A visit to these places and more will leave you in awe of nature’s wonders endowed in the landlocked country. Check out some of them below.

10 Best Places To Visit In Rwanda

1. Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is one of Rwanda’s most prized places to visit. It is situated at the northwest end of the country, and it is home to more than half the population of the world’s endangered Mountian gorillas. In addition, there are 200 species of colorful birds, golden monkeys, spotted hyenas, buffalos, elephants, black-fronted duikers, and bushbucks.

The park is named after five of the eight dominant volcanoes making up the Virunga Mountains, namely Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo.

Once here, a tourist can enjoy hiking, canoeing, and mountain biking.

2. Akagera National Park

Another exciting place a tourist can visit in Rwanda is the Akagera National Park, situated in the eastern part of the country along the border with Tanzania. Founded in 1934 by the Belgian government, the park is named after the Kagera River and is made up of savannah, woodland, wetland, and a dozen lakes.

Even though the park suffered huge losses during the Rwandan Civil War, recent efforts to give it life and a partnership between the Rwanda Development Board and the African Parks Networth saw the introduction of lions and Eastern black rhinoceroses. With this, it now boasts of having all of Africa’s big five: lion, African leopard, African bush elephant, rhinoceros, and African buffalo.

3. Nyungwe National Park

The Nyungew National Park was established in 2004 and is situated within the Nyungwe Forest, one of the oldest rainforests in Africa. Known for its biodiversity and aesthetics, a visit to this place gives tourists the opportunity to enjoy nature and wildlife. From its small chimpanzee population to L’Hoest’s monkey, the park offers 15 trails, including primate tracking, birdwatching, canopy walking, and tea plantations.

Notably, 70 percent of Rwanda’s water comes from Nyungwe which is blessed with an abundance of rainfall.

4. Gishwati Mukura National Park

In the western part of Rwanda lies the Gishwati Mukura National Park, which consists of two different forests: the Gishwati and the Mukura. The two forests have about 60 tree species, as well as hardwood and bamboo.

Gishwati, which suffered from deforestation and degradation due to the refugee crisis during the Rwandan genocide, is home to a group of 20 chimpanzees, including golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s, blue monkeys, and about 232 bird species. While Mukura has about 163 bird species,

To protect the two forests’ biodiversity, a national park status was given in 2015, and it started operating in 2019. Site attractions include a nature hike, chimpanzee and monkey tracking, and bird watching.

5. Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu is part of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, which lies on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the largest lake in Rwanda, the sixth largest in Africa, and the eighteenth deepest by maximum depth in the world.

To enjoy the beautiful views of the lake, tourists can go on a kayaking tour, mountain biking, or hiking. In addition, there are perfect spots for relaxation in Rubavu and Karongi, which are located within the lake area.

See Also-Is Cape Town Safe? 5 Safest and 5 Most Dangerous Places In South Africa

6. Kibeho

Kibeho, located in southern Rwanda, is one of the places that attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the country annually. According to reports, it has become the center of global pilgrimage for Roman Catholics since the alleged appearance of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, on November 28, 1981.

The Kibeho Church receives pilgrims throughout the year on two dates: the Feast of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15 and the commemoration of Mary’s appearance on November 28.

The number of pilgrims who come from across the globe, including America, Poland, Slovakia, France, and Italy, is between 25,000 and 30,000. While those within Rwanda and neighboring countries such as Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Tanzania are around 100 every week.

7. Huye

To get a taste of Rwanda’s pre-colonial life and the transition to the present, Huye is the best place to visit in the country. Located in the country’s southern province, the district was founded at the beginning of the colonial era and named Astrida after the wife of King Leopold III of Belgium. During this period, it served as the colonial seat of power.

The pre-colonial town has a couple of interesting places to visit, from Mount Huye to the former National University of Rwanda and the Ethnographic Museum (National Museum), which provides traditional relics and history of the country’s pre-colonial era.

8. Nyanza

Nyanza is a perfect place to visit because of its significance in the country’s political history. Located in the southern province of Rwanda, the town was made the royal capital of the Kingdom of Rwanda by Mwami (King) Musinga Yuhi V in 1899, until 1962, when the country became a republic.

Now serving as the administrative capital of the Southern Province, Nyanza boasts several attractions, including the King’s Palace (now a museum), the new King’s Palace, and the Rwesero Art Museum (transitioning to a new type of museum at the moment).

Additionally, the town has two big hotels: the Heritage Hotel and the Dayenu Hotel. Each of the hotels has expensive restaurants for visitors and their customers’ delight.

9. Musanze

Musanze, a district in Rwanda’s Northern Province, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. This is because five of the eight volcanoes of the Virunga Massif, namely Karismbi, Bisoke, Sabyinyo, Gahinga, and Muhabura, lie within its boundaries.

Since it is set on the foothills of the Virunga, the town is suitable for gorilla tracking, while tourists can tour the Musanze underground caves. The cave is 2km long and has 31 entrances, with the main entrance the size of a cathedral. It served as a shelter during wars many centuries ago and was also used for massacres during the Rwandan genocide.

10. Kigali

Kigali, the capital and largest city of Rwanda, was founded in 1907 as an administrative outpost by the German colonial resident Richard Kandt. It became the capital city of the country when it gained independence in 1962.

A visit to the country without a touchdown in Kigali is a miss for any tourist. The city is clean and often full of life and color. There are several places to visit, including the Kigali Cultural Village, Kigali Memorial Center, Kandt House Museum, and Rwanda Art Museum.

The post 10 Best Places To Visit In Rwanda appeared first on WeAfrique.

Intriguing Facts About Rwanda You Need To Know

1. She Got Her Name From A Kinyarwanda Verb

Rwanda derived its name from the Kinyarwanda verb “Kwanda,” which translates to “expansion” in English after King Gihanga founded it in the 15th century. According to various accounts, the name stems from the king’s annexation of many neighboring territories to establish the Kingdom of Rwanda.

2. The Country Was Colonized By Germany And Belgium

Rwanda has two colonial masters: Germany and Belgium. Germany first colonized the country in 1897 as part of German-East Africa. During the period, Germany ruled indirectly through an existing political structure put in motion by the Mwami. In 1916, during World War 1, Belgian colonial forces took control of the territory, and by 1923, the League of Nations had given the country to Belgium. More than three decades later, Rwanda gained independence on July 1, 1962, a month after the United Nations General Assembly terminated the Belgian Trusteeship Agreement.

