African population increased by 645 million people in 40 years when the population was evaluated in 2015. From those calculations, interesting numbers emerged and the projections are for Africa to grow by 490 million people by 2030, 15 years, and increase by 1.4 billion by 2055 is on track. The World population is 7,677,179,190; Africa's population is 1,345,572,071 as of 2020.

Asia is the most populous continent with about 60% of the world's population, China and India together account for over 35%. while Africa comes in second with over 15% of the earth's populace, and Europe has about 10%, North America 8%, South America almost 6%, and Oceania less than 1%.

Ten largest urban areas in Africa are Cairo Egypt 20,485,000, Lagos Nigeria 13,904,000, Kinshasha Democratic Republic of the Congo 13,743,000, Luanda Angola 8,045,000, Dar Es Salaam Tanzania 6,368,000, Khartoum Sudan 5,678,000, Johannesburg South Africa 5,635,000, Alexandria Egypt 5,182,000, Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire 5,059,000, and Addis Ababa Ethiopia 4,592,000.

Angola's capital city population lives in poverty on the outskirts of the city, but in the center, the capital city Luanda is the priciest city for people who are not from Angola or expatriates. In Luanda, Africa's fourth largest city, you must have very deep pockets for housing, transport, clothes, food and entertainment and everything else in-between. Luanda was judged the costliest city due to the expense of goods and security.

The continent of Africa is the world’s second largest based on land area and population just after Asia. Top five largest countries of Africa by land size are Algeria, Congo Democratic Republic of the, Sudan, Libya and Chad but the top five largest populations in Africa are in Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania.

The top five least populated countries in Africa have .0001% or .01% ranking in the world, they are Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Cabo Verde, Sao Tome And Principe and Seychelles.

Here is Africa total world rank by country in population as of August 2020.

World Rank	African County	Population	World %
6	Nigeria	214,028,302	2.79%
13	Ethiopia	108,113,150	1.41%
14	Egypt	104,124,440	1.36%
15	Democratic Republic of the Congo	101,780,263	1.33%
24	Tanzania	58,552,845	0.76%
26	South Africa	56,463,617	0.74%
27	Kenya	53,527,936	0.70%
31	Sudan	45,561,556	0.59%
34	Uganda	43,252,966	0.56%
35	Algeria	42,972,878	0.56%
40	Morocco	35,561,654	0.46%
43	Angola	32,522,339	0.42%
47	Mozambique	30,098,197	0.39%
49	Ghana	29,340,248	0.38%
51	Cameroon	27,744,989	0.36%
52	Cote D'ivoire	27,481,086	0.36%
53	Madagascar	26,955,737	0.35%
58	Niger	22,772,361	0.30%
60	Malawi	21,196,629	0.28%
61	Burkina Faso	20,835,401	0.27%
62	Mali	19,553,397	0.25%
66	Zambia	17,426,623	0.23%
71	Chad	16,877,357	0.22%
72	Senegal	15,736,368	0.20%
73	Zimbabwe	14,546,314	0.19%
74	Benin	12,864,634	0.17%
75	Rwanda	12,712,431	0.17%
76	Guinea	12,527,440	0.16%
77	Burundi	11,865,821	0.15%
78	Somalia	11,757,124	0.15%
79	Tunisia	11,721,177	0.15%
87	South Sudan	10,561,244	0.14%
99	Togo	8,608,444	0.11%
107	Libya	6,890,535	0.09%
108	Sierra Leone	6,624,933	0.09%
112	Eritrea	6,081,196	0.08%
113	Central African Republic	5,990,855	0.08%
121	Republic of the Congo	5,293,070	0.07%
124	Liberia	5,073,296	0.07%
128	Mauritania	4,005,475	0.05%
142	Namibia	2,630,073	0.03%
144	Botswana	2,317,233	0.03%
145	Gabon	2,230,908	0.03%
146	The Gambia	2,173,999	0.03%
149	Lesotho	1,969,334	0.03%
151	Guinea-Bissau	1,927,104	0.03%
156	Mauritius	1,379,365	0.02%
160	Eswatini	1,104,479	0.01%
162	Djibouti	921,804	0.01%
164	Equatorial Guinea	836,178	0.01%
173	Cabo Verde	583,255	0.01%
184	Sao Tome And Principe	211,122	0.001%
198	Seychelles	95,981	0.0001%

Yam vegetable stew with plantain dumplings recipe local food name is Counin Zindo that is super simple to prepare by Burkinabé cooks.

Plantain dumplings are a small amount of soft dough that is boiled in yam veggie stew. How do you make plantain dumplings from scratch, well its easy just drop plantain dough gently into a pot of simmering stew for about 20 minutes. The full recipe directions and ingredients are below.

Ingredients for Yam Vegetable Stew.

2 yams cut into cubes

2 large onions, diced

2 large tomatoes, diced

1 small eggplant, peeled and diced

3 medium carrots, diced

2 medium white potatoes cut into cubes

1 medium sweet potato cut into cubes

1 hot pepper, chopped

Salt to taste

4 cups water

Directions for Yam Vegetable Stew.

Add all ingredients to a large lidded pot simmer 10 minutes. Then follow the directions for plantain dumplings.

Ingredients for Plantain Dumplings.

2 ¼ cups self-rising flour

2 large mashed ripe plantains

1 tablespoon ground parsley flakes

1 cup vegetable broth

Directions for adding Plantain Dumplings to Yam Vegetable Stew.

In a large bowl stir together flour, plantains, and parsley, slowly add water; stirring until soft dough forms. Add equally sized plantain dumplings into the yam vegetable stew one by one waiting 10 seconds in between drops. Simmer covered for 20 minutes until yams are tender.

Clans and tribes means more than citizenship, nationality and land boarders throughout Africa.

List of nationality names in Africa.

One classic disastrous example of ethnic or tribal group identity displacing nationality is in East Africa. 

Tutsi insurgents continue to fight waging guerrilla battles in Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, the ethnic strife that sparked the slaughters in Rwanda and Burundi continue in the regions. 

