Central African Republic: Music from a country in the heart of Africa

At the center of Africa, the Central African Republic preserves through art and music their traditions and the wonderful nature that characterizes this country.

In the Central African Republic, the beliefs and customs of the native peoples who have inhabited the country for millennia are interwoven with the beliefs and customs of its French colonizers. The various native ethnic groups express their identities through visual arts and through music, song and dance which use the Sango language to transmit the oldest traditions. During their rituals, the main focus is on the people’s relationship with nature, whether they live in the country or the city. Its landscapes include spectacular tropical forests and rivers, and contain a biodiversity treasure-trove, which has always been celebrated through the country’s artistic expression, especially through music, which plays a central role in traditional culture. The waterfalls, the animal reserves and the savanna, which extends to the foothills of the Bouar Plateau, provide spectacular backdrops to traditional villages perched beside the rivers, which preserve the most authentic forms of the country’s ancient heritage.

Gastronomical Expressions of Tradition

Among the Central African Republic’s typical dishes, the most frequently eaten is Jollof Rice, a loosely defined one-pot rice dish with various kinds of vegetables. Traditional ingredients and tastes dominate, hence the numerous dishes based on cereals and vegetables, with meat usually consisting of chicken or antelope. Fish is eaten fresh, accompanied by spicy chilli sauces and bananas, or else dried and eaten together with tropical fruit, especially papaya or mango.

Craftwork To Tell the Story of a Nation’s History

The Central African Republic’s Pavilion is situated inside the Arid Zones Cluster. The country has chosen to express itself in Expo Milano 2015 above all through native art and artefacts, through which visitors can perceive and appreciate the lifestyle and customs of its peoples. The domestic objects and utensils in ebony, and the finely handcrafted wicker baskets, used to prepare and conserve food on an everyday basis, vibrate with heritage and energy.

 •By ILARIA D'AMBROSI

•Culled from www.expo2015.org

TRADITIONAL FOODS FESTIVAL: SUDANESE VARIED, RICH NUTRITIONAL CULTURE

The event aimed to promote the country’s cultural identity in local cuisine, as well as provide solutions in the face of high food prices, brought on by the loss of oil reserves to South Sudan.

In celebration of their nutritional culture, heritage and related activities such as music, song and dance, the Sudan traditional food festival aims to motivate, develop and encourage local producers and experts to continue their journey of preserving Sudan deeply rooted traditional, giving the younger generations a chance to know and understand the great heritage.

Sudanese culture is the one of the most diverse cultures in the world. Its components include various African sub Saharan African and the Afro Arab cultures. The home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations, is the third largest country on the African continent. It borders Egypt to the north, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the East, South Sudan to the South Central African Republic, Chad and Libya, seven countries and the Red Sea.

Visitors to the Sudanese pavilion can expect to enjoy a variety of ethnic dances with unique musical lyrics only found in Sudan.

Special performances by skilled traditional dances from Nubian ethnics, Dan Furian ethnics and a special group of Sudanese will perform different ethnic traditional dances.

Sudan is gifted with a diverse climate, fauna and flora, food, people and sociological and cultural characteristics quite unique as compared to its neighbors in the Arab and African regions.

This diversity is also apparent in the traditional foods the country had known since the dawn of history and which continued to be passed by one generation to another.

Still, the quick change that reached everything, is about to cast its shadows on this big heritage of diverse traditional foods in the country.

In an endeavor to maintain Sudan’s rich heritage in traditional foods and drinks, DAL Group, a company that operates across many business sectors including food & Beverages, agriculture, automotive … etc, launched during November 21-25 the Second Sudan Traditional Foods Festival, at the grounds of Khartoum International Fair in Burri suburb.

The bid is meant to avail Sudanese and foreigners the opportunity to taste the Sudanese traditional foods through live cooking shows, presented to the accompaniment of live music and dancing shows that reflect Sudan’s diverse cultural heritage. The festival also includes an open-air steak market where visitors can see and buy meat cooked in Sudan’s traditional hand-made cooking utensils.