3. Rwanda’s Capital And Largest City, Kigali, Was Founded In 1907

Besides being the country’s capital city since its independence from Belgium in 1962, Kigali is her most prominent city. It was founded in 1907 by German colonial resident Richard Kandt, who chose her due to her central location, views, and security. Furthermore, it has a population of 1.1 million inhabitants according to the 2012 census, but it is projected to reach 1.3 million by 2025.

4. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park Is The Home Of The Largest Population Of Mountain Gorillas In The World

Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda is the country’s main tourist haven. More than half the population is found here of the more than a thousand endangered mountain gorilla species in the world. Additionally, the park is home to golden monkeys, spotted hyenas, buffalos, elephants, black-fronted duikers, and bushbucks.

The park was extended into Rwanda and the Belgian Congo in 1929 and was divided in the 1960s when the two gained independence.

5. Hutu and Tutsi Are The Major Ethnic Groups In The Country

The largest ethnic groups in the country are the Hutus and the Tutsi, with the former accounting for 85 percent and the latter making up 14 percent of Rwanda’s population. The remaining 1 percent is for the minority group, Twa. Based on this, the Hutus remain the largest ethnic group in Rwanda. Besides, President Paul Kagame is a Tutsi.

See Also-10 Safest African Countries In 2023

6. The Country Has Four Official Languages

Kinyarwanda, French, English, and Swahili are the four recognized official languages in the country. Kinyarwanda is Rwanda’s national and most spoken language, followed by English, which has 15 percent of speakers, while French and Swahili are spoken by 6 percent and 1 percent of the population, respectively.

Besides these, the German language was used during the colonial period.

7. It Has Never Been To The FIFA World Cup

Rwanda’s national football team, nicknamed Amavubi (The Wasps), has yet to appear on the FIFA World Cup stage. On the continental level, the country qualified for the African Cup of Nations on one occasion at the 2004 edition in Tunisia. At the competition, she lost 2-1 to the host in her opening game, a 1-1 all-draw with Guinea, and a 1-0 win over DR Congo, but failed to go beyond the group stage after Tunisia and Guinea progressed to the last eight.

Outside of football, the country made its first Olympic appearance at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, United States. Since then, she has competed in nine Summer Olympic tournaments, such as Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio de Janeiro 2016, and Tokyo 2020. Despite this, it has never won any Olympic medals, but Jean de Dieu Nkundabera won the country’s first Paralympic bronze medal in athletics at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens.

8. An Estimated 800,000 People Were Killed, And 2 Million Were Displaced During The 1994 Rwandan Genocide

The Rwandan Genocide, which took place between April 7 and July 15, 1994, during the Rwandan Civil War, saw the killing of approximately 800,000 people, mostly the Tutsi and some moderate Hutu and Twa, by Hutu militias. However, there are arguments that the figures are around 500,000 to 662,000.

According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the number of those who fled to neighboring countries during and after the genocide was estimated to be more than 2 million. This ushered in a large-scale humanitarian crisis as 1.2 million people escaped to Zaire, 580,000 to Tanzania, 270,000 to Burundi, and 10,000 to Uganda. Besides, 1.5 million people were internally displaced.

9. Christianity Is Her Largest Religion

The largest religion in Rwanda is Christianity. More than 90 percent of her population are adherents. According to the 2012 census, Catholics represent 43.7 percent, protestants 37.7 percent, and Seventh-day Adventists 11.8 percent. Moreover, 2 percent are Muslims, while 0.2 percent claimed to have no religion, while the traditional religion with no significant followers holds influence.

These figures have appreciated over the years.

10. Two Interim Presidents And Four Presidents have ruled Rwanda Since The Office Was Created In 1961

Two interim presidents and four presidents have ruled the country since the “office of the president” was created in 1961 during the Rwandan Revolution.

Dominque Mbonyumutwa served as the country’s first interim president for nine months, from January 28, 1961, to October 28, 1961. He died on July 26, 1986, at the age of 65.

The first elected president of Rwanda was Grégoire Kayibanda. He was in power from 1962 until he was overthrown in a coup d’état in 1973 by his defense minister, Juvénal Habyarimana. He passed away on December 15, 1976, at 52.

Kayibanda was succeeded by Juvénal Habyarimana, who served as the country’s second president from 1973 to 1994. He was assassinated on April 6, 1994, after his private jet was shot down near the Kigali International Airport.

Théodore Sindikubwabo became Rwanda’s second interim president during the genocide period from April 9 to July 19, 1994. He died in March 1988 at about the age of 70.

Pasteur Bizimungu was the third president of the landlocked country. He became president on July 19, 1994, until his alleged forced resignation on March 23, 2000.

After Bizimungu, Paul Kagame, who served as RPF commander during the Rwandan civil war and genocide and also as Vice President and Minister of Defense, was elected as the country’s fourth and current President in April 2000. He was reelected in 2003, 2010, and 2017.

The post 10 Interesting Facts About Rwanda appeared first on WeAfrique.

Moreover, Buka Suka Dimka in February 1976 and Gideon Orkar in April 1990 each staged a coup attempt. The plotters failed to overthrow the military governments of General Murtala Mohammed in 1976 and General Ibrahim Babangida in 1990.

Leaders Of Every Coup D’état In Nigeria’s History

1. Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu

Patrick Chukwuma “Kaduna” Nzeogwu was born in Kaduna on February 26, 1937, and attended Saint Joseph’s Catholic Primary School and Saint John’s College. In March 1957, he enlisted as an officer Cadet in the Nigeria Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force.

Nzeogwu received six months of preliminary training on the Gold Coast before proceeding to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England, where he was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1959. He then completed a platoon officer course in Hythe and a platoon commander course in Warminster.

Upon his return, he served in several army formations and units, including the 1st Battalion of the Nigeria Regiment in Enugu, the 5th Battalion in Kaduna, the Army Training Depot in Zaria, and the Army Headquarters (military intelligence section).

Nzeogwu led a group of young army majors in the overthrow of Nigeria’s democratically elected government a few weeks before he turned 29. Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, Northern Regio Premier Ahmadu Bello, and Federal Minister Festus Okotie-Eboh were among those killed in the coup.