The Tutsis as cattle-herders were often in a position of economic dominance to the farming Hutus and in many areas, like Rwanda, the minority Tutsis ruled the Hutus, 84% of the total population.

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South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world and a history of xenophobic attacks by people who accuse citizens of other African countries, as well as Asian countries, of coming to steal their jobs. 

The South African government does not collect data on attacks or threats against foreign nationals. About 70% of foreigners in South Africa come from neighboring Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Lesotho. 

The remaining 30% is made up of people from China, Malawi, UK, and Namibia, eSwatini, India and other countries.

A person's nationality is where they are a legal citizen whether by birth, parentage or naturalization pledge. Nationality is membership in a particular nation indicating where a person was born alive or holds citizenship with an African country.

Surrounded by water from all directions, Africa is a continent with 54 sovereign states and 54 different ways her counties were named without input from indigenous folks.

The land on the African continent was carved up by colonialists based on economics and that is way tribal ethnic groups outweigh nationality and citizenship. 

Foreign overseas traders and exporters solely according to the business and trade economies roughly divided Africa into four coasts; Pepper Coast, Ivory Coast, Gold Coast, and the Slave Coast. 

The Berlin Conference was not the start of the Scramble for Africa; history shows that the first areas to be settled in the African regions were those along the shoreline.

An ethnic group is a category of people who belonging to or deriving from the cultural, religious, or linguistic traditions of a people or country. People who identify with each other based on similarities, such as common ancestral, language, social, and cultural experiences.

Many African people refer to their ethnic or tribal group first then their nationality. 

List of nationality names in each African country.

African County	African Citizen Term	Largest Tribal Ethnic Group
Algeria	Algerian	Arab-Berber 99%
Angola	Angolan	Ovimbundu 37%
Benin	Beninese	Fon and related 38.4%
Botswana	Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)	Setswana 79%
Burkina Faso	Burkinabe	Mossi 52.5%
Burundi	Burundian	Hutu 85%
Cabo Verde	Cabo Verdean	Cameroon Highlanders 31%
Cameroon	Cameroonian	Creole mulatto 71%
Central African Republic	Central African	Baya 33%
Chad	Chadian	Sara 25.9%
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Congolese or Congo	Four largest tribes Mongo, Luba, Kongo, Mangbetu 45%.
Republic of the Congo	Congolese or Congo	Kongo 48%
Cote d'Ivoire	Ivoirian	Akan 32.1%
Djibouti	Djiboutian	Somali 60%
Egypt	Egyptian	Egyptian 99.6%
Equatorial Guinea	Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean	Fang 85.7%
Eritrea	Eritrean	Tigrinya 55%
Eswatini	liSwati singular, emaSwati plural	Swazi 84.3%
Ethiopia	Ethiopian	Oromo 34.4%
Gabon	Gabonese	Fang 32%
The Gambia	Gambian	Mandinka or Jahanka 33.8%
Ghana	Ghanaian	Akan 47.5%
Guinea	Guinean	Fulani or Peul 33.9%
Guinea-Bissau	Bissau-Guinean	Fulani 28.5%
Kenya	Kenyan	Kikuyu 22%
Lesotho	Basotho	Sotho 99.7%
Liberia	Liberian	Kpelle 20.3%
Libya	Libyan	Berber and Arab 97%
Madagascar	Malagasy	Merina 26%
Malawi	Malawian	Chewa 32.6%
Mali	Malian	Bambara 34.1%
Mauritania	Mauritanian	Black Moors 40%
Mauritius	Mauritian	Creole 86.5%
Morocco	Moroccan	Arab-Berber 99%
Mozambique	Mozambican	Makhuwa 20.3%.
Namibia	Namibian	Ovambo 50%
Niger	Nigerien	Hausa 53.1%
Nigeria	Nigerien	Hausa and Fulani 29%
Rwanda	Rwandan	Hutu 84%
Sao Tome and Principe	Sao Tomean	Mestico 48%
Senegal	Senegalese	Wolof 38.7%
Seychelles	Seychellois	No indigenous population.
Sierra Leone	Sierra Leonean	Temne 35%
Somalia	Somali	Somali 85%
South Africa	South African	Zulu 21 %
South Sudan	South Sudanese	Dinka 35.8%
Sudan	Sudanese	Sudanese Arab 70%
Tanzania	Tanzanian	Bantu 95%
Togo	Togolese	Ewe 26.5%
Tunisia	Tunisian	Arab 98%
Uganda	Ugandan	Baganda 16.5%
Zambia	Zambian	Bemba 21%
Zimbabwe	Zimbabwean	Shona 82%

The nationality for Niger and Nigeria is Nigerian therefore when some says they are Nigerian now you know to clarify if thier nationality is Niger or Nigeria.

Many African people refer to their kinship, tribe, and ethnic group first than their nationality or citizenship.

Kinship, clan, tribe, ethnic group and citizenship definitions.

What is Kinship? Kinship refers to the social relationships that exist between individuals or groups based on biological, marital, or adoptive ties. 

Kinship systems vary widely across cultures, but typically involve the identification of various types of relatives, such as parents, siblings, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and in-laws.

 Kinship can play an important role in shaping social organization, behavior, and attitudes in many societies. For example, in some cultures, kinship ties determine inheritance rights, marriage partners, and patterns of social support and obligation. 

Kinship can also be an important source of identity and belonging for individuals, providing a sense of connection to a wider family or community. 

 What is a clan? A clan is a social group or community that is typically based on familial or kinship ties. 

Clans are smaller and more localized than tribes, and their members usually have a strong sense of loyalty and obligation to their clan. 

Clans are often found in societies with a strong sense of lineage or ancestry, such as in many traditional societies or among certain ethnic groups. 

Clans may be defined by shared characteristics such as a common ancestry, language, culture, or geographic location. In some societies, clans may have a formal structure and hierarchy, with leaders or elders who make decisions and resolve disputes within the group. 

Clans may also have specific roles and responsibilities within the larger society, such as providing protection or participating in political decision-making. In modern times, the term "clan" can also be used more broadly to refer to any close-knit group or community with shared values or interests. 

