorize their names, and sell them. I found myself loving this profession…” The supply pressure in the labor market remains high, especially for certain in-demand or high-demand services. Job seekers outnumber employers, despite Tunisia being in the advanced stage of a unique transition, a transition involving work and social life.

According to the 2015 Global Gender Gap Report, thirteen out of the fifteen countries with the lowest rates of women participating in their labor force are in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Yemen has the lowest rate of working women in the region, followed by Syria, Jordan, Iran, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Lebanon, Egypt, Oman, Tunisia, Mauritania, and Turkey. Women’s participation in the workforce in MENA is expected to spike, especially when the education rate is at parity for girls and boys, and when, often, the girls outperform the boys in school.

According to 18-year-old student Farah Mkaouar, Tunisian women in the 21st century need a lot more support. The 1956 Personal Status Code guarantees Tunisian girls and women the right to study and work. There are laws against marriage under the age of 18 and marriage against consent. All of these should increase the number of women leaders in male-dominated fields like aerospace engineering and politics. She is optimistic that, while men are known in Tunisia for specific types of occupations, women will soon rise in the hierarchy of jobs ascribed to men only.

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Admin published in Africa, African Beauty, African Countries and Places, African Culture and Traditions, African Entertainment News & Features, March 10, 2023

Ghanian teachers’ colorful line of duty.

Ghana has joined other African countries that pay attention to cultural attires in the workplace.

Teachers in a district of the west African country adopted this initiative and have since pushed it joyfully.

The idea is to reinforce the creativity in the clothing of Africans.

Following conventions in other parts of Africa, teachers in the Hohoe Metropolis, Volta region, Ghana, have adopted the wearing of native Ghanaian and African clothing on the last Friday of every month. This creativity, introduced in 2022, is to encourage the wearing of native Ghanaian garments and to fortify collective bonds through culture and tradition.

Ms Janet Valerie Datsa, the Hohoe Municipal Director of Education, started this to merge culture and education into one since they were hitherto mutually separated. Other than boosting culture, it also fosters unity among teachers from a wide range of ethnic groups and backgrounds. Teachers in the Metropolis have followed the initiative religiously.

Every last Friday of each month, countless school grounds in the Municipality are continually awash with beautiful and assorted styles of African prints and native wears. Workers at the education offices also take part in this healthy showcase of culture.

Mr Samuel Kaletsi, one of the teachers at the St. Francis College of Education Demonstration Primary School, expressed his happiness with the creativity. “First of all, let me thank Madam Valerie- I mean our Municipal Director for her singular efforts in promoting cultural awareness and unity among the teaching class. This initiative has really helped in giving meaning to the true spirit of Africanism. In fact, our learners (pupils/students) are also benefiting from it as they are becoming enlightened on the cultural uniqueness of their beloved country, Ghana,” he said.

Other teachers applauded the proponent of the initiative for her sincere efforts in strengthening the ties since teachers in the municipality come from many parts of the country. They endorsed the idea as one that would nurture unity and national cohesion.

The main advocate of the idea, Madam Valerie Janet Datsa, said: “Well, I am so humbled by all of the praises being showered on me by my colleagues. I really don’t have much to say but I am happy that just in less than two years since this idea came up, it has gotten this far. I am really humbled,” Madam Datsa said, adding that it was necessary “so as to continue to showcase our rich culture, traditions and heritage to the rest of the world.”

She was hopeful that the concept would be accepted and implemented by other education boards in the district and other parts of the country.

This concept is not relatively new in Africa as in most Nigerian cities workers and businesspeople alike adorn themselves with native attires on Fridays, not just each month’s last Friday.

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Admin published in Africa, African Countries and Places, African Foods, African News, Developments in Africa, February 19, 2023

LESOTHO: HIS MAJESTY TO HOST HIGH-LEVEL EVENT.

An event will be hosted by His Majesty King Letsie III. It is a high-level event on nutrition and food security and it will be held in March 2023.

The leaders of African countries are now fighting tooth and nail to get rid of everything that has plagued their citizens. Presently, the reports on the status of nutrition have shown that in Africa, malnutrition remains the cause of most child deaths

Those that will be in attendance are; six Heads of State and Government, and other renowned people in the region and beyond. This was disclosed in a saving gram issued by the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Mr. Thabo Motoko.

This high-level event is expected to explore lasting solutions regarding maintaining good nutrition. This event is also part of the long-term vision set out in Agenda 2063, whereby the Heads of State of the African Union have adopted common African goals and objectives, thus bringing about well-nourished citizens and in good health with more emphasis on women, adolescents, and children.

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Admin published in Africa, African Beauty, African Countries and Places, African Entertainment News & Features, African Facts, February 7, 2023

Gifted gymnast gathers garbage, goes for life’s goal.

Top-ranked Egyptian athlete, Ali el Sharkawi, has found a unique way to scale the financial hurdles on his track to becoming a global weightlifter. Right in the city of Tanta, Gharbia, in Egypt, he takes full advantage of his day, gathering recyclable waste that translates to money – the much-needed resource for the advancement of his career; while at night, the 29-year-old resumes at the gym for vigorous training.

Sharkawi, a two-time bronze medalist at the Country’s national championships, like several other Egyptian sportspersons, has frequently raised concerns regarding finding funding for his career. To finance his career, and generally stay afloat life’s turbulent waters, Sharkawi started collecting garbage for which he gets paid.

Securing funding or external support has proven quite challenging for many Egyptian sportspersons engaged in various sports, but Sharkawi, though bearing some accolades and national recognition as a weightlifter, including two bronze medals at national championships, has launched out into the unconventional, he has resorted to a humble source of funds.

