Help us create more content like this
Already a member? Sign in.
Culture
Why there is a fattening room culture among these groups in Nigeria
The fattening practice is a rite of passage of the Kalabari, Efik, and Ibibio clans of Nigeria. It is an initiation ceremony that prepares the maiden to be an elegant and cultured woman. Once in the fattening room, the matriarch grooms the ladies by feeding them, teaching them the customs and etiquettes of being a…
-
How Toyin Odutola stood up to bullying and became one of the highest-paid Nigerian artists of all time
Toyin Ojih Odutola is a New York-based Nigerian artist who is changing the stereotypical narrative...
-
People of African descent unite in Benin for famous Voodoo festival
Africa is home to a number of religions. Even before Islam and Christianity arrived on the...
-
Akpema, the initiation rites in Togo that prepare a girl from the age of 1 to womanhood
Akpema is the rite of passage for young maidens in the West African nation of Togo. It is held...
-
Fascinating things to know about the Samburu people of Kenya where men wear kilts like the Scottish
The Samburu people of Kenya live a semi-nomadic life like the Maasai. Their survival depends on their livestock. The Samburu place a significant premium on their cattle, goats, sheep and camels and weave...
-
Umemulo, the beautiful Zulu ceremony which signals a girl is ready for marriage
The Umemulo tradition of the Zulus of South Africa in times past was a metric used in celebrating young maidens. The tradition was held for young girls who had stayed chaste before they were married ...
-
No one is brave enough to attack the Arbore people of Ethiopia, here’s why
What the Arbore tribe of Ethiopia is widely known for is not their reliance on traditional singing and dancing to draw out negative energy from their system. The popularity of the Arbore people lies in...
-
A look at the Antemoro people of Madagascar, who were natural astrologers before the arrival of Europeans
Until the fall of the Antemoro kingdom in the late 19th century, the inhabitants were revered for their knowledge of astrology. This art by the Antemoro people of Madagascar was largely attributed to their...
-
Khoisan: here is why the once-largest group of humans on earth must be saved
The Khoisan people of Southern Africa were the largest ethnic group on earth some 150,000 years ago. What accounted for this population growth among them was the fact that they married among themselves...
-
Spain’s controversial Three Kings parade featuring Blackface should be abolished
Despite growing criticism, the practice of wearing blackface in January 6 parades in Spain that commemorate the arrival of the three wise men at Bethlehem persists. In Spain, as part of their Christmas...
-
Celebrating the new year African-style: 5 fascinating traditions to explore
The start of a new year is a time for celebration and reflection, and people around the world mark this occasion with a variety of traditions and rituals. African New Year traditions are particularly rich...
-
Meet Emmanuel Kulu, the historian shining a light on Africa’s rich cultural legacy
Emmanuel Kulu, Jr. Is a trailblazing African historian whose groundbreaking work has shed new light on the often-misrepresented history of African kingdoms and Africa as a whole. Born and raised in Buffalo,...