“It is also an attempt to connect the Sudanese generations, bridge the gap between the country’s past and present and to preserve this rich cultural heritage,”

“The Festival is also a forum to celebrate traditions in agriculture, storing and preparation of the different types of foods and drinks and to educate and encourage local producers and experts to keep up their role is preserving these traditions and communicate them to the upcoming generations,” said Ahmad.

“It is also a bid to encourage initiatives in scientific research in the domain of traditional foods and drinks,”

The Festival comprises a number of internal and external exhibitions that aim to portray and explain Sudan’s different types of folklore dances and music which were performed as traditional foods were being prepared.

The exhibition has presented a great effort to document traditional knowledge and expertise in food production, cousins and traditional Sudanese and soft drinks from around the country, in a way that reflects the diversity and richness of Sudan’s foods and drinks. The Sudanese food table, is rich in different types of meat and milk products. It shows how Sudanese had treated the different types of cereals, legumes, vegetables and fruits and how the Sudanese table is rich in starch, protein, fats and vitamins required for body building and protection. These were not specific to the urban areas, but the rural areas had had their creative contributions in this regard.

One of the most popular foods on display is the kajaik that originated in Kordofan in the mid-west and the White Nile region. The kajaik is dried fish cooked with onions. There is also the terkeen which is fermented fish cooked into a soup and which is most popular in the Northern State. Also, the miris and kawal soups which are popular in Western Sudan. We have the gadu-gadu which is consumed by the Fulani of Sennar State and Kordofan.

Fatima al-Hassan, a Sudanese woman from the Northern State, said she was impressed by the traditional foods displayed, which, she said” are healthy and satiating for a long time.”

“The Sudanese were tall, strong, well built (without being fat) and agile in the past due to these healthy foods,” said Fatima.

“People were healthy, contrary to the case with today’s generation who had missed this healthy food,” she said.

South Sudan Food 

Food here is traditionally simple, based around pounded millet, from which most South Sudanese get the majority of their daily energy requirements. In urban areas, cassava fritters and bread can also be found.

The key ingredient is perhaps the peanut, which acts as a base and thickener to many dishes. Meat, particularly goat, beef and chicken, is regularly consumed, but in small portions as part of a sauce which tops and adds flavour to the pounded millet. Cuisine from neighbouring Ethiopia is also ubiquitous.

Kisra: Flatbread made from sorghum flour.

Wala-wala: Thick, starchy and plain tasting balls of millet flour that typically make up a meal’s carbohydrate quota.

Combo: Stewed spinach, peanut butter and tomato sometimes served with meat.

Ful: Arabic stewed fava beans.

Tamia: Balls of deep-fried ground chickpeas, in other words, falafel.

Tomato Salad: Basic salad majoring in tomato, with onion and chilli. The best are served with a peanut butter and lime dressing.

Goat stew: Mildly-flavoured concoction of chunks of goat meat, onion and a touch of chilli.

Salaat zabadi: Vegetables including carrot, cucumber and tomato in locally-produced yoghurt.

Perch: Smoked or deep-fried pieces of fish served with a chilli relish.

Baseema: Cake made with yoghurt, sesame oil and sugar.

Miris: Stew containing sheep’s fat, onion and dried okra.

•Culled from www.africanstylesandculture.com

Hausa Musical Instruments and Their Names

The African continent is famous for a huge selection of musical instruments. They have been used for centuries and continue to gain popularity in different tribes and ethnic communities. Each ethnic culture has its own unique traditional instruments. There are only two types of musical instruments: wind and stringed. We would like to present you the top 10 Hausa musical instruments and their names.

Hausa music:

Hausa is one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, Niger, Ghana, Sudan, Cameroon and many countries in West and Central Africa. Their folk music played a role in the development of Nigerian music, bringing elements such as Gogh or violin with one string. Hausa's music is divided into two types: rural folk music and urban court music.

Hausa instrumental can be modern and traditional, depending on the celebration where it is performed.

Musical Instruments and Their Names:

So, what are Nigerian musical instruments typical to Hausa culture? Checkout top 10 most popular Hausa musical instruments.