Using a horse-pulled cart, he collects recyclable wastes across Gharbia, his birthplace in Egypt’s Nile delta. This earns him up to two hundred Egyptian pounds, which is about $6.59 per day.

Pointing out that most of the available financial support goes to better-recognized sports like soccer, Sharkawi wishes for better funding options, even as he keeps seeking state support for his weightlifting career.

Despite the daunting confines of his training routine, he draws stimulation and motivation from the popular ‘Big Ramy’, a prominent Egyptian bodybuilder born Mamdouh Elssbiay, winner of the Mr Olympia title in both 2020 and 2021.

“He is seeking to participate in an international championship, but a bodybuilding career needs support and funding to provide nutrition”, the young athlete’s coach, Mostafa el-Tamimi, said, also mentioning that Sharkawi came to the limelight when he started training.

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Admin published in Africa, African Beauty, African Countries and Places, African Culture and Traditions, African Folklore Series, January 14, 2023

BENIN’S VOODOO FESTIVAL WOWS TOURISTS, BOOSTS COUNTRY’S TOURISM.

Over a thousand followers assembled in the Atlantic coast town of Ouidah, a once important slave trade port, in Benin to celebrate the country’s 500-year-old traditional religion with voodoo festivities.

The ritual attracted people of African descent from different parts of the world chiefly because of their shared African heritage.

For them, discovering and preserving their ancestral roots is noble as well as interesting, so, they converge to watch the extravagant yearly rites of drumming, dance, and display of honor to gods and spirits.

The convergence did not come without some fizz for the country’s tourism and hospitality industry as natives and visitors enjoy different spectacles, native cuisines, attires, and relaxation spots, all amounting to a boost in revenue circulation.

As part of its development plan, the government has set aside a stretch of beachfront between the main city Cotonou and Ouidah as a special tourism zone for visitors, who it believes will also be keen to visit historical slave locations, pre-colonial palaces, and tour the natural marvels of Benin’s inland.

According to recent annual data from the World Tourism Organization, about 350,000 tourists visited Benin in 2020, although numbers have been growing progressively since 292,000 people visited in 2016.

The voodoo festivities, a traditional African spirit religion that spread to the Americas with the slave trade, were declared a national holiday in 1992.

This year followers of the religion from neighboring countries like Togo, Ghana, and Nigeria, as well as from distant locations like Haiti, Brazil, and the United States all converged to experience the national holiday, where performers, dressed as protectors of the night, dazzled in fascinating costumes delighting worshippers and tourists alike.

Dance groups gyrate to enthralling drumming and chant sessions as onlookers savor the sight while taking videos and pictures with their phones.

According to voodoo spiritual leader Daagbo Hounon Houna II, people come in swelling numbers because voodoo is no longer considered sorcery or barbarism.

Inland, in Savalou, the backyard of Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou, priests and luminaries set a chicken ablaze at the ceremony and then spread its blood and palm oil on a totem made with sand and cowrie shells, as part of the rites.

Voodoo is practiced by around 12% of the West African country’s population of 13 million people, but the authorities also want to use these deep mystical heritages and remarkable customs to attract more tourists and boost the agriculture-dependent economy.

Group dances and mystic costumes of the Ouidah festival were likely to be the highlight for many spectators.

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Admin published in Africa, African Countries and Places, African Culture and Traditions, African News, Ethnic Groups in Africa December 30, 2022

AN EXHIBITION FOR RARE TRADITIONAL COLLECTIBLES HELD IN GHADAMES, LIBYA

In the city Ghadames in Libya was held an exhibition for rare traditional collectibles managed under Libyan’s Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts.

The exhibition was inaugurated by the Mayor of Ghadames, Dr Qassem Al-Manea, which involved a large group of participants from in and out of the City of Ghadames.

The exhibition displayed many ancient and valuable items including inexplicable hand woven baskets, ancient mortar and pestle intricating hand-made clay pots, amongst others.

It’s previous edition was held in 2019 on the same day with World Tourism day, September 27 as it was aimed at introducing the civilizational and cultural heritage of the city and also reviving the vulnerable traditional industries.

The City of Ghadames is known to be the abode to important archaeological sites, with the Ottoman Citadel as part of which was dedicated to the Ghadames Museum.

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Admin published in Africa, African Culture and Traditions, African Folklore Series, African News, Ethnic Groups in Africa November 21, 2022

KANKURANG INITIATION RITES OF GAMBIAN BOYS

As a warning that the Kankurang is coming, sharp sounds of clanking machetes cut the air. Children fearfully run inside their homes as the scary being approaches, chuntering. Out of curiosity, others risk a closer look at the man dressed to represent the spiritual figure.

The Kankurang is the guarantor of order and justice as well as the exorcist of evil spirits, as such, he ensures transmission and teaching of a complex collection of know-how and practices underpinning Manding cultural identity.

The traditional Kankurang is an initiate who wears a mask made of the bark and red fibre of the Faara tree and is clothed in leaves, and body painted with vegetable dyes. He is the central character of the circumcision ceremonies and initiatory rites.

This initiation rite is practiced by the Mandinka ethnic groups in Gambia and neighbouring Senegal. There is a small procession of teenagers and young men who are accompanying four young boys getting to the end of month-long-initiation rite following the Kankurang.

In an article on independent.co.uk, Mamadou Jallow who led one of the ceremonies and looked after the boys during a four-week initiation period said: “This is the place where we trained them (the boys) how to respect people and how to respect elders and so on”.

He said that the Kankurang is a spirit and humans do not have his power, although some men dress like the Kankurang during the ceremonies to chase away evil from the boys.

