However, judging by GDP per Capita, the country is placed in the 9th position.

Despite these, Madagascar, a country that wasn’t discovered until 500 AD is known to be one of the top 5 largest Island Countries in the world and also one of the world’s top conservative priorities because it has an unusual endemism and 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 2 of which are natural and 1 cultural.

Check out these Mind-blowing Facts about Madagascar

1. Madagascar Wouldn’t Have been on the Map of Africa

This Island country lies off the southeastern coast of Africa. It was, however, almost not on the map of Africa as it split away from the continent some 180 million years ago. It was also close to India but broke away from the Asian continent about 80 million years ago.

Millions of years ago, they were joined to Africa as part of a supercontinent consisting of places known today as Africa, South America, Australia, Antarctica, India, and Madagascar.

Considering that its official language is Malagasy, a language that is more common in Asia, specifically Indonesia, the people of Madagascar are regarded as not part of Africa. Their cultures are also similar to those of the Indonesian people and the first recorded settlers of this Island country were known to be Indonesians.

The inclusion of African cultures in this country only came much later during migration and the slave trade. To date, they are believed to have closer roots to Asians than they do in Africa.

2. About 80% of Vanilla Used in the World is Gotten from Madagascar

In the world, this country is the top producer of Vanilla. Thanks to the country’s hot, humid climate, its rich soil, and farming skills, Madagascar rose to be the leading producer of Vanilla.

The only other countries that come close to her in the production of this fruit are Indonesia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, and China.

Madagascar places the African continent on the map of the world’s leading producer of vanilla with 41% of the global production share producing a volume of about 3.10K MT.

In addition to being the largest vanilla producer, she also is the biggest producer of a precious gem known as sapphires. She also produces cocoa, chocolates, and many other products.

3. Most of the Wildlife Found in Madagascar Cannot be Found Anywhere else in the World

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There are features peculiar to Madagascar which makes the country 1 of only 17 countries regarded as megadiverse countries.

One such feature is the fact that animals such as Lemurs are a species endemic to Madagascar. These animals cannot be found anywhere else save for this southeastern island.

There were initially about 50 of them but over the years, these lemurs have reduced drastically and are almost less than 30 now.

Lemurs are able to survive in Madagascar right now because of the Island’s isolation. They are also considered a sacred animal in this country but unfortunately have become an endangered species as humans have hunted them and destroyed their habitats.

Additionally, you can find over 50% of the World’s Chameleons in Madagascar. Though not endemic, this country boasts of having more than half of this reptile here.

One more peculiar thing about this African country is the presence of an endemic tree species known as the baobab.

In the baobab alley located in western Madagascar, there are about 6 species of baobab trees out of a total of 8 species peculiar to this area.

4. Madagascar is Home to the Oldest Island on the Planet

It is known that this country is the second-largest Island country in the world and the fourth-largest Island on Earth but did you also know that it is the oldest island on planet Earth?

Madagascar has been around for over 80 million and was initially part of the Indian Ocean as already stated. She stretches across 587,000 square kilometers and is bigger than Spain or even Thailand when it comes to size.

5. She produced one of Africa’s Most Iconic Queens

‘The Mad Queen of Madagascar’, Queen Ranavalona I would not readily be named one of Africa’s most celebrated queens but she was quite iconic. Due to her policies and extremism many people, foreigners and countrymen alike became wary of her throughout her rulership of Madagascar from 1829 to 1861.

Despite being seen as erratic, wicked, and a tyrant, it wouldn’t be fair to not point out the good things she did for her country.

Because of her rule, Madagascar was able to preserve its cultural practices even as her predecessors’ reign threatened to destroy it.  She was a good politician and leader who expanded her territory to cover most of the Island.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to bring much change to the country and even to date, only a little over 10% of the roads in Madagascar are paved.

6. She is one of Africa’s Top Cannabis Smoking Countries

Par studies, Madagascar is on the top 10 list of African countries that smoke Cannabis. It has not been legalized in the country and so its production and usage have been largely illegal and discreet.

A recent study shows that this Island nation is placed in the 9th spot, a couple of places below Nigeria which is at the No. 1 position as the highest cannabis-smoking country.

In 2021, it was estimated that about 2.1 million Malagasies smoke Cannabis as against 20.8 million Nigerians who do.

7. Madagascar was Once Home to Pirates

During the late 17th century and early 18th century, Madagascar was a haven for pirates. European pirates and traders sought solace and rest in this Island country back then and even began to call themselves Liberi.

These pirates established their own system of government and laws and called their new-found abode the ‘Independent Pirate Nation of Libertalia’. They also renounced their original identities and began to live as new people.

8. You can find the 3rd most Malnourished Population in Madagascar

Not only is this country one of the top 5 poorest countries in Africa, but they are also global in her misfortune. Madagascar ranks in 3rd place amongst countries that are most affected by hunger and malnutrition. This research was carried out by the Global Hunger Index in 2022.

Not only are the Malagasies malnourished, but they are also one of the unhappiest populations in the world.

It is a little wonder ‘why’ given that they haven’t developed so much through the years, they are poor and suffer from malnourishment.

READ ALSO: Poorest Countries in Africa 2022: Top 10

9. About 85% of the Farmers Farm Rice as it is the Country’s Staple Food

Food is one thing that binds the people of this country. Not just any food, though, particularly rice.

In Malagasy, the term ‘to eat’ is translated as ‘to eat rice’ and this just goes to show how much they love and eat rice in Madagascar. In rural areas, these people can eat rice 3 times a day.

Rice is one of the country’s most planted and harvested food crops and over 80% of farmers in the country, farm rice.

As such, the staple food of the Madagascans is rice.

10. Shocker!!! There are No Penguins in Madagascar

Safe for a southern Rockhopper penguin who may have gotten lost in Madagascar as far back as 1956, there are actually no penguins on the Island.

In fact, the Disney movie, ‘Penguins of Madagascar’ did portray the penguins there were foreigners and not locals of the Island. However, people have since believed that there are penguins in Madagascar and are almost always disappointed not to find any upon visits.

There are no living or breeding penguins in the country. Other animals you won’t find here are giraffes, zebras, lions, and hippos.

Those too were visitors to Madagascar in the aforementioned Disney movie. The only animal from amongst the main cast of the movie who is a native of Madagascar is King Julian who is a ring-tailed lemur.

The post Madagascar Is One Of The Poorest Countries In Africa: Other Facts` appeared first on WeAfrique.

One of the top reasons is that it is the fastest-growing economy in Africa. According to the World Bank, the GDP growth of Ethiopia in 2021 was 5.64%. It was however expected to rise to 5.7% by 2023.

It is also important to state that this country has 9 UNESCO Sites in Africa. She who is considered to be the ‘Nation of Festivals’ was believed to have been ruled over by the Queen of Sheba during her reign.

Ethiopia is also unique because here you can find the longest existing lava lake and also the longest river in the world, Lake Tana, that passes through her. It is also the highest Capital City in Africa, the 4th highest in the World, and the home of the African Union.

There Are so Many Interesting Facts about This Great African country but Let’s Look at These 10 Enthralling Facts

1. Ethiopia is Africa’s Oldest Country

Ethiopia was founded sometime in 980 BC and is the oldest independent African country. With over 160 million citizens, it is also the 2nd most populated country in Africa, following the ‘Giant of Africa’, Nigeria. It is also the most populated landlocked country in the world.

It is also speculated that some of the earliest human populations lived in Ethiopia. The belief is that Homo Erectus evolved here over 1 million years ago and there are archaeological findings confirming this to be true.

Over these years, the country has birthed more than 80 languages but has only 5 official languages including Amharic, Tigrinya, Somali, Oromo, and Afar. The most common foreign language spoken in the country is English.

Ethiopic or Geez is one of the oldest alphabets in the world. It has its own unique syllabary and phonetics and the alphabet consists of 33 letters and 7 vowels.

2. This Nation of Festivals was Never Colonized

Ethiopia was never colonized but was only occupied by the Italians for 6 years – from 1936 to 1941. Of all the 54 African countries, she and Liberia were the only countries to have never been colonized. Liberia was never colonized because it was initially not a country but was a land for freed slaves who didn’t want to return to their country.

Ethiopia would have been colonized by Italy in the 1930s and they even occupied the territory for years. However, they were unable to bring the entire country under their control and eventually had to leave, unsuccessfully.

3. No Other Country Operates at the Same Time and Date as Ethiopia

This country is one of 5 countries in the world that does not operate with the Gregorian calendar. She adopted the calendar system which is a close replica of the Julian calendar.

