How To Use Baobab Oil In Your Hair

March 16th, 2010

Is your hair dry and brittle? Do you have dandruff or itchy scalp? Baobab oil can be a soothing solution to all of these problems. It’s inherent moisturizing qualities, plus vitamins A, E and F help to regenerate and heal broken hair, while soothing and healing itchy, irritated scalp.

Here’s what other people have to say about Baobab Oil:
“I use this on thick, curly African hair that tends to be dry. I use the Baobab Oil on slightly damp hair. My hair is shiny, feels wonderful, and excessive breakage has stopped.”

“It is a wonderful scalp & hair moisturizer and absorbs into the scalp well.”

How Do You Apply Baobab Oil?

You can apply it alone after shampooing your hair as a conditioner and then rinse it out after a few minutes. You can also just add a drop or two of baobab oil to your regular hair conditioner. It can also be used as a leave-in conditioner. Just rub a few drops in your palms and then apply throughout your hair for gloss and conditioning.

Click Here to get your own baobab oil, or to find out more!

Interested in other African natural beauty products? Visit our Health and Beauty section for many selections of African natural healers.

Quote of the week from Marian Wright Edelman

March 14th, 2010
Marian Wright Edelman

Marian Wright Edelman

“The question is not whether we can afford to invest in every child; it is whether we can afford not to.” - Marian Wright Edelman

Marian Wright Edelman (born June 6, 1939) is an American activist for the rights of children. She is president and founder of the Children’s Defense Fund.

As founder, leader and principal spokesperson for the CDF, Mrs. Edelman worked to persuade Congress to overhaul foster care, support adoption, improve child care and protect children who are disabled, homeless, abused or neglected. A philosophy of service absorbed during her childhood undergirds all her efforts. As she expresses it, “If you don’t like the way the world is, you have an obligation to change it. Just do it one step at a time.”

Find more quotes from influential Black leaders and heroes Here!

Celebrate Spring with African Fruit Salad (Chlada Fakya)

March 12th, 2010

This simple fruit salad is spiced up with cinnamon. Served with whipped cream it is a perfect way to say hello to spring!

Ingredients:

1/4 melon, cubed
2 apples, cubed
2 bananas, sliced
5 oranges, peeled, seeded and chopped
3/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Instructions:
Mix all the ingredients, and chill before serving! Enjoy!

To find more African recipes just visit The Africa Imports Recipe Page

Your Help Buys New Cupboards For Moukondo Orphanage

March 11th, 2010
New Cupboards

New Cupboards

At Africa Imports, a percentage of the money we make goes towards supporting the Moukondo Orphanage in The Senegal. We pay for the cost of meals and expenses for about 200 orphan children. Here’s what a friend of ours who works with the orphanage said when she sent us this photo.

“I wanted you to see the finished product of the cupboards that were made for the Moukondo Orphanage. They are just super - the kids are so happy to have a “place” that is for them. The teenagers all rec’d a locked cupboard to keep their school books and clothes. Smiles everywhere!!
They are well done - the carpenter did red wood that will not warp and will give years of service even with hard usage.”


New Cupboards

New Cupboards

“This is the dish cupboard - it is so good. After dishes washed and dried then put in here instead of being in open and flies and dirt all around. Lord bless and keep you.

Thank you for your kind generosity.”

So we want to say thank you to our customers. Each purchase made from Africa Imports has a percentage that is given to this orphanage and another orphanage in the Congo. Without your purchases we wouldn’t be able to support these places. To find out more about the orphanages we support just Click Here.

Why Avocado Oil Is The Healthier Choice

March 9th, 2010
Avocado Oil

Avocado Oil

Avocado oil has become one of the hottest new oils to hit the market in the last ten years. What makes Avocado oil so attractive to so many chefs and home cooks is the extremely buttery texture Avocado oil brings, along with a rich flavor and versatile cooking ability. This oil is best for high heat applications like sautéing, frying and all-purpose cooking. It is also excellent for skin care and massage.

The Health Benefits Of Avocado Oil:
Avocados and Avocado oil are rich in monounsaturated fats, which work to lower bad, LDL cholesterol levels in the blood. Avocado oil contains the highest levels of alpha and beta carotene, which protect against heart disease (it has been approved as a heart-healthy oil by the New Zealand and Australian Heart Foundations). Partnered with a large amount of Vitamin E, Avocado oil is one of the healthiest and versatile oils available.

How to Use Avocado Oil:

* For dressing, pour avocado oil on any salad or vegetable and let it sit for an hour to take up the fragrant and delicate flavours of the oil. Sprinkle a little grated cheese with the salad and you have a wonderful combination.
* Instead of pouring butter over hot potatoes and greens, use healthy and natural avocado oil and get the benefit of an enriched flavour from a product that is much better for your body.
* For a snack or an entrée to a meal, pour some avocado oil and olive oil into separate bowls as a dip for hot bread, straight from the oven.
* Use avocado oil for frying or sauteeing to enjoy healthier meals without setting off the smoke alarm!

To find out more about avocado oil just Click Here! Interested in other African oils? Just visit our Healthy Oils Page.