The coup failed and he was later arrested and detained in Lagos Kirikiri before being transferred to Aba Prison, where he was released in March 1967 by Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, the then-Governor of the Eastern Region.

Nzeogwu was reportedly killed in action as a Lieutenant Colonel for the Briafran Army during the Nigerian Civil War in July 1967. His sister, on the other hand, denied the reports, claiming he committed suicide to avoid humiliation by Federal Troops.

2. Murtala Muhammed

Murtala Ramat Muhammed was born in Kano on November 8, 1938. He went to Gidan Makama Primary School in Kano, Kano Middle School (now Rumfa College), and Zaria’s renowned Government College (now Barewa College).

He enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1958 after graduating and received military training in Ghana as well as officer cadet training at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in England. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1961 and immediately assigned to the Nigerian Army Signals.

Murtala served as an aide-de-camp to M.A. Majekodunmi, the then-Federally appointed administrator of the Western Region, as a young army officer. By 1963, he was the officer-in-charge of the First Brigade Signal Troops in Kaduna, and the following year, he was promoted to the rank of major. As a result, he was appointed officer-commanding 1st Signa Squadron in Apapa, Lagos.

In response to the killings of Northern politicians and officers in the January 1966 coup, Murtala Muhammed and several Northern military officers masterminded the July 1966 counter-coup. The coup resulted in the deaths of Nigeria’s first military ruler, Gen. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, and Lt.Col. Adekunle Fajuyi in Ibadan.

After the successful execution of the coup, Lt.Col Yakubu Gowon was appointed the Head of State.

Murtala commanded the 2nd Infantry Division during the Nigerian Civil War, which drove the Biafran Army out of the Mid-West region. He was promoted to colonel in 1968 and brigadier-general in 1971.

In July 1975, he was appointed Military Head of State after Gen. Gowon was deposed in a bloodless coup. After 200 days in office, he was brutally murdered in a coup attempt led by Col. Buka Suka Dimka the following year. He was 37 years old at the time, making him the youngest Nigerian Head of State to die in office and the only one to die before the age of 40.

3. Joseph Nanven Garba

Joseph Nanven Garba was born on July 17, 1943, in Langtang, Plateau State. He received his primary education at Sacred Heart School in Shendam before enrolling in the Nigeria Military School in Zaria in 1957. Following that, he joined the Nigerian Army in 1961, attended the Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England, and was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1962.

Garba had a successful military career, serving as Platoon Commander of the 44th Battalion, Company Commander, Morta Commander, and Bridagde of Guards Commander. In addition, he presided over the United Nations General Assembly from 1989 to 1990.

He led the bloodless military coup against the then-head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, in July 1975. Garba, who was then a Colonel, announced on Radio Nigeria that Gen. Gowon was no longer the head of the Federal Military Government and Command-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in his broadcast speech.

Garba, along with the plotters, accused Gowon of failing to bring the country closer to democracy. The coup plotters appointed Murtala Muhammed as the Military Head of State.

After the coup, he turned to politics and diplomacy. In this capacity, he served as Federal Commissioner for External Affairs during the regimes of Murtala Muhammed and Olusegun Obasanjo. In addition, he led the Nigerian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in 1975, was appointed president of the United Nations Security Council in 1978, and was elected president of the United Nations General Assembly in 1989.

On June 1, 2002, he died at the age of 58.

4. Buka Suka Dimka

Buka Suka Dimka was born in Northern Nigeria and received his military training at the Australian Army Officer Cadet School in Portsea before being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Nigerian Army in December 1963. He was reportedly among the plotters of the counter-coup of July 1966.

Dimka and his group of “young revolutionaries” staged a coup in February 1976 that resulted in the assassination of Gen. Murtala Muhammed, as well as his aide-de-camp Lieutenant Akintunde Akinsehinwa and his driver in Ikoyi, Lagos. Despite successfully killing the Head of State, the coup attempt was foiled by troops loyal to the Federal Government, and a manhunt for the plotters was launched.

The leader of the coup (Dimka) ran away, but he was eventually arrested, court-martialed, and executed by firing squad alongside  38 military officers and a civilian.

See Also-12 Most Iconic And Greatest African Presidents Ever

5. Muhammadu Buhari

Muhammadu Burahi was born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State. He served as Nigeria’s military head of state from December 1983 to August 1985 and was elected President on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from 2015 to 2023.

Buhari’s military career began at the age of 19 when he was admitted to the Nigerian Military Training College (NMTC) in 1962, which later became the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) in 1964. He attended Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in January 1963, at the age of 20. He completed the Platoon Commanders’ Course at the Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna in 1964, as well as the Mechanical Transport Officer’s Course at the Army Mechanical Transports School in Borden, United Kingdom.

He later served as commander of the Second Infantry Battalion, Brigade Major of the Second Sector, First Infantry Division, Brigade Major of the 3rd Infantry Brigade, GOC of the 4th Infantry Division, GOC of the 2nd  Mechanised Infantry Division, and GOC of the 3rd Armoured Division.

Buhari allegedly led the plotters of the December 31, 1983 coup that deposed President Shehu Shagari’s democratically elected government and installed him as the head of state. After 20 months in power, he was ousted in another coup.

6. Ibrahim Babangida

Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida was born on August 17, 1941, in Minna, Niger State, and served as Nigeria’s military president from 1985 to 1993. He attended Government College Bida before joining the Nigerian Army in December 1962 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant at the Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna. He enrolled in the Indian Military Academy in April 1963.

In the course of his military career, Babangida served as commander of the 44 Infantry Battalion, Instructor at the Nigerian Defence Academy, commander of the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps, Director of Army Staff Duties and Plans, and Chief of Army Staff.

As Chief of Army Staff, he orchestrated the place coup that led to the removal of Muhammadu Buhari from power on August 27, 1985. Babangida and his plotter accused Buhari of failing to address the country’s economic woes. He went on to form the Armed Forced Ruling Council (AFRC) and took on the title of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He ruled until 1993 when he resigned and handed over to an interim government headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan.

7. Gideon Orkar

Gideon Gwaza Orkar was born in Benue State on October 4, 1952. He went to Boys Secondary School in Gindiri, Plateau State, and then to the Nigerian Defence Academy as an officer cadet. In December 1974, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Nigerian Army and assigned to the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps School in Ibadan.

