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.

GMO African cotton fibers

African farmer’s production of cotton in Burkina Faso Africa lost $89.5 million in revenue in five cotton growing seasons using Monsanto’s genetically modified cotton seeds. The cotton shirt you are wearing may be made from GMO African cotton fibers.

Cotton production and therefore picking in Africa has fallen in recent years. The U.S.A seed and pesticide company Monsanto proposed an answer to boosting African cotton trade economy, a genetically modified strain of cotton called Bollgard II.

The gluttonous incest, the bollworm destroys 35 percent of African cotton crop. The bug-resistant genes of Bollgard II produced more volume but the quality of cotton reduced dramatically and African farmers abandoned the genetically modified cotton and renewed the traditional seeds and growing methods of their African ancestors.

Balancing a basket of freshly harvested cotton on her head.
Balancing a basket of freshly harvested cotton on her head.


"Genetically modified cotton, it's not good today. It's not good tomorrow," said Burkina Faso cotton farmer Paul Badoun, picking apart a lumpy handful of raw cotton in a cotton field in Kongolekan village near Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso in Africa’s cotton belt.

Bollgard II, the genetically modified cotton seeds were genetically engineered with genes from the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria to make them resistant to the bollworm incest but the genetically modified cotton seed also produced cotton with shorter fibers, which produced an undesirable lower quality cotton fabric.

In Africa, large cotton plantations or farms are dedicated to growing cotton. Picking cotton in Africa without machinery is very hot, hard, physical work where women and often time’s children work the same hours as men. At harvest time, pickers are expected to pick a certain amount of cotton each day or they do not earn enough money to support their families.

Pink cotton yarn for knitting and crocheting

Most work as field hands-on cotton plantations. Today raw cotton is processed in the state's grain mills which the picker must pay for the use of the mill. Cotton pickers can work in the fields from sunrise to sunset and at harvest time; they might work an 18-hour day. At harvest time, the cotton bolls are collected into large sacks and weighed. A good picker can harvest 100-300 pounds of cotton in a day.

This size of the harvest would consist of one-third fibers and two-thirds seeds. Harvesting is mechanized today on some larger farms. Benin, which was a leading global producer of cotton between 2004 and 2006, experienced a sharp fall in production. American genetically modified cotton was grown on many African cotton plantation farms from 2007 - 2015.

The Benin government has also taken over the export of cotton and cottonseed. After a difficult period, production is now once again getting underway, but with output likely to be below Benin’s glory days as King of Cotton.

Cotton is still King in the African country of Benin, cotton accounts for nearly 40 percent of the country's revenue. Cotton provides an income to roughly three million people, however; cotton productivity and profitability have declined in recent years due, in part, to poor governmental management practices and piracy against commercial shipping in its territory off the Port of Cotonou.


The African Gourmet Logo.

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.

This Week’s Best Posts and Pages

Exploring the Rich Waterways of Africa

What is the difference between ugali and fufu

Rising Above the Dust the World of Evala Wrestling

Using Amen and Ashe or Ase

African cultures express, encourage, and communicate energy

Support African History and Culture

Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet are dedicated to discovering, collecting and sharing African history and heritage celebrating 14 years of service in 2021. Share and support in the pride of being part of an important cultural and educational resource.



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.

Chic African Culture


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

More LOVE from Africa to Read About