Africa, The beloved

Africa, a vast land of the great and humble A meeting point of diverse cultures,

Africa, rising from the north to the south,
East to west,

Africa, different people, different cultures.
joined together in destiny.

Africa, referred to as the Dark Continent
Yet full of sunshine, life, and potential

Africa, the land of great athletes
clothed and blessed with great riches,

Africa, blessed with best coffee, tea, tropical fruits,

natural resources, minerals, diamonds, gold …

Africa, a sleeping giant lying unfulfilled
A land that has overcome many obstacles

Africa, enduring Slavery, colonization, apartheid
Poverty, diseases, drought, civil unrest

Africa, surviving the shame and abuse
Rising up to face another day

Africa, your destiny is at hand,
Let your power and your strength be known!

Kenya the Magnetic Country

The country called Kenya is on the East Coast of Africa and has a population of about 36 million people. That there is something special about this country, cannot be denied by those who have tested it. It has in fact endeared both the nobility and the simplest of human beings.

Kenyans in the Diaspora will be the first ones to tell you of how much they miss home no matter how successful they maybe in whatever country they may find themselves in. This writer has also known of many Americans and Europeans who visited the country and after that they could not extricate themselves from it.

It is therefore not that much surprising for Prince William to have waited until he was in Kenya to propose to his now princess. Prince William has a special attachment for Kenya and visits often for some charity work and just to get away from everything. Rutundu log cabin where he proposed to Kate lies hidden on the slopes of Mt Kenya and is very serene and secluded that anyone needing privacy can find here.

The Daily Mail quoting a source concerning the place stated that “‘Short of being inside the SAS’s base at Hereford, this is the safest place in the world for William. ‘It is the one place he can be himself. And he does not have to be guarded because the wildlife there are his guardians.”.

Prince William’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth 11 (then princess Elizabeth) was also vacationing in Kenya when she learnt of the death of her father, which would make her, being the heir in waiting, Queen Elizabeth 11. It is therefore symbolic that Kate too acquired her future title in Kenya.

Currently, the most powerful nation in the world has a president who also has connection with Kenya through his father. President Obama’s father is a Kenyan and so again American top leadership has something starting in Kenya. Perhaps Kenya has some prophetic mission in the world that one day we will discover.

Read more: http://trifter.com/africa/kenya/kenya-the-magnetic-country-that-hooks-many/#ixzz1LyDaczrQ

Petals of the African Woman, Part 2

As stated in part one of this article, there is an ignorance or misconception of Africa by many based on a biased reporting by the media. To many people all Africans in particular women all fit a particular stereotype.

Africa however has the greatest disparity of looks and cultures. Some have adopted Western cultures while others have retained the traditional cultures with pride. Some are light skinned while others are of a darker shade. In this second part we explore the many faces of the African woman from the various regions with a focus on South, Central and West Africa.

South Africa and Central Africa



The face of a South African woman with traditional cape



South Africa is the region in the Southern part of Africa.

Zulu women in traditional attire

According to the United Nations geographical scheme, the nations considered to be in the Southern part of Africa are the Republic of Southern Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Swaziland.

 Traditional dancers, Zimbabwe


Read more: http://trifter.com/africa/petals-of-the-african-woman-part-two/#ixzz1EXcwvQMa

Petals of the African Woman, Part 1

Many people when they talk of Africa have a particular perception. Perhaps to most, Africans all come in the same shade and same features. The continent of Africa however has the greatest disparity of looks and cultures.

Some Africans have adopted modern western culture while others have retained the traditional cultures with pride. Some are light skinned while others are dark . Some Africans, particularly those in North Africa refer to themselves as white Africans. They insist they are Africans but of white descent. In this article we explore the many faces, features, dress and beauty of the African woman. The article is divided in regions for better exploration of different cultures and perhaps the features of the African woman.  This first part will consider North and East Africa.

North Africa: The people in this region are more related to the Arabs and consider themselves “white” Africans.