1. The Kora

Probably it is one of the most popular and well-known musical instruments. It's also called ”Jali". The appearance of the instrument resembles an ordinary guitar. 21 strings are placed on a gourd covered with skin/hide of an animal. This musical instrument is quite popular in Senegal, the Gambia, Burkina Faso, Benin, and Mali.

2. Kalimba

It is also known as the thumb piano. The musical instrument consists of  strips attached to the resonator. The strips can be of different lengths. To reproduce the sound, you need to touch the ends of the strips with a finger pad. Initially, Kalimba was made of bamboo strips, but in a more modern version, they are made of metal. The case itself is made of wood. The instrument is popular in West and Central Africa.

3. The Talking drum

It's probably the most famous musical instrument in entire Africa. It was invented in West Africa in such countries as Nigeria, Mali, Ghana, Togo, and Benin. The drum has the shape of an hourglass and is often placed under the arm for the convenience of the game. To change the pitch or sound, a musician presses or compresses the narrow edge of the drum.

4. The Balafon

It often resembles the shape of a xylophone or African Marimba. This percussion instrument commonly can be found in Ghana, Mali, and Burkina Faso. The musical instrument is made with wooden slats that are loosely tied with a cord over the small gourd. The sound is produced when the boards are hit with small sticks/hammers.

5. Kakaki

This wind instrument is a three or four meters metal trumpet. The kakaki is used very often during Hausa traditional ceremonies and different events. The sound of kalaki is associated with royalty and it is only played at events at the palace of the king or sultan in Hausa societies. Kakaki is exclusively played by men.

Kakaki is most popular in Nigeria Chad, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Benin, Niger. There are also two other names of this instruments: in Chad and Sudan it is called waza, and residents of Ethiopia call it malakat.

6. Djembe/jembe

It is another type of drum in Central and West Africa. The hide of an animal or simply the skin fits a curved piece of wood. The top surface is always wider than the bottom, so you can see small holes in places where the skin is stretched.

7. Udu

The instrument originates from Nigeria. It resembles a vessel or jug that was once used to collect water from the river. Unlike other musical instruments, it is made of clay, not wood. The sound and its pitch are affected by the cavity, size, and style of play.

8. Marimba

It is considered an African type of xylophone. Small boards are placed on a wooden box. They are not tightly secured with a cord/string. The sound is played by non-strong blows with sticks or small hammers. It is popular in East and Central Africa in regions such as Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the Central African Republic.

9. Mbira

It is a thumb piano, like a Kalimba. It consists of two rows of metal strips that are staggered on a wooden surface. This musical instrument is best known in East and South Africa. Countries, where it is popular, include Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and Tanzania.

10. Algaita

Algaita is a popular wind instrument found in West Africa. It is closely related to such a wind instrument as “Oboe”, but does not look like it. A wide hole is made on the base and open finger holes are on the side. The instrument is made of cane and is used in many ceremonies in Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, Togo, Benin, and other regions.

The traditional music depicts the spirit of the African people. The instruments mentioned above are very often used during traditional occasions or in some cases, are just decorative elements that represent the native spirit.

By Dami

Culled from www.legit.ng

What is the origin of the Congo Rumba?

Answers:

1/ The history of Congolese Rumba:

The “Nkoumba” later called in Cuba Rumba is a navel dance that originates in Central Africa, more precisely in the Kongo Kingdom and in the Central African Republic in “Mbati”, an ethnic group from the southwest of the country. In “Mbati”, as in “Moukongo”, “Nkoumba” means the navel. Among the “Bakongo” ethnic group located in the south of Democratic Congo, Congo Brazzaville, of Angola and among the “Mbati” of Central African Republic, the navel dance is a carnal folk expression allowing a couple of dancers to perform navel against belly button.

Jimmy Zakari

When African black slaves landed in Cuba 5 centuries ago with “Nkoumba” dance , the Afro-Caribbean were assimilated and their Africanism was withdrawn from popular cultural expression and baptized it Rumba for appropriate. From a linguistic point of view, Cuba still retains several words of African origin to this day, despite numerous transformations noted in the cultural heritage of the former slaves. Rumba keeps to this day some Bantu and Yoruba words which we hear in some Cuban songs.

