History of African Culture

Hamar Tribe Beauty and Cattle Leaping The Hamar tribe of the Omo Valley in southern Ethiopia is an ancient tribe with a unique cattle leaping ritual. Cattle and other livestock are at the heart of Hamar life.  Young Hamar Girl Hamar men come of age by leaping over a line of about 15 cows and castrated the bull. In order to come of age, the man must leap across the line four times.  At the end of the leap, he is blessed and sent off with the Maza who shaves his head and make him one of their alumni. It is an important ritual that qualifies him to marry, own cattle and have children. There is usually several days of nonstop dancing, eating grilled meats and drinking beer. Hamar tribe women and men want to look beautiful so they use red-ochre clay and animal fat to braid and color their hair.  Hamar Tr...

To get lost is to learn the way Five reasons getting lost can be a good thing.   Getting lost is an uncommon opportunity to benefit from hands-on learning of the practical real-world lessons. Being lost can teach you more than what you can learn in a classroom. Getting lost is a good way to find yourself Five reasons getting lost can be a good thing 1. You will learn to trust a higher power as well as yourself and find what was lost inside you. 2. You will become more resourceful by letting people inside learning it is never too late to find your way out. 3. You will have a new perspective on your life and the lives of others. 4. You will learn to truly listen to your inner voice, your internal spirit and other people. 5. You will find a new adventure, a good story and learn an important lesson.  To get lost is to learn the way Search Wander Get lost   Find yourself in the end Getting lost is just another way ...

Facts about the Slave Trade in Africa Nearly 40% of Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Gabon were imprisoned Africans were enslaved on bights and were sold to the present day US State of Virginia. Many of these captives were Igbo, a people living in the area north what is now Nigeria. The Slave Trade by Auguste-Francois Biard Western Africa's Bight of Bonny African Slave Trade The Bight of Bonny is a bay in the warm waters of the Gulf of Guinea. The Gulf of Guinea is the bay the northeastern most part of the tropical Atlantic Ocean off the Western African coast. Bight is an Old English word for the Modern English word bay or bends. The Bight of Biafra was renamed the Bight of Bonny after the Biafra War in 1972. Between the 16th and the 19th century, nearly one fifth of the enslaved Africans brought to colonial America were from African regions based mainly on the ports of Brass, Bonny, Opobo and Calabar in Nigeria.  The Slave Coast in the 18 th and 19 th centu...

You Can't Make an Ungrateful Person Happy Better to not try to make an ungrateful person happy The African proverb, When a person is carrying someone on his back, the one being carried gets tired before he does teaches you can not make an ungrateful person happy because they don't care about all the good things you've done for them. You Can't Make an Ungrateful Person Happy Ungrateful People You Can't Make an Ungrateful Person Happy “When a person is carrying someone on his back, the one being carried gets tired before he does” – African Proverb Five signs of an ungrateful person Never feel satisfied Nothing fills them up, even if they achieve a goal or get something they want. It seems like they have an insatiable appetite. They just never feel full. Feel entitled Ungrateful people expect to be given everything from everyone no matter how trivial or absurd. They feel a sense that the world owes them something. ...

Study about people, religion and Yoruba civil wars of Nigeria and the role in the slave trade for a well-round view of the Yoruba people of Nigeria. Yoruba village communities, art, religion and Yoruba civil wars of Nigeria. Who are the Yoruba? The history of the peoples that constitute the present country of Nigeria dates back more than 2,000 years. The earliest archaeological finds were of the Nok, who inhabited the central Jos Plateau between the Niger and Benue rivers between 300 B.C. and 200 A.D. A number of states or kingdoms with which contemporary ethnic groups can be identified existed before 1500. Long before the 1500s, much of present-day Nigeria was divided into states, which can be identified with the modern ethnic groups that trace their history to the origins of these states. These early states included the Yoruba kingdoms, the Edo kingdom of Benin, the Hausa cities, and Nupe. The most populous country in Africa and the largest in area of the West African s...

In regions of Zambia, the peanut plays an important role both as income and food crop. Making African Food Vegetable Spicy Peanut Sauce Making African Food Vegetable Spicy Peanut Sauce Ingredients 3 cups broccoli florets 1 thinly sliced red bell pepper 1 chopped hot pepper (optional) ¼ cup vegetable stock ¼ cup water ¼ cup smooth peanut butter 2 teaspoons minced garlic cloves Directions Whisk water, peanut butter, and garlic cloves together in bowl. Add broccoli, red bell pepper, and vegetable stock in large pot covered, over high heat until tender, about 5 minutes. Add sauce to pot and simmer over medium-high heat until thickened, about 30 seconds. Return vegetables to pot and cook until well coated, about 30 seconds. Serve warm over rice. About Peanuts in Africa Cooking in Zambia Africa Despite its beauty, the poverty rate in Zambia is around 27 percent, most people living off $1.25 per day. Zambia is home to seventy various ethnic groups. Small family farm...