Algerian woman

The United Nations definition of North Africa includes seven countries or territories as follows; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Western Sahara.
  a different complexion Algerian woman

Read more: http://trifter.com/africa/petals-of-the-african-woman-part-one/#ixzz1EXbuwCg1

Traditional and Cultural West African homes

Africa has some interesting traditional houses. Most of the houses are round with a triangular thatched roof while others are of square design. Most of the houses were built based on the ethnic group needs.

 

Some groups were more concerned about their security and so fortified the buidings while others had houses which were more temporaly and looked like tents because they were pastoralists. What is interesting about these structures is that they are weather proof although looking at them one may not think so.

The houses are made in a way and with materials that make them cool in the hot weathers and warm in the cold rainy seasons. The materials used range from mud, brick, dung, grass and stone depending on the area. Africans are a communal people and most of the homes would be huddled together in a homestead as an extension of each other and for protection against outsiders.

In this first part I explores traditional homes in West Africa.  West Africa has a rather humid climate and that may explain most of their traditional houses compared to those in the East and South Africa. The countries that make West Africa include Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal, Cameroon, Bukina Faso and Niger.

Dogon Villages, Mali: Historically Dogon Villages established in the Bandiagara area due to their resistance to Islam1000 years ago. The insecurity of Islam encroachment to their culture forced them to locate their villages in defensive positions along the walls of an escarpment. The huts are built of banco a mixture of earth and straw. The Kitchen is round and is covered by a thatched roof. They also had houses built for menstrating women as women were considered unclean during menstration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/364302_traditional-and-cultural-african-homes#ixzz11uVELDCf

Africa's Historic past told by buildings, monuments and artwork part 3

In this last article West Africa’s rich past is examined through the culture, buildings and monuments, artwork and writings.

 

West Africa is known to have heard a rich culture and History with strong kingdoms and wealth. It is also the region in Africa south of the Sahara that Islam seems to have had more effect or adopted as a religion. In this section we shall also include part of Central Africa as well as West Africa. The Countries in this region include Nigeria, Mauritania, Ghana, Togo, Mali, Gambia, Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal, Chad, Niger, Cameroon, Gabon, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Congo.

Grand Mosque in Bobo-Dioulassoi, Bukina Faso:This mosque was built out of mud bricks with sticking poles out the walls which help in climbing up the mosque when in need of repair. It is said that the mosque was built by people of all faith. A common proverb in Bukina Faso claims that “50% are  Muslim, 50% are Christian, and 100% are  animist” (Wikipedia) which could explain how the building of this mosque involved people of all faiths.

Read more: http://quazen.com/arts/architecture/africas-historic-past-told-by-buildings-monuments-and-artwork-part-3/#ixzz11qBfm2TH

Africa's Historic Past told by buildings, Monuments, landmarks, art work Part 1

Africa is one continent that is misundertsood, perhaps because of distorted facts and History of the people and their land. Africa is considered to be the cradle of mankind and in my opinion what we have today is just an improvement of what Africa has had. Africans had writings that is recently being discovered and a rich culture which was passed on by oral tradition and folklore.

In this article I present different cultures, art, landmarks and writings of old that tell a story of Africa. The article is presented in three parts according to regions of Africa being North, South, East and West Africa. This first article shall present North and Southern Africa.

North Africa: The North part of Africa has Africans whose culture closely mirrors that of the Arab world. Majority of the populants of these countries adhere to the Muslim faith.

Read more: http://trifter.com/africa/africas-historic-past-told-by-buildings-monuments-landmarks-and-art-work-part-one/#ixzz11qA744Vf

The Sensitivity of Culture and Ethnicity

“What would it be like to have not only color vision but culture vision, the ability to see the multiple worlds of others?” Bateson( 1995, P.53)

 

To understand different cultures, one must get out of their judgmental lens and examine the world through unbiased lens. Culture is drawn from a number of human possibilities. It is dynamic and like a human being has its own personality. An anthropologist by the name of Benedict, disputes the norm of racial purity comparing the notion of Western culture being “superior” to other cultures as similar to that of the native American view of themselves in comparison to others.