When Rumba returned to Africa between the 1930s—1950s, it was reappropriated by Africans.

2/ The history of Cuban Rumba:

Cuban Rumba developed in the 19th century in the province of Matanzas, then in all its regions. Identified in Cuba as a Bantu Culture, Rumba is composed of a song, claves (two pieces of wood) which mark its tempo, three drums of different sounds (treble, medium and bass) which produce a consistent rhythm on several Heights.

Antoine Moundanda

Finally, the maracas played by the singer of the Rumba mark the highlight of the music and the second part is very dancing. Cuban Rumba has three diversities. Guaguanco is a set rhythm played with a lot of percussion solo. One of the peculiarities of Guanguanco is the charming dance performed by a couple of dancers on this music. The man through gestures seeks to seduce the woman on this variant of Rumba. Yambu is music marked by improvisations by the singer. The Yambu is slow and the dance imitates that of an elderly person with mobility problems. Finally, the very rhythmic Columbia is sung at the time in the sugar cane plantations in a mixture of Spanish and Africans by black slaves. It is a plaintive and fearful music on which only one man performs an acrobatic dance symbolizing bravery Rumba. 

3/The evolution of Congolese Rumba:

After Paulo Kamba, Jimmy Zakari and Wendo, Rumba was modernized with the African Jazz of Joseph Kabassélé in the late 1950s which introduced the electric guitar and the trumpet in this new style. 

Then, Lord Rochereau in the Congo DRC and Rodolphe Békpa in the Central African Republic introduce the drums in the African Rumba to give it tone. Then, Lord Rochereau and Franco Luambo Makiadi bring to the Congolese Rumba its letters of nobility through their texts which reflect the daily realities of Africa.

Over time, Rumba integrates other musical currents such as Jazz, Makossa, Pop and Soul. Nowadays, Rumba is running out of steam due to the lack of innovation from our artists. Also, texts that are often too long in Lingala are becoming less and less accessible. Animations, Generics in French and “l’Atalakou” or “Mabanga” (the fact of citing several names in Rumba) becomes a fashionable style and distorts this heritage which tends to internationalize.

Ivorians invent a shortened version of Soukouss, a variant of Rumba called Coupé Décalé. The popular Ivorian French, full of humor, makes this new musical genre accessible at the speed of a TGV and relegates the aging Rumba to the background.

Antoine Wendo Kolosoy

In the Central African Republic the Rumba of Bangui is sung in Sango, the national and official language of the country and takes into account the cultural diversities of its regions.

His sung lyrics express love, joie de vivre, daily life and themes of national awareness. For the past ten years, the Rumba of Bangui has been influenced by the traditional —modern style called “Montè-Nguènè” which is popularized by the group Zokéla.

•By Kevin Richardson

•Culled from www.quora.com

10 Things South Sudan Is Famous For

Ethnic Groups:

The landlocked country in East-Central Africa, South Sudan is currently the newest country as it gained its independence in 2011 from the Republic of Sudan. While still fresh, South Sudan has been widely recognized in the world with its capital in Juba. It is still not a very popular country for tourism due to past turmoil and its economic state but it is certainly already known. Here are 10 things the country is famous for. The main ethnic groups in the country are the Dinka who are of the highest number in population in the country, making up about 40% of the total population. There is also the Nuer, the Bari, and the Azande. Each of these ethnic groups have their own unique form of culture, history, and festivals. When you visit South Sudan, you can’t ever get tired or bored because of the colorful festivals and other entertaining events that take place which are unique to each group or tribe respectively. Click the next ARROW to see the next photo!

Games and Sports:

South Sudanese engage in several traditional and modern games and sports including mock battles, wrestling, football, and basketball. Even though indigenes partakes more in their traditional games/sports, association football and basketball still remains the most popular and common sports in the country. Click the next ARROW to see the next photo!

