Girl with Fish Curse of Selfishness African Folklore
Asha and her three sisters
Selfishness runs deep in the Girl with Fish Curse of Selfishness African Folklore
As the ancestors say, selfishness is wicked. A good person thinks of others first and the selfish person earns a reputation as someone not worth dealing with, someone to shun.
Curse of Selfishness African Folklore.
Asha and her three sisters one day took their baskets and went to the river to fish. Asha caught many fishes, while the other three sisters caught none at all.
They said to their more fortunate friend, “Asha let us have a few of your fishes; you have so many, and we have none at all."
"No!" said Asha, "what I have caught I keep for myself!”.
They all started for home and had gone quite a distance when Asha who had caught the many fishes discovered, that she had lost her bracelet. She asked her companions to go along back with her and help her find it.
"No!" said they. "Ask your fishes to go along with you. You know that we are your friends, yet you would not let us have a few fishes when we asked you!"
Asha went alone to the river. There she met a Python. On seeing him, she became charmed by him and was unable to move from the spot. The Python killed and devoured her. Poor selfish Asha not only lost all of her fishes, but her life as well.
What are Africa’s five smallest capital cities What is a capital city and how is it chosen? Africa’s Five Smallest Countries and their capital capital cities are the Republic of Seychelles capital city of Victoria, São Tomé and Príncipe Sao Tomé is the capital city, Mauritius capital city of Port Luis, Comoros capital city of Maroni, and Cabo Verde Sao Tiago Island is the location of the capital of Praia.
Market day in Ghana capital city Accra
Africa’s five smallest capital capital cities
Africa has 54 countries, 2 unofficially recognized territories and 10 dependent territories. Officially according to the African Union, Africa has 54 countries with Algeria being the largest and The Gambia the smallest on the mainland and Seychelles the smallest overall. Seychelles is 175 sq miles, 455 sq. km, or 112432 acres.
What is a Capital City?
The word capital originates from the Latin capitalis, meaning of the head. This is where government buildings are and where government leaders work. As the city at the head of the territory, it is linked to the state, the politics of a capital city is not unique to the national capital but it also exists at all levels of government. For that reason, many capitals are built in the center of countries as they need to be seen as representative and accessible to the entire state. Capital cities focus legislative power in a single location rather than spread out across a state. In some countries, there are capital cities that serve as capitals and seats of government.
What is a Seat of Government?
The seat of government is the building, complex of buildings or the city from which a government exercises its authority. In most countries, the nation’s capital is also seat of its government, thus that city is appropriately referred to as the national seat of government. The terms are not however, completely synonymous, as some countries' seat of government differs from the capital.
How Did Africa’s Newest Country of South Sudan Choose Juba as the Capital?
The Ceasefire Joint Military Committee and the Headquarters of the Joint Integrated Units were agreed by the Parties of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to be located in Juba. During the drafting of the Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan, the issue of the capital city was one of the issues discussed by the Drafting Committee with Dr. John Garang de Mabior.
On September 7, 2011, the President of the newly born Republic of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, issued an order forming a governmental committee to make the necessary preparations for the building of the new capital to be known as Ramciel Union.
Before his death in a plane crash July 30, 2005, Dr. Garang commissioned a technical committee to conduct a feasibility study for the new capital of South Sudan. Ramciel was identified as potential site for the new capital city as it lies between the three greater regions of the South, Bahr el Ghazal, Equatoria, and Upper Nile.
Officials say the uncertainty in the town had made access to land difficult to the national government, the ordinary people, as well as the investors that they said, had hampered the prospect for development in the area. Ramciel which officials say means, where rhinos meet in the two slightly different Dinka words, has almost no infrastructure, no towns, and only a few seasonal villages. To date, no further steps have been made to move the capital of South Sudan from Juba to Ramciel.
Africa’s Five Smallest Countries and their capital Capital Cities
Seychelles
Is the smallest African country; the constitution of the Republic of Seychelles lists 155 islands: 42 granitic and 113 coralline; by far the largest island is Mahe, which is home to about 90% of the population and the site of the capital city of Victoria.
São Tomé and Príncipe
Sao Tomé, the capital city, has roughly a quarter of the nation's population; Santo Antonio is the largest town on Principe; the northern areas of both islands have the highest population density.
Mauritius
The population is found through the main island with a greater density in and around the capital city of Port Luis.
Comoros
The capital city of Maroni, located on the western side of the island of Grande Comore, is the country's largest city; however, of the three islands that comprise Comoros, it is Anjouan that is the most densely populated.
