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Showing posts from March 1, 2015



Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Did you know?

1. No African country names begin with the letters F, H, I, J, O, P, Q, V, W, X, or Y.

2. Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent.

3. The Republic of the Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa.

Healthy Molokhia Egyptian Spinach Stew

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Egyptian spinach or  Molokhia  is a dish of healthy greens commonly eaten in Egypt. Corchorus olitorius or Egyptian spinach and  Molokhia  is a tall annual herb that grows in the wild throughout Africa and is an important vegetable to her people.  Egyptian Spinach Stew for sale The dried leaves can be used as a thickener in soups. A tea is also made from the dried leaves. The young leaves and tender shoots are used as a leafy green vegetable.  The leaves are very nutritious, rich in beta-carotene, iron, protein, calcium, folate, and dietary fiber. According to Flora Zimbabwe, the plant goes by many names in Southern Africa; Derere, Gwisha, Idelele, Indian jute, and Ngenge.  Molokhia or Egyptian spinach, Jute mallow, or saluyot is eaten widely in Egypt and numerous Egyptian recipes exist celebrating the leafy green vegetable. Molokhia is also known as the king's soup due to its healing powers. Molokhia Egyptian Spinach Stew Ingredients 4 handfuls fresh

Spicy Tomato Garlic Mopane Stew Recipe

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Sale of Mopane Worms is a multimillion-dollar industry in Southern Africa. The most common ways to eat mopane worms are dried and fresh. Mopane caterpillars or Mopani worms are an extremely popular meal and industry in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Eating mopane worms is a delicacy throughout Southern Africa. Mopane worms are a common ingredient used in Southern African food recipes. Do not judge African mopane worm stew until you have tried this national dish.   Eating Mopane Worms Strong aversion to eating insects is not a physical reaction, but one of a mental dislike. Some cultures are programmed to when you see an insect kill it, not eat! Mental repulsion about eating insects may be a cultural issue since certain societies are raised to think it is uncivilized to eat insects. But why? Why is it ethically acceptable in certain societies to eat an insect but in another society is considered taboo. The taste is not the issue, but the "

Rebuilding a Stronger Rwanda Through Umuganda Community Work

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Rebuilding a Stronger Rwanda Through Umuganda Community Work Traditional Rwandan homes were a community event constructed from grass-thatched materials. Umuganda was a communal act of assistance and a sign of solidarity. In everyday use, the word Umuganda refers to a pole used in the construction of a house. The pole typically supports the roof, thereby strengthening the house. The word Umuganda is translated as strength in numbers, coming together for a common purpose to achieve a positive outcome. February 2, 1974, Umuganda became an official Rwandan government program Rebuilding Rwanda Through Umuganda Community Work In the period immediately after independence in 1962, Umuganda was only organized under special circumstances and was considered as an individual contribution to nation building. During this time, Umuganda was often referred to as umubyizi, meaning "a day set aside by friends and family to help each other". On February 2, 1974, Umuganda became an off

All About The 18 Islands of Cape Verde

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All About The 18 Islands of Cape Verde Cabo Verde formally known as Cape Verde until 2013, is a group of 18 U-shaped islands located off mainland Western Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. All About the 18 Islands of Cabo Verde Cabo Verde is not one large island but a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal. Cabo Verde The once uninhabited Cabo Verde islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century. Due to its central location between Africa and America, Cabo Verde was a major trading port for African slaves for over three centuries by the Portuguese. Cabo Verde Slave Trade Slave traders from mainly North America and Portugal would travel to Cabo Verde and purchase slaves who would labor to grow mainly cotton, rice and indigo. Most Cabo Verdeans have both African and Portuguese heritage. Cabo Verdeans People from Cabo Verde are called Cabo Verdeans. The current population is around 561,000 people. Cabo Verde’s population descends

Sickle Cell Anemia In Africa

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Sickle cell disease also known as sickle cell anemia causes your body to produce abnormally shaped red blood cells resulting in an inadequate amount of oxygen to circulate throughout the body. In countries such as Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana and Nigeria, the prevalence of Sickle-Cell Anemia is between 20 percent and 30 percent while in some parts of Uganda it is as high as 45 percent. Nigeria accounts for more than 100,000 new sickle-cell anemia cases each year. Sickle Cell Anemia in Africa According to WebMD there are more than 400 types of anemia subdivided into three main groups. The first is anemia caused by blood loss, second anemia caused by decreased or faulty red blood cell production and lastly anemia caused by the destruction of red blood cells. Anemia can be temporary or long term, and it can range from mild to severe. Sickle-cell disease or sickle cell anemia falls into the second category of anemia types, anemia caused by decreased or faulty red blood

Africa is surrounded by water but is not an island, here are a few African Island facts.

Madagascar is the 4th large island in the world and is located in the Indian Ocean supporting a unique biology, about 90% of its plants and animals are found nowhere else on earth.

Composed of 155 islands, Seychelles is Africa's smallest country. By far the largest island is Mahe, home to about 90% of the population and the site of its capital city of Victoria.

Cabo Verde has a strategic location 310 miles or 500 km from the west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site.

Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent. Continents can not be considered islands because of their size and also by historic definition since many people who study geography define islands and continents as two different things.

African cultures express, encourage, and communicate energy

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Being African in America I have grown up learning about different ethnic cultures. My father and mother are historians of African culture and history and their influence expanded my activities to several best-selling cookbooks, magazine columns, self-branded products, and a popular African culture and food blog.

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