While this beauty essential has been gaining recent attention with the help of social media, it has been used for centuries in Western Africa. Originally used as a fishing net, it was discovered that this material could double as a tool for exfoliation!
The African net sponge is suitable for men, women and children to use. Before using your sponge, hand wash in hot water with mild detergent to soften the texture.
Once your sponge is ready, follow these three easy steps:
The African net sponge can last up to two years with proper care including regular machine or hand washing. It is generally recommended to wash your sponge every 1-3 months (or at your own discretion) and hang dry.
Once you use an African mesh washcloth, you’ll want to throw out your loofah and/or washcloth!
Upgrade your body care routine with the African Mesh Washcloth.
]]>Garret Morgan
The Three-Light Traffic Light - 1923
Garrett Morgan’s early inventions certainly made their impact on society, like the gas mask and improved sewing machine, however his most influential creation was the improved traffic light. If not for his contributions, drivers might still be directed by a two-light system. Morgan was motivated by a severe car accident he witnessed at an intersection in Cleveland, Ohio. Because of this he decided to that the current two-light system and add a yielding component that would warn oncoming drivers that they would soon need to come to a complete stop. His patient was approved the year after its creation in 1923.
Alexander Miles
Automatic Elevator Doors - 1887
Before the invention of automatic elevator doors, taking a lift was elaborate, scary, and made people contemplate just hiking up the stairs instead. You had to remember to shut the doors on your own before the elevator took off, and forgetting to do so proved to be fatal on numerous occasions. Alexander Mile’s daughter almost fell down an elevator shaft herself one day, and from then on he was determined to develop a safer solution. He took out a patent for the mechanism in 1887 that would automatically open and close elevator doors, and his specific designs are still widely used today.
McKinley Jones
Refrigerated Trucks - 1940
In the mid 1930’s McKinley Jones took out a patent for the roof-mounted cooling system used to refrigerate goods on trucks for long periods of transportation. He co-founded the U.S Thermo Control Company after receiving a patent for his creation in 1940. The company is now known as Thermo King, and was of great use during World War II by helping to preserve supplies, food, and blood at the time.
Marie Van Brittan Brown
Home Security System - 1966
Nurse and inventory Mary Van Brown co invented the home security system, along with her husband Albert Brow. They Jointly applied for a patent that same year that was approved in 1969. Her contributions are still influencing home security system development to this very day.
Lewis Latimer
Carbon Light Bulb Filament - 1881
Though the original lightbulb was invented by Thomas Edison, the innovation used to make a lightbulb that would be longer lasting through carbon filament was created by inventor Lewis Latimer. The invention helped make electric lighting more practical and affordable for the average household.
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Although there are many stories on the origin of Adinkra symbols, their significance and meaning in the culture are not debated. The Adinkra symbols are not just decorative objects on fabric, buildings, or decor, but they convey ancient traditional wisdom about life, philosophical thoughts, and aspects of the environment. Many of the Adinkra symbols have meanings linked to proverbs and some symbols depict historical events, human behavior and attitudes, animal behavior, plant life, and objects' shapes. These Adinkra symbols were used on ceremonial clothing by royalty for important ceremonies such as funerals and special occasions but are now used more prominently on clothes, jewelry, home décor and were even featured on the costumes in Black Panther.
Adinkras are visual symbols or ideographs that represent concepts and aphorisms originating from the Akan people, the dominant ethnic group of present-day Ghana, and the Ivory Coast located in West Africa.
Designs were originally made by cutting a pattern in a calabash gourd and then stamping the print on a piece of colorful fabric. They boiled the bark of the Badie tree with scraps of iron to get the deep brown ink that was originally used. If you take a closer look at the symbols, you will see that they were derived from pieces of nature, architecture, and animals. For example, the ripples in a water drop. The "Soul washers" badge is worn by the Ghana priests who conducted the kings' water rituals.
Some of the symbols have meanings linked to proverbs such as the SANKOFA symbol. SANKOFA, in the Twi language, means to “Reach back and get it” in English. To break it down:
San- to return
Ko- to go
Fa- to look/seek/take
Sankofa Symbol. A bird taking an egg off of its back.
