Africa Factbook

Edible Roselle Hibiscus Flower Jam Learn to make an easy recipe for edible roselle hibiscus flower jam like home chefs in The Gambia Africa. Serve on bread, toast, crackers or uses as a filling for cakes, pies, and cupcakes. African Recipes by African Gourmet.  Hibiscus flower jam is very popular in the African country of The Gambia. This tasty easy to make hibiscus flower tropical jam is used as a filling for cakes, pies, and cupcakes or used to spread on biscuits, toast, and crackers.  The Gambia Hibiscus Flower Jam Recipe. Prep time: 2 hours Cook time: 20 min Total time: 2 hours 20 min.  Ingredients. 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers. 3 cups of table sugar. 1 tablespoon lemon juice. 3 cups water. Directions. Steep dried blossom in hot water for 2 hours then strain using 1 cup of hibiscus flower water. Add sugar boil until the mixture thickens, about 20 minutes. Pour into prepared jars and serve on toast, crackers or uses as a filling for cakes

Kikuyu Tribe Money and Wealth African Proverbs Kikuyu Tribe of Kenya African Proverbs on Money and Wealth. Kenya African Proverbs in Kikuyu language and the English language Gutiri mbura itari gitonga kiayo. There is no rain that does not bring wealth to someone. Utonga wa muici nduthuunaga, na ni uteeaga wake. Unlawful riches do not prosper; they ruin even the legitimate ones. Guthinga kurugite gutonga Virtue is better than riches. Muriio wa njoohi niuriukagwo, no wa indo nduriukagwo. The drunkenness of beer passes away, but that of wealth does not. Iroobagia ha muoni. Vultures haunt the yard of a wealthy man. Gukiaga na gutonga ititiganaga. Poverty and riches do not leave each other. Indo ni kurimithanio Wealth comes by cultivating together. Andu ni indo. People are wealth. Seek wealth, not money or status. Happiness fills your home with joy, good health, and fortune and that is real wealth. More African Proverbs

Intonga Stick Fighting. The ancient African art of intonga or stick fighting has been practiced in rural South Africa for centuries and is long considered the best African sport. Before the sports of futbol and football, there was the best of African sports the ancient African Xhosa game of intonga or stick fighting. Just as with any other African sport there are rules to follow. In Intonga stick fighting there is a penalty for Kumhlaba Wamadoda or hitting in the “Land of Men” otherwise known as hitting below the belt. The ancient African art of intonga or stick fighting has been practiced in rural South Africa for centuries. In the past when a Xhosa boy went to initiation school, one of the skills he would learn and practice daily was stick fighting. A young Xhosa man who carried himself well as a stick fighter won respect wherever he went.  One of the first skills five-year-old Nelson Mandela learned as a herd boy was that of stick fighting. In his autobiography Long Wa

Five foods that help with outer beauty are seafood, avocadoes, legumes, whole grains, and pumpkin seeds also learn how to make every day honey serum. A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination. - Nelson Mandela Five Foods That Help With Outer Beauty Seafood Seafood is a highly consumed food in Africa and there is early evidence to support adequate intake of 8-12 ounces per week with a cognitive boost and mood enhancement due to the essential omega-3 fatty acids. Try adding more salmon, mackerel, sardines, and shellfish to your plate, or algal oil if you are vegan or vegetarian. Avocado This nutrient-packed fruit is filled with vitamin B6 and magnesium, a combo that may help with serotonin production in your brain. Adding avocado slices to omelets, salads, and even smoothies will also help you get more fiber and healthy fats in your diet. Beans and Legumes Chickpeas, lentils, beans, and legumes also provide antioxidants, vitamin B6, and magnesium. They are

Info on the location of each African equator country lying on the equatorial bulge, there are seven African countries on both sides of the equator An equator is an imaginary line around the middle earth. Cities and towns located on the Earth’s equator have the fastest sunrises and sunsets and the transition from day to night takes only a few minutes. The equator divides Earth into the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere and there are seven African countries that are on both sides of the Equator. The equator is located in Kayabwe, Mpigi District in Uganda. Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Sao Tome and Principe, Uganda, Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia are the seven African countries that are on both sides of the Equator. Read on to learn about the location of each African equator country lying on the equatorial bulge. Republic of the Congo About 70% of the population of the Congo lives in its capital of Brazzaville, city of Pointe-Noire, or al

