Child Marriage Explained

Child marriage is defined as marriage before the age of 18 and applies to both boys and girls, but the practice is far more common among young girls. Out of the 10 countries with the highest rates of child marriage in the world, nine are in Africa.

Too many African families practice child marriage simply because early marriage is the only option they know.

Girl Summit photo by DFID
UK Department for International Development

Between 2011 and 2020, more than 140 million girls will become child brides, according to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Out of the 10 countries with the highest rates of child marriage in the world, nine are in Africa: Niger, 75 percent; Chad and Central African Republic, 68 percent; Bangladesh, 66 percent; Guinea, 63 percent; Mozambique, 56 percent; Mali, 55 percent; Burkina Faso and South Sudan, 52 percent; and Malawi, 50 percent. If current levels of child marriages hold, 14.2 million girls annually or 39,000 daily will marry too young.

Furthermore, of the 140 million girls who will marry before they are 18, 50 million will be under the age of 15. “No girl should be robbed of her childhood, her education and health, and her aspirations. Yet today millions of girls are denied their rights each year when they are married as child brides”, says Michelle Bachelet, M.D., Executive Director of UN Women.

Child marriage, which has existed for centuries, is a complex issue, rooted deeply in gender inequality, tradition and poverty. The practice is most common in rural and poorer areas, where prospects for girls can be limited. In many cases, parents arrange these marriages and young girls have no choice.

However, Malawi’s Health Minister states the government is working with chiefs to make aware the importance of sending children to school as an alternative to early marriage. Another reason for Malawi's effort to combat child marriages is the high teenage pregnancy rate and the fact that teenage pregnancies contribute to 20 - 30 percent of maternal deaths in the country.

In Malawi, at least half of young women are married before the age of 18. Parliamentarians of Malawi unanimously approved the Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations bill, which raises the marriage age to 18 from the current minimum of 16.

The bill will not make a real change unless Malawi’s Constitution changes and the attitudes of its people toward child marriage also changes. Under the country’s Constitution, individuals between the ages of 15 and 18 may be married if they obtain parental consent before entering into marriage. 

“Complications of pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death in young women aged 15 – 19. Young girls who marry later and delay pregnancy beyond their adolescence have more chances to stay healthier, to better their education and build a better life for themselves and their families,” says Flavia Bustreo, M.D., Assistant Director-General for Family, Women’s and Children’s Health at the World Health Organization. Too many families marry their daughters simply because early marriage is the only option they know.

Child marriage key facts

Child marriage is a violation of human rights, but it is still all too common.

Child marriage also affects boys, but to a lesser degree than girls.

Child marriage often compromises a girl’s development.

African child brides are most likely found in rural areas and among the poorest households.

Worldwide, more than 75 million young women aged 20 to 24 years, a quarter of them in Africa, entered their first marriage or union before they celebrated their 18th birthday.

Explore More: This story is part of our African Truth & Justice Hub featuring stories of resistance and human dignity.

The prevalence of child marriage has been slowly declining in Africa but remains higher than the global average

West African Folktale Why Mosquitoes Buzz Only In Beautiful Ears

West African Folktale
Why Mosquitoes Buzz Only In Beautiful Ears

A long time ago, when the world was much quieter and younger than it is now, people told and believed many strange stories about wonderful things which none of us have ever seen. 

In those very early times, in West Africa, there lived a Mosquito and a beautiful ear ready for marriage. 

There were all sorts of living things courting the beautiful ear professing their undying love. 

Ear had a difficult time making a decision, then along came mosquito.

“I want you to be my wife”, said Mosquito.

Ear said “marry you, are you serious? You are a tiny weak mosquito and will be dead before the week is over, I will never marry the likes of you!”

Mosquito was really hurt by all that Ear said. It was very embarrassing to be talked to like that in front of all the other living things. 

They began whispering and snickering to each other as mosquito flew away. Mosquito said to himself "dead before the week is over, we will see about that!" 

And from that day forward, whenever Mosquito sees a beautiful Ear, he flies up to her and whispers, “Here I am, I am not dead” This is why mosquitoes buzz only in beautiful ears.

