Wages, government and employment conditions for agricultural workers on a sisal plantation on the world’s fourth-largest island of Madagascar. What is sisal? Sisal plant Sisal is a strong fiber from the spiny leaves of the agave plant. Sisal hemp, or henequen, is the name given to the cleaned and dried fiber of the cultivated varieties of the agave plant. The name sisal may have originated from having been first exported through the port of Sisal, in Yucatan. In Africa, sisal is cultivated for fiber in Angola, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania. In Tanzania and Kenya, sisal is predominantly a plantation crop as opposed to small-scale farming. A coarse and strong fiber, sisal is used in fabrics, twine, ropes, string, yarn, carpets, mats, cigarette paper filters, and tea bags. Sisal is also used in composite materials for cars, furniture, and construction as well as in plastics and numerous paper products. Sisal can also be used to ad...

Green Bananas Culinary Creativity | The African Gourmet Part of the African Cuisine Hub — featuring African cooking techniques, ingredients, and traditional recipes from across the continent. Green Bananas Culinary Creativity Green bananas, also known as unripe bananas, are firm, starchy, and mildly tangy. Unlike their ripe yellow counterparts, they hold their shape beautifully when cooked and are perfect for savory African dishes like stews, curries, soups, and even chips. Green bananas are a delicious, healthy substitute for potatoes or yams and can even be mashed to thicken soups. Green bananas are a perfect substitute for potatoes in many recipes. Banana Facts and African Heritage Bananas float in water. Bananas are the most popular fruit in the world. Banana skins can be red, pink, purple, or black. Over 1,000 varieties of bananas are grown and eaten worldwide. In Africa, bananas and plantains are essential staples and a source of liveli...

Ethiopian eggplants are small, bright red to orange, intensely flavored vegetables, similar in appearance to a tomato. Fruits and leaves of the Ethiopian Eggplant are eaten boiled, as a recipe ingredient of African soups and stews. Ethiopian Eggplants are usually picked when still green or slightly yellow and are typically grown in micro-gardens and small family gardens. Three Ethiopian recipes , two recipes using Ethiopian eggplants and one for making the best Injera bread to eat with your Ethiopian eggplant stews by the African Gourmet. Prep time: 20 min Cook time: 1 hour Total time: 1 hour 20 min Spicy Ethiopian Eggplant Stew Recipe Ingredients 4 sliced Ethiopian eggplants 1 small head cabbage, shredded 2 onions, sliced 2 cups baby carrots 2 large tomatoes, diced 1 large white potato, finely diced 1 green pepper, finely chopped 1 tablespoon minced garlic ½ teaspoon chili powder Salt and pepper to taste 2 tablespoons oil 8 cups of water Dir...

Instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Threat to Iconic National Parks and Wildlife The ongoing instability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has serious implications for the conservation of its renowned national parks, including Garamba National Park , Kahuzi-Biega National Park , Okapi Wildlife Reserve , Salonga National Park , and Virunga National Park . Political violence, fueled by more than 100 armed groups operating in the eastern DRC, directly threatens the biodiversity and habitats in these UNESCO-listed reserves. Okapi Wildlife Reserve The Role of DRC’s Forests in Africa’s Ecosystem The Democratic Republic of the Congo holds half of Africa’s tropical rainforest, a critical region for global climate regulation and biodiversity conservation. As the second-largest rainforest in the world, the Congolese forests are home to many endemic species such as the bonobo , mountain gorilla , and okapi , which face imminent danger from the ongoing conflict. Impa...