For example, online gaming communities may refer to themselves as clans, even though they may not have any ancestral or familial ties.

 What is a tribe? A tribe is a larger social group that is typically composed of multiple clans or families.

 A tribe is a social group or community that is typically characterized by a common ancestry, language, culture, and territory. Tribes are often found in traditional societies, particularly among indigenous peoples. 

In some cases, a tribe may be organized around a particular social or economic activity, such as hunting, fishing, or farming. 

Tribes usually have a shared sense of identity, and members of a tribe may see themselves as distinct from members of other tribes. 

Tribal societies often have their own customs, traditions, and beliefs, which are passed down from generation to generation. 

In many cases, tribal societies have a formal structure and hierarchy, with leaders or chiefs who make decisions and resolve disputes within the group.

 These leaders may be chosen based on a variety of factors, such as age, experience, or lineage. In modern times, the term "tribe" can also be used more broadly to refer to any close-knit community with shared values or interests. 

For example, a group of people who share a common interest in music or art may refer to themselves as a tribe. 

 What is an ethnic group? An ethnic group is a group of people who share a common culture, language, religion, traditions, and ancestry. 

Ethnic groups are distinguished from one another by their unique characteristics and are often defined by their cultural, linguistic, and historical heritage. 

Members of an ethnic group often have a strong sense of identity and belonging to their group, and they may share a common history, territory, or ancestry. 

Ethnic groups may also have distinctive cultural practices, such as music, dance, clothing, and cuisine. It is essential to note that the concept of ethnicity is socially constructed, and there is often significant overlap between ethnic groups.

 What is nationality or citizenship? Citizenship is not based on family ties or cultural affiliations, but rather on a person's legal status and relationship to a particular state. 

Nationality refers to the legal or cultural identity of a person belonging to a particular nation or country. It is a social and legal concept that typically denotes the country of origin or citizenship of an individual. 

Nationality can be acquired by birth, naturalization, or by marriage in some cases. Nationality is often used interchangeably with citizenship, which refers to the legal status of a person as a member of a particular country or nation. 

However, citizenship generally has more specific legal rights and obligations associated with it, such as the right to vote, work, and receive government services. 

Nationality can also have cultural or ethnic connotations, as it may be associated with a particular language, customs, traditions, and beliefs. It is an important aspect of a person's identity and can play a significant role in shaping their sense of belonging and community.

Together we build awareness that boost harmony, education, and success, below are more links to articles you will find thought provoking.

1. Dangerous Erupting Volcanoes of Africa
2. Top 20 Largest Countries in Africa
3. What is an African Proverb
4. African Water Spirit Mami Wata
5. Percentage of White people living in Africa

Homemade breakfast Boerewors sausage patties. 

If you love the taste of Boerewors, a traditional South African sausage, but don't have the time or equipment to make it in links, you can try making these homemade breakfast Boerewors sausage patties instead. 

They are easy to make and delicious to eat, with a blend of spices that give them a distinctive flavor. Boerewors means farmer's sausage in Afrikaans, and it is usually made with a combination of beef, pork, and sometimes lamb. 

The meat is seasoned with coriander, cloves, allspice, vinegar, and other spices, and stuffed into casings. Boerewors is typically cooked over coals on a barbecue, or fried in a pan on the stove. It is often served in a bread roll with tomato and onion sauce, or with pap, stiff cornmeal porridge, and gravy.

Boerewors Sausage Patty Sandwich

To make Boerewors sausage patties, you will need the following ingredients:

1 pound of ground beef

1/4 pound of ground pork

2 teaspoons of salt

2 teaspoons of ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon of ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon of black pepper

2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons of water

Directions:

In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef and pork with your hands until well combined. In a small bowl, whisk together the salt, coriander, cloves, allspice, pepper, vinegar, and water. Pour the spice mixture over the meat and mix well with your hands until evenly distributed. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight to let the flavors develop. Divide the meat mixture into 8 equal portions and shape them into patties about 1/2 inch thick. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the patties for about 4 minutes per side or until browned and cooked through. Enjoy your homemade breakfast Boerewors sausage patties with eggs, toast, or your favorite breakfast sides.

These patties are also great for freezing and reheating later. Just place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until firm. Then transfer them to a freezer bag and store them for up to 3 months. To reheat, microwave them for about 2 minutes or until hot. Homemade breakfast Boerewors sausage patties are a great way to enjoy the flavor of South African cuisine without having to make sausages from scratch. They are easy to make, delicious to eat, and perfect for any breakfast occasion.

It is essential to know the difference between minced meat and ground meat when making South African Boerewors. Boerewors uses minced meat and not ground meat. Minced meat is meat that is chopped up very finely; ground meat is more pulverized since it is put through a meat grinder possibly with other fillers such as fat, soybeans, and water to bulk the ground meat up.

The word Boerewors is literally translated to farmer’s sausage in the Dutch Afrikaans language and is a traditional South African sausage. The spice coriander and cloves define Boerewors' taste. Serve in between two slices of bread, mushrooms, tomatoes, cheese, and eggs for the ultimate Boerewors breakfast sandwich.

Breakfast sandwich with Boerewors sausages

Two Bulls Can't Stay in the Same Kraal tells the folklore story from Ghana Africa of sibling rivalry and a hard-headed younger brother.

Against the African folklife background many microcultures social identity becomes expressed in folklore history often compressed into one African culture and heritage. 

The narrative of Africa's folklore traditions is tied into the magnificent historical emergence of many nations. 

 
However, folklore from Africa has been central to folklife magnifying views of culture, views that mattered so much to a continent struggling with rapid changes twisted by large-scale wars, immigration, industrialization, and urbanization. 

The African story is one of continual material and social progress, building families through cultural consensus with peoples accepting and embracing an African identity.   

Archaeology collects and compares the material relics of old microcultures, the axes and arrowheads. There is a form of study, folklore, which collects and compares the similar but immaterial relics of old microcultures, the surviving superstitions and stories, the ideas that are in our time but not of it. 

African folklore is concerned with the legends, customs, beliefs of the people which have least been altered by education, which have shared least in progress.