Over Three Scores Languages:

South Sudan has more than 60 indigenous languages and most of them are grouped under the Nilo-Saharan Language family. It’s common for you to find people in the streets, marketplaces, and public spaces speaking these languages. However, the official language of the country is English, and that’s what is mostly spoken in the academic and professional circle. Click the next ARROW to see the next photo!

Boma National Park:

The Boma National Park accommodates a variety of birds and rare wild animals including Mongalla Gazelle, onyx, white-eared kob, hartebeest, etc. One or two days of exploring this amazing park is an unforgettable experience in the wildlife. Some of the common tourist’s activities include birth watching and game viewing. Click the next ARROW to see the next photo!

Shoebill Stork:

The shoebill stork-like bird is a unique species of bird that lives in the large swamp of South Sudan. The bird likes to stare a lot and they are a solitary and patient creature. Perhaps, this is one of the reasons why they can survive as much as 35 years before they die. Click the next ARROW to see the next photo!

Dinka Tribal Wrestlers:

One of the most interesting things you can do at South Sudan is to watch Dinka Tribal wrestlers. It’s one of the most loved sports by the locals and it usually involves two men trying to outdo each other to become the winner of the fight. Click the next ARROW to see the next photo!

Nimule National Park:

Nimule is paradise on earth. Established in 1954, the park is the perfect place for a tour and adventure. You can watch huge elephant herds, visit the Fola Falls, or experience Turbulence Rivers. Click the next ARROW to see the next photo!

Crude Oil:

One of the major important resources of South Sudan and has greatly contributed to their economy is oil. At least 98% of the nation’s annual budget is funded by cash from oil. Click the next ARROW to see the next photo!

Dinka Cattle Herders:

These nomadic cattle herders are more like superheroes. It’s normal to see one herder in charge of 100s of cattle, moving from one location to the other. It’s quite an amazing view to witness. Click the next ARROW to see the next photo!

Juba, World’s Newest City Capital:

The capital of South Sudan is also the world’s newest city capital. The city is situated on the Nile and offer so much for tourists to do. Major attractions include St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Bandingilo National Park, and all saints cathedral.

•Culled from www.lets-travel-more.com

   

6 Top South African Festivals You Should Experience

There are so many reasons to visit South Africa, but including a festival or sporting spectacle into your travel plans is an exciting way to experience even more culture in the rainbow nation. It’s a fantastic way to immerse yourself in time honoured traditions, meet and mingle (or even compete!) with the locals while discovering why South Africa is an up and coming culinary destination. Below we have listed a few of the biggest and most established of these and when they happen so you can work them into your next trip to South Africa!

Cape Town International Jazz festival 

When: January

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is a musical extravaganza that the ‘Mother City’ – and the rest of the country – looks forward to all year: a showcase of international and local jazz talent that attracts tens of thousands to this stunning coastal city. Billed as ‘Africa’s grandest gathering’ and recognised as the fourth largest jazz festival in the world, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival is on par with the likes of Switzerland’s Montreaux Festival and the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland.

Since its inception in 2000, the festival has grown from strength to strength. Every year dozens of international and local acts, equally split between African and overseas artists, grace the stage, performing some of the world’s best jazz. Dozens of world-renowned jazz musicians and groups gather under the Cape Town International Jazz Festival’s banner to perform on five different stages. Previous festival headliners have included award-winning South African vocalist Abigail Kubeka, America’s Al Foster Quartet and South Africa’s beloved trumpet legend, Hugh Masekela.

One of the trademarks of this Cape Town music festival is to honour groups that display longevity as well as young African musicians who are on the cusp of making it big internationally. Over the years the Cape Town International Jazz Festival has evolved into something more than just a musical event.

Travel Ideas:

Cape Town – the Mother City

A world in one country – 14 days:

Cyclists pass through a tunnel on Cape Argus.

Cape Argus – world’s largest individually timed cycle race

When: The 2nd Sunday in March

If you really want to see a country, ride a bike. South Africa’s cycling marathons open up a world of competitiveness, exquisite scenery and fun. South Africa has a number of major cycling events that are on every serious cyclists to-do list. Most popular (and most scenic) is the Cape Argus held every March.