During his military career, he served in several units including Reece in Kaduna and Armoured School in Bauchi, as well as on a peacekeeping mission in Chad in 1978. He was also the commander of Oyo State’s Saki 22 Armoured Battalion.

In April 1990, Orkar attempted to depose General Ibrahim Babangida’s government. He and the coup plotters accused Babangida’s administration of marginalizing the people of Nigeria’s Niger Delta and southern regions.

The plotters’ troops took over the FRCN and various military units around Lagos, including the military headquarters and Dodan Barracks, which houses the presidential residence. Babangida, who was present when the barracks were attacked, fled via a back route.

Governments apprehended Orkar and his co-conspirators. Despite the fact that he allegedly masterminded the coup, the evidence presented during the trial indicated that Lt.Col. Anthony Nyam, Major Saliba Mukoro, and Cyril Obahor were the ideological arrowheads.

He and the others were convicted of treason and executed by firing squad in July 1990.

8. Sani Abacha

Sani Abacha was born in Kano on September 20, 1943, and graduated from the Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna as a second lieutenant in 1963. In addition, he went to the Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England.

He held the positions of Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Defence Staff, and Minister of Defense. Notably, he is the first Nigerian Army officer to achieve the rank of full military general without passing through any intermediate ranks.

Abacah was involved in every military coup that occurred in the country during his military career.

On November 17, 1993, Abacha led a bloodless coup that ousted the interim government of Chief Ernest Shonekan. He charged Shonekan’s interim administration with failing to manage the country’s democratic process.

Nigeria’s economy is said to have grown under his watch, with foreign exchange reserves increasing from $494 million in 1993 to $9.6 billion in 1997. Furthermore, the country’s external debt fell from $36 billion in 1993 to $27 billion in 1997. However, these achievements were tainted by widespread corruption, dubbed “Abacha Loot,” and numerous allegations of human rights violations.

He died in Aso Villa in Abuja in June 1998.

The post Leaders Of Every Coup In Nigeria appeared first on WeAfrique.

Following the bloodless coup, he was exiled to Conakry, Guinea, and later received a United Nations sponsorship to study law at the University of Warwick, in Coventry, England, but dropped out after a year. Subsequently, he was offered amnesty by Ahmed Tejan Kabbah to return to the country. In 2019, his left leg was amputated due to Peripheral Artery Disease and was given an apartment by the government of his country in 2021.

In this video, we are going to tell the story of Strasser’s fall from grace to grass.

Early Life Of Valentine Stresser?

Valentine Esegragbo Melvin Strasser was born on April 26, 1967, in Allen Town, Freetown to parents of Creole origin. He enrolled at the Church Missionary Grammar School and completed his secondary education in 1985 when he was 18 years old. During his secondary school days, he excelled in math and chemistry.

Strasser Enlisted In Sierra Leone Army At 18 And Was Commissioned At 19

Valentine Strasser enlisted in the Republic of Sierra Leone Military forces immediately after finishing secondary school and had his military training at the Benguema Military Training Academy in Benguema. He was commissioned into the Sierra Leone army at the age of 19 and subsequently deployed to military barracks in Daru, Kailahun District, Eastern Sierra Leone.

At the time he was in the barrack, the country began fighting an incursion of Liberian rebels known as the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), led by then-former Liberian President Charles Taylor, as well as a rebellion by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), led by former Sierra Leone army corporal Foday Sanko. As a result, he was sent alongside other soldiers to fight off the latter’s rebellion.

He also fought against the NPFL’s invasion in the country’s south and east, and domestic rebels known as the Sobels.

While the war with RUF was still underway, military personnel on the front lines in Kailahun District protested, accusing the government of President Joseph Saidu Momoh of indifference. There was a shortage of boots and military weapons, as well as low remuneration and welfare, according to sources.

The troops under Strasser’s command marched from Kailahun to the State House in Freetown to protest the neglect and demand that their unpaid salaries be paid. The troops were led by Stresser and two of his best friends, Seargent Solomon Musa and Captain Sahr Sandy.

Momoh fleed for his life and went into exile in Conakry, Guinea. As a result, a power vacuum was created, and someone must fill it.

Valentine Strasser Became Sierra Leone’s Head Of State At 25

Following the power vacuum, Strasser and the men he was commanding seized power and formed the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC) in April 1992. Since he was leading the group of soldiers, he was made the Head of State of the country. Thus, he made history by becoming the youngest president three days after marking his 25th birthday.

With Strasser in power, the country’s youth population had renewed hopes that someone who fall at their level had better chances of championing their cause. Unfortunately, he was just too young and inexperienced to run or handle the complex nature of governmental affairs.

He was more interested in crushing the rebellion led by rebel leader Foday Sankoh, but that didn’t yield positive results. So, he hired Executive Outcomes, a South African mercenary firm to supplement his armed forces in the war.

He Was Oust In A Coup De’tat By His Second-In-Command, Brigadier General Julius Maada Bio In 1996

At the age of 29 and barely four years in power, Valentine Strasser was removed from power by his deputy, Brigadier General Julius Maada Bio in a military coup in January 1996.

The coup which was backed by several NPRC’s rank and file, including Col. Tom Nyuma, Lt. Col. Komba Modeh, Lt.Col. Reginald Glover, Lt.Col. Idrissa Kamara and Lt.Col. Karefa-Kargo, following a dispute relating to elections and a peace treaty with the RUF. He was handcuffed by his guards and exiled to Conakry, Guinea in a military helicopter.

See Also-The Rise And Fall of the Greatest Female Pharaoh, Hatshepsut

What Happened To Him After The Coup?

Following his removal from power, Strasser was supported by the UN to study law at the University of Warwick in Coventry, England. He dropped out of school a year later after his sponsorship was abruptly revoked. As a result, he was unemployed and homeless until 2000.

He was mocked, and even the British press published articles with alarming headlines that made his ordeal public. Amnesty International demanded that the British government examine charges of torture against Strasser, accusing his forces of “torture, ill-treatment, and arbitrary killings of unarmed civilians” at the time. Nonetheless, the former Sierra Leone president dismissed the claims as unreasonable, arguing that RUF was to blame for the crimes.

Besides, he revealed in an interview that a man attacked him in a London Underground station and pulled out a knife at him. He was stabbed and then taken to a hospital.

Strasser was later deported after the British government concluded its investigation and had overwhelming evidence. He left for the Gambia and was denied entry, so he returned home after then-President, Ahmed Tejan Kabbah offered him amnesty.