Two Bulls Can't Stay in the Same Kraal tells the folklore from Africa of the fact of African folklife and a hard-headed younger brother.

Two bulls can’t stay in the same kraal African Folklore.

In Ghana, in a town named Sekondi-Takoradi there lived two brothers who could not agree with one another, the younger continually asserting that he knew more than his brother did, thus enraging his elder.

At last, the younger brother said he could stand it no longer, and threatened to leave his town. 

Therefore, he and his wife left the town and wandered far away, until at last they entered a wood and came to a little river of very clear water. 

“Let us drink, “he said, “and sit down here, as there does not seem to be a path leading from the river on the other side.”

Therefore, they drank and rested. Then he got up and waded down the stream some way, and found a pathway on the other side of the river. He called his wife, and they proceeded on their way. 

Soon they heard voices, and wondered what kind of people could have built in such a place.

“Let us go back, “said the wife; " how do you know that these people will not harm us?”

 
“No, I will not go back; so let us enter the town at once.” They saw only two or three huts .Now these homes were inhabited by a man and his wife, who had left his town on account of certain palavers that had been constantly pushed against him .

 
“And where do you come from?” said he, as the stranger and his wife entered his clearing.

 
The younger brother told him how it was that he had left his town and wandered there, and added that he would like to live there with him.

 
“Very well, you can do so. First tell me, are you a bad man? "

“No, certainly not; I am a good man, the others treated me badly.”

 
“Well, there’s a shack for you; stay there.”

 
They did nothing for four days; but on the fifth day the man proposed that they should take their women with their hoes to a certain place he knew of, and get them to dig a large hole, which they would cover over with dried sticks and leaves, so as to form a trap for the many wild animals that passed that way.

 This they did.

 
“Now, that we may not quarrel over the game we catch, tell me: which will you have, the males or the females?”

 
The younger brother said he would take the males. Agreed! Then I will take the females. ”
Agreed! ”

 
They went back to their towns, and slept soundly that night. The next morning very early, they went to see their trap. They had caught an ox.

‘It’s yours, “said the owner of the town, “take it.” The next day an antelope, the next day a goat, and the next a hog, each day a bird of some kind, until the younger brother had so much meat that he did not know what to do with it.

 
However, he gave the owner of the town none of it. He sent his wife out into the woods to gather sticks to smoke the meat, and so preserve it.

 
Towards night, he became anxious about her, as she had not returned. He went to the owner of the town and told him about it. However, he could not account for her absence.

 
“Let us go and look for her.” “No, “said the man, “it is night. To - morrow we will go. ”

 
The younger brother roamed about the whole night, crying and moaning at the loss of his wife. Early he awoke the owner of the town and asked him to go with him to look for her.

 
“Yes. First let us go and see the trap, for I have dreamt that luck has changed, and that to - day we shall catch a female. "

 
They went, and soon discovered the female in the trap. It was the young man’s wife. Overjoyed at finding her the young man wanted to jump into the hole to help her out. However, the man reminded him of his agreement, and how he had given him none of the meat he had caught.

 
« No, take all the meat you like, but my wife is a human being, surely you will not kill and eat her?”

 
“She is mine by agreement, I can do as I like with her.” Thus, they went on wrangling the day through.

 
Now the elder brother had gone out hunting and had chanced to come into the wood not far from where the trap was. He heard voices, and so crept cautiously up in that direction. He recognized his brother’s voice and ran to him. 

The younger brother was overjoyed to see him and welcomed him boisterously.

 
The elder brother met him coldly. When the owner of the town knew who the stranger was, he laid the whole matter before him, and asked him to say whether the female in the trap was his or not.

 
The elder heard all, and answered that the female in the trap was certainly his and that he had better go in and kill her. The younger brother tried to restrain him; but the man flung him aside and jumped into the trap.

 
“Fool, “said the elder to the younger, when he saw him trying to stop the man from entering the pit; “can you not yet trust your brother’s superior wisdom?

 
See, now, that male in your trap; he is yours by agreement, even as your wife is his. Spare his life, and perhaps he will give you back your wife.”

 
The man saw how he had been fooled, and gave the woman up. The two brothers and the wife then returned to their town.

African Proverbs about not listening to your older sibling:

• A person who is not disciplined cannot be cautioned.
• A fool has many days.
• A log in the river will never be a crocodile.
• Two bulls can’t stay in the same kraal.
• You cannot use a wild banana leaf to shield yourself from the rains and then tear it to pieces later when the rains come to an end.
• If you refuse the elder’s advice you will walk the whole day.

More short folklore stories from Africa to make you fall in love with myths and legends again from the motherland.

1. Why the bunny rabbit has wiggly slits for a nose
2. Love Takes No Less Than Everything Marriage Folklore
3. Hunters Attack Cowards Tell the Story
4. One Do Wrong All Get Punished
5. Mighty Little Hedgehog

The proverb is a reminder that we are not helpless victims of our circumstances. We have the power to choose our own company and our own path in life.

African Elders will tell you do not invite evil to sit at your table then cry because your life is hard.

The African proverb Do not invite evil to sit at your table then cry is a warning against the dangers of associating with negative people and behaviors. The proverb teaches that if we choose to surround ourselves with people who are negative, toxic, or destructive, we will eventually reap the consequences of those choices. 

We can apply this proverb to many different areas of our lives. For example, if we choose to associate with people who are always complaining, we will likely start to complain more ourselves. If we choose to associate with people who are always gossiping, we will likely start to gossip more ourselves. And if we choose to associate with people who are always making bad decisions, we will likely start to make bad decisions ourselves. 

The proverb also teaches us that we are responsible for our own choices. If we choose to invite evil into our lives, we cannot blame anyone else for the consequences of those choices. We must take responsibility for our own actions and make better choices in the future. 

The proverb is a powerful reminder that we have the power to choose our own destiny. If we choose to surround ourselves with positive people and behaviors, we will create a positive life for ourselves. But if we choose to surround ourselves with negative people and behaviors, we will create a negative life for ourselves. The choice is ours. 

African proverbs have paved the way to success for many Africans. They also provide a safe haven for many people in challenging circumstances to develop and thrive.

