Nubian leather armor is a great choice for cosplay; it’s easy to work with and can create various African warrior styles from Nubia.  Directions on how to make cosplay Nubian leather armor are below. The ancient Nubians used various natural and metal materials to make armor. The most common type of Nubian armor was made from leather; also used were metal, a mixture of metal and leather and woven plant fibers.  Nubian Armor-Making Techniques to make for cosplay. Armor played a pivotal role in Nubian warfare, enabling soldiers to safeguard themselves against adversary assaults and persevere on the battlefield. The most common type of Nubian armor was made from leather. The leather was usually thick and reinforced with metal or bone plates to provide protection against arrows and other weapons. Leather armor could be fashioned into various styles, such as a breastplate, greaves, or bracers.  Nubian scale armor was made by attaching overlapping metal or animal horn scales to ...

Bori is both a belief system in Hausa culture centered around kindly and nasty spirits known as jinn.  Bori Spirits is an animistic spirit in the Hausa culture of West Africa inhabiting natural objects, animals, and humans and can influence their fate and well-being. Bori Spirits can be benevolent or malevolent and can be appeased or controlled by rituals and offerings. There are many types of Bori Spirits, each with a different name, personality, and function. Some of the Bori Spirits are Sarkin Aljan King of the Jinn, Sarkin Ruwa King of the Water, Sarkin Bara King of the Wilderness, Sarkin Nufawa King of Madness, and many others. The number of Bori Spirits is not fixed, as new ones can emerge or old ones can disappear over time. Bori spirits take over the willing body of a spiritual leader, often a female priestess known as a Bori woman or Malamah. These leaders possess extensive knowledge of the Bori spirits, their attributes, and their associated rituals. The rituals are chara...

Do you know why the coffee belt is so special? It's like Mother Nature's VIP section for coffee plants.   The coffee belt, aptly nicknamed Mother Nature's VIP section for coffee plants, encompasses the region between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, providing an optimal environment for coffee cultivation. Here, coffee plants lounge, basking in the warm tropical sun. The consistent and warm temperatures throughout the year ensure a perfect climate for their growth and development.  Explore more stories in the African Coffee Hub . When the rains come, it's like a coffee spa day, rejuvenating and nourishing the plants as they become the rock stars of the botanical world, drawing the attention of coffee enthusiasts and caffeine aficionados worldwide.  The coffee belt in Africa is like the Earth's very own playground for coffee. It is located 23.5 degrees above and below the Equator. This area is known as the Tropics, specifically the Tropic of Cancer ...

The Weaver of Sunlight: Folklore Meets Science in Africa’s Golden Silk Spider The Legend of the Sun Weaver In the beginning, the people said the Sun grew tired of shining alone. So, it called upon a small creature to help scatter its light across the world. The creature, humble and patient, spun threads from its belly that caught the sunlight and held it captive in shimmering gold. That creature was the Golden Silk Spider , known in stories as the Weaver of Sunlight . Children were told that when the morning rays hit the trees just right, the Sun Weaver was mending the sky, stitching daylight into the corners of the world. No one feared her then — for her web was a promise of balance and order, spun from the same light that warms the earth. The Science of the Golden Threads The Golden Silk Orb-Weaver ( Nephila ) transforms proteins inside its body into one of nature’s most advanced materials. Its silk begins as a liquid stored in spinneret glands . When drawn into ai...

During the 27 Year Long Angolan Civil War both the government and rebel groups used child soldiers to fight their battles. These children, some as young as 10 years old, were often abducted from their homes and communities and forced to fight in the conflict. The use of child soldiers in the Angolan Civil War had a profound impact on the children involved, as well as on the wider society.  Many of these children suffered from physical and psychological abuse, including exposure to violence and forced labor. They were also subjected to indoctrination and forced to commit atrocities, including killing civilians and other children. In addition to the use of child soldiers, the Angolan Civil War was also characterized by the widespread use of landmines.  Both sides in the conflict used landmines extensively, laying them in civilian areas, along roads and in fields, and in other strategic locations. The use of landmines had a devastating impact on the civilian population, with t...

Rhymes are a powerful tool for making information, like the names of African countries, enjoyable, engaging, and easier to remember. The enjoyable nature of rhymes leads to longer-lasting memory retention.  People tend to remember things that they find enjoyable, and rhymes can leave a lasting impression on the mind. Also, rhymes create a pleasant and melodious sound when spoken or sung. This auditory appeal captures our attention and makes the information more enjoyable to listen to, which can lead to better retention. A melodious and musical atmosphere creates a positive learning environment. For learners of any age, exposure to melodious sounds supports learning development. Rhymes help with phonemic awareness, rhythm, and pronunciation, which are essential to language learning. Memorizing the names of African countries through rhyming. Incorporating rhymes into the learning process is a time-tested and effective technique parents and educators use to make learning more en...

