Some African Proverbs and their meanings
I am a true son of my father because in Africa, a crab does not beget a bird. According to my grandfather, it doesn't make much sense to ask the hunter how was his hunt especially if you saw him come in with a bunch of mushrooms in his hand. I pray for the day when lions will get their own historians but until that day, the tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter including even the one who came home with mushrooms. It is because of hot food that nature gave us two cheeks instead of one and because I am a wise son of my father, my sheep never gets loose twice. I can see you have started drawing a big snake in the sand but please don't forget to add legs to the snake after you have finished drawing it.
Proverbs are words of wisdom and wisdom is life. Proverbs are words full of hidden truths and deeper meanings. Africa is the land of proverbs. Not just proverbs but proverbs with meanings. The Bible, The Quran and all the other great books are full of nothing but proverbs. Why are these holy books full of proverbs and not plain languages we all can easily understand? Well, Africans have the answer. According to the Ashantis, "we speak to a wise man in proverbs and not in plain language".
Religion in Africa and the harmful effects
R
eligion is the most popular business in Africa today. Because it is "written" the devil or Lucifer is the root of all evil, we blame the devil for almost all our problems. We blame someone or something we cannot even see with our eyes as the cause of all our problems. Is that wisdom? I don't think the devil is the root of all illiteracy and stupidity and I think sometimes we just over-blame the devil for no good reasons at all. Instead of blaming ourselves for our stupidity and ignorance, we blame the poor guy why because it is "written". Some may call me the assistant Lucifer for making this post but I still believe sometimes we just have to say it the way it is. Religion is doing more harm than good in Africa. Religion continues to tear Africa into pieces and I don't think Africa can prosper under the dark shadows of religion.
The traditional African religion is part of our culture and traditions and there is very little we can do about it. Some people especially outsiders sometimes think there is nothing good in the African traditional religion or voodoo but the truth is that, the African traditional religion or voodoo has benefited my people more than Christianity, Islam, Judaism, etc. combined.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Africa
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is an act that involves all procedures partial or whole removal of the external genitalia or injury to the female sexual organs. This could either be for religious, cultural or other no-therapeutic reasons. Many women suffer permanent and irreversible damage to their health and well being with 2 million girls being subjected to it annually.
There are several types of FGM;
a) Type 1; excision of the prepuce, with or without excision of all or part of the clitoris.
b) Type 2; excision of the clitoris with partial or all excision of labia minora.
c) Type 3; excision of part or all of the external genitalia and stitching or narrowing of the vaginal opening.
d) Type 4: Infibulations this involves; pricking, piercing or incising the clitoris and or labia, cauterization by burning the clitoris and the surrounding tissues, introducing corrosive substances into the vagina or herbs to cause bleeding and for the purposes of narrowing it.
Major problems facing Albinos in Africa
Albinism is the lack of melanin pigment in the skin, eyes and hair which protects from the sun's ultraviolet's. Albinos are individuals suffering from albinism and they are vulnerable to medical complications as well as social discrimination in Africa. James Nandwa (not his real name) is an albino, it's very hard for him to get a job in Kenya due to his condition he's disillusioned by the state of affairs in his native state. He seeks employment in Tanzania through the help of a Kenyan friend who has promised to get him a job as a bus conductor. Just like any other unemployed person he's desperate and will do anything to get a job even if it means travelling miles away to a foreign land.On arrival to Tanzania, he's taken to a hotel where he's locked up by his friend for several days instead of being taken to his work of place. He is to be sold by his friend to some gold miners for an estimated 400 million Tanzanian shillings equivalent to $263,000. His friend had taken advantage of his situation and used the job to lure him. It's believed that portions mixed with albino body parts would bring good luck. He doesn't know what he's destined to, local police are aware of the sale, disguised themselves as the miners to buy him, James' friend has no clue and in the event of negotiating, they identify themselves and arrest him.