Travel and History

Every name given to a child during pregnancy or after birth has a link, affiliation, or history behind it. In Africa, the Igbo culture, in particular, names for boys and girls are not given out of the blues; they are more than just a tag or badge. Each name signifies a child’s identity and as such, it should be given with so much thought, hope, and admiration for the...

Yoruba names are often a description of the circumstances surrounding the birth of a child, including the conception. The tribe has different monikers for boys, girls, twins, and even a child born after a set of twins. The Yoruba naming tradition is among the most complicated and interesting worldwide. Immediately after a baby is born, the family will begin arranging for a naming ceremony which takes place seven days from...

While many will continue to look at the downside of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially on the world economy and other aspects of life, we might have this pandemic to thank for making us look inwards and create alternatives to several cumbersome processes. One of these is the South African passport application process. Prior to this time, the unending queues and the cumbersome process of getting the South African passport have...

Apart from Bolivia which has 37 official languages, India with 18, and Zimbabwe with 16, South Africa has the most number of recognized official languages in the world at 11. This is a testament to the rich cultural history and ethnic diversity of the country. Beyond the many South African languages, the country is also a marriage of different races; whites, blacks, Indians, and browns, which is why the...

The Xhosa people who are otherwise known as AmaXhosa are of the Nguni clan - one of the four major ethnic divisions of Black South Africans. The others are Sotho, Shangaan-Tsonga, and Venda. Xhosa people have a large population of approximately 8 million in South Africa with a minute number in Zimbabwe and Botswana. Their language Xhosa pronounced Khosa with the 'K' slightly silent, is also known as isiXhosa...

Expressing emotions can be very difficult for some people even though love is a very integral part of human relationships. Whether in a familial or spousal relationship, saying 'I love you is one way to strengthen the bond and it can be said in different languages. South Africa remains one of the most populous countries in Africa and like other nations, there are lots of indigenous languages in the...

Swahili boy names have always been really interesting, especially because of the incredible meanings behind some of them. The Swahili people are known to be very deliberate in naming their kids when they are born. Meanings are attached to what newborn sons are called because it is believed that this will affect them as they grow up into men in the future. Some of these names are derived from...

The Umemulo is a traditional coming-of-age ceremony to mark young girls' journey into womanhood. It is a tradition of the Zulu tribe, one of the most popular tribes in South Africa notable for their unique and rich cultural practices and rituals meant for different occasions and events. Despite the Western modernization that has swept through the African continent in the last century, the Zulu tribe are quite ardent in adhering...

Afrikaans names are widely used by speakers of the Afrikaans language in several parts of Africa. The names and surnames that are prevalent among the members of the tribe today are a result of the people’s rich history that has been influenced by a lot of things, from the European settlers who have been inhabiting the land since the pre-colonial era to the traditional Zulu and Xhosa people who...

The process of naming a child is crucial since the name serves as the foundation for the child's identity. The Igbo people take this responsibility of naming a child very seriously as it is a belief that names order a child's destiny or future. The name of a girl reveals a lot about her personality, past, and future. The circumstances surrounding childbirth, the significance of the child's birthday, and more...

Africa is a continent rich in diverse cultures, each with its own distinct identity. The Sotho people, also known as the Basotho people, are a group of people who originated from Southern Africa, now known as South Africa, and have their own unique identity. Clan names, which define their ancestral roots, are used by the Sothos to identify themselves. The Bataung, Basia, Bafokeng, Makgolokwe, Bakuena, and other clans are...

The root of the Venda people in Africa is traceable to the 9th century during the time of King Shiriyadenga. The tribe has since evolved over the centuries and has migrated into different parts of the black continent of Africa, especially South Africa. The people are known to speak the Tshivenda or Luvenda language which has close links to other African languages like the SeSotho and Shona. The fact that...

Saying "Thank You" is the easiest way of expressing gratitude. Being grateful is the least you can be and it brings lots of happiness into your life. It also shows a sign of respect and courtesy to the person you’re relating with. It gives them the impression that they have done something to help, thereby boosting their self-esteem and confidence. Across various tribes, thank you in South African languages...