The Cape Argus Cycle Tour is a 109-kilometre rush through Cape Town and environs and most of the Mother-City’s residents turn out to watch 35 000-odd cycling enthusiasts go by in a glorious multi-coloured light-weight lycra wave. It got its name from its first sponsorship, the Cape Argus newspaper and it takes place on the second Sunday in March each year.

In cycle-mad South Africa on any given Sunday you will encounter packs of riders in the city streets or out in the country, indulging their passion for two wheels and a tailwind. The fact that the weather is mostly glorious is a bonus, but you’ll find them out peddling in all conditions. The advantage to South African cycling races is you’ve got all the natural wilderness and road quality needed, matched with a growing cycling culture that goes far beyond a Sunday afternoon spin in the park.

The Cape Argus Cycle race is the world’s largest individually timed cycle race!

Travel Ideas:

Cape Town Travel Ideas

Travel Information for South Africa:

The Two Oceans Route.

The Two Oceans marathon – the worlds most scenic marathon

When:  Easter weekend

The Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon has earned a reputation as the world’s most beautiful and scenic marathon. The first race was held in 1970 and saw 26 runners line up to face the unknown challenge. Since then, the race has become a national institution and a firm favourite with local, upcountry, and international athletes.

Runners can choose from the Two Oceans 56km ultra-marathon or the 21km half-marathon and the race is run against a backdrop of spectacular scenery through the Cape Peninsula. The “Two Ocean” gets its name from the Pacific and Indian Oceans, where you actually run from one to the other.

Another reason to visit the beautiful city of Cape Town is that it is consistently voted as one of the top cities in the world, most recently by the New York Times as the number 1 city to visit in 2014. Why not visit this beautiful city when it’s full of fit and fast running fanatics!

Travel Ideas:

Cape of Good Hope

The Pink Loerie Parade.

The Pink Loerie Mardi Gras

When: Early May

The glizty, gorgeous and glamorous don their wings and feather boas and flutter down to Knysna early May each year for the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras. The Pink Loerie Mardi Gras is one of the highlights on South Africa’s gay and lesbian events calendar and the only carnival of its kind in Africa.

A cavalcade of entertainment will keep the party pumping throughout the festival. There’s bound to be something to match your shade of pink, be it hot fuchsia or just a little puce! Fine art, fine wine, fine dining, the finest musicians and DJs – along with some very fine boys and girls – are all part of the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras experience!

Among the many highlights of Knysna’s gay festival is the Mardi Gras Street Parade. The Pink Loerie Mardi Gras has its serious side too. It was started, in part, to create awareness about HIV/Aids as well as to foster an understanding about gay and lesbian issues.

In this, the festival has been a fantastic success, nurturing acceptance and spreading awareness both locally and throughout Southern Africa. In accordance with these goals, the Mardi Gras will offer free HIV testing and counselling during the festival.

The Pink Loerie Mardi Gras started 13 years ago and is the first and only Mardi Gras festival on the African continent. It is also one of the biggest parties in the country.

Travel Ideas:

Beautiful Knysna

Western Cape travel ideas:

Kids helping Cape fishermen haul in their huge sardine catch.

Experience the Sardine run – the greatest shoal on earth 

When: Around June

Around June each year, word gets out along the KwaZulu-Natal coast that the sardines have arrived. They’ve swum for more than 30 days from their spawning ground in the Cape to reach South Africa’s east coast. Scores of fishermen join the sharks, game fish, marine mammals and birds that gorge themselves on the shimmering band of silver fish.

Sardine-run shoals are usually 15km long, 4km wide and approximately 40m deep. Why large shoals of sardines swim to the KwaZulu-Natal coast during the winter months remains a mystery. And yet each year it’s the same: starting in May, millions of small, shiny fish make the one-way journey from the cold waters of the Cape to the warmer tides of KwaZulu-Natal, colouring the shoreline silver as they convene close to the coast.

By the end of July they’re gone – disappeared just as suddenly as they arrived, vanishing into the great blue beyond. Like whale watching in Hermanus or travelling to Namaqualand to see the wildflowers in bloom, South Africa’s famed sardine run is a seasonal peculiarity that is popular among local and international visitors. It’s a phenomenon certainly worth watching – from land, the ocean surface or underwater.