At the end of the rite, families, friends and neighbours gather to celebrate and for the presentation of the newly initiated boys, each of them dancing in front of the crowd, wearing collars made of candies and money bills.

Musicians play traditional drums, joyfully dancing and the community welcomes the boys as men who will carry on with their traditions.

Despite it being a traditional and cultural belief, the Kankurang was recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which proclaimed it a cultural heritage.

However, according to UNESCO, it said the traditional practice is at risk of retreating because of the rapid urbanization of most of Senegal and Gambia.

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Admin published in Africa, African Facts, African People, Ethnic Groups in Africa November 10, 2022

Remembering Ken Saro Wiwa: The Ogoni Nine, 27 Years on

First time I heard of the name ‘ken saro wiwa’ was during a government class in SS1 and also in my literature class. I can clearly remember how we beat our palms on our school desk chanting the words ‘Ken Saro wiwa’ in a sing song manner in order to remember the poems written by him. That was how I heard the name of the great Ogoni leader who is strongly remembered with a smile on his face and one hand lifted up in solidarity with his people.

Kenule Beeson Saro-wiwa later known as Ken Saro-Wiwa was born on October 10^th, 1941 in Bori near Portharcourt, Nigeria. He is well known to be a television producer, poet, and writer of children’s stories and became known worldwide as an environmental activist. He was an African Literature lecturer in Nsukka before the Nigerian civil war. His works are “songs in a time of war” and Soza boy: A novel in pidgin English (1985), His war diaries “On a darkling Plain (1989)”, and his satirical television series- Basi and company which aired in the 1980s (Encyclopaedia Britannia, Wikipedia).

In 1990, Ken Saro-wiwa became actively involved in politics and environmental activism. He was the President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP). His main focus was on protecting the Ogoni people who were less than a million and a minority group in the Niger Delta region. Ogoni land was one of the lands in which oil was discovered and also a land where oil spillage had destroyed the once fertile soil and the riverine area where the natives were predominantly fishermen. The region had been exploited by the multinational oil companies whose actions had been left unchecked by the owners and also by the Military Government in power.

Ken Saro-wiwa became a front runner and a spoke person for his people whose farmlands and riverine areas had been destroyed due to oil spills, acid rain, and the death of life in the rivers. In January 1993, under the dictatorship regime of Late Gen. Sani Abacha, he led the first massive peaceful protest to demand that oil companies be made to pay compensations to the community, to be held accountable for the environmental pollution of the land and water, and also for the Ogoni people to revenues and have political autonomy over their oil.

Due to his consistent activism against the health hazards for his people, Shell suspended operations in Ogoni land. Alas, his victory was short-lived as he was arrested in 1994 for the death of four Ogoni Chiefs at a political party along with eight fellow activists collectively known as the “Ogoni Nine”.

On 10^th November 1995, Ken Saro-wiwa and the eight activists were hanged after being tried by a military tribunal and convicted of murder. The “Ogoni Nine” execution was carried out despite local and international outcry who had condemned the trial and deemed it fraudulent. This led to Economic sanctions and Nigeria being suspended from the Commonwealth. Ken Saro-wiwa is known to be one of Nigeria’s bedrocks of environmental activism and a defender of Human rights.

Awards conferred on him are the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Award, the Right Livelihood for his courage, and Goldman Environmental Prize. In the 17^th edition, 2015 of the Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF), the Ken Saro-wiwa price was initiated (United Nations meetings coverage and press releases, Goldman Environmental Price, Nigerian Vanguard).

Today, we remember a hero who fought till his last breath for his people.

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Admin published in Africa, African Beauty, African Countries and Places, African People, Ethnic Groups in Africa, November 9, 2022

MARRIAGE CULTURE OF THE DINKA TRIBE IN SOUTHERN SUDAN

The Dinka people of Southern Sudan that inhabit the Swamplands of the Bahr el Ghazal region of the Nile Basin, Jonglei and parts of Southern Kordujan and upper Nile regions have a very unique and interesting marriage culture. Their women are famously beautiful and highly valued.

Marriage is seen as the merging of two families which broadens and strengthens the community. The women often marry from the community. Since it’s seen as families coming together and not just coming together of the man and wife, the parents must be in agreement.

The dowry ranges from 50-500 cows. After the marriage the wife will not do anything for four years this includes the cooking, cleaning or any other domestic work. This period is called the Anyuuc which translates to generous welcoming. She uses this time to relax and learn the husband’s home values.

The sisters of the groom perform the domestic chores in the house and take care of the wife.

After the four years elapses, the man throws a very big party called the Thaat. It’s the festival that initiated the wife into cooking. 3 goats and 5 cows are slaughtered.

If the husband misbehaves during this four years, the woman is allowed to leave without repaying the dowry.

Marriage solidifies lifelong merging of two families that is why divorce is a rare occurrence.

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Admin published in Africa, African Beauty, African Countries and Places, African Culture and Traditions, African Fashion, November 7, 2022

MWILA WOMEN AND THEIR BEAUTIFUL HAIR CULTURE

Mwila is an ethnic group that is part of Nyaneka which is a larger ethnic group living in southern Angola. They settled in the area of Huila during the 17th century because of the drought that made them abandon their lands in the country of Quilengues.

This tribe rarely eat meat, they only kill their cattles on special occasions.

The women of this ethnic group take great pride in their hairs and it could be used to pass a message. For instance, when a woman has just three dreads, it means there are dead people in the family. The usual number is 4-6.

They coat their hairs with a red paste called Oncula. Oncula is made with crushed red stone, mixture of oil, crushed tree bark, dried cow dungs and herbs. Their plaits like dread are called Nontombi.