The origin of the Pedi People is traceable to the Tswana-speaking Kgatla offshoot of the Proto-Sotho people who migrated from East Africa to settle in South Africa. The Pedi tribe is distinguished with the language known as Sepedi, also referred to as BaPedi. Like several other African tribes of similar ilk, they practice their own version of the African traditional religion which is rooted in the power of the...

South Africa is one of those countries with very rich cultural and ethnic diversity. This explains why it is nicknamed the Rainbow Nation. The country's populace is a mixture of people from diverse tribes and races who make up its population of over 60 million. More so, the country boasts of having vast native languages with 10 of them being declared as official languages alongside English which is the...

Xhosa culture and traditions are seen every day in South Africa because of the dominance of the ethnic group, being the second largest in the country only after the Zulu tribe. With more than 10 million people scattered across South Africa and Zimbabwe where they are considered to be a minority ethnic group with less than half a million people, the Xhosa people are closely related to the Bantu-speaking...

It's no news that most leaders of the world chose to section or divide their countries into geographical regions (counties) for easy administrations and Kenya is not left out in this modern way of structuring. In 2010, the Kenyan government, under the 2010 Constitution of Kenya recognized a total of 47 counties in the country. The size and boundaries of the counties are based on the 47 legally recognized...

Mandazi is a popular snack among the Swahili people of Kenya. The snack which is usually prepared with a self-rising floor is quite satisfying and can be eaten with tea as breakfast or taken alone. To make the mandazi, which is also known as the Kenyan puff puff, you just need to gather a few ingredients together and follow some easy steps. What is Mandazi? Aside from Kenyan puff puff, mandazi...

With the present technological advancement in all parts of the world, writing and sending letters is fast going into extinction as other more up-to-the-minute forms of communication like email, phone calls, fax, and more are competing for the center stage. Even though people of the world hardly remember to put pen to paper and send via post, the importance of postal codes or ZIP codes are still vital. These...

A postal code is a number that identifies a certain post office or mail sorting station. It is critical that you supply accurate postal / zip codes for your delivery address to be effective. Providing the correct postal code assists the courier in rendering their services and ensures that your order is delivered to the correct address. Like every other country that makes use of local postal service, Kenya...

In the African fashion industry, Xhosa traditional dresses and attires are considered to be another stripe of glory and in the global apparel industry, it competently competes with wears from other continents of the world. These strikingly beautiful attires from the republic of South Africa feature a special history that predates colonial times in South Africa. Before the advent of the colonial masters, the Xhosas were already a known...

There are more than 145 road signs in Kenya, all of which are designed to ensure that the roads in the country are safe for everyone. Most road accidents in Kenya are caused by drivers and pedestrians who either outrightly refuse to follow the road signs or those who do not have ideas on what they are. These signs cover things such as how fast a driver can drive on...

Zulu people make up the largest ethnic group in South Africa, this Bantu tribe that made their home in the Kwa-Zulu Natal region of South Africa is big on tradition. From their rich history to their coming-of-age and marriage rites, the Zulu culture is something worth observing. The people love to decorate themselves with beautiful colored beads but when it comes to wedding ceremonies, they go overboard. Their sangomas...

One indigenous South African tribe that has gained global prominence over the centuries is the Bantu ethnic group known as the Zulu tribe. With their rich landscape, history, beautiful scenarios, majestic craft, culture, and abundant wealth yet untapped, the Zulus of South Africa are a distinguished people. Even more distinguished is the Zulu way of dressing; though it has been watered down by modernization, there are still a whole...

The Tsonga people of Africa are rich in culture; their belief systems, norms, values, and marriages are not far removed from what is obtainable in other African tribes. The Tsonga people originated from East and Central Africa before spreading into other parts of the black continent like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and more. Majorly, the Tsongas are known to speak the Xitsonga language, however, migration and other factors have bred...