Africa Factbook

The 15 most popular herbs used in South African herbal medicine. Herbal medicine is the art and science of using herbs for stimulating health and preventing and treating sickness. Herbal medicine has been Africa’s primary form of medicine since the beginning of time. South Africa Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) published a listing of the most popular South African Medicinal plants used in African herbalism by the Nyanga , South African herbal medicine specialists. Most popular herbs used in the South African Herbal medicine discipline. Aloe Leaves have been traditionally used for stomach complaints, hemorrhoids , arthritis, eczema, conjunctivitis, hypertension, and stress. They are also used to treat skin irritations and bruises. African Ginger Fresh roots or rhizomes can be chewed to treat influenza. It can also be used for colds, asthma, to treat malaria and by women during menstruation. The plant has also been traditionally used as an appetite suppre

Shimla mirch ki sabzi South African Indian Vegetable Curry Recipe Shimla mirch ki sabzi is a classic South African Indian recipe of green peppers, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, and eight spices. This simple curry recipe is a staple dish in many Durban South African Indian homes. South African Indian Vegetable Curry Recipe Shimla mirch ki sabzi South African Indian Vegetable Curry Recipe Ingredients 3 large green bell peppers, sliced fine 2 large potatoes, cooked and cubed 1 large onion, chopped 1 large tomato, diced 10 fresh coriander leaves 1 tablespoon ginger paste 1 tablespoon garlic paste 2 teaspoons ground turmeric 1 teaspoon red chili flakes or to taste 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon sea salt 2 tablespoons vegetable oil ½ cup water Directions Over medium-high heat, add oil into a large frying pan, sauté onions, tomatoes, ginger, coriander leaves, and garlic, together with cumin and coriander

How do you cook a cow foot? Easy Cow foot stew recipe is a spicy thick delicacy which cow foot is slowly stewed until tender.  Cow foot stew may not sound appetizing, but when slowly simmered it is delicious. Cow foot is quite tough; you may be able to buy calf foot which is more tender. But if you add a tablespoon of vinegar or meat tenderizer to the stew the cow foot will cook faster. Cow foot makes a thick delicious broth that has a lot of collagen and gelatin. Nigerian Cow foot stew is spicy, but there is nothing to stop you from adjusting the heat to suit your taste. Cow Foot Stew Recipe Ingredients 1 cow foot cut up into pieces 6 cups water 2 cups baby carrots or sliced carrots 2 chopped onions 1 teaspoon ground cloves 1 large tomato diced 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon red pepper 1 hot pepper sliced Juice of one lemon or 1 tablespoon vinegar Directions In a large pot add cow foot, water and lemon or vinegar. Simmer together slowly

Ginger is a tropical warm climate plant herb used in cooking, spice mixes and medicine. Some ginger growing African countries are Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Nigeria with Nigeria growing ginger on a large scale. African ginger spice hot buttered popcorn recipe is easy to make and enjoy for your next Netflix and Hulu binge night. When you say popcorn, most people think of the kind you microwave but popcorn is so much better than that. When popped fresh on the stove, our homemade African ginger spice hot buttered popcorn recipe is as easy to make as boiling water.   African Ginger Spice Hot Buttered Popcorn Recipe Ingredients 1/ 2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels 1/3 cup clarified butter 1 tablespoon coconut oil   Ginger Spice Mix 1 tablespoon powdered ginger 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon granulated sugar   Directions Over medium-high heat, warm a large heavy pot with a lid and add oils. If your oil starts to smoke, it is too hot. Test the heat of the oil

Rich Wife Poor Wife African Short Story Folklore While all marriages are susceptible to fraud, money in this African folklore is a hard-hitting lesson about deceit. African Folklore story rich wife and poor wife. African Folklore story rich wife and poor wife teaches money does not always bring safety and happiness. As the elders say, there were two girls whose father told them "You are now old enough to marry."  Their hearts were glad when they received this permission, and soon they found two fine young men. The oldest sister became engaged to a poor man and the younger to a rich one. One day the older sister paid a visit to her fiancé, and as he was poor, he could only give her fish to eat and a mat to lie on for a bed. But when the younger went to see her rich fiancé he killed a goat for her supper, gave her a fine bed with soft blankets, and in the morning killed a pig for her breakfast.   The two sisters happened to meet at the crossroads, they