The beautiful decorations are done with beads, cauri shells either real or plastic and dried foods. In this ethnic group, a shaved forehead is considered a sign of beauty.

These hairstyles are protected with a headrest. Hair means a lot to the women of this ethnic group.

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Admin published in Africa, African Countries and Places, African Culture and Traditions, African People, Ethnic Groups in Africa, November 3, 2022

EFIK-IBIBIO COMING OF AGE OF WOMEN (FATTENING PROCESS) AND MARRIAGE CULTURE

In Africa there are many sets of values that govern and guide the behavior of every member of a particular society.

This set of people are found in the coastal region in the southern part of Nigeria and are the most ancient ethnic group. Efik and Ibibio people are closely related.

Coming of age of women

This is a ritual-like seclusion tradition for the females in this region that lasts for 6 months at the end of which the girl is now considered a woman. During these 6 months, the girl is pampered, given massages three times daily to bring out her natural endowments for a full figure and healthy waistline is considered her beauty and given as much food as she can eat. She is also taught the ins and outs of marriage and how to take care of the husband and his people.

The older women teach them how to keep their homes from experience, teach them how to manage a household; cooking,cleaning and taking care of the house. They are not allowed to do any work, just have meaningful conversations and sleep.

They are also taught cultural dances like Ekombi, folktales and folklores, music and other forms of entertainment. They gain some artistic skills like how to design a basket, calabash and other materials. They are taught about sexual relations and how to satisfy their husbands.

After this fattening process, a grand celebration is thrown and people from all over are invited to come and honor her success in passing through this ordeal. This occasion is celebrated with cultural dances and other forms of entertainment. This lasts throughout the day and the night and gifts are given to the females to show how happy the family are for her successful coming of age.

During this ceremony the family of the girl brings out artifacts and other objects of great importance. In an interview conducted in a report of field work, one of the interviewees who passed through the process of the fattening room stated “So,culturally, like most of the cultural artifacts are brought out on the outing ceremony to decorate the nkuho’s seat… Most of the artifacts there, depending on the family – like in my royal home, we will bring out our golden gong, our golden panes, our silver spoons, our canon. My father had a canon that was used in fighting the war. Our artifacts from years of slave trade, the palm fronts, the golds that were collected during the early stage, depending on the family. Sometimes families borrow. You can borrow from some other families artifacts such as golden lanterns, the traditional long guns, the Dane guns, heads of Carmel, heads of lions that a family member had killed. And this differs from one family to another. So families do borrow these things to enrich their canopies. So it all depends on what you want to showcase, depending on your level of affluence”.

It is a thing of pride for a girl to have gone through the fattening process, both to the family and the girl herself that at times they look down on other girls that have not gone through this process and consider themselves not to be agemates.

MARRIAGE CULTURE

The marriage rites in this culture is one of the most important rites, an elaborate ceremony is thrown before, during and after the marriage. There is usually a long and rich list given to the groom and his family.

The marriage rites and rituals for first girls known as the Adiaha and that of others differ. Even though it is not the intention of the parents that their daughters not get married thereby bringing shame to the family, they are also pained that their first daughter is leaving. There are certain rituals that will be conducted for the Adiaha to leave

ADIAHA MARRIAGE RITUAL

A ritual called Awa Oduongo which literally translates to sacrifice and throw away is performed. This ritual is performed on the Fiong Aran or Etok market day. The items needed for this ritual are; hornless sheep, tortoise, squirrel, female fish (one stick), nice fish (one stick), 6 bottles of schnapps, 1 jar of local gin, 5 jars of palm wine, 25 pieces of yam, 1 tin of palm oil, afang, ikon, assorted vegetables, ifia oton and other types of firewood, a bundle of plantain, a piece of wrapper, cartons of beer, crates of soft drink, Esarisa unen (a special breed of female chicken).

This ceremony is slated to start at any time of the day. It is usually the duty of the groom’s family to inform the bride’s family of when they will be arriving. In preparation of their arrival, the males in the bride’s family dig a wide pit at the backyard of the compound where the ceremony will be held.

The groom and his family will be welcomed by the bride’s family upon arrival and the ritual commences immediately.

The bride and groom will be escorted to the backyard. Two sticks will be pegged in close proximity at the spot the sheep will be slaughtered, these sticks are called Eto itumo and Eto Okono. An Odon woven in a form of mat with an opening between to make way where the sheep is to be slaughtered will be used to cover the two sticks. The bride and the groom will stand facing each other between the Odon.

After the slaughtering of the sheep, prayers are said for the prosperity of the family and fertility of the bride. While the ritual is going on, the items brought by the groom’s family will be cooked for the celebration. It is a taboo for the parents of the bride to partake in eating the food; they are provided with chewing sticks to chew and watch the merriment. The food prepared must be consumed on that same day; leftovers will be poured into the pit where the ritual took place. A curse is placed on any partaking member who decides to use any piece of the ritual that has been carried out to do evil. If any item from this ritual gets close to the belongings of the bride’s family, everyone in the family dies except they carry out a different kind of ritual to avert the curse. After this ritual has been successful, a second one will be carried out, this one is called the Awa adia.

AWA ADIA

This one is usually carried out one week after the first one was successful. This ritual is essentially for the groom and the potential in laws.

At exactly 5:00am on the day of this ceremony, the groom and one or two of his family members show up at the bride’s house and different meals will be served to them. The potential father in law takes a bite of food and remains for him and drinks and remains for him from the same cup. The groom accepts everything and thanks the bride’s family for the kind gestures. After the breakfast, he goes home and prepares for the main ceremony that will take place in the compound of the bride. After the ceremony comes the marriage proper after the last list of items have been presented by the bride’s family and accepted by the family of the groom. It is said that the reason the bride’s family sends her off with those items is so that the groom does not say she came to his house with nothing.

