Family and Community. This pattern reflects the love of family and community. The circle represents the house of the family and the dot in the middle is the family itself. It also represents family unity.
Find out more about the history, making, and meaning of mudcloth on the Africa Imports web site or by Clicking Here for a free article.
We know this is a day late, but we didn’t want to forget it just the same. Yesterday was Republic Day in Ghana; Ghana became a sovereign republic in 1960 after coming out from Colonial rule. Ghana was actually the first black African country to become independent.
Among other things, this day will be celebrated by a 5km health walk which will feature Ministers of State, Chief Directors, Chief Executives, as well as Members of Parliament. This walk is aimed at encouraging people to make time for their health.
Happy 49th Republic Day! If you’d like to find out more about African holidays just visit the Africa Imports web site or Click Here.
Once upon a time there was a poor man who did not have a job or a place to stay. Finally he went with his dog to the palace of the Sukuma chief. The chief warmly received the man with his dog. The poor man was accepted as part of the royal family. The chief fed both him and his dog. Later on enemies came to kill the chief. The dog barked, the alarm was sounded, the chief escaped, and his life was saved.
The Sukuma is the largest ethnic group of Tanzania, with an estimated 5.5 million members. Sukuma means “people of the north”.
Find more African proverbs by Clicking Here. Find out more about African culture by visiting the Africa Imports web site or by Clicking Here.
Today is the Independence Day of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Congo gained her independence on August 15, 1960 from France and Belgium. In Congo, the third largest country in Africa, this day holds a very special place in the hearts of the people.
The road to independence has not been easy, but now is a time when there is much hope. There has been unrest in the country for many years; even since their proclamation of independence; but things are beginning to look up.
The traumatic past been followed by huge international efforts to rebuild Congo into a state. While that’s a lofty endeavor, it is encouraging to hear about people working with Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration projects, peace talks in the east, and training eager troops to hopefully protect and serve.
This holiday is followed later this week by the USA Independence Day, which allows us to reflect on the self-sacrifice, and conviction with which so many have served our country for the good of the future. May the US and Democratic Republic of Congo continue to strive and improve the reality of their visions.
In the words of Congo’s first Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba:
“Victorious fighters for independence, today victorious, I greet you in the name of the Congolese Government. All of you, my friends, who have fought tirelessly at our sides, I ask you to make this June 30, 1960, an illustrious date that you will keep indelibly engraved in your hearts, a date of significance of which you will teach to your children, so that they will make known to their sons and to their grandchildren the glorious history of our fight for liberty. We are proud of this struggle, of tears, of fire, and of blood, to the depths of our being, for it was a noble and just struggle, and indispensable to put an end to the humiliating slavery which was imposed upon us by force…
Together, my brothers, my sisters, we are going to begin a new struggle, a sublime struggle, which will lead our country to peace, prosperity, and greatness.
Together, we are going to establish social justice and make sure everyone has just remuneration for his labor.
We are going to show the world what the black man can do when he works in freedom, and we are going to make of the Congo the center of the sun’s radiance for all of Africa.
We are going to keep watch over the lands of our country so that they truly profit her children. We are going to restore ancient laws and make new ones which will be just and noble….We are going to do away with all discrimination of every variety and assure for each and all the position to which human dignity, work, and dedication entitles him.
We are going to rule not by the peace of guns and bayonets but by a peace of the heart and the will.”
To see the rest of this address, Click Here.
To find out more about African holidays and how you can celebrate them, just visit the Africa Imports web site or Click Here.
“In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.”
We mourn the death of this incredible talent that the world has lost. Our prayers are with his family.
Gloria Naylor
Gloria Naylor (born January 25, 1950 in New York City) is an accomplished African American novelist. Her novel The Women of Brewster Place was adapted into a 1989 film of the same name by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions.
Find out about African history and culture at the Africa Imports web site or by Clicking Here.
Africa Imports pays the cost of meals and some other expenses for about 200 orphan children in Congo, Africa. One of these boys and his story is shown below.
This is a young man of 5 years of age - they have given him the name Gabriel. He was abandoned by his family - they do not know what his original name was or what people group he is from. He is mentally handicapped but with the love and attention at the orphanage he now knows to say hello (mbote) and to lift his right hand for a handshake.
Africa Imports sends a big part of our profits to help support children like Gabriel in Africa. You can find out more about what we do here. Africa Imports also offers the biggest selection of African imported products anywhere west of the Atlantic ocean. You can visit our main website here.
Madagascar's Independence Day
In Madagascar, Independence Day is an occasion of great magnitude. Celebrated on the 26th of June, the Malagasy people celebrate with good food, drinking, and dancing. One of the spectacles of the day is a presentation of ‘Hira Gasy’ which is a musical presentation of Malagasy folklore; in this, singers wearing their best traditional attire combine song and dance with traditional folk tales from Madagascar. This is combined with a speaker who presents each musical number with a piece of poetry or an excerpt from a favorite folk tale.
Madagascar has undergone significant changes during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Occupying a strategic location off the southeast coast of Africa, the island historically became the target of British and French imperial ambitions. Ultimately, the competition resulted in French colonization at the end of the nineteenth century. The country gained full independence from colonial rule on June 26, 1960.
We wish a happy Independence Day to the people of Madagascar and hope there is much rejoicing on this day!
If you’d like to find out more about African holidays just visit the Africa Imports web site or Click Here.
The Sickle and the Blade. This pattern tells a story about a farmer that did an exceptional job. Approximately 80% of the workforce in Africa consists of small farmers, and agriculture accounts for 40% of the region’s gross domestic product.
Find out more about the history, making, and meaning of mudcloth on the Africa Imports web site or by Clicking Here for a free article.
June 26th marks the 49th anniversary of Somalia’s independence. On June 26th, 1960, the Somali Republic was formed. A few days later, Italian Somaliland gained its independence from Italy on the 1st of July 1960 and was united the same day with the Somali Republic.
We found this vintage video on youtube that has actual video footage of the 1960 celebration of Somalia’s independence.
Find out more about African culture and holidays on the Africa Imports web site or by Clicking Here.