What is Kwanzaa Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration of family, community, and culture. Kwanzaa is not an African Christmas celebration, Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, nor is it meant to replace Christmas. The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green. Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration that begins on December 26 and ends on January 1. You do not have to be black to celebrate Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa seven principles are known as the Nguzo Saba. Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of seven principles Kwanzaa what the heck is it Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration that begins on December 26 and ends on January 1.  The name Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili term, "matunda ya kwanza", which means first-fruits, Kwanzaa is based on African harvest celebrations.  Kwanzaa has seven symbols that represent the values reflective of a peaceable world. What are the seven principles? Kwanzaa has seven principles known as the Nguzo Saba (n-GU-zo SAH-bah). The se

DNA mapping Africa through genetics after Dr. Sarah Tishkoff studied 121 African populations, four African American and 60 non-African populations. Dr. Sarah Tishkoff is a professor of Genetics and Biology at the University of Pennsylvania studying Africa's genetics. There is an extensive amount of ethnic diversity in Africa and genetic evidence is at the moment pointing to East Africa as the cradle of humanity.  In 1924 the Taung child a fossilized skull of a young child who lived about 2.8 million years ago in Taung, South Africa was discovered.  Lucy at 3.2 million years old in November 1974 in the Afar region of Ethiopia was unearthed.  In 1987, three scientists announced in the journal Nature that they had found a common ancestor to us all, African Eve was a woman who lived in Africa 150,000 years ago.   The theory is all people alive today can trace some of their genetic heritage through their mothers back to this one woman. In 2008 another species of Australopithecus, A. s

Why Cat and Rat Hate Each Other African Folklore African folklore is traditional art and literature passed on through oral communication.  Why the cat and the rat hate each other African Folklore explains why the cat and rat are enemies.  Why Cat and Rat Hate each other African Folklore Why Cat and Rat Hate Each Other African Folklore As the elders say, one day the Cat, the Rat, the Hawk, and the Eagle arranged to take a journey together, but before starting, they agreed not to argue with each other in any matter. They had not gone very far when the Eagle saw a bunch of unripe palm-nuts, and said, "When these palm-nuts are ripe, and I have eaten them, then we will proceed on our way." They waited many days until the palm-nuts ripened and eaten by the Eagle, then they started again, and by and by, the Hawk saw a large savannah, and said, "When the bush in this savannah is burnt, and I have eaten the locusts, then we will go." There

Make preserved lemons to eat with meat pastries How To Make Preserved Lemons Preserved lemons are a staple in Moroccan cuisine. Typically, the rinds, which become soft in texture and mellow in flavor once preserved are sliced thin or minced before added to a recipe. How To Make Preserved Lemons Preserved lemons are used in sauces, combined with yogurt for serving spooned over grilled meats or fish, incorporated into salad dressing or used as a spice in soups and stews. How To Make Preserved Lemons Ingredients 4 whole lemons ½ cup kosher salt 1½ cups lemon juice Directions Cut 4 lemons lengthwise into quarters, stopping 1-inch from the bottom so lemons stay intact at the base. Working with 1 lemon at a time, hold lemon over a medium bowl and pour 2 tablespoons salt into the cavity of lemon. Gently rub cut surfaces of lemon together, then place in a clean 1-quart jar. Repeat with remaining lemons and salt. Add any accumulated salt and juice

Buddhist temples are found throughout Africa. South Africa has the largest Buddhist population on the African continent. African Buddhist Monk Venerable Bhante Buddharakkhita was born and raised in Uganda and plants Dharma seeds throughout Africa. Uganda Buddhist Center was established on April 10, 2005, in Kawempe Uganda. Uganda Buddhist Center states "We consider the Buddha's Teachings to be a form of medicine that can end suffering and transform ordinary human beings into perfectly compassionate and perfectly wise beings." The center was founded by Venerable Bhante Buddharakkhita. Abbott and founder president Bhante Buddharakkhita was born and raised in Uganda, he first encountered Buddhism in 1990 while in India. In June 2001, he began monastic training and in November 2002, he received higher ordination by his Preceptor the late Venerable U Sayadaw Silananda at Tathagata Meditation Center, California. He continued his meditation practice under the guidance of B