Add African culture to your wrists and up your bracelet game with a few easy steps. Create beautiful DIY fabric-wrapped bangles while adding African culture to your accessory wardrobe. You can make African wrapped bangles for pennies, garage sales, are a great place to find bangles. DIY African Fabric-Wrapped Bangles Supplies A variety of African prints Fabric scissors Fabric glue An iron and ironing board Directions Cut a long strip of fabric that measures double the width of your bangle. Lay the fabric down on the ironing board, fold the edges in toward the center, and iron flat. Your strip should now have a front side that is clean and a back side with an ironed seam. Place the end of the strip inside the bangle, with the front side facing out, apply a drop of glue and tightly wrap the strip around the bangle, fully covering the glued end to keep the strip in place. Continue tightly wrapping the fabric strip around the bangle until you cover the entire bracelet. Apply a

Before the introduction of acne treatments, honey was used as the main ingredient for skin problem cures. For centuries throughout Africa, people use honey as a skin treatment for acne, eczema, cuts, and sores. Africa has a wealth of traditional knowledge of apitherapy, the healing properties of bee products.  Honey is a sweet thick syrup produced by honeybees. Bees deposit nectar into honeycombs and seal them with beeswax to preserve the honey. Honey is made up of a solution of sugars and minerals in water, and is twice as sweet as sugar. Honey has a fairly long shelf-life, microbial activity is restricted and the product is stable for many months. Honey has long been used as medicine. Africa has a wealth of traditional knowledge of apitherapy, the healing properties of bee products. Honey has antibiotic properties: it is a sterile solution with a high sugar concentration that prevents the growth of microorganisms.  It is highly acidic. It contains enzymes which produce hydrogen per

Love never loses its way home but is it cultural appropriation African Adinkra symbols meanings originally created by the Ashanti of Ghana. We will learn why wearing Adinkra symbols are popular and is wearing Adinkra symbols cultural appropriation. African Adinkra symbols meanings Bi Nka Bi (harmony), Ese Ne Tekrema (interdependence), Denkyem (adaptability), Fihankra (security), Gye Nyame (importance of God) Love Never Loses Its Way Home | The Language of African Symbols Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture West Africa Adinkra symbols represent ideas, proverbs, expressions, attitudes and behavior depicted in simply drawn figure. Adinkra symbols are well-known visual symbols that have a hidden meaning, deciphering Adinkra symbols is the same as reading a sentence as long as you know what is the symbols true meaning. Odo Nnyew Fie Kwan Odo Nnyew Fie Kwan - secret meaning is “Love never loses its way home" Odo Nnyew Fie Kwan is the symbol

Kenyan Proverbs on Avoiding Stupid Mistakes Kenyan African proverbs on the virtues of discerning what is true and wise and avoiding stupid mistakes; being wise is different from being smart. Being wise can save you needless unhappiness and negativity in life. Kenyan Proverbs on Avoiding Stupid Mistakes What was withheld, as a secret thought will come out through a slip of the tongue. You do not benefit from a lie, a lier does not benefit from another lier. The plan kills; the weapon only does the deed. However long it may grow, the neck will never surpass the head. A climbing plant with tendrils cannot grow on its own without the support of a tree. One should either become a pillar or lean against one. A distant shelter does not shield one from cold. A wise man plans for tomorrow, a fool plans only for today. Without patience, we cannot reach an honorable position.

What is even better than a tartlet recipe? A history lesson and recipe named after General General Hertzog. Hertzoggies are a delicious classic South African dessert of tartlets filled with apricot jam and coconut topped with meringue. Prep time: 45 min Cook time: 10 min Total time: 55 min Hertzoggies are named after General Hertzog, who was South Africa's Prime Minister between 1924 and 1939. Hertzoggies African Dessert Tartlet Recipe Ingredients Dough 2 cups self-rising flour ¼ cup castor sugar ½ cup unsalted butter 3 large egg yolks 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Filling 1/2 cup apricot jam 1/2 cup desiccated coconut 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Meringue 3 large egg whites 3/4 cup white sugar 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar Directions For the dough, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix

Bitter kola is a cherished and revered ancient nut plant with real major health benefits to West and Central African people. Bitter kola is a type of nut mostly found in tropical zones in the forests throughout West and Central Africa. Bitter cola nuts come from the Garcinia kola tree, traditionally these nuts were used as medicine and nowadays the nuts of the tree is still used to treat many ailments. Bitter kola’s value as medication for weight loss, a sore throat, upset stomach, ulcers, and liver disorders is priceless medicinally and spiritually to West and Central African people. Bitter kola energizer drink is very popular in Serra Leone and is used as a substitute for hops in brewing beer in some African countries. Bitter Kola is especially useful in preventing beer spoilage. Bitter kola is also known as a food that has the ability to ward off evil spirits. Chewing on the seeds of the bitter kola tree is rumored to have the same effect as a little blue pill treating sexual dysf

Ingceke African Sunscreen Lotion, ever wonder why the Xhosa people of Africa smear their faces white? Why do the South African Xhosa people of smear their faces white? The white creamy lotion is called ingceke and it's used as a sunscreen and skin ointment for protection and healing. Xhosa ingceke cream may look like paint for a traditional dance performance but it’s simply sunscreen. Sunscreen for African skin is essential in the South Africa sun. The reason why the Xhosa people smear their faces white is for sunscreen against the African sun. The Xhosa traditionally make ingceke cream which is a mixture of water and clay to protect themselves from the burning rays of the sun and used as skin ointment to treat rashes and eczema. The popular ingceke cream is made from the fruit of the sausage tree. The fruits are ground to a pulp, burnt to ash and pounded with water to make a white paste to apply to the face and body. Traditional Xhosa ingceke cream is not paint but the

Traditional African medicine is a holistic discipline using herbs. Tanzanian Mchicha amaranth healing African green tea may provide a unique traditional health benefit reducing blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Amaranth, also known as mchicha in Tanzania is used as herbal medicine to improve cardiovascular health naturally. Herbalism is one of the main methods used to treat various sicknesses in traditional African medicine. The continent of Africa has a wealth of indigenous herbs and plants such as amaranth used for herbal treatments. Tanzanian Mchicha Healing African Green Tea  Ingredients and Directions When making herbal green tea use a tea strainer. The tea strainer eliminates the need to strain off leaves later.  Add your desired amount of amaranth leaves to a tea strainer or teapot, around 5-6 leaves work well.  Cover with boiling water a let steep for 5 minutes or until you have created your perfect cup of tea based on your preference. Be sure to always rinse and wa

How to Tie an African Head Wrap 5 Different African head wrapping styles to rock the gele African chic style! There are countless styles of African head wrapping, it may take a couple of tries but you will be an expert in no time.  In Africa, the head wrap worn by women for special occasions, weddings, ceremonies, burials, church services, and special celebrations, for everyday wear or as a crown. The African head wrap draws the eye up, rather than down. African women wear head wraps as a queen wears a crown.  The African head wrap represents far more than a piece of fabric on the head of a female. African head wraps are a common site throughout Southern and Western Africa.  In West Africa, Nigeria, head wraps are called gele, in Malawi Duku and in Zimbabwe dhuku. All you need is a large piece of oblong fabric or scarf and your two hands. Wrapping a headscarf is easy; just follow the steps in the video below.  African women wear head wraps as a queen

Summertime Grilled Lamb Sosaties Kebabs Summertime Grilled Lamb Sosaties Kebobs African Recipes by African Gourmet   Sosaties are a South African braai or BBQ dish of curried kebobs. The flavorful blend of herbs and spices make sosaties one of the great braai foods of South Africa. Prep time: 3 hours marinate Cook time: 20 min Total time: 3 hours 20 min Summertime Grilled Lamb Sosaties Kebobs Ingredients 4 large metal skewers 2 pounds lamb cubes 2 red bell peppers cut into large cubes 2 large onions cut into large cubes Marinade 1/2 cup olive oil 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons Indian curry powder 1 sprig rosemary leaves chopped 1 teaspoon minced garlic 2 tablespoons chutney (any flavor) 1/2 teaspoon black pepper Pinch of salt Directions Mix all marinade ingredients well and marinate the lamb for at least 3 hours. Thread lamb, peppers, and onion alternately on skewers basting with th