The Sankofa symbol is also depicted by the shape of a heart.
The Sankofa symbol is often associated with the proverb, “Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi,” which translates “It is not taboo to return to take back what you forgot” The Sankofa symbol represents the wisdom of learning from the past, to help improve the future. It also encourages people to celebrate and honor their culture and history.
Adinkra symbols tell a story about the culture and its people. Wearing Adinkra symbols is an expression of who you are, your intentions and the messages you want to convey. Although Adinkra symbols are centuries old, they still have meaning and significance today to Africans and the African diaspora.
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As we celebrate Black History Month, let us never forget that we travel along a divine road paved by the boldness of Black heroes who will never be forgotten.
We are because they were.
In 1968, Shirley Chisholm became the first Black Woman to be elected to the United States Congress. For seven terms (1969-1983), Chisholm represented New York's 12th congressional district and became widely known for her outspoken persona and dedication to be a voice for marginalized groups. In 1972, she threw her hat in the ring for the Presidential election and became the first Black woman (and person) to seek the presidential nomination from a major party.
While she did not win, she left an important mark in history which has now made it possible for Kamala Harris to become the first woman as well as first Black and South Asian woman, to be elected as Vice President of the United States.
Frederick Douglass was a former enslaved man who inspired others like him to fight for their freedom as a key leader of the abolitionist movement. After becoming a free man, he share his experiences while enslaved and publicly denounced slavery. He also became involved in the women’s rights movement.
After the Civil War, Douglass became the first Black man to hold several high positions in government such as ambassador to the Dominican Republic and U.S. Marshal for D.C. He often used his position to advocate for civil rights and women’s rights.
In 1872, Douglass became the first Black man to be nominated for Vice President of the United States.
Martin Luther King Jr. is undoubtedly the most recognizable figure of the Civil Rights Movement. He is a leader who never backed down in his stance against racial injustice. He led the movement by taking a nonviolent approach rooted in love and compassion even when it did not make sense to most.
On August 28, 1963, King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream Speech” on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C to over a quarter of a million people. King’s speech marked a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement and is recognized as one of the most famous speeches in history.
In 1921, Bessie Coleman became the first Black Woman to obtain an international pilot's license and inspired others to fly to new heights. Because she was Black and a woman, she was unable to attend aviation schools in the United States. However, she learned French and was accepted into the Caudron Brothers' School of Aviation in Le Crotoy, France. She then received her international pilot’s license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
Coleman’s accomplishment is a demonstration of the determination it takes to overcome obstacles.
Ida B. Well was a journalist, civil rights activist and co-founder of the NAACP. However, will forever be remembered as a trailblazer in investigative journalism. Beginning in the early 1890s. Wells made it her mission to expose the barbaric practices of lynching in the South. White Southerners justified lynchings as a way to punish Black people who committed crimes. However, she found that lynching was used as a tactic to oppress Black people who gained economic success post slavery.
While the uncovering of these lynchings were disturbing and gruesome, Wells brought domestic and international attention to what was going on in America and forced the country to come face-to-face with this ugly truth. She often faced death threats and violence, but she stayed true to her mission.
Her influence in investigative journalism still exists today as America is constantly forced to come face to face with the killings of unarmed Black men and women caught on video.
Langston Hughes is an accomplished writer who is notably one of the key figures of the Harlem Renaissance (1920s-1930s). As a poet, playwright and novelist, Hughes used a rhythmic style to write about themes such as racism, self-love, cultural pride. He celebrated who he was and encouraged other Black people to embrace who they were.
Some of Hughes’ most timeless poems include, “I, Too, Sing America”, “Harlem”, and “Dreams”.
Don Cornelius was the creator and host of the television show and cultural gem, Soul Train. He is also known as the “first African-American to create, produce, host and own his own show”. His vision of Soul Train provided Black music artists with a mainstream platform to showcase their talent.
Airing in 1971 (not long after desegregation), Soul Train became one of the first television shows that showed Black people just being themselves. Previously, many shows only depicted Black people as caricatures and not real people. Soul Train was the embodiment of Black music, dancing, fashion, beauty and culture.