African Folktales Six Facts

There is a rich, fertile legacy of folklore from Africa.

In Africa, folktales are a means of handing down traditions and customs from one generation to the next.

African folktales stories reflect the culture where animals have supernatural powers.

African folktales usually have sly animals and spirits as the main characters.

Ananse is one of the most beloved African folktale characters. He often takes the shape of a spider and is considered to be the spirit of all knowledge of stories.

Reading African folktales will help kids make connections to their cultural heritage.

Read the African Tall Tale Folklore story - Why Mosquitoes Buzz Only In Beautiful Ears to your school today.

Seychelles alien sea coconut.

Alien gardeners look as if they cultivated the Sea Coconut, single seeds weigh in around 33 - 66 pounds.

Seychelles giant coconut plants maybe the missing link between ancient alien gardeners and Earth visitations.

Seychelles Sea Coconut is endemic to the Seychelles and looks like a meld of Alien art and science . Seychelles is a collection of islands in the Indian Ocean. The largest island on the Seychelles is Mahe, which is home to about 90% of the population of Seychelles and the site of its capital city Victoria.

Sea coconuts occur naturally only on the islands of Fond Ferdinand, Vallée de Mai, Anse Marie-Louise Praslin and Curieuse. It is also found in the Praslin National Park and the Curieuse Marine National Park. The sea coconut population consists of a total of 8,282 mature trees, of which most are found within three subpopulations 1,440 in the Vallée de Mai, 1,380 in Fond Ferdinand, 1,750 on Curieuse. Some sea coconuts are also found scattered across Praslin, the second largest island of the inner Seychelles.

Sea coconut trees generally take 30-60 years to begin flowering and may continue to do so for another 100-150 years. One of the homes of this fantastic tree is the Seychelles, where only two populations of the Coco de Mer remain in the wild.

Plant life on Seychelles is strange and fantastic. 

Due to the fantastic almost unbelievable size of the seed, the sea coconuts were believed to grow on a mythological tree at the bottom of the sea. This rare palm tree has a female sex and a male sex and is used in the creation of variety of herbal mixtures and medicines for coughs and colds.

 
The Coco de Mer tree is now a rare and protected species. Trade in the sea coconut seeds is closely watched, but plundering Coco de Mer trees for illegal trade remains a problem because of their high value to buyers. The seeds are used and traded as souvenirs and decorations.

 
Another threat to the sea coconut is fire since trees take almost half a century to start producing seeds. Previously used as a medicinal plant. The leaves have also been used locally as thatch and plaiting. The empty shells have been used as vessels and the down from young leaves has been used for stuffing pillows.

 
The sea coconut is legally protected by the Breadfruit and other trees Act (Laws of Seychelles 1991) and the Coco-de-Mer Management Decree 1978, revised in 1994. It is found in the Praslin National Park and the Curieuse Marine National Park.

 

Did you know?
The scientific name of the Sea Coconut is Lodoicea maldivica.

Top 20 Most Important Agricultural Products in Africa

Africa’s top 20 agricultural products — ranked by economic and food security importance — are: Livestock, Maize (Corn), Cassava, Cotton, Coffee, Rice, Peanuts, Bananas, Sorghum, Fish, Sugarcane, Cocoa, Millet, Non-root Vegetables, Beans, Palm Kernels & Oil, Timber, Wheat, Sweet Potatoes, and Tea Leaves.

African Agriculture Products	Number of African Countries Dependent
Livestock	41
Corn (Maize)	35
Cassava	28
Cotton	27
Coffee	25
Rice	23
Peanuts	21
Bananas	20
Sorghum	19
Fish	17
Sugarcane	16
Cocoa	15
Millet	15
Non-root Vegetables	15
Beans	13
Palm Kernels & Oil	13
Timber	12
Wheat	11
Sweet Potatoes	10
Tea Leaves	10

Agriculture: Africa’s Economic Backbone

Agriculture employs between 60–80% of Africa’s workforce and remains the largest contributor to GDP in most countries. Yet farmers are often small-scale producers without access to credit or investment to modernize their operations.