Cabo Verde
Nine inhabited islands out of 18, around half of the population lives on Sao Tiago Island, which is the location of the capital of Praia.
Three main types of legal hunting in Africa are African trophy hunting, canned hunting, and game hunting.
Legal Hunting Types in Africa Game Hunting
Hunting Guns
Africa’s Big Five canned, game and trophy hunting animals are the elephant, lion, leopard, Cape buffalo, and rhinoceros. According to Wildlife Extra Tourist hunters kill around 105,000 animals per year, including around 640 elephants, 3,800 Buffalo, 600 lions, and 800 leopards.
The Cape buffalo is nicknamed the Black Death because it is one of the smartest and unpredictable animal a hunter can face. The black rhino and leopard are on the WWF critically endangered listing, the African elephant is listed as vulnerable as well as the African lion.
Three legal hunting categories in Africa are trophy hunting, canned hunting, and game hunting explained.
Trophy Hunting Trophy hunting is defined as killing wild animals for their body parts, such as head and hide, for display but not primarily for food or sustenance. Trophies include, but are not limited to, parts such as elephant ivory tusks, rhino horns or deer antlers to entire heads that can be mounted on walls or complete bodies that can be formed into life-like poses by a taxidermist.
Canned Hunting A canned hunt is where animals have been raised on farms or game reserves until they are mature enough to be killed. The animals are hunted in a confined area increasing the chances of the hunter attaining a kill.
Game Hunting Game hunting is the hunting of animals, for food, skin or hide and other animal features. Game hunting is a survival, trophy, or sporting activity. Big game hunting is the hunting of large animals, historically the elephant, lion, leopard, water buffalo, and rhino.
Canned hunting is becoming more popular throughout Southern Africa. Eleven countries in Africa allow trophy and big game hunting in the wild:
The median age in Africa is 19.7 in 2012 and will increase to 25.4 in 2050.
African Countries with the highest fertility rates
Niger 6.62
Burundi 6.04
Mali 5.95
Somalia 5.89
Uganda 5.80
Burkina Faso 5.79
Zambia 5.67
Malawi 5.54
Angola 5.31
South Sudan 5.19
African Countries with the lowest fertility rates
Djibouti 2.35
South Africa 2.31
Botswana 2.30
Cabo Verde 2.26
Morocco 2.12
Libya 2.04
Tunisia 1.98
Seychelles 1.86
Brunei 1.79
Mauritius 1.75
Birth rates and fertility rates statistics in Africa on the average number of children Africans give birth to
Historically in Africa, a young age structure reflects high fertility coupled with the prevalence of HIV/AIDS-related deaths.
Africa's population is young, very young and its share in the world population will increase to 24% in 2050, up from about 13% in 2012.
The median age in Africa is 19.7 in 2012 and will increase to 25.4 in 2050. Throughout Africa, a decline in the median age echoes high fertility rates together with the HIV/AIDS pandemic and other communicable diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis.
Childbearing Age (reproductive age) of women is ages 15-49 as defined by the World Health Organization. Total fertility rate and birth rate do not include adolescent pregnancy, childbirth before the age of 15.
African Fertility Rates 2017
Niger 6.49
Angola 6.16
Mali 6.01
Burundi 5.99
Somalia 5.8
Burkina Faso 5.71
Uganda 5.71
Zambia 5.63
Malawi 5.49
Mozambique 5.08
South Sudan 5.07
Nigeria 5.07
Liberia 5.06
Ethiopia 4.99
Benin 4.77
Tanzania 4.77
Guinea 4.77
Sierra Leone 4.73
Cameroon 4.64
Congo, Republic Of The 4.59
Gabon 4.39
Congo, Democratic Republic Of The 4.39
Equatorial Guinea 4.39
Togo 4.38
Chad 4.34
Central African Republic 4.3
Senegal 4.28
Sao Tome And Principe 4.25
Guinea-Bissau 4.09
Madagascar 4.03
Ghana 4
Eritrea 3.99
Zimbabwe 3.98
Rwanda 3.87
Mauritania 3.86
Sudan 3.57
Gambia, The 3.52
Egypt 3.47
Cote D'ivoire 3.38
Namibia 3.29
Kenya 2.98
Algeria 2.7
Eswatini 2.69
Lesotho 2.63
Botswana 2.56
Djibouti 2.31
South Africa 2.29
Cabo Verde 2.24
Tunisia 2.23
Morocco 2.11
Libya 2.04
Seychelles 1.85
Mauritius 1.75
Birth rate and total fertility rate are two very different statistics when measuring the growth of a country.
