Throughout Africa, women and girls walk for hours a day in the hope of finding a few branches or roots to use as firewood; to avoid the midday sun, many leave their homes before sunrise.

Burdens of Women Collecting Firewood in Africa

Dangers of women collecting firewood in Africa range from spinal and pelvic injuries to sexual assault, rape, and harassment.

Almost all African countries still rely on wood to meet basic energy needs, in fact over 80% of the energy supply in African countries comes from wood.

In these countries, woodfuels not only are vital to the nutrition of rural and urban households but are also often essential in food processing industries for baking, brewing, smoking, curing and electricity production.

The World Health Organization states that “Over 98,000 Nigerian women die annually from the use of firewood. If a woman cooks breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it is equivalent to smoking between three and 20 packets of cigarettes a day.”

Fuelwood accounts for about 90% of the total wood consumption in Africa and 81% of African households use solid fuels while 70% depend on them as their primary energy source for cooking. Nearly 60% of urban dwellers also use woody biomass as an energy source for cooking.

 

Lack of safe access to firewood can be life-threatening particularly in conflict situations. The hours searching for wood also prevents better use of the time, such as attending school.

Energy is both an engine of development and a source of many of today’s economic and environmental problems.

 

Women seek firewood often in arid areas already lacking adequate vegetation not only face the threat of rape but compete with other people who also need the resource.

Approximately 60% of the world’s total wood removals from forests and trees outside forests are used for energy purposes. In other words, woodfuel is one of the main products of forests and trees.

Woodfuel is not only used in poor and rural households. In many towns and metropolitan areas, woodfuel is widely used either as a main, substitute or supplementary fuel by low-, middle- and high-income groups.

In Africa, fuelwood, charcoal and other forms of biomass energy make a major contribution to meeting the energy requirements of the population

The collection, distribution, and trade of these fuels also provide income and employment to millions of Africans but also house unsafe working conditions for many young girls and women.

Lack of safe access to firewood can be life-threatening. Many women spend more than 20 hours a week collecting firewood. Contrary to common belief, not all-wood fuel is sourced from natural forests. 

Wood fuel production takes place within several types of land use, such as tree fallow and shrub fallow, woodlots, tree plantation sites, reforestation sites, fruit trees, scattered trees, and bushland and shrubland areas.

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African locust bean trees are important to women's economics. Soumbala and Dawadawa pastes are made from the fermented seeds of African locust beans.

The African Locust Tree: A Multipurpose Marvel 

The African Locust Tree (Parkia biglobosa) is a remarkably versatile tree with a long history of use across sub-Saharan Africa. This large, slow-growing tree thrives in arid and semi-arid regions, providing a range of valuable products and ecological benefits.

 

African locust bean tree

The African Locust Tree: A Food Source and More

Nutritious Food: The seeds of the African Locust Tree are a significant food source. They are cooked like beans, fermented into pastes like Soumbala and Dawadawa (rich in protein and fat), and used to flavor various dishes.

What are Soumbala and Dawadawa?

Soumbala and Dawadawa are fermented pastes made from the seeds of the African locust bean tree, known scientifically as Parkia biglobosa. These pastes are popular flavoring agents in West African cuisine. 

Soumbala is typically found in countries like Mali, Senegal, and Guinea. It has a strong, pungent flavor and is often added to stews and soups to enhance the taste.

Dawadawa, on the other hand, is common in Nigeria and some other regions of West Africa. It has a slightly milder flavor compared to Soumbala and is used in similar culinary applications.

Both Soumbala and Dawadawa are nutritious, rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, and they contribute a unique depth of flavor to various West African dishes.

Traditional Uses: The tree offers a wide range of uses:

• Food: The sweet pulp within the pods is eaten raw, made into drinks, and even fermented into an alcoholic beverage. 

• Medicine: The stem bark exhibits antibiotic properties, particularly against Shigella infections.

• Pest Control: The beans possess termite-repellent properties.

• Economic Activity: The production and sale of locust bean products, especially by women, contribute to local economies.

Environmental Benefits:

• Shade and Shelter: The tree provides much-needed shade and shelter from the harsh sun and winds in arid regions.

• Honey Production: Its melliferous flowers attract bees, contributing to honey production.

• Soil Improvement: The tree helps improve soil fertility.

A Sustainable Resource:

While the wood is used for construction and fuel, the tree's primary value lies in its non-timber products. Its sustainable use and cultivation can significantly improve the livelihoods of rural communities.

Where Does the African Locust Bean Tree Grow:

The African locust bean tree, known as Parkia biglobosa, is found in many countries in tropical Africa. Here are some of the main countries where this tree grows:

 

West Africa:  

- Senegal 

- Gambia 

- Guinea-Bissau 

- Guinea 

- Sierra Leone 

- Mali 

- Côte d'Ivoire 

- Burkina Faso 

- Ghana 

- Togo 

- Benin 

- Niger 

- Nigeria 

 

Central Africa:  

- Cameroon 

- Central African Republic 

- Democratic Republic of the Congo 

 

East Africa:

- Sudan 

- Uganda  

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