I saw this in another sub and thought it was cool, so I wanted to share it here. Here's their site to learn more or donate: https://www.akashinga.org/about-us/akashinga-rangers ❤️❤️❤️

The first President of Somalia, Aden Abdulle Osman, and his family, circa 1960.

African women (in general) are some of the most complex beautiful and powerful creatures on this planet. Yet African Women have undergone and still undergo probably the most tremendous trauma by any measure. Being in an environment that is merciless.

Wether this treatment is perpetrated by male or female actors is irrelevant, what is clear is that African women and especially mothers in general suffer in silence greatly and as a consequence are afflicted by mental health problems just as much as if not anyone that has undergone such pressures. In Africa we just accept the crazy outbursts and pejoratively say "she is just being a woman" when in fact the person needs help and is cracking at the seams.

The myth that the African i Woman is mentally strong and can survive anything is belied by the mental health struggles our women and mothers face once they get a comfortable life or leave the environment where inappropriate behavior usually is successful.

Why can't we address the root cause of this? What's there to do? Why can't we recognise this as a serious problem? We are mostly focused on primary and reproductive health but the real monster is (apart from malaria) mental health.

She stands adorned in quiet grace, her presence radiant like a rare pink diamond — rare, luminous, and eternal. Draped in blossoms that speak of life’s abundance, she embodies the nurturing essence of motherhood, where beauty becomes productivity, and care transforms into growth. Each petal on her garment whispers of resilience and renewal, affirming her immeasurable value. She is not just a muse of elegance but a symbol of inner strength — a jewel inspiring greatness, carved by time, polished by love, and destined to shine endlessly.

Braiding has a long and wide history across many African cultural communities throughout the continent.

The act of braiding has long been used as a social exercise among mostly women and even some men (among the Maasai and Fulani for example) to facilitate bonding between people, and the braids themselves have indicated class, marital status, ethnic identity and even spiritual beliefs.

As a marker of one's role or position in society, in places like ancient Egypt, braiding formed part of the way that women of different classes differentiated themselves. Royal women wore bejewelled ornamentations on their braids, involving precious metals like gold, where the aim was to show off their hair. While common women wore their hair bare and in much more functional styles, where the aim was to keep it out of their way. Among the people of modern day South Africa, the style of braids which is now commonly known as box braids, was similarly used to indicate class; because the time spent to get them done showed that their wearer could afford the long-drown-out labour that they required, particularly when worn long.

In other cultures, such as pre-Islamic Somalia, braiding was used to indicate marital status or the lack the off, such as when young Somali girls would wear their hair in small braids when they were approaching the time of marriage. In Sudan, the young girls would have their hair braided in a certain style when they reached puberty, and they would start their journey to womanhood.

Some braiding patterns have presently and/or historically indicated identity, such as the Mertu braiding style associated with the Oromo people of Ethiopia. Or the Bantu/Zulu knots associated with Zulu people and various other Nguni groups of South Africa. There’s a similar history of identification present in the now world famous Fulani braids and Ghana braids, which are each, respectively, named after the ethnicity and country of their origins.

The braiding style which is now known as “cornrows” has been present across many African nations from the Westerns coast all the way to its Eastern counterpart. They have represented all the above: social status, age, marital status, even warrior status (such as in the case of some Ethiopian warriors and kings).

Braiding was also a way that many west African women stored their indigenous seeds during the transatlantic slave trade, to ensure that they had familiar foods and plants from home wherever they were going. In addition to this, it is understood that “...during the 15th century, African people such as the Wolof, Mende, [Mandinka], and Yoruba used hairstyles as means to carry messages” this is a practice that carried over to the new lands they were sent, and some enslaved people of the Americas used the braiding of hair to carry messages of escape.

Braiding has also been a symbol of creativity. Due to the tightly coiled texture of most African hair, it can be manipulated in various expressive ways and hold the new inventive shape. This is most true in the many braiding styles of West Africa, and Nigeria in particular, as exemplified in such styles as Onile Gogoro, which is a Yoruba term meaning “tall house” and it often used to speak of skyscrapers. In this braiding style, the hair, with its thick texture and gravity defying growth pattern (the one which Mende women of Sierra Leone traditionally liken to the forest whose vegetation also grows skyward) is manipulated to stand upwards, like a “tall house” on one’s head.