Soul Train is one of the longest running television shows in history airing from 1971 to 2006. It is also responsible for helping to put some of our favorite musical artists on the map!
In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color line in baseball when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers - becoming the first Black athlete to play Major League Baseball. Before Robinson’s MLB debut, Black baseball players were restricted to playing in the Negro Leagues.
During Robinson’s 10-year career, he scored a batting average of 0.311 and won the Rookie of the Year Award (1947), League MVP Award (1949), and All-Star Award for six consecutive seasons (1949-1954). Even with his talent and success, he was subject to verbal and physical abuse, hate mail and death threats.
Robinson’s legacy has opened doors for Black athletes in all professional league sports.
Born Isabella Bomfree, Sojourner Truth was an abolitionist and human rights activist. She was enslaved in New York, but later gained her freedom after finding refuge in a White family who bought her freedom. After she became a freewoman, she became the first Black woman to sue a white man and win after her son was illegally sold into slavery in Alabama.
As a devout Christian, Sojourner Truth traveled to preach, speak out against slavery, and advocate for Black women’s rights. In 1851, Truth delivered her most famous speech, “Ain’t I A Woman?” at a Women’s Rights Conference in Akron, Ohio. In her speech, she recalls her own experience of discrimination as a Black woman and brought attention to the intersectionality of racism and sexism.
James Baldwin was a Renaissance man of the 20th century. He was an acclaimed novelist, playwright, essayist, poet and activist who released profound literature that revealed the truth about racism in America. He often gave a voice to social issues that were taboo such as race, sexuality, and class. Despite public criticism, he remained true to his craft and continued to release literary works that are now considered to be American classics.
Baldwin became a prominent voice during the Civil Rights movement after releasing his novels “Notes of a Native Son”, “The Fire Next Time” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain”. He has influenced many prominent Black writers such as Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Richard Wright.
In conclusion, let’s take this time during Black history to reflect on the leaders who paved the way for us and let’s continue to break new barriers and open new doors for generations to come.
]]>There is a West African tradition of giving newborn babies a special name that is based on the day they are born. The Akan people of Ghana often name their children based on the day of the week they were born. These are called “day names,” and they hold meanings regarding the soul of the baby and character traits.
This naming tradition is not only shared throughout West Africa, but the African diaspora as well. Many Ghanaians hold at least one day name, even if they already have a Christian or English name. To help better understand this naming system we must know that the Akan people use the Kwa language, which is used as a form of time keeping. The language is based on a 6 day week, with the 7th day included.
The naming system is organized as followed:
If siblings are born on the same day then sequential words are added to the name:
An example of this would be “Mansa Efua,” which translates to the third female born on a Friday.
Now that you've discovered your new African Day Name head over to the Soko (market) and pick up an African Day Name bracelet with your new name on it to keep the traditions of West Africa and the African diaspora alive!
]]>To find the origins of Shea Butter we must go back to the Motherland, Africa. Though it is grown in roughly 21 different countries, quality shea butter can be found in abundance in Ghana, Northern Uganda, and Nigeria. All of the countries in Africa that are able to produce this resource are known as the “African Shea Belt.” In the shea butter nut family there are two different sub-species. From West Africa comes the Vitellaria Nilotica, and the second species is called the Vitellaria Nilotica from East Africa. Both types of shea trees can take anywhere from 40 to 50 years of maturing before they begin to produce nuts.
Even though they both take the same amount of time to mature, each species creates a very different type of shea butter than the other. The shea butter grown in East Africa has a more creamy consistency, compared to the shea butter native to West Africa, that is more of a clay texture.
Both species are high in quality and nutritional value. One of the most recognized health benefits of the shea butter is the wonders it does to create healthy skin. It is packed with fatty acids and vitamins that soften the skin, and is also used as an anti-inflammatory. When shea butter is used on the body, and the face especially, it can condition the skin to be more smooth, clear, and toned. Here at The Diaspora Collective we take pride in using 100% Shea Butter in our body butter, body soap, body scrub and bath bomb. Using the Diaspora Collective Bath and Body collection nourishes your skin and connects you to the motherland, Africa and traditional skincare routines.