This country operates a ’13 month calendar system, different from the widely recognized 12 months. Ethiopia has 12 months of 30 days and a thirteenth month of 5 days or 6 if it is a leap year. Because of this, the country is 7 years and 8 months behind the Gregorian calendar.

The main reason for this is however the differences in the birth of Jesus. They began to calculate the birth of Jesus from a different date than the rest of the world. Ethiopia celebrates theirs on January 7 and during their spring in September, the rest of the world enters the New Year.

They also had their own alphabet, letters, and numbers traced back to Sabean.

When it comes to telling the time, she is the only country that uses a 12-hour clock. They track their timing from dusk to dawn and then dawn to dusk. They basically use daylight to figure out the time.

In practical terms, the sun rises at 7 am, and by 1 o’clock. Noon was synonymous with 6 pm. Nonetheless, there are some places in the country that use the 24-hour clock allowing visitors to understand the times better.

The other countries that operate different calendars are; Afghanistan and Iran which follow the Solar Hijri calendar, Thailand and Nepal which adopted the Vikram Samvat, and Nepal Sambat calendar.

4. Ethiopia has a Rich History of Rulers

Since the early 1900s, Ethiopia has been blessed with a good number of rulers which include queens and emperors. These rulers made significant impacts on the progress of the country.

The emperors who ruled the country till 1974 were believed to have been descendants of King Solomon. The queens were referred to as Candace and Ethiopia had quite a good number of remarkable queens.

Queen Zewditu was the empress of the Nation of Festivals from 1916 to 1930 and was internationally recognized as the first female African head of state (president).

After her, there was Queen Gudit or Judit who was a Jewish queen and ruled during the 10th century. She ruled parts of the country and will forever be remembered for burning down a lot of Churches.

5. Over Half of Africa’s Mountains are Found Here

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Considering how rich this country is in preservation, it isn’t weird that she has most of her mountains still intact and even a sight to behold by all.

She is rich in landscape, very mountainous, and boasts of having about 70% of the mountains found in Africa.

6. Traditionally, Children Do Not Share the Last Name of their Parents

Of course, Ethiopia wouldn’t be called the Nation of Festivals if she did not have rich cultures and traditions. One such tradition is one that doesn’t necessarily expect children to bear the same last name as their fathers.

Therefore, in Ethiopia, children are named by their first name and then their father’s name as their last name. People here also mostly refer to people using their first name so this eliminates the surname most times.

Also, it is not customary for women to change their names as a result of marriage. Because the second name isn’t a surname, it takes away the importance of having the wives bear the second name.

7. Ethiopia is the Oldest Christian Country in Africa

She is the oldest Christian Country in Africa and also the second oldest Christian country in the world. Ethiopia has historical tales that date back to biblical times. She has coined most of her cultural activities including a days-long festival, back to the beginning of Christianity.

In the world, Armenia is the only country that is older than Ethiopia when it comes to Christianity.

Also, Ethiopia boasts of having the biblical Ark of the Covenant. It is claimed that Axum, a church in Ethiopia, is the final resting place of the Ark.

After this 10 Commandment given to Moses was reported missing during the Babylonian sack of King Solomon, Ethiopians said it was taken to their country where it was kept safe.

The supposed resting place of The Ark is heavily guarded by a monk and people are not allowed into the monastery, therefore it remains a claim that is yet to be proven with evidence.

One other claim that makes this country’s biblical stance valid is the fact that the Queen of Sheba once ruled over Ethiopia.

Interestingly, Ethiopia was also the first country to accept Islam as a religion, in the world.

READ ALSO: Every African Country, Capital, How It Got Its Name, Most Spoken Language

8. In This Country, You Will Find the Lowest Points on Earth

The Danakil Depression is the lowest place in Africa and is at the ‘mouth’ of three tectonic plates located in the Horn of Africa. This place is approximately 125 meters below sea level and is a small desert that houses 25% of African volcanoes.

Because of the number of volcanoes there and due to some other factors, this place has also earned itself the title of ‘hottest place inhabited’ in Africa.

In the world, the lowest land area is the shoreline of the Dead Sea Depression found in Israel, Jordan, and Syria.

9. Ethiopians are Probably the Leanest People on Earth

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Probably owing to the fact that this African country is mostly a vegetarian country, most of its people are very lean. They are so lean some people refer to them as the leanest people on earth with their obesity rate at 4.5% as of 2022.

The meals found in this country have been regarded as tasty, diverse, and above all, healthy. It is a place where vegetarians can comfortably live and eat with no worries.

Ethiopians, because of their strong Christian beliefs and doctrines, strictly follow Orthodox Christianity which prevents the eating of animal and animal products on Wednesdays and Fridays. Because of this, they substitute these products for healthier green products even in their restaurants.

This is weird because they are also one African country who have raw meat as a ceremonial, cultural dish.

10. The Birthplace of the Rastafarian Movement is Ethiopia

Oh, you thought it was Jamaica, right? Well you, me, and a lot of other people are actually wrong.

While Jamaica only developed and spread this Rastafarian movement, its actual birthplace is Ethiopia.

The word ‘Ras’ is an Ethiopian word that means ‘Chief’ in Amharic, the country’s official language. ‘Tafari’ is the first name of a one-time Ethiopian Emperor, Haile Selassie I who was believed to have been an incarnation of God and also the spiritual leader of the Rastafarians.

Lastly, take a look at the Ethiopian flag and the colors of the movement. Does it seem like those colors match coincidentally?

You see, the Rastafarian movement has its birthplace traced back to Ethiopia.

The post The Fastest Growing Economy In Africa Is That Of Ethiopia: Amazing Facts About The Country appeared first on WeAfrique.

Here are 10 Unique and Awesome Places to Visit While in Ethiopia

1. Dankali Depression

This place is considered to be the lowest point on earth located in Africa. Found around the East African Rift Valley, the beauty here is more pronounced when the lakes around it boil.

The Dankali Depression houses one of 6 lava lakes in the world and the Erta Ale is definitely one to visit.

Despite how hot it is in this part of Ethiopia bordering Eritrea and Djibouti, there are still people who live here. The Afar people have made this area their home having lived here for 100s of years.

2. Lalibela Rock-Hewn Churches

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These 11 medieval churches were built by King Lalibela in the 12th century. They were constructed close to the little village of Lalibela, from enormous volcanic rock slabs.

There is hardly a visit to this place that doesn’t end with praises as the settlement was designed in such a way that it looks like Jerusalem.

All these churches are dug into the ground and the most remarkable is St. George’s Cathedral which is a beautiful sight to behold.

Close to Lalibela, there are a couple of awesome monasteries, also worthy of seeing.

3. The Holy City of Harar

Harar has made a name for itself because it is a holy, historic, and walled city. It was built in the early 16th century and has narrow alleyways which further adds to its beauty.

This city was once known as a commercial link between Africa and the Middle East but nowadays, it is known for its old buildings and also, its walls. These walls were built to prevent invasion and provide defense against alien religious forces.

In Harar, there are about 100 mosques that have earned the holy city the title of ‘Africa’s Mecca’. It is also called the 4th holiest city of Islam.

Harar has a nightly ritual of feeding hyenas by ‘The Hyena Guy’ that is also very attractive to watch. For brave visitors, you could also decide to hand-feed the hyenas for an extra adventure.

4. The Rift Valley

This valley has seen many lakes spring up and forests grow around it. Running through the middle of Ethiopia, the Rift Valley has warm and humid weather and offers a different feel from what you would have gotten in the highlands.

Having several bubbling lakes and enticing cultures, whoever finds him or herself in The Rift Valley is sure to enjoy an almost perfect holiday location- serene and natural.

5. The Blue Nile Falls

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Ethiopian locals refer to this place as the ‘Tis – Isat’ falls which translates to ‘Smoke’ or ‘Fire’. A visit to this location will make you understand why but let’s try and give a brief description…

This fall is magnificent, located close to the Bahir Dar, and produces mists that look like fire or smoke, hence the name.

While on the Blue or White Nile, looking towards this fall, you would be mesmerized by the view and may never want to leave.

This fall doesn’t only house visitors and the locals in its vicinity, it is also a haven for beautiful green vegetation, lots of colorful birds, and a generous species of monkeys.

6. The Omo Valley

The Omo Valley may not be as interesting as those who live here. The Mursi and Hamar people of the Omo River in this area are known for their unique cultural activities. They are African tribes that have resisted influence from the outside world.