Birth rate compares the average annual number of births during a year per 1,000 persons in the population at midyear.
However, total fertility rate compares figures for the average number of children that would be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and bore children according to a given fertility rate at each age.
Total fertility rate shows the potential for population change in the country. A rate of two children per woman is considered the replacement rate for a population, resulting in relative stability in terms of total numbers.
Rates above two children indicate populations growing in size and whose median age is declining. Rates below two children indicate populations decreasing in size and growing older.
Niger tops the fertility rate listing with 51% of women between 20 and 24 reporting a birth before the age of 18 with a fertility rate of 6.62 births per women of childbearing age.
Niger tops the fertility rate listing with a fertility rate of 6.62 births per women of childbearing age.
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Life's best advice African proverbs have all the wisdom you need to do almost everything better.
These five African Best Advice on Life African Proverbs are the best nuggets of wisdom you have ever heard that will above all influence your life and will stick with you for a long time. Here are Five of Life's Best Advice African Proverbs from the ancestors to help with life’s growth and care.
Advice on Life African Proverbs
If all the seeds that fall were to grow, then no one could follow the path under the trees. ~ African Proverb
A promise is a cloud; fulfillment is rain. ~ African Proverb
Death's ladder is there for everyone to climb. ~ African Proverb
If you stop every time a dog barks, your road will never end. ~ African Proverb
No man is a good physician who has never been sick. ~ African Proverb
More Life's Best Advice African Proverbs.
If all the seeds
that fall were to grow, then no one could follow the path under the trees. ~
African Proverb
A promise is a
cloud; fulfillment is rain. ~ African Proverb
Death's ladder is
there for everyone to climb. ~ African Proverb
If you stop every
time a dog barks, your road will never end. ~ African Proverb
No man is a good
physician who has never been sick. ~ African Proverb
Links to more African Proverbs
In everyday life, African proverbs inspire with ancient words of wisdom.
African proverbs bring people together, read and study more proverbs, quotes, and sayings from the African continent.
Never Lend Money to a Friend African Folktale teaches friendships true wisdom instructs the soul that you should never lend money to a friend to that you cannot
afford to lose.
Never
Lend Money to a Friend African Folktale
As
the elders say, once there was a great famine in the land, and the tortoise sat
down to think of some sneaky scheme to help him in his destitute state.
Because
of his planning, he went to his friends: the worm, chicken, wildcat, leopard,
and hunter, and from each of them borrowed seven bags of seed.
These he promised
to pay on different days at the end of the season, telling the worm to come first
for his money, the chicken next, and so on; the hunter being last.
When
the time agreed upon came, the worm went to him for payment. But, the tortoise
told him to wait, saying he had to go to fetch the money. So, the worm waited;
and the next day the tortoise came back, followed by the chicken, whose payment
was now due.
Seeing the worm, the chicken swallowed him up, and then told the
tortoise the object of his visit.
However,
the tortoise told the chicken likewise to wait while he got the money; and when
he returned, the wild cat came with him and devoured the chicken.
When
he then asked for his money, he was told to wait, while the tortoise went out
for it. This time the leopard came back with the tortoise, and he, seeing the
wild cat, fell upon him and killed him, after which he explained the reason for
his coming; and he, as the others had been, was told to wait, which he did in
ignorance of the scheme he was so soon to fall prey.
Shortly
the tortoise came back, and with him the hunter, who fired at the leopard,
though he failed to kill him. Therefore, the leopard attacked him, and they
fought until they both were dead.
Wicked
tortoise laughed at the foolishness of his victims and chuckled, “you should
not lend money to anyone, as they would try to get rid of you in order not to
pay you back!”
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Sobek, God of the Nile River, is an Ancient Egyptian crocodile symbolling power, virility and fertility.
Nile River God Sobek is protector of the Nile River feared and loved by the Ancient rulers of Crocodilopolis also known as the Egyptian Faiyum region. Sobek is first mentioned in the Pyramid Texts, which are the oldest sacred texts in the world.
Nile River God Sobek
Sobek appearance is that of a man with the head of a crocodile and an elaborate sun disk headdress. Sobek was worshiped as the creator of the world who arose from the fertile Nile River waters and created the order in the universe. Sobek rescued Horus’ four sons by gathering them in a net from the waters where they arose in a lotus bloom.