]]>Africa is a beautiful continent that is rich in cultural heritage, diversity and wildlife which makes it unique in the world. Most people know Africa based on what they see in the media and those images are dominated by negative portrayals of the continent. Africa is a continent that continues to develop and increase its influence and impact on the world. A few facts that everyone should know about Africa:
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What is the African diaspora?
The African diaspora is over 170 million people of African descent that live all over the world. The African diaspora is represented across the continents with approximately 39 million in North America, 113 million in Latin America 14 million in the Caribbean and 4 million in Europe. People of the African diaspora have diverse connections to Africa and varying narratives of how they arrived at their current homes. The African Union defines the African diaspora as people of African origin living outside of the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality, and who are willing to contribute to the development of the continent and the building of the African Union.
The African diaspora’s connection to Africa
Some members of the African diaspora were born in Africa and have left the continent to pursue education and employment opportunities in other countries. Many members return to Africa after living abroad to work and invest in building Africa’s economy and well-being. It is estimated that 10 - 15 million Africans were taken and dispersed throughout the Americas, Caribbean, Latin America during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Their descendants have African roots and are members of the African diaspora. Ghana’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo declared 2019 as the Year of Return to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of African slaves in America. Nana Akufo-Addo invited the descendants of Africans that were enslaved in the Americas to return home and re-connect to their African roots. Over 300 thousand more people traveled to Ghana than prior years and participated in festivals, seminars and other experiences over the 12 months. Ghana declared 2020 as Beyond the Return and continues to encourage members of the African diaspora to return home to Africa to visit, invest and learn.
The African diaspora is making a global impact
Africa and the African diaspora has and continues to make a global impact on culture and society around the world. Music, food, art, sports, architecture, science, business, agriculture are just a few of the industries that the impact and influence of Africa and the African diaspora can be seen. As the world gets smaller with the expansion of the internet and Africa and the African diaspora gets stronger and more impactful the influence on commerce and culture will continue to expand.
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Capetown, Table Mountain National Park
Stepping onto African soil is probably one of the most extraordinary experiences I have ever had. I couldn't help but think how much our people back in America were missing. I toured Tanzania, Ghana, Capetown and volunteered in Port Elizabeth during my visit last Christmas; a Christmas gift/loan given to me by my fortunate and blessed family. Africa was a place I always wanted to go and if it could have been the first place I visited internationally, it would've been. I was never the one to follow stereo types of what Africa was like; surrounded by jungle, bush people walking around, as well as poor and hungry kids; I knew Africa was more than that.
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Did you know that Europe, Asia and even Florida have more Jungle than Africa? In fact, Africa has mostly vast amounts of grassland. When I went on the Safari tours in Tanzania, there were never any jungles or rain forest everywhere, but plenty of bright green grass that stretched miles and miles. And as far as bush people were concerned, sure there are plenty of tribes stretched out all over the African continent, but the only people I met on the land were the Maasai, and they were dressed in elegant cloths of reds and blues. They wore plenty of jewelry and ate very well, and according to all the goats and livestock they owned, they were pretty rich. I found that throughout the cities between Tanzania and Ghana there were just as many suburb areas as poor areas. There were shopping malls, beautiful beaches and places to tour and do group activities. Africa touched every one of my senses in a good way. I have yet to find few places that do this. It's a shame what American television shows you about Africa compared to what Africa really is. This is why I urge people to experience Africa for themselves.
Tanzania, Africa- Olduvai Camp
Only I and one other black woman from France was volunteering at the Animal Sanctuary in Port Elizabeth, and even she was leaving after a week. This would leave me with all people I had no relation with and yet I was still the ONLY American. Can you imagine being a black American working at a wildlife Animal Sanctuary? The culture shock was real. You would think there would be more black people volunteering or at least visiting since I was in Africa, but that wasn’t the case. Even while I searched for volunteer programs, there were always groups of white faces in every country I researched. Where were the black volunteers? The volunteers asked me lots of questions that I’m sure they wouldn’t have asked a white American. They tried to relate to me by talking about American Hip Hop music and black celebrities as if that’s all they could compare me to. I honestly didn’t mind and actually felt pretty cool educating them on what they THOUGHT black Americans were like on TV versus who we really are. I also embraced their cultures; learning the French language and Switzerland culture. I even befriended an Afrikaan, which I carefully say, is considered White African and a white African language. He so happened to be born and raised in London, though, and he had a very heavy accent. I must admit it did disturb me to see everyone know at least one other language and I only knew English. To hear more about the black volunteer experience, read my next article, Volunteering in Africa, Black Americans Making an Important Impact.