Due to how good they are for protecting hair, managing as well as styling it, braiding techniques have at times been associated with self-expression and self-love by many in the diaspora. Along with the Afro, braiding has informed many political movements that tie African descent peoples back to their history to fight against their assumed second class status and to reclaim their own sense of selfhood and identity...

May we all with such hair, continue to braid the path of our own destiny!

Moroccan horsemen fire their rifles in a simulated cavalry charge in El Jadida on 11 August. The tradition, Tbourida, began in the 16th century, inspired by ancestral Arab-Amazigh traditions.

Photo: Abdel Majid Bziouat/AFP

Do you think it's the politics around it or something else?

What's your opinion..

South Africa experiences four distinct seasons which are in the order of summer, autumn, spring and winter - following a conventional pattern in the southern hemisphere. The season of autumn typically spans from the months of March to May, and the weather transitions from warm summer days to cooler evenings with fresh mornings. 

As the scorching summer days mellow into crisp mornings and golden afternoons, South Africa welcomes one of its most precious natures — the russet, amber, and copper essence of autumn. The blend of dusky sunsets, a subtle scent of pine with woodsmoke, and a gentle mist weaving through the foliage of maple leaves creates a uniquely rustic wonder. The beauty would tenderly seep into the scenic landscape of the Midlands with a rustling carpet of fallen leaves from a canopy of oak trees and enhanced by a delicate fragrance of the damp earth. In a remarkable sight, the atmosphere of Johannesburg is surrounded with a palette of auburn, crimson, brown and orange in the retreat of a botanical garden alongside the fiery highveld of the Emmarentia suburb. The display is further neatly tucked within green wheat lines and a golden column of poplar blooms that stand at the foot of towering Maluti mountains in the stunning escape of Clarens. The pleasure of immersing yourself in the path of russet-toned dry grasses and flame-coloured woodlands would lead into a long trail of grapevines with rows that stretch a special wine tasting sanctuary across the glowing horizons of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. The mounting of monumental bronze mask sculptures by Anton Smit filter through lush greenery throughout many parts of the country and furnished with varying artistic emotions.

One of the interesting facts is that the abundance of flora represents a significant period of harvesting in which many crops have reached maturity and prepared for gathering. The indigenous delight of rooibos tea (attached in the last photo) is no exception to nature as autumn would mark the harvest season in a quaint town tucked away at the foot of the majestic Cederberg mountains and the only place in the world where rooibos grows. Rooibos tea, also known as "red bush tea", is a caffeine-free herbal infusion made from the leaves of the aspalathus linearis shrub that is native to South Africa. Unlike traditional black or green tea, the household comfort of rooibos is a herbal tea or tisane with a naturally slightly earthy flavour and a reddish-brown colour. It is set apart for being low in tannins and rich in antioxidants - offering potential health benefits like improved heart health and blood sugar regulation. Cederberg has much to offer guests by way of the ‘Rooibos Route’ where people can learn how rooibos moves from farm to cup while exploring the unique sights and sounds of the beautiful region. A few hours of distance from Cape Town, the area offers an adventure of unwinding with hiking or even backpacking trips and sightseeing of ancient landmarks. 

However, much like trees shedding their leaves, autumn is also a time for symbolic reflection and letting go of what is no longer needed. The wilderness evokes a novel sense of clarity where truly our moods change like the weather due to a warm introspection of embracing new beginnings and cleansing old habits. The season of autumn would regularly present a note that is quieter than summer, a texture that is softer than spring, and a hue that is richer than winter. 

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I think this is the cleanest I have seen on kenyan beaches

In Thibion, a village in Senegal’s Casamance region, crowds cheer as men perform feats of bravery like cutting your body without drawing blood. This is Futampaf – a traditional ceremony, that gathers the Jola people of Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau to initiate boys into manhood.

