Africa Factbook

Bride price in many African societies is tied to the economic life of the family, what do you really know about bride price? Across Africa, some believe a bride price instills a sense of accountability into a marriage while others feel bride price encourages domestic violence. What is bride price? Traditionally, bride price is when the prospective husband is expected to give a certain amount of money and goods, including cattle, goats, blankets or cowrie shells before marriage is agreed. The practice is similar to buying an engagement ring except that the bride price usually went to the bride's parents in exchange for marriage. Sometimes the bride price is just a token gift in order to satisfy tradition. Uganda's Supreme Court ruled that bride price, when a man pays his future in-laws for his fiancée’s hand in marriage, is legal. However, the judges in a 6 -1 decision banned the practice of refunding the bride price on the dissolution of a marriage . The tradition of

Stretching Earlobes from Africa to America The tradition of elongating earlobes has stretched from Africa to America. In the African Maasai tribe the slow and steady method of stretching earlobes is the method used. Stretching Earlobes from Africa to America Ear piercing and the stretching of earlobes are the first stage of initiation towards adulthood in traditional African Maasai ( Masai  if you live in Tanzania) culture.  Piercing and stretching earlobes are considered beautiful to most Maasai. Women and men are initiated during the Eudoto-oo-inkiyiaa cartilage and Enkigerunoto-oo-inkiyiaa earlobe stretching ceremonies.  In 2013, Kenya began a campaign toward the Maasai of educating the tribe on the negative connotations of ear stretching and an upper cartilage piercing. Some Kenyan officials believe tribalism is hurting Kenya and the more mainstream an individual is the more likely they can absorb into conventional society. Maasai ears are a work of art

Banana Beer step-by-step directions and ingredients. Rwanda is famous for Urwagwa or Banana-beer served in traditional containers. Urwagwa is a local Rwanda banana beer brew made out of crushed banana nectar. Banana's are the second most important food crop in Rwanda and making Banana Beer is an art form.  Rwanda is famous for Urwagwa or Banana beer How to Make Banana Beer Urwagwa banana beer has a sweet taste. In the Rwanda Africa there are a large variety of alcoholic beverages made with traditional techniques. Banana beer is a local favorite; made by fermenting ripe sweet bananas with millet.  Imported beer is readily available in supermarkets but banana beer or Urwagwa is served in traditional containers and is by far the favorite, more so than any other local brew.  Like most traditional skills, the recipe and process for brewing Urwagwa is handed down through generations by word of mouth. Serwenda, who is a local brewer says that he picke

Kenyan warship Jasiri waited ten long years before it was put into service by the Kenyan Navy. Why so long? Why did it take the Kenyan government take so long to look into the 33 million dollar Anglo-Leasing scandal and who is the guilty party. Kenyan Navy Anglo-Leasing Scandal The Kenyan Navy celebrated its 50th Anniversary on December 15, 2014, at Mtongwe Base, Mombasa Kenya. The US Navy operates a base at the Kenyan island of Manda Bay and has over the years offered counter-terrorism skills training to the Kenyan Navy. Kenya's largest and most modern warship is the KNS Jasiri. Jasiri means bold in the Kiswahili language . The bold Jasiri warship made a splash as it docked at the Mkunguni Navy yard, concluding a 20-day journey from Spain ending on August 12. 2012. The bold warship, estimated to cost around $55 million, would be used to secure the country's coastline and may be deployed in sea-based military incursions in neighboring Somalia protecting Kenya

Beautiful fat wife who melted away African Folktale is a very dramatic African folklore story reminding us to speak kindly to each other and celebrate our difference. Beautiful Fat Wife Who Melted Away African Folktale There was once a very  beautiful  fat woman who was made of oil. She was very beautiful, and many young wealthy farmers asked for her hand in marriage but the mother always refused, as she said it was impossible for her daughter to work on a farm, as she would melt in the sun.  At last a stranger came from a far-distant country and fell in love with the beautiful fat woman, and he promised if her mother would hand her to him that he would keep her in the shade. At last, the mother agreed, and he took his new wife away. When he arrived at his house, his resentful mother immediately became very jealous, because when there was work to be done, firewood to be collected, or water to be carried, the fat woman stayed at home and never helped, as she was fright

African Proverbs about purpose in life and one’s destiny represent the importance of following your own path in life and accomplishing dreams. Your Destiny African Proverbs If you go through the high grass where the elephant has already gone through, you don’t get wet with dew. A person gets used to behaving like their name. Almost does not fill a bowl. The person who waits for a perfect opportunity will wait a lifetime. Don't set sail on someone else’s star. A thing that comes does not beat a drum. You should cross a stream before the floods come. To ask is the desire to know the way. Don't put the key to happiness in someone else's pocket. The frown on the face of the goat will not stop it from being taken to the market. To wash a donkey's tail is loss of time and soap. Under a glove the ugliest hand is hidden. Under a glove the ugliest hand is hidden. Together we build awareness that boost harmon