Port Elizabeth, South Africa- African Dawn Wildlife Sanctuary
Like any other traveler, I posted pictures all over my social media, from a Lion climbing a tree to sharing the beautiful sunset on the hills of the Ngorongoro Conservation. My pictures flooded with comments from all my friends of different backgrounds.
“How beautiful!”
"I can’t wait to go one day!"
"What’s it like there?!"
“What does it smell like?!”
“Are you in one of those travel groups?”
More and more people became interested and the people that were already interested in visiting Africa were now sure they wanted to visit Africa. Most people didn't even know anyone that had ever even been to Africa before. A lot of people have been to Europe and China, some even more than once, but not Africa. Why not Africa? I realized that it wasn’t that people didn't want to go, but they needed the push. They needed someone to say yes it is worth every penny you save. Yes, it is worth you going now, not in five years. And more importantly, NO, it's not what TV shows us. Yes, go to Africa! The motherland has been waiting for us to come home.
Jeffreys Bay, Port Elizabeth
Most black people that you see traveling to Africa are first to second generation Africans, particularly Nigerian, wealthy black Americans or black celebrities. At least before 2019 there was. But after Ghana opened it’s doors to the Year of the Return in 2019, it gave room for black travel groups to focus on the motherland. Some of these groups are coming together to deliver an experience like no other.
Groups such as, Tastemakers, Africa; Sisters traveling Solo, Bucketlist Beast and Black and Abroad. All of these groups have their own focus and make the experience and cost worth it.
Most travel groups have payment plans and try to make it as affordable as possible, so people who really want to go can do so without straining their pockets. My issue with big travel groups are the amount of people that may attend. When I was in Ghana, we were always a family of four. There was a restaurant we visited that happened to be very popular in the community. We were able to get a small table, but the groups of 10 and 15 that were waiting in groups, weren't so lucky. Also, when we went to visit the longest and highest rope bridge in Cape Coast, there were large groups standing and waiting to climb up, meanwhile we were able to head to the front and move along without the crowd.
https://moyoafrika.com/6-black-owned-travel-groups-you-should-book-a-trip-with-now/
So, when picking a travel group, be sure you ask the amount of people that are going or ask if you can pick a small group.
How do you take the first step to visiting Africa? How do you know what programs to go with? Where do you even start?
Well, if you are between the ages of 13-30 and want to go to Africa for free, I suggest you check out Birthright Africa. If you want to explore your roots while, vacation with all expenses paid, Birthright Africa offers a way to do it.
There are rules, such as, being of African descent (it's okay if you are not directly from Africa), be between 13 and 30 years old, and be registered with a High School, College or community based organization who operates under Birthright programs (like Tastemakers, Africa). If you are older than 30, they recommend paying through a travel company, however, Birthright Africa will cover the cost if you work with a High School, college or community based organization that serves youth organizations of African descent and want to participate as a facilitator. Birthright Africa is open to working with potential education partners and make it pretty easy to join them to help get as many people to Africa as they can to visit. The cost is about $4,000 per scholar and usually last around 10 days. You spend a few days taking trips to a national city and other days doing local exploring.
The impact this program has on travelers is incredible. 100% say it was a life changing experience, 100% plan to visit Africa again, 97% feel more resourceful and clarity with themselves, and nearly everyone (94%) was their first time going.