Sobek is the God of the Nile because he controlled the waters and the fertility of the soil. He is known under several titles; Lord of the Waters, SBK and Protector of Faiyum. He is also patron of the Military because of his strength, power and prowess. Ancient Egyptians both loved and feared crocodiles, their depiction of Sobek was a means to appease these ferocious creatures.
He gained celebrity status during the Middle Kingdom when the 12th Dynasty King, King Amenemhat III revered Sobek. Live crocodiles were kept in pools at temples built to honor Sobek. The Egyptian Faiyum region was the center of Sobek worship.
Did you know?
Crocodiles and alligators, what is the difference; Crocodiles have a longer, more V-shaped head then alligators, Alligators have shorter, wider heads that are more U-shaped, the fourth tooth of a crocodile sticks out when its mouth is closed, Crocodiles tend to have a lighter appearance than alligators, Crocodiles are more aggressive than alligators and Crocodiles in the wild are found all over the world while alligators are only found in the USA and China.
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Cartoon stereotyped circumcision cake designed by black Swedish artist Makode Linde, freedom of art speech or stereotype reinforcement?
Circumcision Cake
Black circumcision cake in Sweden the real story
Sweden's culture minister Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth on Saturday, April 14, 2012, during an art exhibit cut up a cake baked into the shape of a cartoon stereotyped African woman. As the head of Sweden’s Ministry of Culture, she was responsible for issues relating to culture, media, democracy, human rights at the national level, the national minorities and the language and culture of the indigenous people of Scandinavia.
The Ministry is also responsible for anti-discrimination work and issues concerning civil society, and faith communities. The incident involving Liljeroth happened at the Moderna Museet Museum in Stockholm in honor of World Art Day. According to the cakes artist Makode Linde, who is black Swede born in Stockholm said the cake was misunderstood.
The cake was supposed to highlight the issue of female circumcision. The cake was in the shape of the naked upper body of a very black African woman filled with a blood-red sponge cake. Linde painted his own face black with wide red lips outlined in a white dotted with sharp crooked white teeth. Linde used his own head complete with dreadlocks, in place of the cakes head.
With each slice of cake, Linde would scream in mock pain to simulate the pain of girls who undergo female circumcision. The Association for African Swedes said it was a crude racist caricature. Kitimbwa Sabuni, a spokesperson for the Association for African Swedes, said, "To say that you did this for a good cause only makes the mockery of people who are victims of racism and of circumcision worse."
Liljeroth said, "It was a bizarre situation. I was invited to speak at World Art Day about the freedom of art and the right to be provocative, and then they asked me to cut up the cake." Liljeroth served as Sweden’s Minister for Culture from October 2006 until October 2014. The current culture minister of Sweden is Alice Bah Kuhnke who grew up in Småland, Sweden with her Gambian father and Swedish mother.
Five African proverbs on foolish, pointless, silly, inane, weak of mind, actions of unwise people.
Here are 5 African proverbs on foolproofing your life.
Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture
The world is filled with demanding people. It is impossible to avoid them. Nevertheless, as the ancestors say, the best way to deal with fools is by not dealing with them at all.
5 African proverbs on foolproofing your
life.
A parasite cannot live alone. ~ African Proverb
One should never rub bottoms with a porcupine. ~ African Proverb
The rain wets the leopard's spots but does not wash them off. ~ African Proverb
Silence is the best answer to the unwise. ~ African Proverb
The fool always has an answer on the tip of his tongue. ~ African Proverb
The story of Sara Saartjie Baartman large butt, black female sexuality and body shape is still debated as empowerment vs exploitation entertainment.
Sarah Baartman was exhibited in human zoo's naked or scantily dressed throughout Britain, Paris, Ireland, and Belgium from 1810 to 1815 in cages alongside animals, in public places and rich clients’ private homes. She was pinched, poked made fun of, studied, sexualized, and ridiculed as part of exotic exhibitions in Europe.
The Hottentot Venus, Sarah Baartman was a South African Khoisan tribe woman from the Kalahari famous for the biggest butt the world has ever seen. Sarah Baartman became world famous as the most exotic of the four Hottentot Venuses paraded around Eroupe as well as a landmark court case.
Life, death and torture of African Hottentot Venus Sarah Baartman.
Treated inhumanly, the short life of the Hottentot Venus Sarah Baartman was one to be displayed and exhibited naked or scantily dressed at 225 Piccadilly in a cage on stage in London's Piccadilly Circus.