MARRIAGE TO OTHER DAUGHTERS OF THE FAMILY

There are four basic steps when it comes to the marriage rites of other daughters that are not the first daughters.

Ndidiong ufok; this one is knowing her house. You visit the woman’s family to let them know of your intentions to marry their daughter. It is like an introduction to locate the in-laws. This usually happens after the bride and groom have reached an agreement either by choice or by betrothal.

Ukong udok; this is knocking on the door. After the bride’s family has accepted the proposal, a second meeting is held. In this stage, the man shows his readiness to marry their daughter

Uno mkpo; the delivery of gifts. To compensate for taking away a member of the family, the groom and his family deliver gifts to the bride’s family. The last stage is the most important stage. The last stage is called Usoro ndo. The last stage is the most significant stage, it is the traditional marriage proper and not so different from the igbo traditional marriage ceremony.

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Admin published in Africa, African Culture and Traditions, African Facts, African People, Ethnic Groups in Africa September 19, 2021

3 UNBEATABLE REASONS WHY THE AFRICAN CULTURE IS UNIQUE

Since over 3.2 billion years when the first humans probably walked through modern-day Ethiopia, man has always had a knack for culture. Culture is defined as the way a group of people does things: and humans have a tendency of sticking to a behavioral pattern. How these cultures develop is still a mystery. Currently, over 6,000 cultural groups exist on the planet. How were these patterns formed? How did they multiply? Anthropologists have several answers. One thing can’t be denied though: culture is dynamic. Its ever-changing nature gives humans a wide range of options as to what their lifestyle can look like.

However, among all the cultures that exist on this planet, the cultures of Africa seem to have a distinct tang to them- something that makes them special. Despite its having over 3000 cultures within only 54 countries, African cultures have a common thread that runs along all of them and differentiates them from the rest of the world’s cultures. It goes beyond the dark skin. How? This article shares three major things that make African culture unique.

Let’s start with food. Cuisine differs across the whole of Africa. In only one country, different ethnic groups have different meals. Talk less across the entire continent. However, we seem to share a penchant for natural meals. Our range of sauces and soups share onions, pepper, salt and natural ingredients like leaves and roots in common. We also seem to have a thing for carbohydrates. Rice, cassava, yam, corn and others adorn our culinary schedules. The beauty of the African delicacy style is that it has a way of making the most of natural products and processes to create them. Firstly, most African food products are produced by individuals- something called subsistence farming. They produce their ingredients so their meals are rather consistent though modern life has changed this and sent us to purchasing everything. Almost every green thing, from leafy plants to seeds and nuts, has a purpose in one African soup or sauce. These soups and stews are best combined with starch across Africa. Cassava swallows, yam, plantain and rice make the combination satisfying. These meals are cooked in different ways, some are common to diverse cultural groups while others are local.

The truth is, in African culture, food is more than just what people put in their bodies to give them strength. Food is a force that joins communities together. People raised certain food crops and swapped some of their produce with the products of others in the community. In fact, the populace of a particular town could go to another town during what is called a ‘market day’ to sell their products. Though modernization has changed things a lot, these practices are still prevalent in many rural and suburban settlements across Africa. This interrelationship bred community living. The African Culinary Culture also took things deeper by fostering family relationships. It’s a natural tradition in African culture that the family must eat together, at least once daily. It even stretches as far as all the children eating from a plate. This is one of the reasons that Africans have a strong sense of family. They say that families that eat together stay together.

Food also plays a major role in our social caste system. At occasions and gatherings, certain kinds of food are reserved for leaders and elderly people, not necessarily based on discrimination but honour. These honored people are served with food first before the younger ones in the community. In Africa, something as mundane as food plays several roles in beautifying her diverse cultures.

Up next is art. Art is a very broad subject and so, in this article, we’ll be considering everything from fashion style, to dance, to writing, music and painting as art. We find that African art is usually tailored and purposeful before it becomes leisurely. Music, painting and folklore seemed to revolve around religious and moral purposes. Every piece of painting was a retelling of a story- somewhat like our modern comic book. Songs were renditions of stories or even stories of their own told in a lyrical format. These songs and stories were passed down through generations and had a way of maintaining a common value standard in the community. Gathering around fires or under the moonlight to share stories was commonplace among many African cultural groups from the horn to even the west of Africa. Usually, elders would come up with something quite similar to Instagram reels- Proverbs. These proverbs were miniaturized stories, often no longer than a sentence, that conveyed deep truth. Quite unfortunately, writing wasn’t a part of most African cultures till later in history so information was usually passed down verbally, leading to a lot of alterations so that we’re not sure of the origins of most stories. However, most story variations retained their central message.

Dance is dynamic across Africa, with new indigenous styles originating even in recent times. One dance style that has remained throughout the ages is the waist dance, though this has variations across Africa. It most likely originated from women who danced together during celebrations in hopes to attract a male suitor. Soon, though, it became an African identity marker, something that Africans will be known for. African dance steps are usually very energetic in nature and demand the skillful use of body parts. Some of these dance steps have even spread across the world. Drums are a major part of our music, with upbeat rhythms being prevalent. A handful of African cultures prefer the rather calmer Asian style, though. While our dress styles vary, one thing is prevalent- they are full of color! The blend of color on African clothing is so beautifully bright, they can blind. Jewelry is also a major part of our dressing, consisting of precious metals, stones and cowries.

The power of our art mostly lies in its purpose. Since African art mainly served to preserve its cultural and moral values, we find that these ideas transcended the changes of modernization. They still hold sway in African communities to date.