The indigenous Mursi people, for example, are widely known for the ways they beautify and adorn themselves which includes using discs made of clay and other materials.

They also engage in stick fighting to acknowledge the coming of age of men. Their houses are also a thing to study as well as how they migrate with these houses.

Despite being regarded as the most dangerous and unfriendly tribe in Africa, the Mursi people located in the Omo Valley are quite welcoming and would share their cultures with people who abide by their rules and enter their vicinity through the right channels.

7. Gondar

Gondar is also referred to as the ‘Camelot of Africa’ and is located in the hills of northern Ethiopia. The view of this city can be taken in as soon as a descent upon the Ras Dashen is made.

As one of the UNESCO heritage sites, some of the beautiful sights to behold are the Middle Ages castles that were homes to Ethiopian Emperors, Queens, and royalties.

There is also the Simien Mountains view that can be enjoyed from the highest point of the Gondar. It is also easily accessible on foot and offers great restaurants, stores, and hotel services.

Here is a list of must-see places at the Gondar;

• The Fasiladas’ Bath is the location for the Timkat event.
• Debre Berhan Selassie which is one of the most exquisite churches in Ethiopia
• The Royal Enclose has, on its own, attracted many visitors.

8. Simien Mountains

These mountains are located in the highlands of northern Ethiopia and offer visitors an exotic view of this part of the country. With over 1300 mountains, Ethiopia has craggy peaks and a good number of the panoramas.

Yet another UNESCO heritage site, this mountain range has been called God’s playground

The Simien Mountains are also a great place to see rare animals such as the Gelada bleeding heart baboon, Walia Ibex (a rare species of goat), and the Ethiopian wolf. Unfortunately, these animals are at risk of extinction.

READ ALSO: 15 Richest African Countries: Population, GDP, Minerals, Foreign Reserve

9. Aksum

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Aksum is a place believed to be the home of the Queen of Sheba and also the final resting place of the Ark of Covenant. It is one of the oldest cities on the continent that shows ancient Aksumite Obelisks if you look over the St. Mary of Zion church complex.

This UNESCO heritage site has been ignored by visitors but it is important to note that there are really amazing places to visit here. For one, there are the mountaintop monasteries, then, there are relics all over the city, and then there are also the Aksumite empire tombs.

The large rock-hewn reservoir named Mai Shum is another interesting location. This reservoir is reportedly where the Queen of Sheba used to bathe.

10. Addis Ababa

There won’t be a perfect and fulfilled visit to Ethiopia if you overlook the capital city, Addis Ababa. A typical city with the hustle and bustle associated with it, Addis Ababa is the headquarters of the African Union. Due to this fact, the capital city of Ethiopia is also regarded as the capital of Africa.

She is also the largest market in Africa, little wonder she has the fastest-growing economy on the continent.

Addis Ababa has magnificent churches, cathedrals, museums, and mosques. She is also beautiful because of her blend of traditional and modern cultures and activities.

At night, this city bubbles with amazing nightlife as restaurants and other activities come alive.

Some interesting places to visit while in this city are the Entoto Mountains, the Crater Lakes in Debre Zeyits, Awash National Park, and Sheraton Addis amongst others.

The post Ethiopia Has Many Beautiful Tourist Attractions: Here Are 10 To Visit When At The Nation of Festivals appeared first on WeAfrique.

Warlords like Idi Amin, Charles Taylor, and Muammar Qadhafi have been at the forefront of these known notorious leaders who have been aggressive in their dealings with their people and even outsiders. However, there are others that we would be looking at.

Here are Some of Africa’s Most Notorious Warlords

11. Bosco Ntanganda – Rwanda

This Rwandan warlord was nicknamed ‘The Terminator’ and was initially supposed to be a ‘warlord for rent’. He was conscripted to help overthrow the government led by the Hutu. Subsequently, after achieving his goal, he rose to the rank of head of the DRC military and went on to overthrow the government of Congo.

While he was in active service, Bosco was responsible for as many as 80,000 deaths and violated many human rights. When he was finally arrested and convicted, the war crimes charges against him were about 18.

On July 8, 2019, the Rwandan dictator and military head was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment by the International Criminal Court.

10. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo – Congo

Known to be the founder of the Union of Congolese Patriots, Thomas Lubanga Dyilo was the first person to be convicted by the ICC for a lot of atrocities ranging from murder, rape, ethnic massacres, and even child soldier recruits.

Thomas and the rebels who worked for him were responsible for over 60,000 deaths while his terror reign lasted. In addition to those, he was responsible for torturing and mutilating people.

He was arrested in March 2006 and his trial began on January 26, 2009, 3 years later. He was found guilty of the war crime of conscripting and enlisting children under the age of 15 as part of his atrocious activities. Thomas was to serve 30 years in prison.

in March 2020, after serving 14 years jail term, the former warlord was released from prison.

9. Joshua Blahyi – Liberia

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Popularly referred to as ‘General Butt Naked’ this military man began his military career in 1991 and throughout his few active years in service, he perpetuated a good number of atrocities. He is an evangelical preacher who is best known for the part he played during the First Liberian Civil War.

He was born on September 30, 1971, in Monrovia, Liberia, and by 1996  he converted to Christianity but this was after he led soldiers to fight on the side of the rebel group ULIMO.

Joshua is known as General Butt Naked because, in the civil war that broke out in 1989, he and his soldiers fought without clothing and in the process, carried out a lot of despicable acts which included child sacrifice and cannibalism.

Blahyi confessed to killing over 20,000 people during his reign as a warlord. He confessed to this in 2008 at the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission and this got him a lot of attention. However, he had repented at this time after claiming to have received a vision from Jesus.

8. Jean Kambanda – Rwanda

Born on October 19, 1955, Jean Kambanda of Rwanda was a politician, banker, and one-time prime minister. He was born in Huye, Rwanda.

While he served as prime minister, Rwanda witnessed a genocide that began in 1994 known as the Rwandan Genocide.

He has however remained the only head of state to confess and plead guilty to genocide. This confession was retracted but the retraction did not stand in court.

Kambanda was arrested on July 18, 1997, 3 years after the genocide started, in Nairobi. He was accused of several offenses against humanity which ranged from genocide and agreement to commit genocide, to incitement, and failure to prevent the genocide.

Kambanda was sentenced to life imprisonment on September 4, 1998, and has so far served 23 years in the Koulikoro Prison located in Mali.

7. Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir – Sudan

This former Sudanese military officer was the first sitting head of state to be indicted by the ICC for allegedly instigating and directing a massacre, rape, and pillage of the citizens of Darfur.

He has been accused of overseeing the war in Darfur that caused the death of over 10,000 people. His reign as president saw the displacement of over 2.5 million people from Darfur due to guerrilla warfare.

In 2008, he was accused of crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Subsequently, in 2009  and 2010, warrants for his arrest were put out following his alleged crimes against humanity.

During this period, he was at large and resisted arrest.

Eventually, on April 11, 2019, al-Bashir was stripped of his position in the Sudanese Armed Forces and placed on house arrest but a few days later, he was moved to the capital’s Kobar Prison.

By May 13 of the same year, Omar al-Bashir was charged with participating in and inciting the killing of protesters. In the subsequent months, he faced trials for corruption and money laundering charges.

From then to 2020, this former warlord had been tried for many other crimes he committed even before he got into power.

Following fighting between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, there was a prison break at the Kobar Prison where he was held. Fears that Omar could be at large again, engulfed the Sudanese people but their fears were allayed by the military. It was revealed by the army that Omar al-Bashir was transferred from the prison to the army hospital. However, they failed to provide proof of this.

6. Gnassigbe Eyadema – Togo

He was the 3rd president of Togo and was born on December 26, 1935. His reign lasted from 1967 to 2005 and he was succeeded by his son Faure Gnassingbe. He held the title of the longest-serving leader in Africa until his death in 2005.

Gnassigbe was the leader of the coup that ousted President Sylvanus Olympio who was killed during the attack. It has been speculated that Eyadema who later ruled the country of Togo till his death, was the one who killed Sylvanus.

He is part of the top warlords Africa has seen given that he remained in leadership from 1967 till his death as no one could overthrow him. Even after his death, his son was installed and continued his legacy.

5. Jean-Bedel Bokassa – Central African Republic

He served as the 2nd president of the Central African Republic and the emperor of its successor state. Jean-Bedel was born on February 22, 1921, and saw World War II and the Indonesian war.