 

The best culture according to her is one that unites its people recognizing different values which may develop into a different culture. Culture is fashioned through daily living, mating, worshipping and even warring. According to Benjamin, custom is shaped by behavior as opposed to custom shaping our behavior.

 

A person’s cultural background refers to one’s ethnicity but is also profoundly influenced by social class, religion, migration, geography, gender oppression, racism, sexual orientation and family dynamics.These factors influence people’s social location in various societies.

 

The same factors also affect people’s access to resources, their inclusion in dominant definitions of “belonging” and the extent to which they will be privileged or oppressed within the larger society. The same factors also influence how family members relate to their cultural heritage, to others of their cultural heritage, to others of their cultural group and to preserving cultural traditions.

Read more: http://socyberty.com/ethnicity/the-sensitivity-of-culture-and-ethnicity/#ixzz11q7a3BK6

Traditional and cultural African dresses and clothing

Africa is a dynamic continent full of cultural diversity.

Africa is the 2nd largest continent in the world with 53 countries and over 1000 ethnicities and cultures. In the north are the Arab Africans and their fashion or traditional dress will be very similar to that in the Middle East. In East Africa we have so many variant cultures and different traditional dress some of which have been transformed into national dress. The common thing is the "shuka" in the form of Khanga or kitenge which may be worn in different ways. Most African dress is very colorful and Africans are known for the traditional jewelry worn in various ways..

North Africa
The countries of North Africa are Algeria, Libya, Egypt, and Morocco. Most of these countries practice the Muslim faith and their culture is heavily influenced by Islam. Women will mostly be veiled with long dresses that cover their body completely. The men in North Africa may also cover their faces mainly because of the environmental conditions, like dessert winds in the area. The garment used ensured they kept heat off during the day and warmed them during the night.

The fez cap:  This originated in Morocco, yet was first popularized in the Ottoman Empire. The fez cap was worn by the army members, but quickly adopted by Turks and was worn by many different religious and ethnic groups in the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century. It is however not very popular today.

Read more and view pictures: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/259736_traditional-and-cultural-african-dresses

This issue of accent and how it is used to discriminate

I come from a country where there are over 40 ethnic groups. This is not including the Indians, Arabs and Europeans who have settled in the country. English is the official language and the language of instructions in schools from Kindergarten, while Swahili is the national language.

The English spoken in my country is more British oriented since we were once a colony of Britain. The various ethnic groups all speak different “mother tongues” or languages together with English and Swahili. The average person therefore speaks at least three languages. It follows that most people have different accents when speaking another language outside their mother tongue. Some may have problems with letter “h” when it is together with “s” and may pronounce “she” as “see”. Others may have problems with letter “r” and “l” and pronounce “light” as “right” and “right” as “light” among such.

This off course is based on the fact that their tongue does a trick on them based on the first language they acquired or perhaps they think in their mother tongue hence the problem with how letters are received in the brain. We jokingly make fun of each others accents in my country of birth because the accents reveal what ethnic group one comes from. Not everyone however has this issue of mother tongue accent. Some people will speak without the common accent of their ethnicity in particular those born in the cities. They do not however speak English like the English because they are not English.

Before I came to the United States of America I never thought much about my accent when it came to speaking English. I don’t have the common accent attributed to people from my ethnic background and I learnt to speak English early on as a child.  But that does not mean I speak like an English person by the very fact that I am not English. I also speak my mother tongue and three other languages. You can imagine my surprise when I came to America and I realized that even though I spoke good English some people could not “understand” me. I realized quickly enough that British English is very different from American English.

Words are pronounced and spelled differently and some words are just not used in America. I once told someone that something would be ready in a fortnight and they looked at me as if I was speaking a different language. A fortnight for those who don’t know is two weeks. I also discovered certain words are spelt missing certain vowels in American English. These are words like color and harbor which are spelt without a “u” after the “o”.

Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/216628_how-your-accents-can-be-used-to-demean-you