He found respite in returning home, but his woes were compounded when Ahmed Tejan Kabbah’s Sierra Leona Peoples’ Party (SLPP) lost the presidency in the 2007 general elections to the All Peoples’ Congress (APC).

Sierra Leone’s former President moved to Allen Town to live with his mother and brother. Soon, several newspaper reports indicated he resorted to spending his time in a palm wine bar drinking palm wine.

Valentine Strasser’s Left Leg Was Amputated In 2019

At the beginning of 2019, Strasser fall ill and was flown to Ghana on an executive clearance from President Julius Madaa Bio, the man who served as his deputy, and also overthrew him in 1996. He suffered from Peripheral Artery Disease which affected his left leg, so, it was amputated.

He returned to the country two years later and was given an apartment by President Bio, but it was alleged that Strasser was kept under house arrest.

The post Rise And Fall Of The Youngest African President in History – Valentine Strasser of Sierra Leone appeared first on WeAfrique.

African Countries, Capital Cities, Most Spoken Language 

1. Algeria

• Capital: Algiers
• Most Spoken Language: Algerian Arabic is the most spoken indigenous language besides Berber in Algeria. It is spoken by more than half the population of the country.
• How It Got Its Name: The North African country got its name from its capital city “Algiers”, derived from the Arabic word al-jazā’ir which means Islands.

2. Angola

• Capital: Luanda
• Most Spoken Language: Besides Portuguese, there are several indigenous languages spoken in Angola; Umbundu, a Bantu language is widely spoken by 23 percent of Angolans, followed by Kikongo and Kimbundu.
• How It Got Its Name: Angola, located in southwestern Africa derived its name from the Kimbundu word “N’gola”, which stands for a king.

3. Benin

• Capital: Porto Novo
• Most Spoken Language: The most widely spoken indigenous language in Benin is Fon; it is used by nearly one-quarter of the West African country’s population, in addition to Yoruba, Yom, Bariba, Mina, Dendi, and Mokole.
• How It Got Its Name: The West African country was initially known as the Republic of Dahomey during the colonial era but changed to the Republic of Benin in 1975. Benin’s name is gotten from the Bight of Benin.

4. Botswana

• Capital: Gaborone
• Most Spoken Language: Setswana is spoken chiefly across the length and breadth of the Southern African country. Since it is the official language of Botswana, it is spoken by more than half of its population alongside Sekelanga and Shekgalagadi.
• How It Got Its Name: Before the Southern African country became known as Botswana, it was called “Bechuanaland” by the British colonialist who made it a protectorate in March 1885. By September 1996, it gained independence and was renamed “Botswana”, after the largest ethnic group “Tswana” which constitutes about 73 percent of the country’s population.

5. Burkina Faso

• Capital: Ouagadougou
• Most Spoken Language: The Majority of Burkina Faso’s population speaks Mossi (Moore), a Gur language. Additionally, there are other major indigenous languages such as Dyula, and Fula.
• How It Got Its Name: The name “Burkina Faso” came to be in August 1984 when its late former President Captain Thomas Sankara named the country after two of its major languages, Mossi and Dyula. He picked “Burkina” from Mossi which means “men of integrity” and “Faso” from Dyula which means “fatherland”. A marriage of the two phrases from the two languages births “Burkina Faso” as “the land of upright people” or “the land of honest people”

6. Burundi

• Capital: Gitega (political), Bujumbura (economic)
• Most Spoken Language: Kirundi, a Bantu language besides being the official language of Burundi, is also widely spoken throughout the country by the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups.
• How It Got Its Name: Burundi is named after Ntare I of Burundi, who ruled over the territory beginning in the late 16th century. He was credited with setting up the Senatare who were tribunal judges vested with the authority to settle property disputes among chiefs.

7. Cameroon

• Capital: Yaoundé
• Most Spoken Language: Cameroon is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world because of the 260 languages spoken across the country besides its two official languages; French and English. Some of the most spoken indigenous languages include Ewondo, Bassa, Douala, Fulfulde, Bulu, and Hausa.
• How It Got Its Name: The West African country got its name from Rio dos Camarões (River of Prawns), a name given to the Wouri River by Portuguese explorers who arrived in the country in the 15th or 16th century.

8. Cape Verde

• Capital: Praia
• Most Spoken Language: The most spoken language in Cape Verde apart from Portuguese is the Cape Verdean Creole (a Portuguese-based creole); which is also known as “Kriolu” or Kriol”. Three different theories exist on the formation of the Creole; the first  (monogenetic) asserts the Portuguese simplified the Portuguese language so that African slaves can have access to it, while the second claims that it was African slaves that formulated it by replacing the African lexicon with Portugese’s using the grammar of Western African languages, and the third says it was created from Portuguese pidgin; which was transported by Portuguese settlers (lançados).
• How It Got Its Name: The country got its name from the Cap-Vert Peninsula.

9. Central African Republic

• Capital: Bangui
• Most Spoken Language: Sango (Sangho) is the most spoken language in the Central African Republic. Additionally, it is also one of two official languages; with the other being French, that is used by the country’s population.
• How It Got Its Name: The Central African country got its name from its geographical location (central region) and form of government (republican).

10. Chad

• Capital: N’Djamena
• Most Spoken Language: Chadian Arabic, a variety of Arabic that originates in the Arabic Peninsula, is widely spoken by almost half the population of Chad.
• How It Got Its Name: The north-central African country derived its name from Lake Chad, a lake that surrounds four countries such as Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria.

11. Comoros

• Capital: Moroni
• Most Spoken Language: Comorian (Shikomoro) is the most spoken language in Comoros, followed by French and Arabic. Also, all three are the official languages of the country.
• How It Got Its Name: The name of the southeastern African country was derived from “qamar”, an Arabic word for “moon”

12. Democratic Republic of Congo

• Capital: Kinshasa
• Most Spoken Language: French is not native to DRC, but is widely spoken by most of the country’s population. Additionally, there are about 242 spoken languages across the country, and of this number; Kituba (Kikongo), Lingala, Tshiluba, and Swahili are national languages.
• How It Got Its Name: The Democratic Republic of Congo got its name from the Congo River.

