History & Culture

Malawi is a landlocked country about the size of Pennsylvania. Located in southeast Africa, it is surrounded by Mozambique, Zambia, and Tanzania. Formerly known as Nyasaland, Malawi is one of the unique places in Southern Africa. The country is also called the warm heart of Africa and it inhabited the Nyanja people. The Lake Malawi is a wonderful freshwater lake and it ranks top among the world's fresh water diving destinations....

The population of the Lemba tribe in Southern Africa is between 70,000 to 80,000 people. In 2002, they were estimated to be 50,000 people. These people live in South Africa and central Zimbabwe. According to some genetic tests carried out by British scientists over the years, these people have the Jewish origin. The name "Lemba" may have originated from Chilemba, a Swahili word for turbans worn by some Bantu people, or Lembi,...

Despite the growing influence of western civilization, Xhosa people have remained rooted in the practice of their traditions and dance. Unlike so many Africans that seem ready to abandon their traditions, culture, and general ways of living still remains one of the most vibrant expressions of South Africa's cultural heritage. Just as their lifestyle, the Xhosa dance remains a powerful expression of traditional values, beliefs, and practices. The various categories...

This interesting Botswana facts article is looking at one of the most fascinating countries in Africa. Botswana officially called the Republic of Botswana and formerly known as the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, is located in the southern part of the continent. It is a landlocked country that borders South Africa to the south, Namibia to the west, Zambia to the north, and Zimbabwe to the northeast. Often described as a mystical...

The Swati, also known as Swazi, are a people from the southern regions of Africa who maintain a unique identity even to this day. The Swazi nation is named after Mswati II, who became king in 1839. The royal lineage can be traced to a chief named Dlamini; this is still the royal clan name. About three-quarters of the clan groups are Nguni; the remainders are Sotho and Tsonga. These groups...

Lesotho, officially known as the Kingdom of Lesotho and previously known as Basutoland, is an independent country located within the borders of South Africa. It is not just a landlocked country, but an enclaved one. This means that the entirety of the state is surrounded by the territory of one other state, which in this case is South Africa. The country was constituted as a native state under British protection by...

The Zulu war which took place in South Africa between the Zulu kingdom and the British Empire occurred in 1879 and was initiated by Sir Henry Bartle Frere who decided to fight against the Zulu Kingdom; an independent state in South Africa. The British army was led by Lord Chelmsford and the Anglo-Zulu war resulted in one of the most bloody wars ever to take place on South African...

Art festivals, annual Oyster festivals, surfing, camping, and diving, is there anything you can’t do in Knysna, South Africa? The town is located in the Western Cape Province of the country. Here, places like The Garden Route, Knysna Lagoon, Buffalo Bay, Featherbed Nature Reserve, and the Wild Oats Community Farmers Markets, should be on everyone’s ‘to explore’ list. A quick glance at the city's Map reveals landmarks like Prince Alfred...

Africa has produced some of the greatest warriors and leaders that  have graced the earth, these war lords are not only exceptional Men that are good at hand to hand combat but who were also great leaders and brilliant strategists, here are just ten of the famous African warriors that have helped to make the continent's history, listed chronologically. Well Known African Warriors That Shaped  African History Hatshepsut (c1508-1458BC, 18th Dynasty, Egypt) Hatshepsut was...

Mauritius or Ile' Maurice, as it is called in French, is a small island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. It is located to the east of Madagascar Island, near South Africa. Discovered in early 1500 by Portuguese explorers, and later ruled by the French and lastly by the British, Mauritius became independent in 1968 and a republic in 1992. The capital of this island country is Port...

South Africa is one of the most developed countries in Africa with an amazing population of 50.59 million people making up slightly more than 5% of the total population of Africa. The country is located at the southern end of the African continent. It is officially recognized as the Republic of South Africa and shares borders on the north with Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe; Mozambique and Swaziland on the eastern part; the rest...

Being a South African is pretty awesome. So, how can you distinguish a South African and a true South African? There are lots of ways to know if a person is proud to come from the southern tip of Africa. They are not identified through their skin colour or their language since almost everyone speaks English nowadays. South Africa is a developing country with highways, skyways, street lights, and...