He first tasted power after being part of the coup in 1966. Bokassa was president of the CAE for 11 years and when he became Emperor, he served for 3 years.

He was overthrown in 1979 and went into exile. However, he was tried in absentia and sentenced to death. His crimes bordered on the murder of several political rivals. Upon his return to the CAE on October 24, 1986, Jean-Bedel was arrested and tried on 14 different counts including treason, murder, cannibalism, and embezzlement.

His sentence of death was revoked two years later and then eventually reduced to 20 years. However, after the installation of a democratic government, prisoners were granted pardons and released.

On November 3, 1996, Jean-Bedel Bokassa died of a heart attack in his Bangui home. He was 75 years old at the time of his death.

4. Joseph Rao Kony – Uganda

Joesph Rao Kony is infamous for his nefarious acts as a militant who founded a Christian fundamentalist organization the UN described as a terrorist group.

He led this rebel group insisting that he and his organization were fighting for the 10 Commandments. Believing himself to be a spirit medium, Kony recruited child soldiers and told them that the sign of the cross drawn on their chest with oil would prevent bullet penetration and evil spirits.

Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army were accused of crimes such as the killing of over 100,000 people, abduction of about 60,000 children, rape of young girls, and abducting young females as s*x slaves.

In October 2006, the ICC stated that there was an arrest warrant for 5 of the LRA members comprising Joseph, his deputy, and other commanders. He and some of his members have been on the run since then.

For over 10 years, Kony and his soldiers were on the run from several governments including that of Uganda, the United States, and even the United Nations. However, following the surrender of Dominic Ongwen who was a key member of the LRA, the movement suffered a huge blow and loss.

By 2017, they stopped posing as a threat to the government of Uganda as their soldiers had reduced drastically.

3. Charles Taylor – Liberia

This former leader of Liberia was born Charles McArthur Taylor on January 28, 1948. He is one of the top African dictators who have a reputation for large numbers of massacred people.

He was the leader of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia which was a rebel group based in Ivory Coast. Under his watch, his group killed as many as 200,000 Liberians during the Liberian Civil War which lasted for about 7 years.

In 1985, he was charged with corrupt practices in the United States of America. However, this did not prevent his continuous desire to be president of Liberia.

At the end of the civil war in 1997, Charles Taylor was made the president of Liberia after he threatened that if he wasn’t made president, he would continue the war.

Another civil war broke out in 2003 and this saw the end of his rule as the leader of the country. He then went into exile but is currently serving time at the HM Prison Frankland after he was eventually caught.

His charges all bordered on crimes against humanity especially the massacre during the civil war.

2. Muammar Qadhafi – Libya

Quadhafi was the leader of Libya from 1969 till 2011 when a civil war that emanated from a protest, forced him to relinquish his power.

While he dominated the country, he possessed chemical weapons, allegedly supported terrorists, and was involved in the bombing of a Berlin dance hall that killed 3 people and injured many.

Accusations labeled against this warlord are quite numerous and he is also responsible for Libya going to war with countries such as Chad, Tanzania, and Egypt.

Muammar was accused of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing that claimed the lives of about 270 people whose plane exploded above Scotland.

He also faced accusations of providing Viagra-like medication to his soldiers. The aim of this was for the troops to rape women. When a revolution started against him, he directed the killings of civilians in order to curb the outreach.

Under Muammar Qadhafi’s dictatorship, Libyans and the world at large lived in great fear. His possession of chemical weapons posed a threat to a lot of countries. Also, he would forever be remembered as one of the most feared dictators to ever walk the earth.

He died on October 20, 2011, and the news of his death was met with different reactions. While former US president, Obama said it meant an end to tyranny in Libya, Prime Minister David Cameron hailed it stating it was a step towards a strong and democratic future for the country.

Read Also: Muammar Gaddafi Children: Who Are They And Where Are They Today?

1. Idi Amin – Uganda

Idi Amin rose to power after seizing it in 1971 and he remained in power for about 8 years. For the period he served as the ruler of Uganda, he earned himself the title ‘The Butcher of Uganda’ because of his brutal nature and acts.

Idi was responsible for the death of over 500,000 people throughout his rulership. Another activity this warlord can be remembered for is the evacuation of the Lango and Acholi people whom he was threatened by.

For years he bragged about defeating the British Empire after they closed their embassy in Uganda following his incessant oppression. With this, he declared himself ‘His Excellency, President forever, Field Marshal Al Hadji, Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC DSO, MC Lord of All the Beasts of the World, Fishes of the Seas, and Victor of the British Empire in Africa generally and Uganda specifically.

Idi Amin died on August 16, 2003, after being in exile and on life support. His life support was unplugged on that day when his family decided to do so.

The post Most Notorious African Warlords appeared first on WeAfrique.

In plain English, she has a leader who isn’t royalty or from a traditional royal background, that has ruled for the longest period of time.

There are presidents who have served for over 4 decades and are still serving. Their rise to power came democratically although some of them have used many different means to hold on to power and not secede from their positions.

Let us look at some of these African presidents who have held the position for several years both concurrently and at separate times.

10. Paul Kagame – Rwanda (23 years)

Paul was a former military officer turned 4th and current president of Rwanda. He assumed the office of the presidency on April 22, 2000, and so far has ruled for 23 years.

Being born on October 23, 1957, he was 43 years old when he rose to the democratically elected presidential seat of Rwanda.

Rwanda’s Paul Kagame however, eyes another term in the seat as he has indicated an interest in contesting for the presidency once again during the country’s 2024 elections.

The 66-year-old president was preceded by Pasteur Bizimungu and so far has no successor until he loses an election or secedes power to another.

9. Omar al-Bashir – Sudan (26 years)

Omar al Bashir was born in 1944 and became the president of Sudan on October 16, 1993, at the age of 49.

His rule lasted until 2019 which puts his total number of years as president to 26 years, 285 days.

Omar al-Bashir took over power from Ahmed al-Mirghani and after he was disposed of, Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf took over the presidency on April 11, 2019.

8. Isaias Afwerki – Eritrea (30 years)

For as old as Eritrea’s independence from Ethiopia has been, so has Isaias’ presidency. He was born on February 2, 1946, and became the president of Eritrea at the age of 47 on May 19, 1993.

Eritrea known to be a one-party state has only ‘People’s Front for Democracy and Justice’ (PFDJ) as the only political party in the country and is the only party allowed to participate in the country’s politics.

The 76-year-old politician has been described, by scholars and historians, as a dictator as the country has no functioning constitution, elections, legislature, or published budget.

Isaias Afwerki has no predecessor and no successor yet.

7. Idriss Deby – Chad (30 years)

Idris was the president of Chad for a period of 30 years and 139 days. He was born on June 18, 1952, and passed away in 2021. He became the president of the country at the age of 38.

Before his death, he ruled the country known as Chad for a little over 3 decades after taking over power from Hissene Habre.

Following Idriss’ death while in action, his son, Mahamat Deby who was born in 1984, took over the leadership of Chad on October 10, 2022. He is still the reigning president of the country.

6. Robert Mugabe – Zimbabwe (30 years)

He is one of the top-longest-serving presidents of an African country. Mugabe was born on February 21, 1924, and became the president of Zimbabwe on December 31, 1987, at the age of 63.

Robert Mugabe served as the head of this southeastern African country from then to November 21, 2017, making his presidency tenure a month and a few days short of 30 years.

He resigned from his position following a Coup d’etat and was succeeded by Emmerson Mnangagwa who is still the president of Zimbabwe as of 2022.

Two years after Robert Mugabe’s resignation, he died from an illness that was so severe, he was unable to walk.

READ ALSO: Meet All The Presidents of Kenya- Their Deputies, Wives, Achievements

5. Yoweri Museveni – Uganda (38 years)

The president of Uganda as of 2022 is Yoweri Museveni who got into power on January 26, 1986. He was born on September 15, 1944, and first tasted power as president when he was 42 years old.

Yoweri is the 9th president of Uganda after the 8th, Tito Lutwa Okello relinquished power to him and went into exile in Kenya.

He has been in the presidential seat of Uganda for a period of 38 years.

4. Jose Eduardo dos Santos – Angola (38 years)

He was the president of Angola from 1979 to 2017 making his tenure a total of 38 years in office.

Jose Eduardo dos Santos was born on August 28, 1942, and became the president of Angola at the age of 37.

In 2017, he relinquished power to the current president of the country, Joao Lourenco who was chosen by the MPLA to succeed Jose Eduardo.

