Written by Wonani Mwanza Living abroad sounds exciting. It is exciting. I’m Zambian and my home is Zambia. When an opportunity came for me to leave Zambia, I grabbed it with both hands. I currently live in Malaysia and I have been here for the last three years. When people find out I don’t live in Zambia, they are usually so amused and think I’m living my best life. Everything is rosy and honestly what could go wrong when you practically moved...
Written by David L. Tabb On paper, my life in America seemed outstanding. In 2014, I was a tenured associate professor at one of the best medical schools in the nation, living in a big house on the hill; I was a paragon of privilege. Inside, though, I was crumbling. I felt unable to keep up with the university demands of teaching, mentoring, service, and above all, grant writing. I knew I needed a change, but I wasn’t sure what kind I...
Written by Anesu Nyakubaya-Nhevera I remember the day I got to the Beitbridge border post. As night fell I could see the beauty of the lights across the border, in Musina. My Canaan, right there. To this day I can never put the feeling I had into words. Some can say I had it easy. I had a relative already established in South Africa when I came. That didn't make anything any more accessible though. I was so scared of people. I never wanted them...
Written by Shereen Asafo-Adjei One day in class, a guy I thought was insanely beautiful asked me if I wanted to give him “head.” At the time of my life, I was scared to ask questions because I didn’t want to be branded as a FOB (fresh off the boat- someone who just landed abroad). Up until that point I had pretended to know things so I didn’t appear too foreign. So this beautiful boy asked me to give him head, I just laughed it off because I...
Written by Rumbidzai It was mid-summer in Zimbabwe when my uprooting happened. I knew that this was coming, but my 10-year-old mind had not fully grasped what it meant for the future. I didn’t know I was facing one of the biggest changes in my life. I had just turned 11 when my mother told us that our passports and visas were ready and that we would be boarding a flight in just 2 months. I had never been on a plane before, but we had been...
Written by Zilanie Tamara Gondwe Taboo. Uttering the word vagina is taboo in my country. Taboo things and practices are usually proscribed to women. The Oxford Dictionary defines taboo as: 1. A social or religious custom prohibiting or restricting a particular practice or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing. ‘many taboos have developed around physical exposure’ 2. A practice that is prohibited or restricted by...
Written by Mable Barbara Amuron Anyone who knows me knows of my love for the written word. This past decade has seen the explosion of African literature which has been awesome for readers, such as myself, hungry for books that speak to the African experience and have characters that we can relate to. But more than just the literary genre, the books being produced by Africans range from chick lit to sci-fi to AfroFuturism to thrillers. While...
Written by Sarah Toyin One country among many in Africa you need to visit is Ghana! Ghana is a country I recommend you visit as it is full of rich history, culture, food and more. Independence Square From Pixabay Ghana has become a sought-after holiday destination in West Africa due to many celebrities such as Boris Kodjoe and more visiting. The 2019 year of return campaign also encouraged people to visit the country throughout the year,...
Written by Rudo Manyere Zimbabwe is a landlocked African country situated in the south of Africa. It has a population of roughly 14 million people, 16 languages, and about 7 religions. Although Christianity is the main religion and was introduced by the Portuguese in the 16th century, the natives of Zimbabwe already knew God through traditional religion. The Zimbabwean people (Shona, Ndebele, Kalanga, Nyanja, etc) all knew and believed in God (...
Written by Laker Fiona 1. Things Fall Apart Every time I meet an African who has not read this book, I honestly judge them. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe was one of my earliest reads growing up. I love this book because of its writing style and how it reflects the pre-colonial times showing its effects on individuals, families, and communities. The protagonist in this book "Okonkwo" a famous wrestling champion is obsessed with his...
Written by Julie Olum As tourism in African countries goes, Kenya has done alright for itself over the decades, of course being a well-known wildlife/safari destination, having beautiful beaches with great weather virtually all year, and even being home to fascinating people and cultures like the Maasai. But surprising to some, Kenya is an amazingly diverse country from landscapes to cultures and climates – there is something to discover for...
Written by Shereen Let me start by saying that Ghanaians are a group of people who love to follow protocol. We believe things are set in place for a reason and the older those things are the more we must cling to them because you know, tradition. To non-Ghanaians, some of these things I’ll be discussing may come off as funny or don’t make sense. And I agree, but some are highly regarded. Below, I will share a few taboos from Ghana, these were...
Written by Madeline Wilsonojo I grew up in the UK which meant I didn’t have as much access to African literature as I probably should have. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy the books I did read; I was totally in love with Judy Blume and Jacqueline Wilson in my younger days, and I didn’t quite mind studying books like Of Mice & Men and The Merchant of Venice at school, but I feel like having more exposure to relatable characters might...
Just yesterday a tweet went out where a father was scolding his oldest son for failing his exams. Scolding is a very light term, he was being an African parent. Angry for having spent so much money on school fees and his son bringing back dismal results. He beat him up and called him stupid. When the son tried to explain himself he got a clap for that. In Africa you do not get to speak your mind, you do not get to explain yourself to your...
No place? I don't know about that because there are people who are still very strong on traditions and cultures. Are they necessary, absolutely NOT! I am itching to get on with it, so follow my lead. HAVING SEX WITH YOUR FATHER IN LAW BEFORE YOU GET MARRIED TO YOUR HUSBAND. It is not the 'before, ' that is the problem. It's the 'having sex with your FATHER in law.' I… I just don't see the reason why it's important. Your father in law, a father...
Good morning! I really want to type, 'kuthi huuuu, ' but this isn't the time to be playing around, right? So as my name suggests, I am Ndebele, in case you don't know my full name it's Nobuhle N Nyoni. We have a problem here because I have no idea what the Ndebele culture looks like because I never lived it. I sat back and tried to remember and I got nothing. This could be because firstly, my grandmother was big on Christianity and her house...
Written by Wonani Mwanza Living abroad sounds exciting. It is exciting. I’m Zambian and my home is Zambia. When an opportunity came for me to leave Zambia, I grabbed it with both hands. I currently live in Malaysia and I have been here for the last three years. When...
Written by David L. Tabb On paper, my life in America seemed outstanding. In 2014, I was a tenured associate professor at one of the best medical schools in the nation, living in a big house on the hill; I was a paragon of privilege. Inside, though, I was crumbling....
Written by Anesu Nyakubaya-Nhevera I remember the day I got to the Beitbridge border post. As night fell I could see the beauty of the lights across the border, in Musina. My Canaan, right there. To this day I can never put the feeling I had into words. Some can say I...
Written by Shereen Asafo-Adjei One day in class, a guy I thought was insanely beautiful asked me if I wanted to give him “head.” At the time of my life, I was scared to ask questions because I didn’t want to be branded as a FOB (fresh off the boat- someone who just...
Written by Rumbidzai It was mid-summer in Zimbabwe when my uprooting happened. I knew that this was coming, but my 10-year-old mind had not fully grasped what it meant for the future. I didn’t know I was facing one of the biggest changes in my life. I had just turned...
Written by Zilanie Tamara Gondwe Taboo. Uttering the word vagina is taboo in my country. Taboo things and practices are usually proscribed to women. The Oxford Dictionary defines taboo as: 1. A social or religious custom prohibiting or restricting a particular...
Written by Mable Barbara Amuron Anyone who knows me knows of my love for the written word. This past decade has seen the explosion of African literature which has been awesome for readers, such as myself, hungry for books that speak to the African experience and have...
Written by Sarah Toyin One country among many in Africa you need to visit is Ghana! Ghana is a country I recommend you visit as it is full of rich history, culture, food and more. Independence Square From Pixabay Ghana has become a sought-after holiday...