Thirdly, Africa culture and traditions build a strong sense of community over individualism with somewhat regimented roles for each individual within the broad group. Husbands had roles, so did wives and children. Elders and youth played different roles within the community. The culmination of these roles served to meet the needs of the community so no part was lacking. Though these roles were largely regimented, we could see occasional deviations from them, for example, Akwa Boni of the Baoulé people in Cote d’Ivoire was a female ruler- a role that is usually reserved for males. These deviations were allowed especially under situations where the normal couldn’t be obtained, such as at the death of the male breadwinner. Age groups also existed in so many African groups such as the Karimojong of Uganda and Igbos of Nigeria. These age groups function like a social circle of people, mostly men, within which everyone has shared responsibilities and privileges. Members usually underwent an initiation process.

Africa’s strong sense of community still exists today with family remaining a focal point of attention. Fixed roles help to maintain order within society till today. Rather than being regimented, these roles are now more flexible and can be switched in modern African society.

The importance of African Culture cannot be neglected. The earliest African civilizations such as in Egypt and Ethiopia have influenced world cultures. For example, ancient Egyptian mathematics and writing patterns served as precursors of what we have today. Their Medical practices, including surgeries, serve as a basis for other cultures throughout history.

The African culture has indeed had its excesses, such as discrimination against a castes of people and religious beliefs that either put lives in danger or retarded technological growth. However, the beauty of the African culture is undeniable and does more good than harm. Maybe, one day, like Wakanda of Marvel Cinematic Universe, we’ll be able to find the perfect blend between progressive literary/technological growth and maintaining our values, customs and traditions.

This is not an article that tries to decide which culture is best. It’s more of one that declares that, despite the thousands of cultures in existence today, African cultures stand out of the crowd in beauty.

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Admin published in Africa, African Culture and Traditions, African Facts, African People, Ethnic Groups in Africa July 23, 2021

10 CONVINCING FACTS ABOUT AFRICA THAT WILL AMAZE YOU

When some people hear Africa, they think about poverty stricken people who are less intelligent and the deepest dark skin. However the reverse is the case. Africa is undoubtedly a blessed continent with an heterogeneous mass land, beautiful wildlife, some of the world’s oldest civilisation history, natural resources, multiple and diverse cultures. It also has the fastest growing nation in the world. According to some theories, Africa is a word coined from Greek and Latin word. The words are “Aprica” and “Phrike”. “Aprica” is a latin word which means sunny while ” Phrike” on the other hand is a Greek word which means cold and horror. According to another source, the name Africa is also believed to have been originally called Alkebulan meaning Mother of Tongues or Mother of Nations before it got changed.

Being the second largest continent in the world, it homes 1,216,130,000 people and has 54 countries. Nigeria remains the country with the highest population in Africa. Here are ten amazing weird facts about Africa.

Civilisation began in Africa. Africa has mysteries surrounding its continent as modern civilization began in Egypt. According to Science, The first man on earth lived in Africa as the oldest human remains were discovered in Jebel Irhoud, Morocco. Egypt is famous for its fantastic pyramids while Sudan has more pyramids but its pyramids are not famous. University of Karueein ( Athen’s of Africa) which was founded in 859 AD by Fatima al-Fihiri in Fez, Morocco, is the oldest existing and operating educational institution in the world. The oldest library in the world was founded in Egypt. Also the most basic form of math which is arithmetic was initiated in Africa around 25,000 years ago.
Several dialects are spoken in Africa. 3,000 different ethnic groups exist in Africa as well as 2,000 different languages are being spoken in Africa. Arab is widely spoken in Africa, followed by English, French, Swahili and so on. More than 50% of French-speaking people live here in Africa. Angola also has more Portuguese speakers than Portugal.

The richest human being in all history is African. Mansa Musa I of Mali is believed to be the richest man who ever lived on earth. He was born in 1280 and was the king of Timbuktu. His net worth was $400 Billion.

You can see Europe from Africa. Morocco in Africa and Spain in Europe have less than 9 miles between them. The Strait of Gibraltar is the water channel that connects the Atlantic ocean to the Mediterranean sea which separates Africa from Europe. It takes a ferry only 35 minutes to cross from Africa to Europe.

Africa has the highest rate of twin-births. In recent research, A city Igbo Ora in Nigeria has been given the credit of recording the average birth of 45 to 50 sets of twins per 1,000 births. The city which is in Oyo state in Nigeria has been nicknamed ‘Twin Capital of the World’. The people of Oyo see the birth of twins as an honor and also a blessing from God. Some of them have the beliefs that twins are supernatural beings and also worship them as deities.

Africa has beautiful, famous and sightseeing rivers and lakes.Overall, Africa has about 9% of the world’s fresh water resources. There are so many rivers in African continent namely Congo, Nile, Zambezi, Niger and Lake Victoria.. The world’s longest river, the Nile, is in Africa stretches across 4,000 miles and runs across 11 countries in Africa. The largest waterfall in Africa is Victoria Fall. It is also noted as the second-largest freshwater lake in the world. Its location is on the Zimbabwe and Zambia border. The lake is also among one of the seven Natural Wonders. Its height is 355 feet. Africa also has a pink lake in Senegal called Lac Rose. The pink colour has been caused by bacteria however it is safe to swim in it. Ikogisi warm springs which are in Nigeria can never be excluded as tourists yearly visit the spring to see the hot and cold water meets at a confluence. There are still other rivers in Africa which have historical myths and legends surrounding them. Some rivers are worshipped and are believed to be connected to ancestors.