Typically, the sardine shoals are massive and can stretch for kilometres along the coast. And following the shoal – above and below water – is a caravan of predators in feeding-frenzy mode. Schools of sharks, such as the bronze whaler (or copper shark), dusky and black tip shark, follow the shimmering path of prey, feasting on the fish. Marine mammals and game fish follow in hot pursuit. Cape fur seals, humpback and minke whales, and thousands of dolphins are joined by shoals of shad, garrick and ‘geelbek’ (a type of kob) as they dive, snap and feed on what appears to be an unlimited supply of sardines.

Dolphins employ a tactical hunting strategy by ‘herding’ part of the sardine shoal into densely packed groups, termed ‘bait balls’. Working together underwater the dolphins drive the bait ball toward the surface, whirling, twisting and swimming below the shoal. As the sardines move closer to the surface of the water, birds plummet out of the sky to pillage from above. Cape gannets, cormorants, terns and gulls all dive-bomb the coast in an unrelenting aerial assault.

In areas where the sardines swim very close to the coast, game fishermen and local sardine lovers wade into the water and secure their share. This is a marine spectacle at its best – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view creatures of the earth, sky and water taking part in one of nature’s unexplained mysteries.

Opportunities abound for those looking to observe the great sardine-run phenomenon, whether it be from the coast, from the deck of a boat, underwater or with a snorkel.

Travel Idea:

South Africa’s Kwazulu-Natal travel ideas: 

Durban/Uhmlanga

Knysna Oyster Festival

When: Early July

The Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival is a 10-day event aimed at foodies, sports lovers and families. Held every July it is a celebration of all things oyster! Oyster eating, oyster shucking, oyster farm tours, oyster recipe challenges and gourmet oyster-themed dinners happen throughout the festival, along with wine and champagne tastings.

The oyster festival attracts over 70 000 visitors annually; particularly food lovers who slurp and swallow their way through more than 200 000 oysters at over 20 dedicated oyster venues. Here the delectable molluscs can be eaten au naturel or cooked in a variety of ways.

Besides oysters, the festival hosts two top-notch competitive sporting events: the Pick n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Cycle Tour and the Pick n Pay Cape Times Knysna Marathon. Both are booked up months in advance due to their popularity. The Oyster Festival has a packed and varied programme of adventure, sports and culture for the whole family. It includes everything from paddling, golf, bowls, soccer, angling and mountain biking to music concerts, theatre shows, craft workshops, cooking demonstrations and even bridge contests.

If you are planning to visit the garden route, Knysna is the perfect place to base yourself.

Travel Ideas:

List of garden route trips and tour ideas

Knysa

Looking for whales, Hermanus.

Hermanus Whale Festival

When: September

If you care about the environment and the creatures who inhabit it, in this case specifically whales, then the Hermanus Whale Festival is definitely one to add to your bucket list. The main focus is on environmental issues affecting humans and whales alike but there are also events around climate change and Eco-living. If you visit you’ll find live music, theatre and comedy but you’ll also find shark cage diving, surfing, kayaking and whale watching too.

A southern right whale breaches off the coast of Hermanus, South Africa.

The Hermanus Whale Festival, the only Enviro-Arts festival in South Africa, is held annually, every September, to celebrate the return of the Southern Right whales to the waters of Walker Bay, the magnificent environment, arts and wines and the arrival of Spring!

The town of Hermanus is considered the best place in the world for whale watching from land. Thousands flock to this seaside resort and revel in its natural environment and take great pleasure watching Whales return to their breeding ground. Other things people can derive pleasure from are music, cabaret and African rhythms every evening through the duration of the festival.

The Whales of course, are the star attractions of the Festival – on land, musicians, celebrities and many other people come together in this lovely place to celebrate the environment and these magnificent animals.