This former Angolan president was accused of leading one of the most corrupt regimes in Africa. He reportedly only focused on amassing wealth for himself and his family and ignored the deplorable state of the economic and social needs of his people.

3. Denis Sassou Nguesso – Republic of Congo (38 Non-concurrent years)

This Congolese politician is the 5th and 7th president of the Republic of the Congo. He was born on November 23, 1943, and became the president of the republic first in 1979.

Denis’ first term ended in 1992 and he is credited for introducing multiparty politics in the country in 1990.

Denis Sassou Nguesso, through his tenures, had 6 Prime Ministers, was preceded by Jean-Pierre Thystere Tchicaya, and succeeded by Pascal Lissouba.

He was appointed the provisional president of the Republic of Congo on February 8, 1979, and confirmed on March 31, 1979. From that year to 1991, Denis Sassou served 3 presidential terms in the Republic of Congo.

After 6 years of not being president, Sassou Nguesso regained power and the position of the president of the republic. He was sworn in as the President of the Republic of Congo on October 25, 1997. He was also re-elected as the president for a 3rd term in July 2009 after winning the votes with 78.61%.

In 2021, Denis was once again re-elected as the president of the republic making his accumulated years in power to be 36 years.

2. Paul Biya – Cameroon (41 years)

Paul Biya is the 2nd president of Cameroon who took over power from Ahmadou Ahidjo on November 6, 1982. He was born on February 13, 1933, and became the 1st Prime Minister of Cameroon on June 30, 1975.

Paul Biya became the president on November 6, 1982, at the age of 49 and has ruled the country for 41 years.

He is the second-longest-ruling president in Africa and also the oldest head of state in the entire world.

1. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo – Equatorial Guinea (44 years)

Teodoro became the 2nd president of Equatorial Guinea after ousting his uncle Francisco Macias Nguema through a coup in 1979.

When he took over power, he drafted a new constitution that presented him in the light of a less authoritarian leader. However, this did not last for long.

Obiang has ruled Equatorial Guinea since the age of 37 – He was born on June 5, 1942.

As of 2022, Obiang is eyeing re-election to continue serving as the president of his country. However, he is already serving a total of 44 years as the president. In his current tenure, his son, Teodoro Nguema serves as his vice president.

The post 10 Presidents That Ruled Africa Longest appeared first on WeAfrique.

This dangerous tribe is known as the Mursi tribe located on the borders of South Sudan and Kenya. The tribe is thus famous because of their brutal culture and body arts that have been a fundamental part of them since time immemorial.

Who are the Most Dangerous Tribe in Africa?

This Mursi tribe is referred to as the most dangerous tribe in Africa because of how brutal they are when it comes to outsiders. They are quite unwelcoming to people who are not members of their tribe. In fact, even people from neighboring tribes like the Aari tribe are considered to be their enemies.

These people are known to kill anyone who comes close to their village without taking permission. Aside from getting permission from their chief, visitors are also made to pay money in order to be permitted to take pictures and make videos.

The Mursi people are known for their love of fighting even amongst themselves. Most times they fight to kill.

They abide by their mantra ‘It is better to die than to live without killing’.  This further, weirdly, justifies their aggressive nature and the reason they kill unwanted visitors.

Despite their penchant for killing outsiders, Mursi people located in the Omo Valley are pretty welcoming to people who seek their permission, have a local tour guide, and are accompanied by security.

Who Really are the Mursi People and Where Can They be Found?

As already stated, these people are part of the country known as Ethiopia. They however do not live like other people in present-day Africa. This tribe still holds on, dearly, to the ancient ways of living and is deeply rooted in their cultural practices.

They can be found in the Mago National Park of the Omo Valley. This location is said to be the border between the African countries known as South Sudan and Kenya. The people are 1 of the 16 tribes found in Omo Valley. They also make up part of the 80 tribes in Ethiopia.

The Mursi people were about 10,000 as of 2020, however, in 2021, their numbers increased and researchers speculate that they have gotten to about 15,000.

These people speak a language peculiar to them known as Mursi. They also live in isolation and far from civilization. However, they prefer to remain like this and have warded away any form of innovation or aid sent their way.

SEE ALSO: Mandinka Tribe- 10 Interesting Details About This West African ethnic Group

This Dangerous Tribe Live in Small Villages of About 300 People

The Mursi people stay in villages comprising about 200 to 300 people. They name their villages after the person who built them. These people move villages after defeating the tribe that previously inhabited the area and they name the builder their chief and pay homage and utmost respect to him.

They live in thatch houses made of sticks and grasses with very low doors. Their doors are carved very short and for one to enter and exit the house, he or she has to bend or kneel and crawl in and out. The reason for this has been speculated to be for security reasons and also reverence.

In this thatched house, a man and his family sleep together regardless of their number. Most of the men of this tribe live in the bushes and leave the women in the village to cook and take care of the family.

It is also important to note that the Mursi houses are small and do not have compartments or other rooms. It is mainly just a small round room that can house close to 8 people depending on how large the family is.

People of this tribe sometimes ignore government orders and only listen to their chief who they see as their superior head and the solver of their challenges and problems.

Importantly, they do not believe in any religion or gods. Their beliefs are mostly in nature and they abide by the natural turns of events. They consider themselves to be moon people and that is about a belief in something for them.

READ ALSO: Himba Tribe: Truths About This Tribe, Their Traditions And Culture

Culture and Bodily Arts of the Mursi People

https://youtu.be/vqX-R9VLTCI

Aside from being infamous for their aggression and unwelcoming nature, the Mursi people are also well known for upholding the olden cultures and traditions of their people and refusing to follow the path of the developing world. They also have a unique art evident in their body modifications,

One of their known cultural practices is their lack of eating fish. They believe that people who eat fish are weak and poor so to show how strong they are, they do not eat fish.

As a result of their lack of interest in fish, these people have market days and their trading is basically in cows. Their trading also involves monetary exchange for goods sold.

An interesting aspect of their love for cows is the fact that they drink the blood and milk of their cows. They also use the horns of the cows to make decorations.

The men of this dangerous tribe are known to live in bushes guarding their cattle while the women and kids remain in the village.

At the age of 15/16, the boys are conscripted into the league of men and can now participate in the activities of the older men of the tribe.

At the same age, the Mursi girls also begin to get their beauty modifications. These modifications are in the form of a disc or plate made of clay or wood which they place in their lips and ears.

When the girl gets to that age, she cuts her lower lip with a knife or arrow or any sharp object and then begins to insert discs of different shapes, sizes, and designs in the opening made in their lips. In the process of doing so, the girls/women lose two of their teeth so that the disc can stay properly in place.

According to this people who still dress in ancient ways and live in a park, the bigger the lip plate, the more valuable a woman is.

On the other hand, the men, in order to show their strength, engage in a fight known as the Donga stick fighting which occurs once every year. The fight is usually very brutal and could lead to many injuries, some lethal, and some may even lead to death.

At the end of the fight, the winner is eligible to pick a woman of his choice to marry and that is how the Mursi people marry and procreate.

The men have marks on their bodies that signify their strength, how many people they have killed, and how many times they have been married. The more scars and spiral art a man’s arm carries, the stronger he is perceived to be.

The People of Mursi Tribe Trades Their Cows for Guns

Known to be nomadic people who deal mostly in cattle-rearing, the people of the Mago Nature Park trade their cows for guns gotten from the countries they border. Mursi people could trade as many as 8-10 cows for guns such as AK-47s gotten from South Sudan. The number of cows exchanged depends on the model of the arm.

Through this trade, they get to protect themselves from foreign attacks and invasion. When engaging in their Donga Stick fighting ritual, they do not use the guns they acquire. They only make use of sticks and are permitted to wield them however they desire.

The exchange of animals for guns is accepted and allowed by this tribe. It is considered legal in their territory and even if it isn’t okay by the government of Ethiopia, they have little or no control over the Mursi Tribe people anyway.

The post Most Dangerous Tribe in Africa appeared first on WeAfrique.

That aside, it isn’t news that there are surely some African countries that have one of the strongest militaries.

Take, for example, Egypt with a power index of 0.2224 and an army of over 920,000 men. In the world, she is placed in the 14th position of 30 countries. The only other African country to have made the list is Algeria.

Let’s Run Through 10 of the Weakest Militaries in Africa as of the Year 2023

10. Botswana

In 2023, Botswana was ranked 124 of 145 countries considered for the annual African Global Firepower review. She has a Power Index (Pwrlndx) score of 2.78851 and over 21,000 active personnel with 500 deployed personnel.

