Africa Factbook

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 da

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 mosqu