13. Djibouti

• Capital: Djibouti
• Most Spoken Language: The most widely spoken languages in Djibouti are Afar and Somali, in addition to French and Arabic which are the two official languages in the country.
• How It Got Its Name: Djibouti got its name from its capital, the City of Djibouti. Moreover, several theories exist on the origin of the country’s name. One of the theories states that the name was derived from the Afar word gabouti (plate), and another links it to gabood (upland/plateau).

14. Egypt

• Capital: Cairo
• Most Spoken Language: Egyptian Arabic, Sa’idi Arabic, Eastern Egyptian Bedawi, Sudanese rabic, Domari, Nobin, Beja, and Siwi are the most spoken languages in Egypt.
• How It Got Its Name: Egypt’s name is derived from the Greek word Aígyptos, and the Latin word Aegyptus.

15. Equatorial Guinea

• Capital: Malabo
• Most Spoken Language: Spanish is spoken by a majority of the population in  Equatorial Guinea, while a smaller percentage speak French and other languages such as Portugueses, Fang, Ibo, Bubi, and Annoboneses.
• How It Got Its Name: The country got its name due to its nearness to the Equator and the Gulf of Guinea.

16. Eritrea

• Capital: Asmara
• Most Spoken Language: The majority of Eritreans speak Tigrinya which is one of the 9 national languages of the country (Tigre, Afar, Beja, Bilen, Kunama, Nara, and Saho)
• How It Got Its Name: Eritrea comes from the ancient Greek word for “Red Sea”.

17. eSwatini

• Capital: Mbabane (Executive), Lobamba (Legislative)
• Most Spoken Language: The most spoken language in Eswatini is SiSwati (Swazi).
• How It Got Its Name: The country was formerly known as “Swaziland” before it was renamed “eSwatini” in 2018 by King Mswati. It means “land of the Swazis”.

18. Ethiopia

• Capital: Addis Ababa
• Most Spoken Language: Ethiopia has several widely spoken languages such as Oromo, Amharic, Somali, Tigrinya, Sidama, Wolaytta, Sebat Bet Gurage, and Afar.
• How It Got Its Name: The country derived its name from the Greek word Aethiopia.

19. Gabon

• Capital: Libreville
• Most Spoken Language: Besides French being the most widely spoken language in Gabon, Fang, Mbere and Sira are the three biggest indigenous languages in the country.
• How It Got Its Name: Gabon was named by the Portuguese in the 15th century as “Gabao”.

20. Gambia

• Capital: Banjul
• Most Spoken Language: The most predominant languages in the Gambia include Mandinka, Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, and Serahule
• How It Got Its Name: The country got its name from the Mandinka word “Kambra/Kambaa”, which means Gambia River.

21. Ghana

• Capital: Accra
• Most Spoken Language: Akan (Asante Twi, Auapem Twi, Fante, and Nzema) is the most spoken language besides English in Ghana.
• How It Got Its Name: The West African country is named after the medieval Ghana of West Africa, and “Ghana” itself was the title of the kings who ruled over the then kingdom.

22. Guinea

• Capital: Conakry
• Most Spoken Language: On a regional basis, there are four most spoken languages in Guinea; Fula in Middle Guinea, Malinke in Upper Guinea, Susu in Guinea maritime, and koniaka in Guinea Forestiere. Additionally, French is the country’s official language.
• How It Got Its Name: The country got its name from the Guinea region which is located along the Gulf of Guinea.

23. Guinea-Bissau

• Capital: Bissau
• Most Spoken Language: The most widely spoken language in Guinea-Bissau is Portuguese creole (Kriol or crioulo). Also, Fula, Balanta, Mandinka, and Manjak are native languages that are predominant in rural areas.
• How It Got Its Name: Guinea-Bissau’s name is derived from a Berber word Amazigh, which means “land of the blacks”, and Bissau was added to differentiate it from Guinea.

24. Ivory Coast

• Capital: Yamoussoukro (Political), Abidjan (Economic)
• Most Spoken Language: Dyula is one of the widely spoken indigenous languages in the Ivory Coast alongside its official language, Franch. Others include Baoule, Anyin, Bete, Dida, Dan, and Guro
• How It Got Its Name: The country got its name from its location and the kind of resources that were prevalent during the advent of Portuguese and French merchan-explorers in the 15th and 16th centuries who named it Côte d’Ivoire and Costa do Marfim, respectively, witn both meaning Ivory Coast. The area that became known as Ivory Coast lies between Upper Guinea (Guinea de Cabo Verde) and Lower Guinea. Also, the coast was known for its exportation of ivory.

25. Kenya

• Capital: Nairobi
• Most Spoken Language: Swahili is spoken by a majority of Kenya’s population, in addition to English.
• How It Got Its Name: The East African country derived its name from Mount Kenya, the highest and second-highest in the country and Africa, respectively.

26. Lesotho

• Capital: Maseru
• Most Spoken Language: Lesotho’s most widely spoken language is Sesotho, a Southern Bantu Language. It was also recognized as one of the country’s two official languages together with English.
• How It Got Its Name: Lesotho was initially known as Basutoland before it was changed in 1966 following its independence from the United Kingdom. The name translated to “Land of the Sotho” in English.

27. Liberia

• Capital: Monrovia
• Most Spoken Language: The West African country is multilingual, with more than 20 indigenous languages such as Bandi, Dan Kpelle, Loma, Krumen, Kuwa, Sapo, and Gola. Moreover, the Liberian Kreyol, an Atlantic English-lexicon creole is mostly spoken in Liberia.
• How It Got Its Name: Liberia got its name in 1824 when the colony was created by the United States of America for freed African slaves. It connotes liberty and liberation (freedom).

28. Libya

• Capital: Tripoli
• Most Spoken Language: Arabic is the most spoken language in Libya, in addition to other minority languages such as Berber, Domari, Tedega, Turkish, and Greek.
• How It Got Its Name: The name Libya originates from the Greeks (Libu or Libue) who used it to refer to people of Cyrenaica and Marmarica. Subsequently, it became synonymous with natives of the North African region, and Italian Libya by 1934.

29. Madagascar

• Capital: Antananarivo
• Most Spoken Language: Malagasy is widely spoken in Madagascar. It is also the official language of the Island country alongside French.
• How It Got Its Name: The origin of Madagascar’s name is traced to 13th-century Venetian explorer Marco Polo who mistook the Island for the kingdom of Mogadishu in Somali, East Africa, as a result of mispronunciation and misspelling.