25 people from Africa have been awarded a nobel prize. Africans have received five of the six noble prize categories which ranged from Peace, Physics, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and Chemistry. Nelson Mandela who was notably known as the first democratically elected president of South Africa was awarded a Peace Noble Laureate in 1993. Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu were both notable South Africans who were given the Nobel prize. They influenced South Africa positively and sought independence for their country. Also at one time, they both lived in the same country. Wole Soyinka was also given a nobel prize in literature. This shows that Africans are intelligent and have great intellect. It also implies that African leaders and members are also notable and respectable in the world.
Africa homes varieties of wildlife. It has different types of habitat ranging from jungles and forest to grasslands and desert. The largest, tallest and fastest animals in the world are in Africa. African Elephants are larger compared to Asian Elephant. African Elephant therefore is the largest animal in the world and is gigantic in nature. The tallest animal in the world, the giraffe is also in Africa. As well as the fastest animal in the world, Cheetah. The Goliath frog is the world’s largest frog and lives in Cameroon. Africa is also home to 25% of the world’s bird species. Four of the five fastest land animals are in Africa. These include cheetah, Wildebeest, lion and Thomson’s gazelle. Some wild animals in Africa are categorized as the Big Five namely Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhinoceros.

Africa has a rich culture. The norms, values of age old Africa are forms that shows Africa’s uniqueness. The people of Northern Namibia cover their skin with a natural pigment which contains iron oxide to protect themselves from the sun. For that reason, their skin tone is always red. In the Fulani tribe, a tradition called Sharo is followed. Sharo happens when two men ask for a lady’s hand in marriage. They compete for her by beating one another. The one who takes the wife must have withstood the beating and show no sign of pain.
Finally most people only associate Africans with dark skin but Africa’s skin colour ranges from different groups. There are various different skin tones in Africa from very dark to very light.The southern Sudan is known to have the darkest people in the world. People in Africa have almost every skin colour in the world. There are 3 main factors which determine skin colour; genetics, exposure to sun, concentration to Melanin. Melanin determines skin colour, eye colour and hair colour; it protects the skin by absorbing Ultraviolet radiation.

These convincing facts can make one deduce that Africa is rich not only in culture and history but also in intelligence. Africa has both paved the way to civilization and is contributing to the immense development of its nations.

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Admin published in Africa, African Countries and Places, African Facts, Ethnic Groups in Africa June 2, 2021

Random Interesting Facts About Africa You May Not Know

WHAT ARE INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT AFRICA?

Africa is considered the origin of mankind by many scientists. A cultural rich mixture of African natives with fascinating traditions are scattered across the 54 independent countries. Among all the seven continents in the World, Africa stands out as a distinctively unique continent with an unending well of natural resources, rich in diverse cultural heritage. Tourists from all over the world are attracted to Africa.

Though there are misconceptions and negativity being projected by the foreign media about Africa by pointing out more of the alarming poverty level, insecurities, war and famine. Africa is really better than what you might have heard. This continent has an interesting history as well as a rich geography and biodiversity that inspires tourists and visitors from all over the world.

Random Amazing Facts About Africa

Africa is the second largest continent in the world both in population and size covering a total area of 11 million square miles which account for 5.7% of the earth’s surface alongside 20% of the total land surface on the planet. African has a few disputed territories alongside 54 independent countries with Algeria being the largest African country by geographical area. Sudan used to be the largest African country before it was split into Sudan and South Sudan.

The length and breadth of the African continent are almost the same as it measures at 4,660 from the north to south and east to west. Africa is divided into two separate halves – the north and south which is due to the movement of the Equator which goes around 2,500 miles from the east to the west of the African continent. The Equator passes through African countries such as Kenya, Uganda, congo as well as Somalia.

Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa with an estimated population of 160 million people thereby representing 18% of Africa’s total population. The Nigerian people are the most significant feature of Nigeria as hundreds of languages are spoken such as hausa, igbo, yoruba, efik and a whole lot of others alongside culture and traditions being kept and practiced.

Not pointing out the number of ethnic groups and languages in Africa may not prove a full point that the African continent is indeed unique, with over 3,000 distinct ethnic groups and over 2,000 different languages spoken in Africa. Nigeria alone accounts for 370 of these languages. However, Arabic is the most widely spoken language in Africa followed by English, Swahili and French.

Even when the white controlled media do portray Africa as a dark uncivilized continent, they never mentioned that the world’s oldest existing university is the University of Karueein in Morocco which is in Africa. This University was founded as far back as 859 AD by Fatima al-Fihri in Fez, Morocco.

Seychelles which is an Island republic located in the western Indian Ocean is the smallest country in Africa with a population of over 95,000 people and comprises of 115 islands with lush tropical vegetation, beautiful beaches and a wide variety of marine life. The capital of Seychelles is Victoria and is located on the Island of Mahe.

Africa boasts of numerous water bodies that outstands other water bodies around the world. One of such water body is the River Nile which is the longest river in the world that runs around 4,150 miles before it meets the Ocean. The River Nile flows through several African countries like Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda and Egypt which enable these countries’ soil to be fertile for Agricultural purposes. Another waterbody to take note of is the Victoria Falls which is the largest waterfall in Africa and located on the Zambia and Zimbabwe border. The height of the Victoria Falls is 355 feet whereas the width of the waterfall run into almost a mile.

Madagascar is the largest Island in Africa and also the 4th largest Island in the world which lies off the east coast of Africa with a length of around 1,000 miles with a width of around 350 miles.

The Sahara desert situated in Africa is the largest desert in the world measuring approximately 3,000 miles or 4,800 km from east to west and 800 to 1,200 miles from north to south. The actual area varies as the desert expands and contrasts over time but fills nearly all of northern Africa thereby covering over 8,000 square km. The Sahara Desert is bordered in the north by the Atlas Mountains and Meditarenean sea and in the west by the Atlantic Ocean, the east by the Red Sea and in the south by the Sahel which is a semi-arid region that forms a transitional zone between the belt of humid savannas in the south and the Sahara in the north.