Learn how to quickly and easily crack open a coconut and enjoy freshly made Madagascar organic baked coconut chips. Coconuts are not indigenous to Africa but have found the perfect home to grow in Africa’s Madagascar and coastal countries of east Africa . Organic Coconut Chips Recipe Madagascar Organic Coconut Chips Recipe Ingredients 1 coconut 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons sugar (optional) ½ teaspoon paprika (optional) Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Then use a corkscrew or screwdriver and a hammer to pierce the eyes. Strain water through a fine sieve into a glass or bowl to allow the coconut water to drain out. Place the coconut in a sturdy plastic bag and smash it on a hard surface like a floor or concrete driveway. Separate coconut flesh from shell, rinse and dry coconut. Using a vegetable peeler, remove strips from edges. Place the coconut strips on a baking sheet in a single lay...

Sautéed Chicken Wings with Shito Hot Sauce Chicken Wings with Ghana Shito Ghanaian pepper sauce recipe is 1-2-3 to make. Shito is Ghana’s much-loved hot sauce and everyone in Ghana has a unique recipe for this classic hot pepper sauce. Make Chicken Wings with Ghana Shito Hot Sauce Ingredients 2 pounds chicken wings 2 cups tomato puree 10 dried hot chilies 1 tablespoon shrimp paste 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 tablespoon onion powder 1 teaspoon ground ginger ½ teaspoon cumin 1/4 cup olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Directions Season chicken wings with black pepper and salt, place in a large resealable plastic bag. Add remaining ingredients into a food processor and mix well. Add sauce into the bag with the chicken wings, seal and coat. Marinate at least 3 hours. In a large fry pan saute wings on medium-low 30 minutes. Serve with a side salad or grilled vegetables.    Sautéed Chicken Wings with Shito

Fumo Liyongo African Swahili Hero Poet African Hero Poet. Fumo Liyongo was an African Swahili supernatural mythological hero, the son of African royalty. The mighty African hero Liyongo was an invincible poet a standing over eight feet tall. The mystical powers and supernatural abilities of the African hero Liyongo are told in many African Swahili poems. Fumo Liyongo African Swahili Hero Poet. Fumo Liyongo means strong spear. At the heart of many of the world's most enduring myths and legends is a bigger than life hero who triumphs over obstacles. Fumo Liyongo was famous throughout the land. He was a strong young man, beautiful and tall, he was so special he could not be compared to any other human. Apart from the exaggerated physical features, Liyongo is also described as humble, respectful and obedient. Liyongo is similar to the tales told of the USA’s Paul Bunyan and John Henry. Liyongo and Paul Bunyan are larger than life mythical folk heroes who symbolize strength. Sw...

Every day, our culture transmits the message that African dads are not involved in their child's life. Black fathers tend to get the short end of the stick when it comes to being appreciated. African fathers deserve to be praised 365 days of the year. Father's Day is a special day of celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood and the influence of fathers in the world. The idea for Father's Day originated in the United States and has been officially celebrated on the third Sunday in June since 1966. African fathers, like fathers all around the world, play a crucial role in the lives of their children and families. They deserve recognition, appreciation, and praise not just on specific occasions but throughout the year. Fathers provide their children guidance, support, love, and care, helping shape their character, values, and aspirations. They play an essential role in promoting the well-being and development of their families. African fathers, in particul...

Africa's Most Visited Cities Did you know South holds three of the top five most visited cities in Africa? It is not easy to identify the five most visited cities in the whole of Africa but here are our top picks. Africa top five visited cities are South Africa’s' Johannesburg, Cape Town South Africa, Cairo Egypt, Casablanca Morocco and Durban South Africa. Africa's Most Visited Cities South Africa’s' Johannesburg is Africa’s Most Visited City in 2015 according to MasterCard’s global destination power rankings. Many of Africa’s cities are changing so rapidly that they are barely recognizable when compared to what they were a decade ago. Below, in order are the t op five of Africa's Most Visited Cities. Africa's Most Visited Cities Johannesburg South Africa Johannesburg or Joburg the City of Gold has over 40 art galleries and is the hub of the fashion industry and winemaking in South Africa. The largest city in South Africa, Joha...

The promotion of terms like "good hair" and "kinky hair" has perpetuated the colonial system into neocolonialism, with black hair being a key factor in this survival. Neocolonialism is control through indirect means of a perceived powerless homogeneous group of people by a larger or stronger one. To date, practically every aspect of the ex-colonized society still harbors colonial influences. Hair on the surface may seem unrelated but it has indeed continued survival of the colonial system by continuing to promote the terms good hair and kinky hair.   Kids plats hairstyle. It's worth noting that the desire for weave and wigs in Africa is just as prevalent as it is in the USA, despite the geographical distance and cultural differences. The love for hair extensions transcends borders. Neocolonialism refers to a form of control exerted by a dominant or stronger group over a perceived powerless group, typical...

Literacy rates among African adults aged 15 years and older including statistics and definitions of literacy rates by countries in Africa.  Learn about what literacy is and put literacy rates in Africa in perspective. Learning to read and write should be fundamental yet, more than 75% of the world's 781 million illiterate adults are found in South and West Asia and sub-Saharan Africa; of all the illiterate adults in the world, almost 66% are women. Secondary school Mukono Town, Uganda Nevertheless, keep in mind there are no universal definitions and standards of literacy, therefore, literacy rates in Africa are subjective. Also, Africa is the second most populous continent with about 1.1 billion people or 16% of the world’s population. Mexico, China, Eastern, and Western Europe, India, the USA, and Japan can all fit into Africa's total land area very comfortably. African countries by the literacy rate generally mean literacy also encompasses numeracy, the ability to make simp...