Unable to read or write, allegedly she signed a contract that she would receive half the profit. Other terms of her contract were that she would travel with Hendrik Cezar and Dunlop to England and Ireland to work as a domestic servant, and be exhibited for entertainment purposes could return to South Africa after five years.
She was put on display in 1810 at carnivals of human curiosities, live specimens and exotic exhibitions, Piccadilly Circus and freak shows in London and Paris, with crowds invited to look at her large booty and genitals. Britain's well to do society members gawked at, prodded and squeezed Sarahs so-called freakish human form which was paraded before them.
Sarah had a condition called Steatopygia that is a condition that produces a substantial amount of fat tissue on the buttocks and thighs. Steatopygia is common in the women of the Griqua Khoikhoi tribe which Sarah was born.
Britain's well to do society members gawked at, prodded and squeezed Sarah behind while attending human zoo's.
Sarah's promoters nicknamed her the Hottentot Venus. Hottentot now seen as derogatory was used by white Europeans to describe the Khoi African peoples. Sarahs physical and economic exploitation became the rallying cry of abolitionists in London. The African Association also known as African Association for promoting the discovery of the interior of Africa was founded in 1788 and brought Baartmans case to court.
Baartman was the only Hottentot Venus whose case of exploration made its way through the courts. The law case was brought before the British Judiciary System in November 1810 were observers of the court case documented what they observed Baartman to go through day-to-day. Through this court case, today this is how the world able to trace her story in London and Paris.
Activists were appalled at Sarah's treatment and how the African women were portrayed as wild sexual creatures made shamed for having large bodies. Her employers were prosecuted for holding Sarah against her will, but not convicted, with Sarah herself testifying in their favor.
Sarahs show gradually lost its novelty and popularity among audiences in Paris and she went on tour around Britain and Ireland. A year before her death in 1814, Sarah worked for Reaux, an animal exhibitor in South Africa where she was exhibited in a cage alongside animals.
Born in South Africa's Eastern Cape in 1789, Sarah Baartman died on December 29, 1815, at the age of 26, but her exhibition continued. Baron Georges Cuvier was a French zoologist who established the sciences of comparative anatomy and paleontology. He and other medical scientists codified racial difference by studying, recording and drawing Sarah Baartmans’ genitals and buttocks.
Cuvier, a naturalist obtained Baartmans' remains from local police and dissected her body. He made a plaster cast of her body, pickled her brain and genitals and placed them into jars that were placed on display at the Musee de l'Homme Museum of Man until 1974.
In 1994, President Nelson Mandela requested that the French government return the remains of Sarah. The process took eight years but on March 6, 2002, Sarah was brought back home to South Africa.
She was buried August 9, 2002, on Women’s Day at Hankey in the Eastern Cape Province. In Sarah's honor, South Africa's Eastern Cape Province Cacadu District was renamed the Sarah Baartman District in 2015.
Did you know? Born in 1789 and died in 1815, no photographs of Sarah Baartman, the Hottentot Venus exists, only drawings. Sarah may have died from the result of health problems due to suppossed alcoholism however her cause of death cannot be confirmed. No written recording of Sarah Baartman have been found., her voice and her own life story in her words were never written down.
The human trafficking and black exploitation story of Sara Saartjie Baartman life and death story continued the belief that black women are extraterrestrial sexual black nymphos because of large butts, the nature of black female sexuality and black female bodies today is still one of empowerment vs exploitation entertainment.
Did you know? In Paris on November 19, 1814 Sarah Baartman’s large backside inspired a one act Vaudeville play called the Hottentot Venus or the hatred of the Frenchwoman written by Thiaulon,Dartois, and Brasier where a bride-to-be wears a large wide triangular dress mimicking the wide hips of Baartman to keep the attention of her husbands-to-be wandering eyes.
Links to war, human trafficking and black exploitation articles you will find thought provoking.
20 facts about the African hippopotamus for kids
Hippos resting in the sand
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas only a hippopotamus will do.
20 facts about the African hippopotamus for kids
1. Hippos spend up to 16 hours a day submerged in rivers and lakes to keep their massive bodies cool.
2. A baby hippo is called a calf and weighs nearly 100 pounds at birth.
3. A female hippopotamus is called a cow.
4. A group of hippos in known as a school.
5. A male hippopotamus is called a bull.
6. Hippos eyes and nostrils are located high on their heads, which allows them to see and breathe while mostly submerged.