With a budget of $537 million as of 2019, Botswana has foreign supplies from countries like France, the United States, Russia, Germany, and Israel. They also have 1 under-strength armored brigade, 2 light infantry brigades, 1 artillery brigade, 1 under-strength air defense brigade, 1 engineering company, 1 signals company, and 1 logistics group.

9. Senegal

Senegal’s PwrIndx score is 2.7961 and safe for a few points, she would have been at the 10th spot of this list. The country’s military is considered to be very weak because it has obsolete equipment and its resources have remained limited over the years.

As of 2018, Senegal’s budget was $350 million and she had an active personnel of 17,000. She also has a Navy known as the ‘Armee de Mer’ whose main responsibility is to secure the Atlantic coastline.

Senegal’s Air Force comprises air-to-air combat airplanes that are responsible for giving support to ground forces.

8. Madagascar

This country is more about internal peace and security than it is about external defense. Her military isn’t only weak with a power index of 2.9078, but it also suffers from low morale and corruption.

This country has an army of a little over 12,000 soldiers, a navy of 500 men, and an air force of 500 men. Altogether, their active personnel is just about 13,500 soldiers.

7. Gabon

This country is ranked 131st after the GFP review and takes the 7th spot on this list because it lacks investments for training as well as equipment.

Her power index sits at 2.9235 with an active personnel of 5000 men spread across her navy and air force. She has a budget of $81.52 and her only foreign suppliers are France and the United States of America.

6. Mauritania

Mauritania has a total active military personnel of 31, 540 and paramilitary personnel of 5000. They have maintained this number of personnel despite having a history of political interventions and coups.

With a PwrIndx of 3.0398, she comes in the 6th spot of African countries with the weakest military that has actually faced a decline. Despite her $231 million budget for the military, Mauritania gets her few supplies from France, Russia, China, the United States, Spain, and even Morocco.

5. Central African Republic

With factors such as corruption, conflicts, and political instability in this country, the military of the Central African Republic has been weakened over time. They have a power index of 3.2931 and another contributing factor to this is their lack of resources.

Their total active personnel is 10,000 soldiers however their functionality has declined ever since the 2012 civil war.

Just like most of the countries on this list, the Central African Republic has solely depended on international support for the security of their country.

4. Sierra Leone

Just like in Madagascar, low morale has greatly affected the military of Sierra Leone. She has a PwrIndx of 3.5241 and also suffered civil war just like with the Central African Republic.

The active military personnel in this country is about 13, 000 but due to corruption, political unrest, and conflicts, she has been weakened greatly. With a budget of $10.6 million, their foreign suppliers include Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

3. Liberia

Liberia has a power index of 4.0006 and some contributing factors to this are the long years of civil war as well as lack of equipment and training.

Taking the 141st position after the GFP review when it comes to her military strength, this country consists of an infantry brigade, an air wing, and a coast guard. Her total active personnel consists however of just 2,100.

2. Somalia

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The 2nd weakest military in Africa is the military of Somalia. Its force has been weakened by the conflict with the Al-Shabab militants, however, her corrupt practices as well as lack of funding and factional divisions have aided the weakness of the Somalia Armed Forces.

Somalia’s power index is 4.0196 and she has an approximate active military personnel of 15,000. These 15,000 active men are spread across her army, navy, air force, and police force.

This second-weakest African military has gotten foreign supplies from countries such as Turkey, China, and the United States of America. Despite this, she is still has weak and little equipment and artillery.

READ ALSO: 10 Most Dangerous African Dictators You Must Know About

1. Benin

Over the years, Benin has tried to modernize its military and also make it more professional by participating in peacekeeping missions.

No matter how hard this country tries to revamp its military and boost its strength, it remains the weakest military in Africa.

Of 145 countries, Benin takes the 144th position in the most recent annual Global Firepower review. She has a power index of 4.1269 and has just 4, 750 active personnel spread across its army, navy, air force, and national gendarmerie.

For a long time, Benin has been dependent on the Belgian Armed Forces for training, coaching, and military equipment. Her major suppliers are the United States of America, Russia, and France.

This country has 1 armored squadron, 3 infantry battalions, 1 commando/airborne battalion, 1 artillery battery, 1 engineer battalion, and 1 National Fire Brigade.

The post Top 10 Weakest Militaries in Africa In 2023 appeared first on WeAfrique.

His first wife, Hope, gave birth to his son, Andile. His second child, a daughter named Tulisa, was born to his second wife, Nomazizi Mtshotshisa, who was a businesswoman before her death.

Cyril Ramaphosa’s third, fourth, and fifth children were born to his third wife, Dr. Tshepo Motsepe, the sister of South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe. They are Tumelo, Mashudu, and Keneilwe.

These children, who form South Africa’s first family, include a businessman, a crypto enthusiast, and a fitness buff. Three of the children are daughters, one of whom was born in 1992. The president’s other daughter is an architect based in the United States, while her younger sibling is a student at Cape Town University.

Cyril Ramaphosa’s First Child was Born from his Decade-long Marriage to Hope Ramaphosa

During Cyril’s first marriage to Hope Ramaphosa, which lasted from 1978 to 1989, he welcomed a son. The boy named Andile Ramaphosa was born sometime in 1981 and is about 43 years old now.

Though Cyril and Hope’s marriage ended in divorce, the first wife of S.A.’s president still has his back. According to Hope, she knew her ex-husband for a long time before they married. They also spent more than a decade together, and all those times couldn’t just be thrown away.

As the firstborn son of his father, Andile has been quite outspoken, especially against political rivals of his father. When Julius Malema accused Cyril of physically abusing Hope, his mother, Andile, refuted the accusations.

However, he is more concerned and invested in business than he is in politics. After earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting and statistics from the University of Cape Town, he went on to add two master’s degrees. The first he earned was in economics from Fudan University, and then another from the NYU Stern School of Business.

Andile Ramaphosa, the first of Cyril Ramaphosa’s children, works for Blue Crane Capital in Johannesburg, aside from other business strides that he has taken over the years.

He unfortunately got on the bad side of the press in 2019 when he was involved in a fraud case. According to the reports, he was linked to the Bosasa Corporation incident that involved a transfer of R2 million to him.

He initially denied being part of the fraudulent activity but later confessed that he only made a business mistake.

Andile is a married man who met his wife, the daughter of the Ugandan former Prime Minister. They met in an Asian country where his wife, Bridget Birungi, was studying and he was working. Their marriage, which happened in Uganda in 2018, the same year his father assumed power, was a lavish ceremony that saw very few important guests in attendance.

Yoweri Museveni, the current president of Uganda, was one of the important guests at the wedding.

Tulisa is the Second of Cyril Ramaphosa’s Children

The first daughter of South Africa’s president since 2018 is Tulisa, or Thulisa. She was born from the brief union of Cyril Ramaphosa and the late businesswoman, Nomazizi Mtshotshia.

Nomazizi and Cyril were married from 1991 to 1993, and they had their daughter in 1992. The reason for the end of their brief marriage was not made known, although there were allegations that came up against the president, which suggests it may have led to the divorce.

Tulisa has been quite private and prefers to stay out of the media’s way, considering how important her father is.

Her mother died sometime in 2008 after a long battle with cancer. Before her death, the businesswoman held the position of Chairperson of the Telkom Board. She was the first African woman to have achieved that feat.

Tulisa is the only daughter of the former Midi Chairman.

South Africa’s 5th President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has three More Children with his Present Wife

In 1996, Cyril went on to get married a third time, three years after divorcing his second wife. He got married to a South African physician and businesswoman, Tshepo Motsepe.

If you think the Motsepe name rings a bell, then you must have heard about one of South Africa’s billionaires, Patrice Motsepe. He is a businessman whose wealth grew from exploits in mining and other businesses.

Cyril Ramaphosa’s third wife and the mother of his three last children is also a medical doctor who graduated from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She has quite an impressive resume, but above all, she is the current first lady of South Africa.

The first of Tshepo and Cyril’s children is Tumelo.

• Tumelo Ramaphosa

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He is the most known of the Ramaphosa siblings, and that is because he is very active on social media. There, this third child of S.A.’s president shares pictures of himself, and being a fitness enthusiast with an enviable physique and great fashion sense, he has a lot of women drooling over his pictures.

But there is more to him.