The South African society is highly multicultural and many of its activities are rooted deeply in traditions. Though most of the cultural activities practised in South Africa are generally acceptable, some are really bizarre. Here are 5 bizarre South African cultural practices you will see when you visit the country: 5 Weird South African Cultural Practices Marrying Many Wives For Leaders The status of a man in Kwa-Zulu is determined by the number...

Apartheid, an Afrikaans word meaning "the state of being apart", was a system of racial segregation in South Africa enforced through legislation by the National Party (NP) governments, the ruling party from 1948 to 1994. Most human beings who are more than two decades old must have heard of the term and the experiences of Apartheid or South African Apartheid as it is popularly called. The term was coined from a...

South Africa is one of the countries with an illustrious history that still resonates in the minds of many people. This is particularly evident in Soweto where everything is modelled along the country’s history. Here are 10 Things That Make You A Sowetan 1. Understanding of Soweto History You are considered Sowetan if you understand the history of Soweto. Soweto has a unique history in the liberation of South Africa. It...

Reed dance is one of the most adored and respected dances in South Africa. The Zulus consider it important even to the extent that it is even attended by their leaders. In Zululand, the dance takes place each year in September at the royal palace. Girls from all parts of Zululand and several other parts come to participate in the dance. The girls are supposed to wear traditional attires...

South Africa is one of the wealthiest countries in terms of natural resources. It is a leading mining country and it is renowned for its mineral resources, which make up a large portion of the world’s reserves. South Africa’s mineral reserves are one of the most valuable in the world. The reserves are estimated to be worth about $2.5 trillion. Its platinum and manganese reserves are the largest in...

The African continent is often looked down upon by the Western world and in consequence, stereotypes that would seem outrageous if applied to any other group of people are accepted as common knowledge when they pertain to Africans. Female South Africans or South African girls are particularly vulnerable to these prejudicial views, and indeed there are up to 10 stereotypes of South African girls that aren't always true which...

Africa is a beautiful continent with lots of varieties. The land has a wide variety of tourists’ attractions in most places of the many countries in the continent. As the countries in Africa are many, so are the variety of dishes that can interest a foreigner. Additionally, Africans have a great deal of knowledge and expertise when it comes to preparing palatable African foods that will interest any visitor....

Let's face it; South Africa has had a difficult historical past that most people can't seem to let go of. From the hundred years of recurrent Xhosa wars, the onset of colonization in 1652, the birth of ANC, to the death of Nelson Mandela, whose life has been a beacon of hope for many people, South African history has a number of turning points that momentarily shaped the present-day South...

Slangs are words that are not considered part of the standard vocabulary of a language and that are used very informally in speech especially by a particular group of people. It is an informal nonstandard vocabulary composed typically of coinages, arbitrarily changed words, and extravagant, forced, or facetious figures of speech. South Africa is made up of eleven official languages. These are the Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Venda, Swazi, Xhosa,...

Since time immemorial, societies in the third world region have always desired to achieve growth and development to enable them to be like other countries in the developing and the developed world. This desire for growth is seen as the only way the community can improve its standards of living. Over time, some regions have succeeded while others still continued to languish in problems due to underdevelopment. This is most...

A number of South Africans speak the native language of Afrikaans. They came up as a result of settlement by Dutch colonialists natives of Netherlands during the Apartheid regime. Later they merged with Britons, French and Germans to form an ethnic community commonly known as Boers. The group practice a distinct culture different from other cultures in South Africa. Initially, Afrikaans was only spoken but they later developed writing skills for...

South Africa is located on the southern tip of the African continent. The country is rich in recorded history and enjoys one of the highest numbers of tourists in the African region. Pretoria is the capital of South Africa, the seat of the executive arm of government. It was named after Andries Pretorius. The name has however been debated for a while now, with proposals to change its name...

In South Africa today, it is very well known that many crimes go unpunished. This could either be because the criminals got away before the arrival of the authorities or are able to fight their way out of trouble. Whatever the case may be, the need to keep the people of South Africa and their properties safe has become a top priority. Authorities are thereby asking the general public to...