7. Hippos can easily outrun a human running up to speeds on 20 miles per hour.
8. Hippos secrete an oily red substance, which gave rise to the myth that they sweat blood.
Hippos teeth can grow up to 3 feet in length
9. Hippopotamuses give birth in water.
10. Female hippos have only one calf every two years.
11. Hippopotamuses spend a large amount of time in water such as rivers, lakes and swamps.
12. Hippos are threatened by habitat loss and poachers who hunt them for their meat and teeth.
13. Hippos are herbivores grassing on nearly 80 pounds of grass per day.
14. Hippos typically live for around 40 years.
15. The closest relations of the hippopotamus are whales and dolphins.
16. Hippos teeth can grow up to 3 feet in length.
17. Hippopotamuses love water, which is why the Greeks named them the river horse.
18. Hippopotamus are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa and are around 6 feet tall weighing upwards of 8,000 pounds.
19. Hippos are responsible for more human deaths than almost any other creature in Africa. Hippos live only in eastern central and southern sub-Saharan Africa.
20. Hippos travel at night up to 6 miles to find food.
Hippopotamus are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa
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High-Protein Mopani Worms with Spicy Peanut Sauce – A Sustainable Delicacy
Mopani Worms with Spicy Peanut Sauce: The Ultimate High-Protein, Sustainable Superfood
A traditional South African delicacy reimagined for modern protein seekers and eco-conscious eaters.
Why This Recipe Matters Now:
With the rise of sustainable protein sources, mopani worms (caterpillars of the Emperor Moth) are gaining global attention as a low-footprint, nutrient-dense alternative to conventional meat.
60%+ Protein
by dry weight
Rich in Iron & Omega-3
more than beef
Low Carbon Footprint
sustainable farming
The Story Behind the Recipe
For generations in Southern Africa, Christmas Day has included a protein-packed bowl of crispy fried mopani worms. Unlike bland protein supplements, mopani worms are a blank canvas for flavor—making them perfect for bold, modern sauces like this spicy peanut glaze.
Ingredients
For the Mopani Worms:
3 cups dried mopani worms (available online or in African specialty stores)
1 tbsp sea salt
1 hot pepper (chopped)
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
2 cups high-heat oil (avocado or peanut oil recommended)
For the Spicy Peanut Sauce:
½ cup natural smooth peanut butter
2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
1 tsp coconut sugar
1 hot pepper, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
½ cup warm water
Optional: dash of lime juice, chili flakes, or ginger for extra zing
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Mopani
In a large steaming pot, steam the mopani worms with salt, hot pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder for 10 minutes.
Pat them thoroughly dry with paper towels (this ensures crispiness).
Step 2: Fry to Perfection
Heat oil in a deep skillet to 350°F (175°C).
Fry the mopani in batches until golden and crisp, about 3–4 minutes per batch. Drain on a wire rack.
Step 3: Whip Up the Sauce
In a bowl, combine peanut butter, soy sauce, sugar, minced pepper, and garlic.
Gradually stir in warm water until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
Taste and adjust heat or sweetness as desired.
Step 4: Serve & Enjoy
Drizzle the spicy peanut sauce over the crispy mopani worms. Garnish with fresh herbs, sesame seeds, or extra chili flakes.
Why Protein Lovers Are Switching to Mopani
More protein per gram than beef or chicken
Environmentally friendly – requires minimal water and land
Naturally rich in iron, zinc, and healthy fats
Versatile – can be seasoned, fried, baked, or added to stir-fries and salads
Mama
Baboons kindness is punished by death African folklore teaches us kind-heartedness
should be accepted and rewarded, not punished by death.
Mama
Baboons’ Kindness is Punished by Death
Once
there was in a town a baby whose body was covered with a very troublesome and
unsightly skin disease. The father and mother of this child had no choice but
to work very hard on the neighboring rice farm, and owing to the condition of
the little one's body the mother could not strap the baby upon her back, as is
the usual custom, and take it with her to the field. She had to leave it in the
hut uncared for and alone.
When
all the people of the town had gone to their farms, a baboon who lived with a
family of baboons in the nearby bush came into the town and soon found the suffering
baby. It took the child in its arms and carried it to the creek, where it bathed
its wounds and anointed them with medicine made from roots and herbs. This was
done with tender care.
Kindness African folklore
The
baby was then taken back to the hut where its mother had left it, and this
performance was repeated for several days.
The
mother, returning from the farm and finding that her sick baby had been well
cared for, was surprised, and as this kind treatment continued day after day, she
resolved to hide herself and watch for the kind nurse.
She
had not long to wait, for as soon as the people had left the town
and
the baby was alone, the baboon came, took the baby in her arms, and cared for
it as she had been doing. The next morning the father of the child watched for
the baboon; she soon appeared and, emerging from the bush, made a direct line
for the hut.