Aside from his muscular, toned body and other drool-worthy images shared on social media, Tumelo is also a businessman. He is the CEO and founder of StudEX Group, which has a subsidiary company known as StudEX Wildlife. This company’s aim is basically to preserve and protect the lives of endangered animals.

He has shared how passionate he is about animals in a number of posts on Instagram. In some of these posts, he shares pictures of his cows and meat. Tumelo started his business journey as a cattle trader and has since grown into many other things. He even worked at McDonald’s as an assistant store manager back in 2014.

The serial entrepreneur also founded StudEXMeat, a business venture that supplies wagyu steaks and cuts to many countries.

He has a master’s degree from Hult International Business School, San Francisco. The degree is in international business, and this has helped him manage his numerous pursuits.

Thumelo is also an all-around cryptopreneur who was part of a group of organizers responsible for the Unlocking Blockchain Africa Conference back in 2018.

He is also a key member of Chankura Global Crypto Currency Exchange and GAD. Additionally, he works as a block mesh and Alpha Crypto Moo consultant.

Concerning his love life, Cyril Ramaphosa’s third child, nicknamed ‘National Bae, has been romantically linked to Kelebogile Shomang. Some gossips even speculate that, with how smitten they have been about each other, they will be set to walk down the aisle soon.

• Keneilwe Ramaphosa

The second child from Cyril and Tshepo’s union is Keneilwe. She attended Inscappe Design College in 2014 and graduated with an Architectural Drafting Certificate, Architectural Drafting, and Architectural CAD/CADD.

From January 2015 to December 2017, Keneilwe attended the University of Cape Town, where she earned a Bachelor of Architectural Studies degree. She then proceeded to earn a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation in May 2022.

She has a lot of experience in her field of study and has even worked as a junior architect for companies such as OMA and Curtis + Ginsberg Architects. As of September 2023, she worked as a freelance architect and was open to any new roles in her field.

Keneilwe currently lives in the Netherlands. As for her relationship status, it hasn’t been made public yet.

• Mashudu Ramaphosa

She is the youngest of the Ramaphosa children and is reportedly still at the university. Mashudu, just like her older siblings, was a student at Cape Town University as of 2018.

Her discipline of study is unknown, as she is as private as her older sisters. However, as a member of the first family, it may not take so long to find out some details about her.

Some Quick Facts about Cyril Ramaphosa’s Children

1. They Don’t Seem Interested in Politics

From the information revealed above about the first children, it doesn’t seem like any of them have an interest in politics. Of the five children, four of whom are adults, none have indicated interest in following in Cyril’s footsteps.

According to answersafrica.com, a relative of the family revealed that the South African president taught his children to choose their own paths. He trained them not to dwell on their own achievements but rather to carve out their own success in whatever field they were interested in.

Definitely, the kids would be involved in some affairs of the country, but only in their capacity as first children. An example of such a time is explained above when Andile rose to his father’s defense against abuse claims.

If, in the future, any of the Ramaphosa kids decide to tow the path of politics, Cyril would be the best person to guide them through.

2. Are there More Children in the Cyril Ramaphosa Brood?

There is a lot of confusing information on the web about the particular number of children Cryril has. This confusion stems from the fact that his third wife, Tshepo Motsepe, is said to have birthed four children for him.

These supposed four children consist of two boys and two girls. However, this isn’t accurate because the supposed second son of the couple was named Andile, who is the president’s first child with his first wife.

Sites such as Tshepo Motsepe’s Wikipedia page, briefly.co.za, and many others carry this piece of information.

However, for clarity’s sake, Andile isn’t a product of Cyril’s marriage to his third wife.

Also, there are no more children in the first family other than the ones discussed above.

3. Have they given him Any Grandchildren?

It is known that Andile has been married, and even though his wedding wasn’t a secret, the marriage and what goes on in it seem to be.

The couple has yet to reveal if they have welcomed any children, which would make Cyril a grandfather. It could be that there are already little Ramaphosa grandchildren in the brood, but they have been kept private.

4. They are Very Private

One central feature of the first children is their knack for privacy. Safe for their business ventures, which put them in the limelight, there isn’t much to know about them.

Andile, Tulisa, Tumelo, Neneilwe, and Mashudu all respect their personal lives and choose to keep them private.

Evidently, the most private among them are the first and last daughters, Tulisa and Mashudu. The other three have provided some information about themselves to the public.

READ ALSO: Paul Mashatile: 10 Things To Know About Deputy President Of South Africa

5. Did their Father Physically Abuse any of his 3 Wives?

A parliament meeting held in 2020 over the issue of women’s abuse led to an uproar. What initially started as a back-and-forth between ANC MP Boy Mamabolo and the EFF leader, Julius Malema, soon turned to Ramaphosa.

It seemed like a can of worms was opened after Mamabolo interrupted his talk and alleged that Julius was a wife-beater. Malema, who tried to ignore the accusation, soon blurted out that he had never hit his wife. He further went on to insinuate that President Cyril Ramaphosa was a wife-beater.

According to Julius’s allegation, Cyril used to beat his late wife, Nomazizi Mtshotshia. It was also alleged that this may have caused the sudden end of their marriage back in 1993. Julius further alleged that Nomazizi confided in President Jacob Zuma about the abuse. He insisted that the truth about Ramaphosa’s history of abuse be made public so his late wife would rest in peace.

As he ranted, Julius Malema was asked to leave the room.

In the wake of this, the president’s first son and wife were quick to defend him. Hope Ramaphosa stated that in all her years of knowing Cyril, he never lifted a finger to hit her. Still defending her ex-husband, Andile’s mother said that he wasn’t the type of man who would abuse a woman.

South Africa’s president did not respond to the accusation directly. Instead, he apologized to South Africans for how the proceeding turned out.

In response to the apology the father of five gave, Julius Malema also tendered his own apology to the president. He explained that he was pushed to the wall and acted out of defense.

The post Cyril Ramaphosa Children: Meet All The Kids Of S.A President  appeared first on WeAfrique.

Interestingly, she not only won the grand prize on the show but she also won the heart of a fellow co-housemate.

Soon after the 3rd season of Big Brother Mzansi was over, Mpho Wa Badimo revealed that she was dating her co-housemate, Themba. Rumors about their wedding also made waves and the couple welcomed a son together in May 2023.

Her son with Themba happens to be her second child but the third for the South African rapper.

Mpho Wa Badimo is a Big Brother Mzansi Season 3 Winner

At the age of 27, this Daveyton, Ekurhuleni District, Gauteng, South African-born celebrity partook in the third season of Big Brother Mzansi (formerly known as Big Brother South Africa).

The now 29-year-old was born on August 9, 1994. Her real name is Michelle Dimpho Mvundla and she became an instant sensation when she joined the aforementioned show in 2022.

She won the hearts of many viewers who kept voting for her whenever the need arose.  The same cannot be said about her fellow housemates, though. The other 17 housemates looked at her with suspicion and nominated her for possible eviction every week.

At the end of the 71 days which began on January 23, 2022, and ended on April 3, 2022, Mpho Wa Badimo emerged victorious and took home the prize of R2 million.

READ ALSO: All The Past Winners Of Big Brother Naija and Where Are They Today?

Mpho Wa Badimo is a Spiritual Healer and Sangoma  

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Outside her fame as a Big Brother Mzansi winner, Michelle prides herself in her gift of African spiritual healing and sangoma.

On July 23, 2023, she celebrated her 7th year anniversary as an African spiritual healer and Sangoma. She shared the story of how she thought she was only doing her family a favor by agreeing to be initiated as a spiritual healer but has realized that she was meant for the role.

Now, she says she would never give up on her gift as a spiritual healer and has gladly given her ancestors, who chose her for the job, permission to use her.

It is because of her spirituality that her fellow housemates didn’t quite like her. They believed she was practicing witchcraft in the house and so grew suspicious of her.

Mpho Wa Badimo has totally accepted her gift and her connection with her ancestors. In fact, her name, chosen ‘stage name’ is a description of her gift. Mpho Wa Badimo means ‘gift of ancestors’.

Is Mpho Wa Badimo Married?

When Mpho left the Big Brother house as the winner, she didn’t just win the 2 million rands. She also won the love of a fellow housemate known as Themba.

While in the house, the 2 didn’t share any intimate relationship but some viewers noticed chemistry between them.

As soon as the show ended, they started a friendship and by June of the same year (2022), Mpho revealed that she was indeed dating her second runner-up, Themba.

By December, rumors that they had done their traditional wedding made it to the internet with supporting images.