Birthright Africa- Twitter
Africa will continue to be a place I visit over my lifetime; maybe even reside. There are secrets that Africa doesn't necessarily want to keep from us. They want us to come home. They want us to find out our birthrights. I guarantee you, when you visit Africa, it's not like a place you visit, leave and come home and plan for another vacation. You feel as if a piece of you was left behind somewhere and maybe there is. There is still so much more to explore, so many brothers and sisters to meet, and so much to gain from being there. Whether you go with a travel group, a few friends and family, to volunteer, or just a solo getaway, the plan is to put it on your to do list; say yes I'm going to Africa. Make it happen.
Tanzania, Olduvai Camp
*Sources*
https://moyoafrika.com/6-black-owned-travel-groups-you-should-book-a-trip-with-now/
https://twitter.com/birthrightafri
https://www.roughguides.com/destinations/africa/south-africa/the-history-of-afrikaans/
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The Niger-Congo Languages: The language has its origin from the earliest speakers in the West African regions and part of Central Africa. In the world, it ranges in the top 3 most diverse language family while in Africa, it is the most diverse language family. This group currently has 1,513 mother tongues and about 643 million speakers in Africa. The languages in this group are Igbo, Bantu, Ewe, Mande, Lingala, Kordofan, Dogon, Yoruba, Shona, Swahili, Ubangi, Kikongo, Fula, etc. The Igbo language accounts for over 50 million of its speakers while Swahili accounts for 100 million.
The Indo-European Languages: The root of this can be traced to the after-effect of colonization. While colonized countries were forced to learn the colonial master's languages for easy communication and higher jobs, other uncolonized countries encouraged their citizens and residents to learn the language for communication and better opportunities. The languages include German, English, Portuguese, Afrikaans, Spanish, French and Italian. Afrikaans is the only exception to this group.
The Afroasiatic Languages: With a population of 353 million speakers, this family derived it's origin from early immigrants who migrated from Western Asia to settle in Africa (mostly in the Northern region and parts of Eastern Africa). It's languages include Arabic, Hausa, Amharic, Somali, Berber, Oromo, etc. It's speakers are located in countries like Somalia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Niger, Djibouti, Sudan, Chad, etc. It is also termed the Afrasian language.
The Nilo-Saharan Languages: This has its origin in the combination of areas located within the Nile River, the Chile River and obscure language groups. The Nilo-Saharan language belongs to one of the top four language groups with over 120 diverse dialects. It's languages include Fur, Dinka, Maban, Nobiin, Kanuri, Luo, Kunama, Songhay, Komuz and Maasai. Nilo-Saharan speakers are situated in Uganda, Congo, Kenya, Nile Valley, Sudan, Nigeria and Tanzania. There are over 55 million speakers within this group.
The Khoisan Languages: Commonly recognized due to the presence of phonemes in the language, this group has its root in the mixture of dialects of the early Southern Africa migrants and that of a part of Eastern Africa. With less than a million language speakers, the Khoisan language is gradually becoming extinct except for the Khoekhoe language. It's speakers can be identified in Tanzania, Botswana and Namibia. It's languages are Khoekhoe, Sandawe, Kwadi, Tuu, Hadza and Kx'a.
The Austronesian Languages: Madagascar is the only country in Africa where the language is spoken. The Austronesian language in Africa is Malagasy. Although there are other variants of the language, they are not spoken in Africa.
As earlier mentioned, Africa is a continent very rich in languages. Of the numerous languages, there are those which are more spoken than others and which also cut across countries, tribes, ethnic groups and cultures. This common languages usually have a central language but with different dialects depending on the tribe of the speaker. These commonly spoken languages are:
Swahili: This is the most spoken language in Africa with more than 310 million speakers of which 223 million are natives. The language is spoken in Tanzania, Somalia, Burundi, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, etc.
French: With more than 125 million speakers, the language was introduced after the colonization of some countries by the French. Ivory Coast, Gabon, Niger, Libreville, Cameroon, Abidjan, etc are examples of countries where the language is spoken.
Arabic: This is more common among Muslims in Africa. With more than 160 million speakers, it's speakers are mostly in Tanzania, Comoros, Somalia, Chad, Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, etc.
Hausa: With speakers more dominant in the Northern regions of Africa, most especially Nigeria, the language has over 40 million native speakers and a total of 64 million speakers.