The
father was terrified and, as soon as the animal was near enough, shot the poor
thing, painfully wounding her.
The
baboon dragged its bleeding and mangled body with difficulty into the bush and
there uttered loud and pitiful cries which told of its pain. This soon brought
her mate and companions near.
They
were angry as they saw how her kindness had been rewarded. The baboons gathered
in large numbers, determined to avenge the wrong inflicted upon their innocent
and suffering companion. They armed themselves with guns, made war upon the town,
driving all the people away, and it was never again inhabited.
Too Pale to Belong: The Reality of Albinism in Africa
Too Pale to Belong
They are not ghosts.
They are not curses.
They are African — and they deserve to live.
Tanzania has one of the largest populations of people with albinism in the world — and one of the highest rates of violence against them.
The Myth That Kills
In parts of East and Southern Africa, a cruel superstition persists:
the body parts of people with albinism bring wealth, luck, or power.
A limb can sell for up to **$600** on the black market.
A life is worth less than a used phone.
The Reality
Albinism is a genetic condition — lack of melanin.
It causes pale skin, light hair, vision impairment, and extreme sun sensitivity.
In Africa’s climate, most develop skin cancer by age 30 without protection.
The Violence
Tanzania and Malawi have recorded dozens of murders and attacks since 2000.
Victims are often children.
Perpetrators are neighbours, relatives, even parents.
Letters and Courage: Annie Alfred
In 2016, Edward Snowden wrote to 10-year-old Annie Alfred in Malawi — one of thousands of children living under threat simply for existing.
“Your differences are not weaknesses — they are strengths.
Each of us is a treasure of the earth, and perhaps you most of all.”
The Fight Continues
Organisations like **Under the Same Sun**, **Standing Voice**, and **Amnesty International** provide safe houses, sunscreen, education, and legal advocacy.
Progress is slow.
The violence continues.
They are not “too pale to belong”.
They belong to all of us.
Ten Interesting Scent Facts for the Curious Mind about Africa | The African Gourmet
Ten Interesting Scent Facts for the Curious Mind about Africa
Africa's aromatic landscape tells stories of ancient traditions, diverse ecosystems, and cultural wisdom passed down through generations. Explore these fascinating scent facts that reveal Africa's rich sensory heritage.
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1
The Rain's First Scent Has a Name
In many African cultures, the distinctive smell of rain hitting dry earth has a specific name. The Xhosa people of South Africa call it "umswane," while in Zimbabwe, the Shona people refer to it as "mukute."
The Scent Experience: That magical moment when the first raindrops hit parched soil releases geosmin, an organic compound that produces the unmistakable scent of petrichor—a complex aroma of damp earth, ozone, and released plant oils that signals renewal and life.
Cultural Significance: This scent marks the beginning of planting seasons and is often associated with cleansing rituals and new beginnings in many African traditions.
2
Ancient Egyptian Perfume Formulas
Ancient Egyptians were master perfumers who created complex scents used in religious ceremonies, burial rituals, and daily life. Their kyphi perfume contained up to 16 ingredients including cinnamon, myrrh, honey, wine, and raisins.
The Scent Experience: Imagine temples filled with the rich, spicy-sweet aroma of kyphi—a complex bouquet that would have smelled like sacred incense, with honeyed notes balancing the resinous depth of myrrh and frankincense.
Cultural Significance: Scents were believed to please the gods and ensure safe passage to the afterlife. Perfume vessels were found in Tutankhamun's tomb, still containing traces of their original fragrances after 3,000 years.
3
The Baobab's Night-Blooming Secret
Baobab flowers emit a strong, sweet scent only at night, specifically evolved to attract their exclusive pollinators: fruit bats and bush babies.
The Scent Experience: As darkness falls, baobab flowers release an intense, sweet fragrance reminiscent of ripe tropical fruit with hints of fermentation—a nocturnal perfume designed to guide bats through the darkness by scent rather than sight.
Cultural Significance: Many African cultures consider the baobab sacred, and its seasonal flowering is often marked by celebrations. The tree is called "the tree of life" for its many uses, from food to medicine to shelter.
4
The Scent-Mapping of San Hunter-Gatherers
The San people of the Kalahari Desert can identify over 100 different plants by scent alone and use aromatic cues for navigation and hunting.