Gender inequality also hinders growth — in many nations, women cannot inherit or purchase land. Weak political and economic governance adds uncertainty, while conflict and climate shocks threaten agricultural stability.

In recent decades, farmers and pastoralists have adapted by turning to livestock such as goats to diversify income and survive difficult conditions. Meanwhile, seven of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies in 2017 were African, but the continent still hosts nearly half of the world’s extreme poor.

Despite a decline in extreme poverty (from 57% in 1990 to 41% in 2013), conflict and fragile governance continue to hold back sustainable agricultural development across regions such as the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes.

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4. Roots of Africanized Christianity Spiritual Songs
5. Paying Money To Tour Slums in Africa
6. Awesome Kenyan Woman
7. Land Is Not For Women in Sierra Leone

Strolls, Step Shows, Stomping the Yard in Africa

Gumboot Dancing history performed in South Africa by dancers wearing wellington boots.

Top Shayela gumboot dancers of South Africa

The History of Gumboot Dancing

Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture

Step in the name of love; today gumboot dancing is more popular than ever across the world especially in African American college Fraternities and Sororities

Thebe Ya Tlhajwa Secondary High School
Koffiekraal South Africa Gumboot Dance 

During the apartheid era gold mining was big business in South Africa. Black miners worked underground in terrible conditions, digging for gold for low wages. They carried out the most dangerous dirtiest jobs in the mines and the safety of the workers during the time was not a high priority. 

Small mining villages which later grew into larger settlements, towns and cities grew up around the gold mining industry. One of the first settlements was Johannesburg, also known as Egoli or the Place of Gold.

The two most common methods in South Africa for mining gold are panning and shaft mining. Shaft mining is a dangerous operation due to the intense heat, most black miners were hired for shaft mining work. 

Gold mining consumes large amounts of water and flooding became a problem to the employer due to low production from the workers due to air and water borne illnesses.  Acid and other chemicals in the water from gold processing were poisoning the shaft mine workers as well as harmful gases were contributing to air pollution causing breathing problems.

Gumboot Dancing

Arthur Wellesley won his battle over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815; Arthur Wellesley shoes became a fashion statement known as Wellingtons. 

In 1856 the North British Rubber Company started to manufacture Britain’s first rubber or ‘gum’ boots also known as Wellington boots. The rubber boots had a long history of relieving the issue of trench foot in World War I. Trench foot is a skin disease caused by prolonged exposure of feet to wet and damp conditions. 

At the end of the war in 1918, soldiers brought the gumboots home and wore them for work for farming, fishing and other wet dirty jobs. Therefore, a solution to the low production of the gold shaft mine workers was to mandate gumboots as a part of the daily uniform.

Gold mine tunnels were dark places where electricity was spotty if it existed or was allowed but communication critical. It did not take long for the shaft miners to create a language of their own by slapping, stomping and scuffling their boots creating newly found dancing language. 

Shells, bells and other decorative items were attached to the boots when possible giving workers their own unique tribal identity. Soon hand claps and rhythms using the whole body were incorporated with the gumboot stepping.

Phi Beta Sigma Step Show

Gumboot workers were easily recognized on the streets of South Africa due to their unique footwear and the gumboot became a fashion statement. Soon the gumboot dances and songs made their way out of the South African gold mines and into the culture of South Africa’s youth. 

Today gumboot dancing is more popular than ever across the world especially to African American college Fraternities and Sororities who drew on portions of gumboot as part of the ongoing legacy of the historic African American stepping tradition.  

Palm Tree Art.

The Hyphaene Petersiana tree is locally known in the African country of Botswana as the Mokolwane Palm. The Mokolwane Palm is a tree that produces the leaves used in the internationally popular Botswana traditional basket weaving art.

Botswana Palm Tree Art

Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture

Mokolwane Palm Tree grows from Central Africa to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa in dry sandy areas, often away from rivers.