Igbo: Considered the language with the highest number of speakers and indigenous dialects in Nigeria, Igbo records the highest number of ethnic groups in Africa. The language has its origin in Nigeria. Other speakers can be found in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.
Berber: There are over 26 million Africans who speak the language. They can be found in Libya, Morocco, Mali, Egypt, Mauritania, etc.
Yoruba: There are over 40 million Yoruba speakers in Africa, majority of whom are situated in Nigeria. Other countries that speak Yoruba are Togo, Liberia, Ghana, etc.
Zulu: Zulu has its origin in South Africa and currently has more than 20 million speakers of the language. Other countries that speak Zulu are Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, etc.
Amharic: Ethiopia is the major speaker of the language. It has a record of over 20 million speakers including natives.
Fulani: Also referred to as Fulbe, the major speakers of this language in Africa are Muslims. The language has more than 26 million speaker and the speaker are situated in countries like Cameroon, Mauritania, Chad, Nigeria, Benin, Senegal, etc.
English: Although it is recognized as an official language, it is a second language in African countries. The language was adopted during the British colonial era. Uncolonized countries however adopted the language as a means of communication and for access to better opportunities. Countries that speak English in Africa are Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Malawi, Botswana, Mauritius, Rwanda among so many others.
Portuguese: Just like French and English, this language was adopted as an effect of colonization. There are more than 36 million Portuguese speakers of which 16 million are natives. Countries that speak Portuguese in Africa are Cape Verde, Mozambique, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and São Tomé e Principe.
Malagasy: The only African country which has speakers of this language is Madagascar and it records more than 20 million native speakers.
Some other languages in Africa are Chewa, Kirundi, Tsonga, Ibibio, Akuapem, Tonga, Xhosa, Ndebele, Sepedi, Jalaa, Italian, Kwadi, Mpre, Kituba, Bayot, Gomba, Shona, Kimbundu, Shabo, Nzema, Bete, Pidgin, Fante, Lufu, Aasax, Waha, Sesotho, Tiv, Irimba, Chokwe, Oromo, Buchama, Mawa, Oblo, Dompo, Kare-kare, Defaka, etc.
]]>I spent seven days exploring Tanzania with a guide and my family. We started in Arusha and traveled to Lake Mynamara, Ngorogoro Crater and the Serengeti. We saw all of the Big 5 (lion, cheetah, leopards, rhino, and buffalo), elephants, zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, antelope, impala, hyenas and all kinds of birds and bugs. We met people of the Masaai tribe who lived simpler but no less full lives than ours and looked like relatives. We saw beautiful sunrises, sunsets, a lion climb a tree, an elephant with her baby protect her family, and thousands of animals making the great migration. After seven days of amazing exploration of beautiful land, animals and people I was in awe of God and his handiwork. Several scriptures had greater meaning and better understanding for me :
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Matthew 6:25-34 Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own
Gods handiwork, provision and purpose for nature, people and animals became clearer over the seven day adventure. A few examples:
The dungbeatle - Its purpose is to eat poop. It goes about its day fulfilling its purpose and eating poop. It’s purpose prevents the land from literally smelling like ****!
The hyena and vultures - These animals are both scavengers. They eat the remains of carcasses. Without them there would be decaying bodies all over the Serengeti.
Elephants - they have feet that are made like shock absorbers so they move silently and don’t alert their enemies despite the several tons they weigh.
Giraffes - their main source of food is from a tree that has leaves but also very think thorns like a rose bush but longer, thicker and stickier ( trust me, I had an incident!) Their tongues are made thick enough that they can eat the leaves without getting harmed by the thorns. The thorns also prevent other animals from consuming their source of food. Mind blown!!!!
So as humans we go through life worried about so many things and constantly trying to figure out our purpose. If God has so purposefully designed nature and the ecosystem, I know he has put the same care in our design and purpose. He has provided provision for us to live fully in that purpose. Maybe all that is required is for us to realize that everything we need for our journey and purpose was determined and provided before we took our first breath and all we need to do is walk in our natural ability and trust Gods favor, grace and power will provide what we need and things beyond our expectations.
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