The Scent Experience: For the San, the desert has a complex aromatic language—the minty scent of certain bushes indicates water nearby, while the musky odor of specific roots can lead to medicinal plants. Each animal leaves a distinctive scent trail they can follow.
Cultural Significance: This sophisticated olfactory knowledge represents thousands of years of accumulated wisdom about survival in harsh environments, passed down through generations as a living library of scent-based information.
5
Coffee's Ethiopian Origin Story
The stimulating aroma of coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia, where legend says a goat herder noticed his goats becoming energetic after eating coffee berries.
The Scent Experience: The original coffee experience would have been the rich, slightly bitter aroma of roasted coffee beans mixed with the earthy scent of the Ethiopian highlands—a far cry from modern coffee shops but containing the same essential notes that make coffee universally appealing.
Cultural Significance: The traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony is a multisensory ritual that can last hours, involving roasting green beans, grinding them fresh, and brewing three rounds of coffee—each with symbolic meaning and accompanied by the burning of frankincense.
6
The Protective Scent of African Wormwood
Artemisia afra, or African wormwood, has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and its strong, camphor-like scent is believed to ward off evil spirits and illnesses.
The Scent Experience: A sharp, medicinal aroma with hints of camphor, eucalyptus, and bitter herbs—so potent that just brushing against the plant releases its protective scent, which can clear sinuses and repel insects.
Cultural Significance: Many African households keep wormwood plants near entrances or burn them as incense during cleansing rituals. The Xhosa name "umhlonyane" reflects its importance in traditional healing practices.
7
The Elephant's Incredible Olfactory Memory
African elephants have the most genes related to smell of any animal—nearly 2,000 olfactory receptor genes—allowing them to detect water sources up to 12 miles away and remember complex scent landscapes for decades.
The Scent Experience: While we can only imagine, elephants likely experience the savanna as a rich tapestry of scents—distant water, ripe marula fruit, predator warnings, family members, and seasonal changes—all woven into a detailed olfactory map of their world.
Cultural Significance: Many African cultures respect the elephant's wisdom and memory, with stories often portraying them as keepers of ancestral knowledge and environmental awareness.
8
The Scent-Based Communication of Ants
African driver ants use complex chemical signals to coordinate their famous raids, with different scent compounds serving as commands for attack, defense, and navigation.
The Scent Experience: These ant colonies move as a single entity guided by an invisible network of chemical messages—alarm pheromones that smell like chocolate to humans, trail markers that guide thousands of ants, and recruitment scents that mobilize the colony into action.
Cultural Significance: Some African communities have learned to use certain plants to repel or redirect ant colonies, demonstrating sophisticated understanding of insect chemical communication long before modern science documented it.
9
The Frankincense and Myrrh Trade Routes
For over 5,000 years, the Horn of Africa has been the source of frankincense and myrrh, aromatic resins so valuable they shaped trade routes and economies.
The Scent Experience: The warm, spicy-citrus scent of frankincense and the bitter, medicinal aroma of myrrh would have filled ancient marketplaces and temples. When burned, these resins release complex fragrances that deepen and change, creating what many describe as a "sacred" atmosphere.
Cultural Significance: These aromatic resins were used in religious ceremonies across ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and the Middle East. The Somali people, who still harvest these resins today, have protected these trees for generations as part of their cultural heritage.
10
The Scent Memory of Displacement
For Africans in the diaspora, certain scents can trigger powerful memories of homeland—the aroma of specific dishes, burning wood, or seasonal flowers serving as visceral connections to ancestral lands.
The Scent Experience: The smell of okra cooking, the particular scent of rain on hot soil, or the fragrance of specific flowers can instantly transport diaspora Africans emotionally to places they may have never physically visited but carry in cultural memory.
Cultural Significance: This phenomenon demonstrates how scent serves as an unbroken thread connecting people to their heritage, with certain aromas acting as living archives of cultural identity and ancestral memory across generations and continents.
Africa's aromatic landscape is as diverse and complex as its cultures—a living library of scents that tell stories of survival, spirituality, connection, and memory. Each fragrance carries centuries of wisdom, waiting to be understood by curious minds and open hearts.
The Final Scent Thought: Next time you encounter an unfamiliar scent, remember that you might be smelling a story thousands of years in the making—a story that began in the rich, aromatic heart of Africa.
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DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200
African Recipes Organized by Meal Time
African Drinks & Beverages
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About the Author
Ivy is the founder and lead writer of The African Gourmet. For over 19 years, she has been dedicated to researching, preserving, and sharing the rich culinary heritage and food stories from across the African continent.
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