Good does not always come from good as the 13 African proverbs below make known.

Here are 13 do not invite evil to sit at your table then cry African proverbs.

Good comes to better, and better to bad.

He pulls at a long rope who desires another’s death.

Soon ripe, soon rotten.

A good dog never gets a good bone.

To rude words deaf ears.

No flies get into a shut mouth.

He does a good day’s work who rids himself of a fool.

After the act wishing is in vain.

After mischance everyone is wise.

What is bad for one is good for another.

He is lucky who forgets what cannot be mended.

He that has no ill luck grows weary of good luck.

The proverb is a call to action. It challenges us to choose positive people and behaviors that will help us create a better life for ourselves. The next time you are tempted to associate with negative people or behaviors, remember the African proverb Do not invite evil to sit at your table then cry. Choose wisely, and you will create a better life for yourself.

More African Proverbs from the motherland.

1. Your Attitude African Proverbs
2. What is an African Proverb
3. Do not invite evil to sit at your table then cry
4. Mean Coworkers African Proverbs
5. Having Faith African Proverbs

In Africa the Covid-19 virus infected around 1 million people with 20,276 deaths in 47 countries many are embroiled in Covid-19 corruption scandals.

As of August 19, 2020, there were 2,071 new Covid-19 related deaths, a 15% decrease that occurred in 33 countries, with 73% of the deaths in South Africa at 1,513, followed by Ethiopia with 132 deaths and Algeria with 57 deaths.

 

South Africa is the hardest hit country with Covid-19 on the African continent and is ranked fifth globally, although with relatively low numbers of deaths, 2.1% fatality ratio. Health worker infections continue to increase gradually with 38,382 or 4.2% infections reported in 42 African countries since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak.

According to the WHO, These 10 countries collectively account for 88% of all reported Covid-19 cases.

Covid-19 WHO Data as of August 19, 2020 table.

African Country	Reported confirmed Covid-19 cases
South Africa	592,144
Nigeria	49,895
Ghana	42,993
Algeria	39,025
Ethiopia	32,722
Kenya	30,636
Cameroon	18,624
Côte d’Ivoire	17,150
Madagascar	14,009
Senegal	12,305

South Africa has 62% of all reported confirmed Covid-19 cases in Africa, the fifth highest in the world and PPE Covid-19 corruption scandals.

South Africa has recorded more than half, 62% or 592,144 cases of all reported confirmed Covid-19 cases in the African region and is embroiled in a Covid-19 corruption scandal. There have been allegations of corruption scandals involving personal protective equipment (PPE) in South Africa as funds for Covid-19 meant for South Africans affected by the pandemic were looted by politicians and corrupt businesses.

Several high-ranking members and their families have been implicated in the looting of Covid-19 related funds through dodgy procurement deals worth millions. Director General of World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus labels corruption around personal protective equipment as criminal and murder at press conference August 2020.

"Corruption related to PPE for me it's actually murder. Because if health workers work without PPE, we're risking their lives. And that also risks the lives of the people they serve", stressed Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has described Covid-19 corruption as an unforgivable betrayal for the millions of South Africans who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. He goes on to say, “What has caused the greatest outrage is that there are private sector companies and individuals including civil servants who have exploited a grave medical, social and economic crisis to wrongfully enrich themselves. This is an unforgivable betrayal for the millions of South Africans who are being negatively affected by the impact of COVID-19, experiencing hunger daily, hopelessness and joblessness.”

In Zimbabwe, the Minister of Health Obediah Moyo was fired, charged with corruption and arrested over illegally awarding a multi-million dollar contract for medical equipment over misappropriation of funds for COVID 19. He faces up to 15 years in prison for his role in a deal with a United Arab Emirtes based company to supply PPE and Covid-19 test kits.

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation chairman Derek Hanekom said “Sadly, we live in a period where money set aside to save lives is looted by the political and business elite, without a flicker of conscience.”

As of August 19, 2020, 215 countries, territories, areas and one international conveyance have reported laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases. The 10 countries with the highest number of cumulative cases are:

United States of America 5,393,138

Brazil 3,359,570

India 2,767,273

Russian Federation 932,493

South Africa 592,144

Peru 541,493

Mexico 525,733

Colombia 476,660

Chile 388,855

Iran 347,835

How the United Nations supports Africa, from Nairobi HQ to agencies, funds, and programs promoting peace, rights, and development.

The United Nations in Africa: Agencies, Funds, and Programs

Updated September 2025 — The United Nations (UN) is the world’s most representative organization. Across Africa, the UN works to uphold international law, deliver humanitarian aid, protect human rights, promote sustainable development, and maintain international peace and security. This guide explains the UN’s presence on the continent, its major offices, and the specialized agencies, funds, and programs that support African nations.

Table of Contents

• UN Overview in Africa
• How the UN is Organized
• Five Core Purposes of the UN
• Specialized Agencies Operating in Africa
• Funds and Programs in Africa
• Other UN Entities
• Why the UN Serves Africa

UN Overview in Africa

The United Nations maintains two major offices on the continent: the UN Office at Nairobi, Kenya, and the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Nairobi serves as the UN Headquarters in Africa, hosting UNEP, UN-Habitat, and many other offices that coordinate humanitarian, environmental, and development work across the region.

How the UN is Organized

The UN system in Africa includes:

• 17 specialized agencies (legally independent organizations that work with the UN through agreements).
• 12 funds and programs, created by the UN General Assembly and funded mainly by voluntary contributions.
• Jointly financed bodies, research institutes, and other UN entities.

Specialized agencies have their own budgets and staff, while funds and programs operate under the UN’s umbrella with focused mandates.

Five Core Purposes of the United Nations

1. Uphold international law.
2. Deliver humanitarian aid.
3. Protect human rights.
4. Promote sustainable development.
5. Maintain international peace and security.