Before January, the couple also appeared in an episode of South African TV drama The Black Door. On the show, Mpho Wa Badimo and Themba got married at the club. They took on the roles of Pearl and Zola and even had a controversial involvement with the Slay Queen.

When the news of their marriage became public, fans of Big Brother, Mpho, and Themba were torn.

There was a faction that didn’t believe the story while another believed that Themba was only with Michelle for her money. They claimed that he never fancied the Sangoma and was only with her because she had won the show and was rich.

Another faction believed that Mpho never looked at the South African rapper twice while in the house but on seeing that he was a big deal in the real world, begged him to date and marry her.

In all the allegations and the rumors making waves, it is certain that the couple is no longer together.

Mpho revealed on her social media, in May 2023 that she was kicking Themba out of their home. She shared a video of his clothes packed in bags with Beyonce’s Irreplaceable playing in the background. Soon after the upload, she deleted her Instagram.

She has also moved on with her life and admitted that the relationship with her co-ex-housemate is over.

Themba on the other hand vowed to get her back and apologized for his misdeeds that led to the breakup.

She has 2 Children

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Mpho Wa Badimo is a mother of 2 boys. Her second son who was born on May 28, 2023, is the most publicized of the 2, though.

The reason Mpho’s second son is more widely known than the first is because he is the love child of her and Themba.

They became pregnant sometime towards the tail months of 2022 and by May 2023, the YouTuber welcomed her bundle of Joy.

It seemed like the beginning of the relationship went smoothly but when it was almost time for Mvundla to give birth, the revelation that things had gone sour between the couple, became news.

Unfortunately, she made the decision to raise the boy alone after kicking him out and breaking up with his father.

Why the Reality TV Star Broke Up with the Father of her Second Child

According to the African spiritual healer, Themba, who has 2 other children from his relationship with Nqobil, could not be trusted. He missed so many parts of her pregnancy and kept her in the dark so many times.

This was one of the reasons she broke up with him. She listed a couple of times the rapper missed out on important activities. Also, he would go away and do whatever he wanted without letting her know.

In the wake of the breakup, the Big Brother Mzansi season 3 winner cried out that she and her son were receiving death threats. She claimed that some of the threats even came from people close to her baby daddy, Themba.

Michelle Dimpho Mvundla is Focusing on Making Money

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Following her breakup with the father of her second son and the rumors that she is now broke, Mpho is focusing on making money.

She has put herself out there as a presenter, host, and even a businesswoman. As a host, she made her debut at the 2022 DStv Viewers Choice Awards. She has also been a brand ambassador representing brands such as Castle Milk Stout.

In 2022, she launched a skincare line known as Wabadimo Skincare. The line consists of organically produced skincare products for all skin types.

In addition to the aforementioned, she is also a farmer who is invested in learning all the ropes of the practice. She started off failing and losing a lot but has decided to bounce back and learn everything necessary to expand her farming.

The post Who Is Mpho Wa Badimo And Is She Married? appeared first on WeAfrique.

This is the story of Nzuzo Njilo, a TV host and Faith Nketsi’s husband.

Nzuzo Njilo’s marriage to Faith Nketsi was quiet, yet when people knew about it, it became the talk of the town. However, a year later, with a child together, it seems there is trouble in paradise.

Following two fraud accusations, the son of the former Msunduzi mayor has been made to face the law and defend himself. On the other hand, it looks like Faith is trying to move on and get her life back together.

Here are 10 Facts about Nzuzo Njilo You Should Know

1. How Old is He?

Njilo Nzuzo’s age is not known, but briefly.co.za reveals that his birth year is 1993. Following this suggestion, it would be safe to say that the young man is 31 years old.

He was born in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

He came into the limelight for his marriage to South African influencer, media personality, and model, Faith Mapholoso Nketsi, who was born on December 20, 1994. She was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.

2. He Hails from an Affluent Background

Even though people became aware of him through his marriage, Nzuzo actually hails from an affluent and famous background.

His father is Themba Njilo, who once served as the mayor of Msunduzi Municipality. He was also a very active member of the ANC political party before he was ousted by party members.

Nzuzo’s mother’s name is Thembekile, but not much is known about her as she prefers to remain relatively private.

He has another known family member in the person of his brother, identified as Phumlani Njilo.

3. Nzuzo Njilo is Involved in His Family’s Business

Themba Njilo, Nzuzo’s father, is a well-established businessman who has a couple of businesses to his name.

Following in his father’s footsteps, the young man has risen up to be involved in his family’s business. He has roles to play in both the Themba Njilo Foundation, located in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Nduduzo Funeral Services, also in KwaZulu-Natal.

Aside from his family business, Nzuzo also has his own business, which he oversees. He is the founder of a truck company.

This truck business is the bane of one of the troubles the KwaZulu-Natal native got into in recent times.

4. Nzuzo Njilo’s Brother Made Headlines Once for Not-so-good Reasons

Phumlani Njilo, Nzuzo’s brother, is a South African musician known for songs such as Bayizimbali. He is also married to a woman known as Ayanda Njilo.

In May 2022, rumors made the rounds that the singer was cheating on his wife. According to the reports, he and his wife attended Dedane Mkhize’s wedding, and at the end of the ceremony, he took his wife home. However, the singer was later seen with Lee Khumalo hanging out.

There was no denial or confirmation of this allegation by the singer, his wife, or Lee.

5. He Became Famous for his Marriage to TV Personality, Faith Nketsi

As severally indicated, Nzuzo Njilo became widely known after his marriage to South African TV personality Faith Nketsi made it to the limelight.

The couple had known each other for years but had not started any romantic relationship until 2020. It was revealed that they started dating during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

Two years later, Faith and her businessman beau married in a private ceremony. They only revealed their union after the wedding.

6. He is a Father

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A post shared by THEE FAITH NKETSI (@faith.nketsi)

The union between Nketsi and Njilo saw the birth of a daughter. The girl named Sky Njilo was born on August 29, 2022.

While pregnant, Faith kept it secret, and even after the birth of Sky, she did not reveal her face until recently.

After mistakenly uploading a picture of her baby on her Instagram story, Faith decided to post a full picture with Sky’s face visible in September 2023.

7. Nzuzo Njilo Became Infamous for Fraud Allegations

Since 2022, Faith Nketsi’s husband, Nzuzo Njilo, has been facing fraud accusations. The first fraud case against him was made by his business partners, Blaine Evans and James Stephens, owners of Lund Industries.

They claimed that they paid Nzuzo about R1 million for him to supply them with copper concentrate since August 2022, but he never delivered. The case was filed at the Randburg Magistrate Court in Gauteng.

The second case was filed in KwaZulu-Natal in 2023 after another victim claimed she paid Njilo and an accomplice money for a truck they sold her but never delivered on.

When the victim made the case at the police station, Faith’s husband and his co-accused, a man named Kwanda, turned themselves in.

While the case against him in Gauteng was eventually dropped, this second case had its first hearing in June 2023 in Port Shepstone. After that, the case was postponed to November, with Njilo being granted R30,000 bail while his accomplice, a mining consultant, was granted R3,000 bail.

8. There are Rumors of the Businessman being Bankrupt

News has it that Njilo Nzuzo is financially down and even on the brink of bankruptcy. Following the fraud cases leveled against him, it seems that his wife, Faith, has gone on to file bankruptcy claims.

Also, back in 2022, debtors went over to the businessman’s house in search of any valuables they could find. Unfortunately, they didn’t find many valuable properties.

9. Is his Marriage on the Brink of Collapsing?

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The marriage of barely a year seems to be on the verge of ending following the accusations of fraud Nketsi’s husband faces. News has it that the TV personality moved out of her matrimonial home and has separated from her husband.

Nketsi has a history of psychological issues and claims that she could be confined to a mental home if she didn’t separate from her husband and all the controversies.

In a different story, brieflynewsza’s TikTok page posted photos of the couple, claiming those were taken at a Cape Town wedding after Nzuzo posted bail.

10. His Wife has Gone Back to Working

Probably due to the financial problems her husband is going through, Faith has gone back to work. She resumed hosting at the Booth Night Club and has made it fully clear that she is back for business.

Apart from hosting shows and having her own reality TV show known as Have Faith, Nketsi was a member of a local dance group. She was part of the dance group known as ‘Pro-Twerkers’ before meeting and getting married to Njilo.

The post Who Is Nzuzo Njilo? 10 Unknown Facts About Him appeared first on WeAfrique.