There are a series of small villages alongside the West Side of the Okavango Delta Botswana that create the woven art. The around 68,000 sq km or 17 million acre Okavango Delta marshlands and plains are home to some of the world’s most endangered species of large animals, such as lions and cheetahs, white and black rhinoceros, and the endangered African wild dog.

Women were walking greater distances every year, frequently a full day's journey, to find young Mokolwane Palms to harvest in order to create their woven art. 

The women of the villages, almost all of whom are basket weavers, were increasingly reluctant to undertake the journey due to the risks of traveling alone far from home. 

Young Mokolwane trees have thin blade-like leaves, which are sought-after by weavers for basketry. This is one of the problems affecting the scarcity of the young Mokolwane Palm. 

As the Mokolwane palm ages it grows up 25 meters or 80 feet tall, with its characteristic swollen in the middle trunk and feather-like leaves on the top of the tree. The Mokolwane also bear fruits, which are edible and can take from 10-20 years to yield.

Over the years, there have been major efforts to cultivate and establish farms for growing the Mokolwane Palm. Due to the scarcity of the tree, residents now buy the necessary raw materials for basket weaving from markets. 

The Palm leaves they purchase are already bleached and dyed and are ready to be worked. A small Mokolwane Palm basket can take a few days to create while large complicated baskets may take many months of painstaking work.

Overview of basket weaving materials, uses and techniques near Chobe National Park in Botswana.

Together we build awareness that boost harmony, education, and success, below are more links to articles you will find thought provoking.

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6. What is back to Africa

In Africa drinking cow, goat, sheep, and camel milk are usually consumed raw or unpasteurized. 

Milk and fermented products are important nutrient-dense foods having vital sources of proteins in the diets of African people. 

The practice of milk fermentation in every African region shows similar types of naturally fermented milk products that are regularly prepared by different ethnic groups of people.

Drinking Cow, Goat, Sheep and Camel Fermented Milk in Africa

Cows and camels, goats and sheep contribute to a rich and diverse dairy industry to create traditional fermented dairy products, such as yogurt and drinkable sour milk.

Milking a goat

Depending on the breed, a cow’s (cattle) milk fat makeups about 3 to 4 percent of the solid content, and protein about 3-4 percent. 

Goat milk has about 3-4 percent protein, is easier to digest and has more fat and calcium than cow’s milk. 

Sheep’s milk has 5-7 percent milkfat and 4-6 percent protein and is higher in calcium than goat and cow milk. Most sheep milk is made into cheese.

In Africa, cow, goat, sheep and camel milk is usually consumed raw or made into soured milk. Raw milk is milk that has not been heated to a particular temperature for a certain amount of time or unpasteurized milk.

Soured milk is raw milk in which an acid such as lemon or vinegar is added and used in numerous cooked porridge recipes throughout Africa.

Fermented milk plays an important role in Africa including making the make tastier and extending the shelf life. 

In South Africa, traditional fermented milk amasi, sethemi, mafi, and madila are favorite recipes. 

To make amasi fermented milk simply leave raw milk to naturally ferment at room temperature in a clay pot until thick curds form this may take 2–3 days.

Among dairy products, yogurt is one of the most consumed and most popular foodstuffs in Africa. 

Nunu is a fermented yogurt-like milk product consumed in West Africa. Nunu can be produced from either pasteurized or unpasteurized cow's milk naturally fermented at room temperature for 2 days. 

In Algeria, fermented cow milk is known as raib is a traditional yogurt made by the same process like South Africa’s amasi, West African Nunn and ESwatini emasi.

A long history of fermented food production of cattle, sheep, goats and camels milk in Africa, as well as its climate diversity, make the manufacturing of a wide range of dairy products possible. 

Fermented foods are linked to various health benefits, including improved digestion and immunity.

Milking Awassi Sheep the traditional way

Milk production from goats is more suitable than from cows for small households and small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa due to the land needed for grazing animals.

Dairy goats are less expensive to raise, are easily handled, eat less than cattle, produce the right amount of milk for a household, therefore, storage of perishable milk is not an issue, depending on the breeder and the breed male goats can begin breeding in 12-16 months from birth and females 16-18 months, and lastly goats produce more offspring.