Specialized Agencies Operating in Africa

Below are the UN’s specialized agencies active across Africa:

• ILO – International Labour Organization: improves working conditions and promotes fair employment.
• FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization: combats hunger and supports sustainable farming.
• UNESCO – Education, Science, and Culture initiatives.
• WHO – World Health Organization: coordinates global health efforts.
• World Bank Group – Development financing and poverty reduction.
• IMF – International Monetary Fund: supports economic stability and growth.
• UPU – Universal Postal Union: strengthens international mail services.
• ITU – International Telecommunication Union: expands communication networks.
• WMO – World Meteorological Organization: advances weather and climate science.
• IMO – International Maritime Organization: improves shipping safety and marine protection.
• WIPO – World Intellectual Property Organization: protects and promotes intellectual property.
• IFAD – International Fund for Agricultural Development: fights rural poverty.
• UNIDO – Industrial Development Organization: promotes sustainable industry.
• UNWTO – Tourism Organization: fosters sustainable tourism.

UN Funds and Programs in Africa

These funds and programs implement projects on health, education, refugees, food security, and more:

• UNDP – Development Programme.
• UNEP – Environment Programme (HQ in Nairobi).
• UNHCR – Refugee Agency.
• UNICEF – Children’s Fund.
• UNFPA – Population Fund.
• WFP – World Food Programme.
• UNODC – Office on Drugs and Crime.
• UN-Habitat – Human Settlements Programme.
• UN Women – Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.
• UNOPS – Office for Project Services.
• UNRWA – Palestine Refugee Support.

Other UN Entities

• United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR).
• Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
• Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Why the UN Serves Africa

Across peacekeeping missions, humanitarian relief, and development initiatives, the United Nations continues to shape Africa’s future. From its headquarters in Nairobi to field offices across the continent, the UN works with African governments and civil society to support stability, human rights, and sustainable progress.

Related Reading

• Peacekeeping in Africa: A History of UN Missions
• How the UN Supports Human Rights in Africa
• UN Partnerships for Sustainable Development in Africa

The Queen Mothers Do Not Speak

They echo in your bones long after their voices have turned to wind

Little eyes are not just watching. They are becoming.

In every Akan palace, every Ga mantse’s courtyard, every Ashanti village under the old baobab, there sits a Queen Mother.

She does not need a loudspeaker. She does not post on Instagram. She does not raise her voice.

Yet every child born within a hundred miles will grow up speaking with her accent of wisdom, walking with her posture of dignity, and loving with her measure of fire.

Because Queen Mothers do not teach with words alone.

They teach with the way they tie their headscarf when someone has died. They teach with the silence they keep when a fool is speaking. They teach with the small nod they give when a child tells the truth.

And when they finally open their mouths, the proverbs that fall out are not decoration — they are seeds that will grow inside you for seventy years.

A Queen Mother once looked at a little girl who had just lied to save face and said, calm as dawn:

“If better were within, better would come out.”

The girl is seventy now. She still flinches when she remembers those words. She has never lied again.

Instruction in youth is like engraving in stone.
You can try to erase it later, but the mark will still show when the sun hits it right.

As is the queen, so will the example be.
A nation of crooked women begins with one crooked Queen Mother who forgot she was being watched.

When one hits you with a stone, do not hit others with cotton.
Teach strength, not weakness disguised as kindness.

A little stone may upset a large cart.
One harsh word from a mother you love can tilt a child’s entire life off the road.

Falsehood is the devil’s daughter and speaks her mother’s tongue.
If you let lies live in your mouth, your children will inherit the accent.

She is not just holding the child. She is downloading an entire operating system of dignity.

Queen Mothers know something the rest of us forget:

Children are not empty vessels waiting to be filled.
They are mirrors learning how to reflect.

And the clearest mirror in the village is always the woman who sits on the low stool, back straight, eyes soft, mouth slow to open — because she knows whatever leaves her lips today will echo in someone’s bones seventy years from now.

So she chooses her silence carefully.
And when she speaks, she chooses her words like a priestess choosing beads for a coronation necklace.

Little eyes are watching, yes.
But more than that —
Little bones are remembering
exactly how a Queen is supposed to carry the weight of tomorrow.

In Africa, half the population of the continent are without legal identity.

Legal identification is a means of identifying or authenticating the identity of an individual and the recognition of a person’s existence before the law. In many African countries, a birth certificate is necessary to attend primary school and to graduate, and a national ID card is necessary to enroll in university and to vote in elections. Throughout the continent of Africa, half of the estimated 1.2 billion people are without identity.

Digital identity can be created from information found on a government-issued legal identification such as national identity cards and can be used to accurately recognize an individual. However, the barriers are great in Africa.

The absence of legal identity arising from a weak government can be particularly acute in countries that have experienced violent conflict. It is extremely difficult to construct a measure of legal identity that represents the different legal, political and social realities of over 54 African countries in the system due to stateless person, internally displaced persons and refugees.

The international legal definition of a stateless person is someone who is not considered as a national by any State under the operation of its law. Africa has just under 1 million stateless persons and 18 million displaced persons. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are have not crossed a border in their own country to find safety for themselves and their family, they are on the run at home.

With 5 million internally displaced, Sudan has the largest reported IDP population, victims of the conflict and the instability in Southern Sudan. According to the United Nations, developing countries, mostly in Africa, are taking in a disproportionate number of refugees currently 80% of the world’s refugee population.

The Untied States of America has a social security number system which is a form of an id. The passage of the Social Security Act in 1935 was to devise a method for uniquely identifying the earnings records for the millions of persons. 

Your divers licence is another form of digital id, as in Florida state driver's license number format is 13 digits, consisting of one alphabetic character and 12 numeric characters. Every driver has a unique number based on last name, first and middle initial, birth date and sex.

Sisters displaying birth certificates in Cameroon Africa.

Africa has no universal system of issuing id efficiently and accessing proof of legal identity is a complex bureaucratic process. The World Bank estimates that nearly half the population of the continent are without a legal identity due to a poor civil registration and vital statistics system on the continent.

African people who do not have legal identity such as birth certificates have difficulty asserting their rights, including their rights of citizenship. Birth certificates are needed to attend school, sit for national exams and apply for national ID cards.