Biscotti Cookie Recipe There is no better way to enjoy double-baked Anise Biscotti Cookie than with a cup of Ethiopian Coffee. In Ethiopia, coffee can still be found growing wild in the forests. Ethiopian Coffee With Anise Biscotti Cookie Recipe Ethiopian Coffee With Anise Biscotti Cookies Recipe Ethiopia is the world’s fifth largest coffee producer and Africa’s top producer. Coffee is Ethiopia's principal source of income and the world's demand for quality coffee is increasing steadily.  More than 15 million people grow the crop for a living, hundreds of thousands of middlemen are involved in the collection of the crop from farmers and supply to the export and domestic market. A sizable amount of foreign exchange , accounting up to 30% of the total yearly export income, is derived from coffee. Ethiopia is where the coffee plants Coffea Arabica, Canephora and Liberica originates. Three foremost regions where Ethiopia

Homemade ginger beer can be hard to find but West African Ginger beer is easy to make at home. The key to making great ginger beer is using lots of ginger. Our Ginger Beer recipe yields six 12-ounce bottles. Homemade Authentic West African Ginger Beer Recipe Homemade Authentic West African Ginger Beer Recipe Ingredients 12 ounces fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped 8½ cups of filtered water ¾ cup brown sugar 2 tablespoons lemon juice ⅛ teaspoon champagne yeast Directions Process ginger in a food processor until finely minced, about 30 seconds, scraping down bowl as needed. Transfer to a medium saucepan. Stir in 4 cups filtered water and sugar and heat over medium heat until sugar dissolves completely, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep uncovered, for 1 hour. Pour infused ginger syrup through a strainer. Press ginger over a cup with a metal spoon to extract any remaining liquid; discard pulp. Whisk in lemon juice and yeast until yeast is dissolved. Us

Father African Proverbs Fathers alone, a father's heart he knows. African proverbs about fathers express the timeless wisdom of the African father. Wise sayings about fathers in the speech of proverbs have been passed down for generations in African culture. Wise sayings about fathers It is much easier to become a father than to be one. Mean fathers, wasteful sons. Victory has hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan. A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty. One father is better than a hundred teachers. Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance. A father carries pictures where his money used to be. A wise man plans for tomorrow, a fool plans only for today. A man dies, but his word lives forever. When you follow in the path of your father, you learn to walk like him. A child can be punished because of his father’s faults. A bad tree destroys the field. Fathers alone, a father's heart h

Kondensmelk Koekies Condensed Milk Cookies Recipe Kondensmelk Koekies South African condensed milk cookies or biscuits are an easy African cookie dessert recipe for kids to make. Kondensmelk Koekies South African condensed milk cookies are a classic easy cookie recipe that will satisfy anyone's sweet tooth.  Did you know, a British biscuit contains the same ingredients and bakes the same as an American cookie. Kondensmelk Koekies African Condensed Milk Cookies Recipe Serves 4 Total time from start to finish 30 minutes  Ingredients 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 stick unsalted butter 1 can condensed milk 1/2 cup white sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Directions Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and flour a large cookie sheet. Cream butter and sugar then add vanilla and condensed milk to mix. Mix flour, baking powder and salt. Add wet ingredients to dry mix well. Roll dough into balls and flatten with a fork. Yo

Battle of the birds of Africa, the Kingfisher deceives the Curlew in the never close your eyes to an opponent African Folklore story. Never close your eyes to an opponent African Folklore Story So the elders say, one-day two birds, the Curlew and the Kingfisher had a long discussion as to which of them could go longest without food.  The Curlew proposed that they should try for ten days, and the Kingfisher agreed to it. They tied a rope across a stream, and both birds sat on the middle of it looking down into the water. On the third day, the Kingfisher began to feel hungry, and spotting a fish in the water just below him, he pretended to fall, caught and gobbled the fish, but as he came up to the surface of the water, he cried out "Oh,  my friend Curlew, my head turned dizzy, and I fell into the stream." The Curlew replied, "Never mind, let us continue with our contest." But, the Kingfisher continued to have these dizzy fits just as fish cam