However, cows produce around 75 percent of the milk consumed in sub-Saharan Africa; milk from goats contributes around 13 percent and the remaining 12 percent by other animals such as sheep.

Milk from sheep is important in the Horn of Africa and North Africa producing 7.5 percent and sub-Saharan Africa 7 percent. Goats have a higher milk yield than sheep and are the major source of milk and meat for many subsistence farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.

Fermentation reduces the lactose concentration to lactic acid, making dairy produce more digestible to lactose-intolerant people. 

Maziwa lala or Mala as it is popularly known in Kenya is sour milk or cultured milk. People who cannot drink fresh milk, a condition known as lactose intolerance, easily digest Maziwa lala milk.

Maziwa lala milk is not yogurt but a drinkable cultured fermented milk product. 

Cultured milk can be a precursor for related products such as white cheese and cottage cheese. The importance of dairy foods in the African diet is essential. 

Dairy foods, especially fermented dairy foods are one of the most nutritionally dense foods, being significant sources of several nutrients.

Calcium, riboflavin, phosphorus, protein, magnesium, vitamin B12, niacin equivalents, vitamin B6 are important components of dairy. 

Milk and milk products are also one of the main sources of dietary calcium which is highly important both in bone formation and the maintenance of healthy bones and teeth.

The practice of milk fermentation in every African region shows similar types of naturally fermented milk products that are regularly prepared by different ethnic groups of people. Under unrefrigerated storage, milk becomes sour in a matter of hours after milking.

This is due to the action of natural lactic acid bacteria on the milk sugar, turning it to lactic acid that causes the milk protein to thicken. Traditionally, most communities in Africa have used this natural fermentation to produce a variety of fermented kinds of milk for centuries.

In certain areas of Kenya, the Horn of Africa and North Africa, sheep are an important source of meat and milk. Small farmers use the animals as a major source of meat and cash income raises most of Ethiopia’s estimated 71 million sheep and goats.

About 75 percent of the total sheep flock is in the highlands, whereas lowland pastoralists maintain about 75 percent of the goatherd. 

There are 49 indigenous sheep breeds and six major breeds are used to produce milk. They are the Awasi, Nejdi, Barbary, Sicilio-Sarde and desert Sudanese. 

Sheep are raised for milk, meat, and money to be made from the sale of wool, hair and hide.

The cattle production industries in the Maghreb countries of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia produce significantly more cow’s milk compared to the rest of North Africa. Maghreb is from the Arabic word for the west and is the vast desert region of Africa bordering the Mediterranean Sea, not including Egypt (Maghreb does include Libya).

Did you know? 

Oats are the most important animal feed in the Maghreb region to cattle. Protein is essential for building and repairing the body. 

Goat and cow’s milk has about 3.5 percent protein and sheep’s milk around 4-6 percent protein. 

There are 49 indigenous sheep breeds and six major breeds are used to produce milk in the Horn of Africa and North Africa.

Drink recipes to whip up today.

1. Legal Drinking Age in Africa
2. Ibwatu African Energy Drink
3. Tzaneen Pawpaw Coconut Chiller
4. Dried Hibiscus Flowers Red Party Punch
5. Viagra Green Fig Tea
6. Sugar Cane Drink
7. South African Amarula Brown Elephant Recipe

Collection of African proverbs about love, Love is beautiful in every language.

Love is beautiful in every language African Proverbs

Wisdom of love African proverbs gathered by the ancestors.

Ancient African Proverbs About Love

One who loves should not hate - African Proverb

 
Let your love be like the misty rains, coming softly, but flooding the river - Malagasy Proverb

 
When troubles befall a person, then he finds out those who love them - African Proverb

 
Children are the reward of life. - African Proverb

 
If you are ugly you must either learn to dance or make love. - African Proverb

 
The gazelle gives birth to its kind. - The Democratic Republic of Congo African Proverb

 
You don’t pursue two partridge at the same time. - The Democratic Republic of Congo African Proverb

 
Water enters your bottle when it loves you. - Liberian African Proverb

 
A leopard of authority never fights by strength - Liberian African Proverb

 

The education and reading of African proverbs about love is not a mission for missionaries and teachers alone. It is equally for all who love wisdom learned from Proverbs of Africa. Proverbs from Africa are for all who are interested in the wisdom of their family tree and who can do with further lessons in the use of African proverbs. 