Throughout the continent of Africa, half of the estimated 1.216 billion people are without identity. Most of them will not be issued birth certificates. In the USA, a birth certificate is a document issued by a government that records the birth of a child for vital statistics and census purposes, birth certificates serve as proof of an individual’s age, citizenship status, and identity.

In Kenya a national identity card issued at age 18, rather than a birth certificate, is the necessary document to access many services and exercise rights. In many African countries, a national identity card is most often the necessary piece of documentation that is required to demonstrate citizenship and access goods and services.

A national ID card is necessary to be admitted to the hospital, to enroll in university, to vote, to open a bank or mobile money account, to get married, get a passport, and attain many other basic services. In many countries, people without legal documentation are unable to work in the formal economy, and are more likely instead to earn livelihoods informally, without legal protections and often at a lower wage.

Applying for identification cards in Somalia.

People need photo IDs to do just about everything, and without id people feel invisible contributing to a loop that can help keep individuals trapped in poverty.. For most American people, replacing a lost driver’s license or other ID is an inconvenience but not an ordeal. For Africans IDs is a lifeline a key to unlocking services and opportunities, from voting to housing to jobs to education.

In Africa, 34 countries are in crisis needing assistance for food due to Covid-19 where unemployment rates were already high.

 

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and food shortages are due to disruptions to the supply of agricultural products and income losses due to closure and illness. To different degrees all 34 African countries listed have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as civil war, floods, desert locusts, planting shortages and high food prices. 

Covid-19 made a bad situation worse for these African countries and the need of humanitarian aid. Humanitarian aid is usually short-term help until the citizens themselves, governments and NGOs or other institutions can supply the long-term needs of a country.

The Covid-19 pandemic is disrupting the global food supply but the effects are more acutely felt in Africa. Below is a listing of the African country, issues causing food shortages and explanations of the issues relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Covid-19 made a bad situation worse for most African countries:

---

Central African Republic.

Conflict and displaced persons food supply issues.

The number of severely food insecure people is estimated at 2.4 million during the lean season a 15 percent increase compared to the 2.1 million forecast prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kenya.

Floods and desert locusts.

About 980 000 people are estimated to be severely food insecure in the April‑July 2020 period, mainly located in northern and eastern areas as a result of livelihood losses due to floods in late 2019 and localized damages to crops and pastures due to desert locusts. As of May, about 393 000 individuals had been affected by the floods, which were triggered by torrential rains since March.

Somalia.

Floods, civil insecurity, desert locusts, and lingering impact of consecutive unfavorable rainy seasons on pastoral livelihoods. About 2.7 million people are estimated to be in need of emergency assistance for the April‑June 2020 period. The areas of major concern are the flood‑affected riverine areas, urban IDP settlements and northwestern Awdal and Woqooyi Galbeed regions, where the most vulnerable households are facing emergency levels of food insecurity. As of May, floods, which were triggered by torrential rains in April, affected about 919,000 people.

Zimbabwe.

Below-average cereal harvest and high food price.

The number of food insecure people was estimated at 4.3 million in the first half of 2020. The number of food insecure is expected to remain high and could increase later in 2020, reflecting the impact of a consecutive below-average cereal harvest in 2020 and persisting high food prices; food availability and access will remain poor for many households. 

Burundi.

Floods and landslides.

About 0.85 million people were estimated to be severely food insecure in the June‑August 2020 period, mainly due to livelihood losses caused by floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains since March 2020.

Chad.

Persisting civil insecurity.

About 1 million people are estimated to be food insecure between June and August 2020. Nearly 236,500 people remained internally displaced, almost entirely on account of the insurgency in the northeast. In addition, the country hosts about 470,000 refugees.

Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Persisting civil insecurity.

About 13.6 million people are estimated to be severely food insecure, mostly residing in the areas with a high concentration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees, including the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, where the security situation remains precarious and households face serious food access constraints.

Djibouti.

Consecutive unfavorable rainy seasons.

About 17, 000 people were estimated to be severely food insecure in January 2020, mainly due to consecutive unfavorable rainy seasons. The regions most affected by food insecurity were Dikhil and Obock, where 47 percent of the population were acutely food insecure. As of May 2020, floods, which were triggered by torrential rains since March, affected about 110,000 people. 

Eritrea.

Economic constraints have increased the population’s vulnerability to food insecurity.

Ethiopia

High food prices, floods, desert locusts and impact of previous droughts.

About 8.5 million people were estimated to be severely food insecure between February and June 2020, mainly in eastern agricultural areas and in northern and southeastern agro-pastoral areas due to poor seasonal rains between early and mid 2019. As of May, about 21,000 people have been affected by floods triggered by torrential rains since March 2020.

Niger.

Civil conflict.

About 2 million people in the June ‑ August 2020 period are assessed to be in need of immediate humanitarian assistance. Due to the civil conflict in neighboring countries, the country hosts 223 000 refugees, of which 162,961 are from Nigeria and 58,813 from Mali, while an estimated 265,522 people are internally displaced.

Nigeria.

Persisting conflict in northern areas.

About 7 million people are assessed to need humanitarian assistance between June and August 2020. Over 2.6 million people are estimated to be internally displaced due to persisting civil insecurity. The areas inaccessible to humanitarian interventions are facing the worst food security conditions.

South Sudan.

Severe economic downturn, civil insecurity, and lingering impact of prolonged conflict.

Despite sustained humanitarian assistance, food insecurity still affects large segments of the population, driven by insufficient food supplies, an economic downturn and soaring food prices. About 6.48 million people 55 percent of the total population are estimated to be severely food insecure in the May‑July period. The highest prevalence of food insecurity is reported in Jonglei State, the area worst affected by the floods, where more than 70 percent of the population are severely food insecure. In May 2020, the number of internally displaced people was estimated at 1.6 million. About 12,000 people have been affected by floods triggered by torrential rains in May 2020.

Burkina Faso.

Civil insecurity in the north.

About  2.1 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance for the June-August 2020 period, mainly due to civil insecurity in the north. An estimated 21,000 refugees, most of them from Mali, are living in the country, while about 921,500 individuals are internally displaced.

Cabo Verde.

