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.

Charging Cell Phones in Rural Africa

Charging Cell Phones in Rural Africa

Chic African Culture

The simple task of charging a cell phone is no simple matter in rural African villages far from an electric grid.

With the advent of tiny rooftop solar panels electricity could be accessible to millions.

The simple task of charging a cell phone is no simple matter in rural African villages far from an electric grid.
Mobile phone charging business in Uganda Africa

African governments are struggling to meet to electric needs of the poorest of the poor living in rural areas. Living off-grid may be a lifestyle choice to some and a fact of everyday living to the poorest of the poor. 

However, tiny rooftop solar panels and high-efficiency LED lights across the African continent could provide enough electricity to charge cell phones. Cell phones are vital for people in rural areas with no access to banks in order to send and receive money, access medical care and stay in contact with family and friends. 

What does Off-Grid Mean? Off the grid (off-grid) means creating your own self-sufficient environment and being able to operate completely independently of all traditional utility services. Many African countries believe expanding the electric grid is not cost-effective into rural communities

Therefore, a simple task of charging a cell phone is no simple matter in rural farming villages far from an electric grid. People walk miles to the nearest town with electricity, dropped off their phone at a store that recharges phones for 30 cents or more and may wait up to three days since demand is so high. Charging a cell phone is expensive considering most Africans living in rural villages live on US $1.25 to $2.50 per day.

 
Tiny rooftop solar panels and high-efficiency LED lights across the African continent could provide enough electricity to charge cell phones.
Cell phone charging, selling and repair business in South Africa

Rural regions of many African countries lack banks; the cellphone has been embraced as a tool for commercial transactions as well as personal communications. More than 69 percent of the population of sub-Saharan Africa has no access to electricity. 

In the rural areas, the number of people without access to electricity rises to more than 85%. In other words, that is over 600 million people in the 49 countries of sub-Saharan Africa lacking access to electricity. 

To put 600 million people into perspective, the United States has a total population of 314 million people. Off-grid tiny rooftop solar panel systems have proved their worth, the lack of an effective distribution network or a reliable way of financing the start-up costs has prevented them from becoming more widespread. Another issue is only about 8% of solar panels are manufactured to produce electricity that does not feed into the grid.

Conflict minerals three facts

Conflict minerals extracted in conflict zones are sold to spread and fund warfare throughout mineral rich Africa.

The four most commonly mined conflict minerals known, as 3TGs are Tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold.

Pick any household electronic at random such as a cell phone, a remote control, or a laptop and it probably contains minerals mined in Africa.


Together we build awareness that boost harmony, education, and success, below are more links to articles you will find thought provoking.

  1. African Country Names Your Saying Wrong
  2. What do Waist Beads Symbolize in Africa?
  3. About African Healers and Witchdoctors
  4. Hurricanes are Angry African Ancestors
  5. Highest Temperature and Lowest Temperature in Africa
  6. About African Night Running


Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

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.

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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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Be better than average and support African history and culture. Since 2008 Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet highlight Africa through her food and culture. Contact us culture1africangourmet@gmail.com

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