These proverbs are just a speck of the wealth of knowledge and wisdom of the people of Africa. Africa is a continent filled with African Proverb sayings. Proverbs about Love from Africa and African people for the heart, mind, and soul.

Infuse your life with love African Proverbs.

Besides corn, cabbage and beans are major crops in the everyday lives of Zambians. Zambian bean and cabbage fritters are an easy simple dish to make as a snack or appetizer.

Zambian Bean and Cabbage Fritter Recipe

Ingredients 

1 can soybeans washed and drained
2 cups cooked shredded cabbage
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 large egg
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
Vegetable oil for frying

Directions 

Mix all ingredients well, roll into small size balls and fry until golden brown. Serve as a snack or appetizer. 

Zambia did you know.

Under Zambian law, defaming the head of state is a criminal offense that carries a jail sentence of up to three years. Ex-president of Zambia Mr. Levy Mwanawasa who passed away August 19, 2008, was called a "cabbage" in The Zambian newspaper the post by Fred M'membe in February 2002. The term cabbage is another word for the term slow-witted.

Fermented beverages are a significant part of people’s diets in Africa. Ibwatu is a fermented drink made from grain and is a natural energy drink.

Ibwatu African Energy Drink

Fermented beverage Ibwatu is consumed in the southern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) region and Zambia. Popular similar drinks are Zimbabwe’s chikubu and togwa and South Africa's mahewu drink. 

Locals distinguish Ibwatu plants through their leaves, stems, and root. The roots of the plant are a rich as a source of amylolytic enzymes. Rhynchosia heterophylla or Ibwatu roots is a perennial shrub native to Tanzania, Zaire, and Zambia. The plant also grows in the Sudano-Zambezian Region.

The ingredients of traditional production Ibwatu are sugar, water, starch, and roots of the Ibwatu plant. Maize or corn is the most widely used source of starch however, other plants are used depending on the region such as sorghum, finger millet, cassava, sweet potato, and Irish potato. 

The roots of the plant contribute to the color and the characteristic flavor of the drink. The steps are taken to make the Ibwatu African Energy Drink recipe is first pound roots, and then boil mash, next strain mixture and lastly rest or 24 hours.

Ibwatu African Energy Drink

Ingredients

½ cup pounded Ibwatu roots (substitute one package of yeast but color and taste will not be the same)

1 cup cornmeal

1/3 cup sugar

5 cups filtered water

Directions

In a large pot boil water, add cornmeal simmer about 10 minutes remove from heat and cool mixture slightly. Add the pounded Ibwatu roots to warm mixture, stir, and strain. Let stand for one day, serve cold. 

More information on fermented drinks and their popularity.

Fermented drinks are popular for several reasons, including:

Health Benefits.

Fermented drinks contain live microorganisms, known as probiotics, which can promote gut health and improve digestion. Additionally, some fermented drinks, such as Ibwatu, contain antioxidants and other beneficial compounds that may improve overall health. 

Unique Flavor Profiles.

Fermented drinks often have a unique and complex flavor profile, which can be attributed to the fermentation process. Fermentation can enhance the flavors of the ingredients and produce new and interesting taste sensations. 

Natural Production.

Fermented drinks are often made using natural ingredients and traditional methods, which can be appealing to people who are interested in natural and organic products. 

Cultural Significance.

Many fermented drinks have a long history and cultural significance in the regions where they originated. For example, Ibwatu is believed to have originated in Africa over 4,000 years ago, and has since become popular around the world. 

Alcohol Content.

Some fermented drinks, such as beer and wine, contain alcohol, which can be enjoyed for its relaxing and mood-enhancing effects.