Poor performance of the 2019 agro‑pastoral cropping season.

Approximately 2 percent of the total population are estimated to be in crisis in the June‑August 2020 period.

Cameroon.

Civil insecurity.

About 2.6 million people were estimated to be severely food insecure in the second quarter of 2020. About 45 percent of the food insecure population are located in the Northwest and Southwest Anglophone regions, where fighting is still ongoing between the security forces and separatist armed groups. Increased levels of insecurity in the Far North Region in March and April 2020 triggered new population displacements.

Republic of the Congo.

Influx of refugees and floods.

The country is estimated to host about 20,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and about 22,000 refugees from the Central African Republic. Between October 2019 and January 2020, heavy rainfall triggered flooding that affected approximately 170,000 people, including 30,000 refugees from the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in northern and eastern areas. Host communities face food shortages and limited livelihood opportunities, and refugees’ food security is essentially guaranteed by continued humanitarian assistance.

Eswatini.

Localized shortfalls in production.

Early in 2020 an estimated 232,000 people were in need of humanitarian assistance.

Guinea.

Localized shortfalls of cereal production.

About 267,000 people are estimated to need food assistance during the June ‑ August 2020 period.

Lesotho.

Localized shortfalls in production.

Between October 2019 and March 2020, an estimated 433,000 people required food assistance. A foreseen upturn in cereal production in 2020 is likely to improve conditions, but localized harvest shortfalls in southern areas will adversely affect food insecurity in these areas.

Liberia.

High food prices.

About 41,000 people were estimated to be in major crisis in the June-August 2020 period. The country is hosting approximately 8,700 refugees.

Libya.

Civil insecurity, political instability and low oil prices.

The total number of people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2020 was estimated at nearly 1 million, of which 1/3 require food assistance. Refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced are among the most vulnerable. The number is likely to increase as the local currency depreciates, food prices increase and opportunities for casual labor decrease.

Madagascar.

Reduced harvests in southern areas.

Reflecting the impact of dry weather conditions in southern regions on agricultural production, food insecurity is expected to worsen in 2020.

Malawi.

Localized production shortfalls.

The national upturn in cereal production in 2020 is expected to improve the overall food security, however, in southern parts of the country, localized shortfalls in cereal production are estimated for a second consecutive year and this is expected to maintain high levels of food security in these areas.

Mali.

Civil insecurity.

The country is hosting approximately 45,000 refugees, while 251,000 internally displaced people and 84,000 returnees rely on humanitarian assistance. About 1.3 million people are estimated to need food assistance between June and August 2020 mainly as a result of the civil conflict.

Mauritania.

Poor performance of the agro‑pastoral cropping season.

About 609,000 people are assessed to need assistance between June and August 2020. About 63,000 refugees, mostly from Mali and who require assistance, reside in the country.

Mozambique.

Shortfalls in staple food production.

Cereal production in southern regions is estimated to be below average in 2020 for a second consecutive year due to rainfall deficits and this is expected to maintain a high level of food insecurity in these areas. Nationwide, nearly 2 million people were assessed to be food insecure during the January‑February 2020 period.

Namibia.

Shortfalls in agricultural production.

An estimated 430,000 people were already facing a major crisis between January and March 2020. Although an estimated increase in agricultural production will improve food availability, localized production shortfalls will stress conditions in affected areas.

Senegal.

Localized shortfalls in cereal production.

About 767,000 people are estimated to need assistance between June and August 2020. An estimated 14,500 refugees, mostly from Mauritania, are residing in the country.

Sierra Leone.

High food prices.

About 1.3 million people are estimated to be severely food insecure during the June-September 2020 period.

Sudan.

Conflict, civil insecurity, and soaring food prices.

The number of severely food insecure people was estimated at 9.6 million for the June-September 2020 period. The areas most affected by food insecurity are South Kordofan and Blue Nile State, and most of the Greater Darfur region.

Uganda.

Localized crop production shortfalls, refugee influx and floods.

About 500,000 people were estimated to be severely food insecure in eastern Teso Region and northeastern Karamoja Region in early 2019. About 881,000 refugees from South Sudan and about 415,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo are hosted in camps and rely on humanitarian assistance. As of May, about 177,000 people have been affected by floods triggered by torrential rains since October 2019.

Tanzania.

Localized crop production shortfalls.

About 499,000 people are estimated to be in need of emergency assistance in the May September 2020 period, mainly in northeastern Manyara and Kilimanjaro regions and in central Dodoma and Singida regions, where 2019 harvests were affected by prolonged dry spells that resulted in significant cereal production losses. As of May 2020, about 31,000 people have been affected by floods triggered by torrential rains since March.

Zambia.

Localized production shortfalls, and high food prices.

In southern parts of the country, localized production shortfalls are estimated for a second consecutive year and this is likely to sustain the high levels of food insecurity in these areas.

Unemployment stats for Africa have not been complied since June 2019, however here are the current unemployment rates before the Covid-19 pandemic in the 34 African countries most effected by food shortages.

Burkina Faso

6.3%

Burundi

1.4%

Cabo Verde

12.2%

Cameroon

3.4%

Central African Republic

3.7%

Chad 

1.9%

Democratic Republic of the Congo

4.2%

Republic of the Congo.

9.5%

Eritrea

5.1%

Eswatini

22.1%

Ethiopia

2.1%

Gabon

20%

Guinea

4.3%

Kenya

2.6%

Lesotho

23.4%

Liberia 

2.8%

Libya

17.6%

Madagascar

1.8%

Malawi

5.7%

Mali 

7.2%

Mauritania

9.5% 

Mozambique;

3.2%

Namibia

20.3%

Niger 

0.5%

Nigeria

8.1%

Senegal

6.6%

Sierra Leone

4.4%

Somalia

11.4%

South Sudan 

12.2%

Sudan

16.5%

Tanzania

2%

Uganda

1.8%

Zambia

11.4%

Zimbabwe

5%

In Africa, 34 countries are in crisis needing assistance for food due to Covid-19 where unemployment rates were already high. Numerous African countries are expected to lack the resources to deal with critical problems of food shortages.