Africa is so diverse that we cannot cover all the random interesting facts and like the saying goes, no one is an island of knowledge. So with that said, you also have an opportunity to comment below other random interesting facts about Africa that are not mentioned here.

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Admin published in Africa, African Culture and Traditions, African Facts, Ethnic Groups in Africa May 19, 2021

REALITY CHECK: WHAT IS AFRICA KNOWN FOR ?

The media have always portray Africa as a continent that was discovered like a raw material with no form of refining through slave trade. Making it seem like slavery was Africa’s history, meanwhile civilization as we would have it today began in Africa. This is a well known fact that was discovered by the same bandwagon that previously promotes Africa as a dark continent. Through their various discoveries on the African soil such as the Ishango mathematical bone which was discovered to have existed for over 20,000 years.

Africa as we would have it today is known for her collection of tourist attraction sites. From areas in South Africa to other parts of Africa like Kenya, Nigeria, e.t.c. Fortunately, I will expose to you what you don’t really know about Africa. Just strap on your seat belt and read on to learn what Africa is really known for currently.

So what is Africa known for?

Africa is basically known for her amazing physical features of which most of them are tourist attraction sites such as the Lake Victoria, East African Rift System, The Sahara, Congo River and other numerous attractions and amazing facts about Africa that contribute in bringing in tourists from all over the world. There are numerous amazing facts about Africa, hence we shall look at what Africa is known for and these points will be divided into three broad categories.

So let us get to discover what Africa is known for;

Physical Features
Natural Resources
Diverse Ethic Groups and Cultures

1. Physical Features of Africa

Africa is known to be the second largest continent in the World measuring about 30 million square kilometers alongside its numerous tourist attraction sites scattered across the Continent. Below are elaborated physical features of Africa that will blow your mind and they are as follows;

Africa has 60% of dry-land surface and deserts thereby making her the hottest continent in the world. Such notable deserts fully present in Africa are Sahara desert, Namib desert and Kalahari desert.
Snow Covered mountain tops such as the world famous mount kilimanjaro and ruwenzori mountain range alongside other breath-taking valleys are part of tourist destinations in Africa.
World renowned lakes and rivers such as the Victoria Falls, Congo River, Lake Victoria, River Nile and so on are all in Africa.

2. Natural Resources in Africa

What you may not know about Africa is her abundance of natural resources from South Africa to West Africa and everywhere in between the African continent are filled with mostly tapped and untapped natural resources. This is evident from the way the colonial masters scrambled for and partition Africa all in a bid to milk this great continent of her natural resources to develop their own out-of-Africa countries.

Natural resources such as gold, diamond, oil, natural gas, uranium, copper, cobalt, iron, platinum and a whole lot of other minerals are found in Africa. These natural resources obtained from Africa are used in numerous industries mostly in countries like France, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States.

In fact, the source of the world’s largest diamond is from Africa and close to 500 tons of gold are being produced in the African continent on a yearly basis. Africa’s mineral resources are the largest in the world with mineral exploration and production in most African countries contributing to their economic growth and development.

3. Diverse Ethnic Groups and Cultures in Africa

You may be wondering how diverse African culture could be and how many ethnic groups are in Africa. There are different African cultures and traditions tied along different African tribes. The expression of African culture can be seen in her folklore and beliefs, arts and crafts, cuisine and clothing, music and languages within the vast different African tribes. Basically, African culture is the embodiment of distinct values that relates with each other.

Apparently, Africans know the importance of values and beliefs which range from social, moral, political, religious, economic and aesthetic values in the African culture. This makes African culture interesting coupled with its varied nature as every African country you visit has its own tribes, languages and cultural differences. This is evident even in small African countries like Uganda which have more than thirty established tribes with different cultures.

Major African Ethnic Groups

Generally, there are 54 countries in Africa with over 1.3billion people and over 3,000 tribes all in the African continent. There are tribes in Africa that tend to stand out in Africa but not superior to others as all African culture are valuable as they guide the total existence of a given community.

So, what are the popular tribes in Africa?

In subsequent publication, we shall at one point or the other cover numerous African tribes and cultures. Before that, we shall look into popular tribes in Africa, their origin in Africa and where in Africa they can be seen.

The Zulu people are the largest ethnic group in South Africa with an estimated 11,000.000 people living in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Gone are the days of the apartheid when the Zulu people were classed as third class citizen which often leads to discrimination. As you read currently, the Zulu people have equal rights with other citizens in South Africa.

The Omo River Region of South western Ethiopia have over fifty unique tribes as many of their beliefs and customs are in place due to no road access by the Europeans. The Massai people on the other hand is one of the famous African tribe based the Rift Valley Region of Kenya and Tanzania.

West and Central Africa is not left out as popular tribes such as Hausa, Igbo, Kanuri, Hulu and more are within this axis of the continent. All these tribes and culture have their beliefs and value system which makes Africa a more fascinating continent.

What do you think about Africa? You can comment with own perspectives and real positive life experience as a true African.

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AfriSQuare

Ethnic Groups in Africa

Random Interesting Facts About Africa You May Not Know

Random Amazing Facts About Africa

REALITY CHECK: WHAT IS AFRICA KNOWN FOR ?

So what is Africa known for?

1. Physical Features of Africa

2. Natural Resources in Africa

3. Diverse Ethnic Groups and Cultures in Africa

Major African Ethnic Groups

AfriSQuare

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