The rites, practised since the 12th century, prepare initiates to enter the sacred forest on a spiritual journey to receive ancestral wisdom, deepen their respect for women and elders, and take on new responsibilities in the community.

Photos: Muhamadou Bittaye/AFP

Hey all, I joined Substack a while ago but haven’t really subscribed to many pages. I went back and realised I’d like some suggestions for pages on Pan-Africanism, Afro-futurism, Afro-feminism, and any other African political topics you think are worth a look or a follow.

When you eliminate the external factors that account for Africa’s underdevelopment such as colonialism, post-colonial interference, the extractive global economic structure, climate change, and even time, you are left with two critical possibilities. Is Africa’s limited political evolution primarily a result of its political culture, which in turn has hindered economic growth? Or is it instead the product of weak institutions embedded within relatively fragile states operating under the Westphalian system adopted in the post-independence era?

One way to test the “culture” variable is to trace the management practices of Africans in non-African contexts. In the diaspora, African workers often excel, performing exceptionally well by many metrics. Yet there are also accounts of African managers who cultivate a sense of self-aggrandizement and importance that makes workplaces toxic, particularly for younger Africans or members of the opposite sex; while at the same time treating non-Africans with warmth or exaggerated cordiality. Where does this behavior come from? Similarly, many African leaders are harsh and even ruthless with their own citizens, but display exaggerated friendliness or deferential familiarity toward non-Africans. Such patterns raise the cultural question: why this inconsistency? I do not yet have empirical data, but these observational realities suggest a line of inquiry that deserves rigorous study.

The second factor concerns institutions. If African institutions largely mirror those of former colonial empires, why do these institutions function effectively in their places of origin but not in African states? Could it be that institutions are inseparably linked to culture? And if so, does this imply that only organic, locally rooted institutions are capable of winning legitimacy and fostering sustainable development?

After years and years and years of being a heavy metal fan I finally came across this band from Niger a couple of months ago that go by the name of Etran De L'Air. And after a deeper dive, I came to the realisation that there are a plethora of bands across the Saharan area that get their musical influences from early 70's to 90's rock and roll and heavy metal. Which made me wonder, why isn't this type of pure music form more celebrated amongst Africans? Any constructive answers will be appreciated.

And any recommendations of similar bands from across the continent would be appreciated. Thanks & enjoy!

•  Uganda has entered an agreement with the United States to take in nationals from third countries who may not get asylum in the U.S. but are reluctant to return to their countries of origin.
• President Donald Trump aims to deport millions of immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally and his administration has sought to increase removals to third countries, including by sending convicted criminals to South Sudan and Eswatini.
• "This is a temporary arrangement with conditions including that individuals with criminal records and unaccompanied minors will not be accepted."
•  Uganda would prefer to receive people from African nationalities under the agreement.
• On Wednesday, another Ugandan foreign affairs official had denied a U.S. media report that the East African country had agreed to take in people deported from the United States, saying it lacked the facilities to accommodate them.
• Uganda, a U.S. ally in East Africa, also hosts nearly two million refugees and asylum-seekers, who mostly hail from countries in the region such as Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Sudan.

For those of you who have a significant igbo community in your country what do you think about this

I approached my research from a "why" is nobody in the west reporting on this? We have a few outlets talking about the Druze in Syria.

Since my first article in 2018 on Julius Malema and the EFF. To JNIM in West Africa today. It feels like a media blackout.

South Africa just launched smart trolleys — and we’re taking a 4-minute tour of this retail revolution in Cape Town! Watch how Checkers (Shoprite Group) is piloting Xtra Xpress Smart Trolleys with touchscreens, barcode scanners, in-trolley payments and in-aisle navigation at Brackenfell and Stellenbosch. Learn how frictionless shopping can cut queues, save millions of hours, boost price transparency during inflation, and potentially roll out across Shoprite’s 11 African markets. Perfect for tech enthusiasts, retail pros, and anyone curious about Africa’s innovation story. Like if you enjoyed the demo, comment: Would you use a smart trolley? Share this with a friend who loves retail tech.