Africa Factbook

Kenya's Dr. Wangari Maathai was the first African women to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Maathai was awarded the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize in the field of humanitarian work founding The Green Belt Movement. The Green Belt Movement or GBM was founded by Professor Wangari Maathai in 1977. The GBM was created to respond to the needs of rural Kenyan women who reported that their streams were drying up, their food supply was less secure, and they had to walk further and further to get firewood for fuel and fencing. GBM encouraged the women to work together to grow seedlings and plant trees to bind the soil, store rainwater, provide food and firewood, and receive a small monetary token for their work. Professor Maathai saw that behind the everyday hardships of the poor, environmental degradation, deforestation, and food insecurity were deeper issues of disempowerment, disenfranchisement, and a loss of the traditional values that had previously enabled communities to protect thei

Underlying causes of hunger in Africa are the poor operation of Africa's economic and political systems, war and poor environmental polices. Sub-Saharan Africa is rich in fertile farming land. However, barely a fraction of fertile agricultural land is being farmed. There are three main causes of hunger in Africa, harmful economic systems, conflict, and an overexploited environment. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimate that of the 856 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, 233 million people are undernourished.  Sub-Saharan Africa was the area with the second largest number of undernourished people; Asia has 512 million. Why are people starving in Africa? Harmful economic systems. Barely a fraction of fertile agricultural land is being farmed, just 10% of the 400 million hectares of agricultural land in the Guinea Savannah zone that covers a large part of Africa. Fragmented regional food markets and the lack of clear and predictable policies have dissuaded the pr

African Proverb. Hold tight to a true friend, hold on with both hands. True friends are hard to find, in today's day and age is one of the hardest things to find. Hold tight to a true friend, hold on with both hands.  - African Proverb with Love from your Ancestors  When something bad happens, when we get sick or go through big disappointments or major loss, it is only natural to want someone to be there to help. True unconditional friendship is rare and hard to find so when you find your friendship soulmate, hold on to them with both hands. Friendships can be rooted in a number of different impulses. Unhealthy elements like need, the desire for borrowed status, and the wish for flattery are as common as the more healthy ones like mutual interests, sense of humor and natural compatibility. Part of a good friendship is honesty. Friends are precious, even irreplaceable, but they are also fragile. The nature of friendship changes and you to must change wi

How to Make Pumpkin Leaves Seafood Sauce How to Make Pumpkin Leaves Seafood Sauce Pumpkin leaves seafood sauce recipe is a classic African seafood sauce that served on fish, and dozens of seafood dishes using pumpkin leaves as a base. Malawi Ndiwo Seafood Sauce Recipe is a classic African seafood sauce Easy Pumpkin Leaves from Malawi Ndiwo Seafood Sauce Recipe Ingredients 2 handfuls pumpkin leaves chopped 1 large ripe tomato chopped 2 cups raw peanuts 2 cups water 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt Directions Pour 1 cup of water into medium size cooking pot. Add baking soda and stir until thoroughly dissolved. Place pot on burner on medium heat. Add collard greens and tomato. Cook on medium to high heat for 5 to 8 minutes. In a coffee grinder, add ½ cups of peanuts at a time a grind into a powder (if you grind too long you will make peanut butter) then add peanut powder, salt, to the pot of greens. Stir, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Read more facts and food reci