Ibwatu fermented drinks are popular for their unique flavor profiles, health benefits, natural production methods, cultural significance, and sometimes, alcohol content.

More drink recipes to whip up today.

1. Legal Drinking Age in Africa
2. Tzaneen Pawpaw Coconut Chiller
3. Dried Hibiscus Flowers Red Party Punch
4. Viagra Green Fig Tea
5. Sugar Cane Drink
6. South African Amarula Brown Elephant Recipe

Mauritius is a volcanic island in the Indian Ocean and home to some of the world's rarest plants in the world and the Dodo bird. 

Mauritius coat of arms

The Republic of Mauritius is an island off the southeast coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean.

The Dodo is an extinct flightless bird that became isolated on the African island of Mauritius. The Dodo is frequently used as a mascot on Mauritius by clubs, teams, and businesses. Moreover, the Dodo makes an appearance on the Mauritius coat of arms. 

The first recorded mention of the Dodo was by European sailors around 1598. Naturally, no photographs exist of the Dodo bird, its appearance is only known by written literature, and illustrations. Wild and domesticated animals hunted the bird and more importantly their eggs. It is widely accepted that the last Dodo was spotted between the years of 1658-1680.

The Dodo bird

A team from Oxford University and the Natural History Museum, London, has uncovered evidence on the genetic origins of the Dodo bird. DNA revealed the closest living relative to the Dodo is the Nicobar pigeon, from Southeast Asia. Secondly, the next nearest relatives to the Dodo were found to be the crowned pigeons of New Guinea, and the curious tooth-billed pigeon of Samoa.

The coat of arms of Mauritius consists of a Dodo Bird and Sambur Deer supporting sugar cane and a shield divided into four sections on a shield. In the first quarter a lymphad, an ancient ship with one mast, in the second, 3 palm trees, in the third is a key and the last a mullet argent. The country's motto, Stella clavisque maris indici, or Star and key of the Indian Ocean in English, is displayed in Latin on a ribbon below the shield, Dodo Bird and Sambur Deer.

Did you know

The island was an uninhabited island when the Dutch took possession in 1598. Abandoned in 1710, it was taken over by the French in 1715 and seized by the British in 1810. Mauritius gained independence in 1968 as a monarchy and became a republic in 1992.

Use breadfruit as a potato substitute for French-fries, select a firm to the touch breadfruit. French-fried breadfruit has a taste similar to potatoes.

The breadfruit flesh is firm and creamy white or pale yellow. Breadfruits are large, cantaloupe-sized fruit, usually yellow-green in color, with hard, starchy white flesh similar to a potato. Skin texture ranges from smooth to rough to spiny. Breadfruit is enjoyed and grows throughout Tropical Africa.

Homemade Breadfruit French-Fries

Serve fresh hot breadfruit fries with ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, cheese chili, the choices are endless. Tip: Treat breadfruit as you would a potato.

Use breadfruit as a potato substitute for French-fries, select a firm to the touch breadfruit. Use breadfruit as a potato substitute for French-fries, select a firm to the touch breadfruit.

Ingredients     

Peeled breadfruit 1 whole   

Vegetable oil: 2 cups for frying

Salt: desired amount

Directions

In a large frying pan add oil until it reaches 300 degrees or is hot enough to your liking if you are an expert French fryer. Peel the breadfruit; remove the core, cut into French fry-sized strips and add in a small amount to the oil. Fry for 5 to 6 minutes, turning occasionally until golden brown. Transfer to paper towels, season with salt and serve with ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, cheese chili, the choices are endless.

Did you Know

According to tropical breadfruit, the following countries are suitable for the cultivation of breadfruit based on temperature and rainfall.

Breadfruit potential and currently growing African Countries

More economical easy lunch and dinner recipes to make right now so you never have to eat or prepare a boring meal again.

1. Yedoro Stir Fried Ethiopian Chicken Dinner
2. Caldo Verde Portuguese Kale Soup
3. Air Fryer Black Eyed Pea Dumpling Stew