See Also-List Of All Francophone Countries In Africa

30. Malawi

• Capital: Lilongwe
• Most Spoken Language: Chichewa is spoken by nearly half the population of Malawi. It is followed by Chinyanja, Chiyao, Chitumbuka and Malawian Lomwe.
• How It Got Its Name: The country got its name from Maravi, a name that was used to call the Chewa people; the biggest ethnic group that occupies the country.

31. Mali

• Capital: Bamako
• Most Spoken Language: The most spoken language in Mali is Bambara (Bamanan or Bamanakan).
• How It Got Its Name: The West African country got its name from an ancient African kingdom known as the Empire of Mali. The empire is said to have controlled parts of the country from the 9th to 16th century.

32. Mauritania

• Capital: Nouakchott
• Most Spoken Language: Hassaniya, a variety of Maghrebi Arabic is widely spoken in Mauritania. Others include Pulaar, Soninke and Wolof.
• How It Got Its Name: The name “Mauritania” originated from the ancient Berber kingdom that was a force in the 3rd century BC.

33. Mauritius

• Capital: Porto Louis
• Most Spoken Language: Mauritian Creole, a French-based creole is the native language of Mauritians, while French and English are used in government business and politics.
• How It Got Its Name: Mauritius was named by the leader of a Dutch unit Admiral Wybarnd van Warywyck after Prince Maurice van Nassau of the Dutch Republic.

34. Morocco

• Capital: Rabat
• Most Spoken Language: Darija (Moroccan Arabic), a vernacular Arabic is spoken by a majority of the country’s population, in addition to Beber and French.
• How It Got Its Name: Morocco got its name from the city of Marrakesh, one of the largest cities in the country currently, and a one-time capital city during the existence of the Almoravid dynasty and Almohad Caliphate.

35. Mozambique

• Capital: Maputo
• Most Spoken Language: Portuguese though a foreign language, is spoken by half of the country’s population
• How It Got Its Name: The Portuguese named the Southeastern country after the Island of Mozambique (Mocambique), which lies off the northern part of the country.

36. Namibia

• Capital: Windhoek
• Most Spoken Language: The most spoken language in the Southern African country is Oshiwambo, Khoekhoegowab, Afrikaans, and RuKwangali.
• How It Got Its Name: Namibia is named after the Namib desert. It was proposed by Namibian politician and academic, Mburumba Kerina first as the “Republic of Namib” before the current name.

37. Niger

• Capital: Niamey
• Most Spoken Language: Hausa is widely spoken in Niger, in addition to Zarma, French, Fulfulde, Tamajaq, Kanuri, and Arabic.
• How It Got Its Name: The country got its name from the Niger River.

38. Nigeria

• Capital: Abuja
• Most Spoken Language: Nigeria has more than 525 native languages; with Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo spoke majorly across the country’s three main regions of North, West, and South.
• How It Got Its Name: The West African country was named after the Niger River by Flora Shaw in January 1897.

39. Republic of the Congo

• Capital: Brazzaville
• Most Spoken Language: Besides French, Kituba, Lingala, Batekes, and Ladi languages are mostly spoken in the country.
• How It Got Its Name: Congo-Brazzaville got its name from the Congo River; which is the second-largest river in Africa

40. Rwanda

• Capital: Kigali
• Most Spoken Language: Kinyarwanda is the most spoken language in Rwanda
• How It Got Its Name: The country’s name is derived from a Kinyarwanda verb “Kwanda” which translates to “the expansion” in English.

41. Sao Tome and Principe

• Capital: Sao Tome
• Most Spoken Language: The widely spoken language in the country is Portuguese, followed by Forro, Cabo Verdian, French, and Angolar.
• How It Got Its Name: The Island country got the first part of its name “Sao Tome” from Saint Thomas’s Day, which is rumored to be one of the dates the Island country was discovered. The second part of the name “Principe” is from  “Ilha do Príncipe”, which means “the Prince’s Island”

42. Senegal

• Capital: Dakar
• Most Spoken Language: Wolof is the most spoken language in Senegal.
• How It Got Its Name: Senegal’s name was derived from the Senegal River.

43. Seychelles

• Capital: Victoria
• Most Spoken Language: Seychelles Creole, a French-based creole is widely spoken in the archipelagic country.
• How It Got Its Name: The origin of the country’s name dates back to 1742 when French explorer Lazare Picault landed on the Island and called it “Ile de l’Abondance”. Later on, he renamed it “Mahé”, and was subsequently changed to “Isle de Séchelles” after Viscount Jan Moreau de Séchelles, France’s Finance Minister during Louis XV’s reign.

44. Sierra Leone

• Capital: Freetown
• Most Spoken Language: The most spoken language in the country is the Krio (Sierra Leonean Creole).
• How It Got Its Name: Sierra Leone was first called Serra Lyoa (Lion Mountains) by the 15th-century Portuguese explorer Pedro de Sintra.

45. Somalia

• Capital: Mogadishu
• Most Spoken Language: Somali besides being one of the country’s two official languages, is also widely spoken.
• How It Got Its Name: The name Somali was derived from Samaal (Samaale), a forefather of some of the lineages in the country.

46. South Africa

• Capital: Pretoria (Executive), Cape Town (Legislative), Bloemfontein (Judicial)
• Most Spoken Language: There are three widely spoken languages in South Africa; Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans.
• How It Got Its Name: The country’s name stems from its geographical location; which is at the southern end of the continent.

47. South Sudan

• Capital: Juba
• Most Spoken Language: Dinka, Nuer, Bari, and Zande are widely spoken languages in South Sudan.
• How It Got Its Name: In February 2011, the country became known as “South Sudan” due to its geographical region “Sudan”, which is situated “south” of the Sahara desert.

48. Sudan

• Capital: Khartoum
• Most Spoken Language: The most spoken language in Sudan is Sudanese Arabic.
• How It Got Its Name: The country got its name from bilād al-sūdān, an Arabic expression meaning “land of the blacks” in English. According to britannica.com, Arab geographers used the term to refer to the settled African countries at the southern edge of the Sahara.

49. Tanzania

• Capital: Dodoma
• Most Spoken Language: Swahili and English are two of the most spoken languages in Tanzania.
• How It Got Its Name: The name of the country is the marriage of the names of two states; Tanganyika and Zanzibar, that came together to create “Tanzania”.