Quote of the week from Richard Wright

March 7th, 2010
Richard Wright

Richard Wright

“I would hurl words into this darkness and wait for an echo, and if an echo sounded, no matter how faintly, I would send other words to tell, to march, to fight, to create a sense of the hunger for life that gnaws in us all, to keep alive in our hearts a sense of the inexpressibly human.” - Richard Wright

Richard Nathaniel Wright (September 4, 1908 – November 28, 1960) was an African-American author of powerful novels, short stories and non-fiction. Much of his literature concerned racial themes. His work helped redefine discussions of race relations in America in the mid-20th century.

Just a reminder - Tomorrow is the last day to save 30% on some of the most popular African products! So save while you can - visit our sale page now!

Coming Up! International Women’s Day Sale

March 4th, 2010

Starting Friday, March 5th, you can save 30% off of some of Africa’s best-selling products! Why? This is all in honor of International Women’s Day. March 8th is International Women’s Day in Angola, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Eritrea and the Republic of Congo. International Women’s Day is about honoring the achievements of women and their struggle for equality. This is about the women who’ve made a difference behind the scenes, or in the limelight, making the world a better place.

International Women's Day Sale

International Women's Day Sale

Want to get a sneak-peek at what will be on sale? Visit our Women’s Day Sale Page!

How is International Women’s Day Celebrated In Africa?
This special day sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc, with flowers and small gifts. In some ways it is almost like Mothers day. The most important part of this holiday is that it can bring attention to the issues that many women in Africa still face, and recognize their contributions to making the world a better place.

Find out more about International Women’s Day by Clicking Here.

NEW Product Spotlight! African Print Dresses

March 3rd, 2010
African Print Dresses

African Print Dresses

Celebrate your true elegance with these African print dresses! Hand-sewn in Nigeria, you can choose from three different vibrant African print designs. Each dress is 100% cotton brocade; and is best if hand-washed. M/L fits up to a 46″ bust and 50″ length. L/XL fits up to a 50″ bust and length. 2X fits up to a 54″ bust and 50″ length. 3X fits up to a 56″ bust and 50″ length.

Want to find out more or get your own? Just Click Here!

Want to see more African clothing for men, women and kids? Just visit our African Clothing Page.

Celebrating Unity Day in Sudan - March 3

March 1st, 2010
Sudanese Villagers

Sudanese Villagers

Sudan celebrates Unity Day annually every 3rd of March. It is a celebration of peace and unity, particularly the North and parts of South which suffered heavy strife during the civil war. The two-decade war between North and South Sudan ended in 2005, ultimately forming a unity government.

Sudan celebrates Unity Day with public cultural shows, parades, and celebratory events. Public and private companies including students from various schools participate in cultural shows and parades in the street which commemorates the unity of the entire region and the preservation of peace and fuelling progress. Since Unity Day is a national holiday, government offices do not operate and while some private offices may choose to close.

So we want to wish the people of Sudan a blessed Unity Day!

Want to find out more about African holidays? Just visit our African holidays page.

African Recipe of the Week: African Pineapple Stew

February 25th, 2010

Serve this dish over rice, couscous, or millet for a delicious main-course to tempt the taste buds.

What You’ll Need:

1 cup chopped onions
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 bunch kale or Swiss chard (4 cups sliced)
2 cups undrained canned crushed pineapple (20-ounce can)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon Tabasco or other hot pepper sauce
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
salt to taste
crushed skinless peanuts
chopped scallions

How to Make the Stew:

In a covered saucepan, saute’ the onions and garlic in the oil for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are lightly browned. While the onions saute’, wash the kale or Swiss chard. Remove and discard the large stems and any blemished leaves. Stack the leaves on a cutting board and slice crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices.

Add the pineapple and its juice to the onions and bring to a simmer. Stir in the kale or chard, cover, and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring a couple of times, until just tender. Mix in the peanut butter, Tabasco, and cilantro and simmer for 5 minutes. Add salt to taste, and enjoy!

Want to try more African recipes? See many more on our Recipe Page.

IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH:

James Baldwin

James Baldwin

James Baldwin was a very important American author who wrote about the struggle of being black in America. James was the oldest of nine children and was born into poverty in Harlem, New York. He spent much of his time reading.

James’ mother was a maid and his father was a strict, cruel factory worker and preacher (who died in a mental hospital in 1943). James was a preacher himself for three years when he was a teenager.

Baldwin’s first book, the semi-autobiographical Go Tell It On the Mountain, was published in 1953 and is considered to be a classic American novel. Baldwin lived in France for many years, distancing himself from American life in order to examine it; Baldwin wrote, “Once you find yourself in another civilization, you’re forced to examine your own.”
Baldwin participated in the Southern school desegregation struggle of the 1960s and marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. Baldwin wrote extensively about the Civil Rights Movement, including The Fire Next Time and Notes of a Native Son. Throughout his life, Baldwin used his enormous writing talent to work for racial equality.

Baldwin wrote, “I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” and “Artists are here to disturb the peace.” Baldwin died at the age of 63 at home in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France.