Travel Ideas:

Stunning Hermanus

South Africa’s Western Cape

•By Globetrotting

•Culled from www.blog.goway.com

YORUBA DANSIKI

The old Yoruba Dansiki. © Google

Dansiki or Dashiki is a traditional wear of the Yoruba people of Southwest Nigeria. The word ‘dansiki’ is borrowed from Hausa ‘dan ciki’ which literally means underneath. It is a loose-fitting, pullover top usually sewn from different colorful African fabrics. It often comes with patch pockets and embroidery at the neckline and cuffs.

This wear can be sewn with ankara, adire, guinee, and other African fabrics. It is mostly in the form of a short agbada; a flowing robe which is another popular Yoruba traditional wear. Dansikis are short sleeves and sleeveless tunic worn by Yoruba men back in the days. 

The modern Yoruba Dansiki. © Google

These days, it is unisex to wear and also adorned by people of all ages. Yoruba traditional rulers and chiefs also adorn this wear both indoor and for occasions. Traditionalists such as chief priests are not left excluded as they adorn it in style.

It is believed that Yoruba people have been wearing dansiki as far back as the 17th century's ago. And up till now dansiki wear is synonymous with Yoruba's as it is a kind of traditional attire that they reckon with. Yoruba people are from western part of Nigeria in west Africa.

Copyrights: © Olalekan Oduntan 2020

Somali Festivals

There are several festivals and events that people of Somalia celebrate every year.

Independence day - June 26

Independence Day for Somalia marks more than 20 years without Italian rule. In 2012, violence stopped long enough for residents to finally celebrate their freedom from colonial rule. 

Neeroosh - July

Neeroosh celebrates the beginning of the solar year in Somalia and Somaliland. Somalis and Muslim use the solar calendar to make decisions about religious days and harvest times. The festival is known as the Festival of Fire where local people build huge bonfires, splash water on each other and dance to welcome the arrival of summer. 

Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) - August

The Islamic population of Somalia celebrate Eid-al-Fitr. This religious holiday marks the end of Ramadan - the holy month where those of the Islamic faith fast. This day really is a celebration of everyone's efforts and sacrifices. The day is marked with ceremonies in mosques around Somalia where friends and family gather to enjoy great feast and the purchasing of new outfits to wear on the day.

Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) - October

This festival is also known as Tabaski. It lasts for two or three days and is held to commemorate the remember Ibrahim sacrificing his first born son to the Lord. Local people sometimes sacrifice a sheep which is then cooked and used for a feast among family and friends.

Day of Ashura - Novemeber

The end of the religious calendar is the Day of Ashura which is a day of mourning for the grandson of the Prophet Muhammed who died at the Battle of Karbala. The day is remembered by both Shi'a and Sunni Muslims and is a public holiday in Somalia. Thousands of Muslim communities come out into the streets to show their mourning. 

•Culled from www.sites.google.com

Morna: Folk Music of Cape Verde

Morna is the most famous genres of Cape Verdean music and it had produced international superstars in Cesaira Evora. The Morna is a national song-pattern like Argentinian tango that is loved by the Cape Verdeans across the several islands of the country. The lyrics are usually in Creole, and also reflect highly-variable which includes love and lust, patriotism and mourning.

Source of picture: 33jones.com

Morna is assumed to have rooted from the Boa Vista as a cheerful song-type. Eugenio Tavares was a powerful songwriter of the time, and his songs are still extensively played. The morna has also spread to Sao Vincent and the singers such as B. Leza and Manuel de Novas became famous for this genre of music. 

The solo vocalist is accompanied by a guitar, violin, bass guitar and a piano. The cavaquinho, similar to a ukulele, is a Portuguese instrument that is also common. In the year 1930s Morna evolved in swifter form of music which is known as coladeira. 

This is a more light-hearted and humorous genre, with sensual rhythms, the performers include; Code di dona, Manuel de Novas, Frank Cavaquim, Djosa Marques and Os Tubaroes.

Apart from the Evora, the famous morna musicians are IIdo Lobo, Ti9tina, Celina Pereira, Bana, Djosinha, B. Leza, Travadinha, Saozinha and Maria Alice.

•Culled from www.worldhitz4u.blogspot.com