The Egg That Learned to Sing in Acid The Egg That Learned to Sing in Acid A Ghanaian science folktale told by the grandmothers who never needed microscopes It no longer looks like breakfast. It looks like treasure. Naa Aku was twelve and furious. She had just failed her first university entrance exam in biochemistry. Her father said, “Go help your grandmother in the kitchen. Real life will teach you what books cannot.” So she went to Mama Adisa’s courtyard in Nima, angry at proteins, angry at pH charts, angry at eggs that refused to behave. Mama Adisa was boiling eggs the old way — in a clay pot over charcoal — then sliding the hot eggs into a wide-mouthed jar filled with palm vinegar, cloves, ginger, and bird’s-eye pepper. “Why do you torture them?” Aku asked, arms crossed. “They did nothing wrong.” Mama Adisa laughed until the wrinkles around her eyes became rivers. “Torture? Child, sit. Let me tell you what really...

Stone structures are testament to the impressive intellect, organizational, engineering and architectural skills of ancient African civilizations. Ancient Africa is home to many impressive stone structures, but three that stand out are the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Zimbabwe ruins, and the Stone Circles of Senegambia.  The Pyramids of Giza are located in Egypt and were built over 4,500 years ago as tombs for pharaohs. These pyramids were constructed using massive blocks of limestone, and each pyramid is made up of several layers that decrease in size as they reach the top. The largest of the three pyramids, known as the Great Pyramid, is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and is believed to have taken over 20 years to build.  Ancient Stone Structure of Africa The Great Zimbabwe ruins are located in southern Africa and were built between the 11th and 15th centuries. This complex includes large stone structures, walls, and terraces that were constructed without the u...

Agroforestry Is Africa’s Oldest Recipe: Trees + Crops + Medicine + Memory in One Living System Across Africa, from the Sahel to the Cape, our ancestors never separated the forest from the field. They practised agroforestry long before the textbooks gave it a name. Trees and crops grew together on purpose — moringa beside millet, baobab shading cassava, wild plum guarding the goat kraal. The same plant that dropped leaves to feed the soil also dropped fruit to feed the children, bark to heal fever, and stories to feed the soul. 1908 Proof: Dr. Weitz’s Materia Medica Was Already an Agroforestry Cookbook In 1908, Dr. Isaac M. Weitz walked the Eastern Cape and Karoo with Zulu and Khoisan healers. What he wrote down wasn’t just medicine — it was a living agroforestry manual. Moringa oleifera – “The Never-Die Tree” Weitz (p. 112): Leaves powdered for malnutrition. Grandmother’s kitchen: Handful in groundnut stew thickens it and triples the ir...

Invisible currents surge through Mwezi and Kesi, electrifying their captivating tale of challenges and triumphs, weaving together science fiction, romance, and inspiration in their extraordinary ability to naturally conduct tremendous amounts of electricity, love, and understanding. Mwezi and Kesi An Invisible Force Flows Through Us, the Electric Love Story of Mwezi and Kesi Mwezi Electromagnetic Beginnings Mwezi lived in a small town cradled between the rushing rapids and calm waters of the Blue Nile River. From the moment he was born, it was evident that there was something extraordinary about him. While he appeared like any other child, he had an unusual trait: his body naturally conducted electricity at a force twenty times stronger than the average person. Though this ability fascinated some, it was a challenge that profoundly shaped Mwezi's life. As a child, Mwezi faced the daunting challenge of controlling his extraordinary power. Everyday tasks, like wearing metal buttons o...

Cooking the pumpkin stem, leaves, flesh, and pumpkin seeds. Embrace the amazing versatility of the entire pumpkin. Ugu Soup When it comes to the pumpkin, most people think of its vibrant orange flesh and the tasty recipes it can create. However, many overlook the incredible versatility and potential of the entire pumpkin plant.   From its robust stem to its nutritious seeds, every part of the pumpkin can be utilized in the kitchen, reducing waste and unlocking a world of culinary possibilities. Discover ways to fully utilize the pumpkin plant and indulge in some delicious recipes while you're at it. From Stem to Seed Embracing the Whole Pumpkin Plant in Your Kitchen Cooking the Pumpkin Stem and Leaves Don't discard the pumpkin stem and leaves! They can be transformed into delicious and nutritious additions to your meals. The tender pumpkin leaves, known as Ugu in Nigerian cuisine, can be used in soups, stews, or stir-fried dishes. They are packed with vitamins and mineral...