50. Togo

• Capital: Lome
• Most Spoken Language: French is the official language of Togo, but is it mostly used in government and business dealings. However, indigenous languages such as Ewe and Kabiye are widely spoken in the south and north of the country, respectively.
• How It Got Its Name: The country got its name from the town of Togoville, which is derived from Lake Togo.

51. Tunisia

• Capital: Tunis
• Most Spoken Language: Tunisian Arabic is the most spoken language in the North African country.
• How It Got Its Name: Tunisia’s name emanated from Tunis, the capital city of the country. In its present form, it originates from French Tunisie. 

52. Uganda

• Capital: Kampala
• Most Spoken Language: The majority of Uganda’s population speaks three languages such as Luganda, English, and Swahili.
• How It Got Its Name: The East African country is named after Buganda, an age-old kingdom that became popular in the 18th century in that part of the continent.

53. Zambia

• Capital: Lusaka
• Most Spoken Language: There are several widely spoken languages in Zambia including Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga, Tumbuka, and Lozi.
• How It Got Its Name: Initially known as Northern Rhodesia until its independence in October 1964, Zambia got its name from the Zambezi, the 4th longest river in Africa.

54. Zimbabwe

• Capital: Harare
• Most Spoken Language: The most spoken languages in Zimbabwe are Shona and Ndebele.
• How It Got Its Name: Formerly known as Southern Rhodesia, the country derived its current name from a Shona term for Great Zimbabwe, a medieval city in the southeast of Zimbabwe.

The post Every African Country, Capital, How It Got Its Name, Most Spoken Language appeared first on WeAfrique.

Here is everything you were never told about Lloyd Avery II’s brother.

Early Life And Family Background Of Ché Avery

Ché Avery was born on October 7, 1971, in Los Angeles, California to Lloyd Avery Sr. and Linda Avery. His father was a plumber, electrician, and carpenter, while his mother used to be a stay-at-home wife until she secured a job at a local bank as a senior accounting clerk.

Ché was the third of his parents’ five children. His older brother, Lloyd Avery II was an actor known for his role in two of John Singleton’s movies, Boy n the Hood (1991) and Poetic Justice (1993). However, his big brother’s life was cut short in 2005 while serving a life sentence for a double homicide.

Moving on, Avery attended Beverly Hills High School, Beverly Hills and was an excellent student. He graduated with a GPA of 3.6 and was offered admission by two Ivy League schools; the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of California, Berkeley (UC), but he declined, and enrolled at Los Angeles Trade Tech, his father’s alma mater.

This decision and the path he treaded after high school would later see him committing to crime and subsequently spending time in federal prison.

See Also-Jermaine Fuller- All About The Life And Death of Shante Broadus’ Brother

Checkout These Mesmerizing Facts About Lloyd Avery II’s Younger Brother, Ché Avery

 1. Che Joined A Group Of Friends Known As The “Scandals” When He Was 15

While growing up, Lloyd’s younger brother was described by his father as “willing and cooperative, good at anything he tried”. However, he joined a group of about 20 friends in his neighborhood who called themselves the “Scandals”, they only attend parties and ballgames or hang around theaters and burger stands.

Despite the meaning of the name, the group was never involved in any crime, except getting drunk a few times at night. So, he wasn’t doing anything that his parents wouldn’t like, according to him.

But his life began to change when he was enrolled at Beverly Hills High School. He became fascinated by fashion trends that were a symbol of gang life, and his parents didn’t frown at it. That made him popular in school, the girls began to take an interest in him, and party invites started coming.

By the time Che was about to graduate, he has already given in to peer pressures around him.

2. He Founded The Don’t Give A F**ks (DGFs) Crew

As indicated, Ché Avery was an intelligent student in high school. But his good grades were wasted when he declined to further at the university level and chose to attend the tech school where his father graduated from.

It was during this period that Che founded a new clique known as “DGFs”, which stands for the Don’t Give A F**ks. He claimed the crew wasn’t involved in drug peddling or gunslinging, but they have a few guns and also stole. However, they were more interested in partying and chasing girls.

As time went by, he began to admire some group of guys from Rollin’ Sixty’s Crips. He wanted to be part of them, and indeed he became one of them.

3. He Lost Three Friends To Gang Violence In Less Than A Year

Between the mid-1990 and early 1991, Avery lost three friends; Jason Jones, Terrance Ferris, and Earl (Little Looney) Williams to gang violence. In July 1990, 14-year-old Jason was shot at a gas station by a Campton-based rival gsng and a month later, his best friend Terrance,18, was killed in a parked car. Similarly, he lost Little Looney (27) who was shot and killed in what was supposed to be a fistfight with a rival gang in early 1991.

Having lost three friends through gang violence, Avery became upset with the Rollin 60s for failing to take action and blamed the police for failing to investigate and bring the killers to justice. So, he turned his frustrations into a life of crime. He started carrying a and began to steal.

Some of the things he stole included jewelry, jackets, and paychecks.

4. The Los Angeles Native Was Arrested Shortly Before His 20th Birthday

Some few months before Che’s 20th birthday, he was arrested in March 1991 after a robbery operation. Similarly, he was connected to two earlier robberies.

Avery spent seven months in jail before he stood trial, and pleaded guilty to all nine felony charges of armed robbery. During the trial, he surprised everyone including his lawyer by accepting his wrongs and denouncing gang life.

He went on to spend more than four years in Californian prisons, including Chino, Richard J. Donovan, and Jamestown.

5. Lloyd Avery II’s Brother Was Released From Prison Few Months Before His 25th Birthday

In March 1996, Avery was released from prison. He came out a changed man after learning a couple of skills in carpentry and building friendships with former rival gang members. Furthermore, he promised to make the most of his life by going back to school and launching a business.

After three years, his life changed as he had promised earlier. He had a son whom he named Lloyd after his late older brother and also won $2,500 worth of tools from a Trade Tech scholarship.

In 2008, he relocated to Augusta, Georgia.

The post Who Is Ché Avery? Untold Facts About Lloyd Avery II’s Brother appeared first on WeAfrique.

Nearly half of the global French-speaking community can be found in Francophone countries. Notable among these are DR Congo, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, and Burkina Faso, which boast significant and diverse populations.

Here Are The 21 Francophone Countries In Africa

1. DR Congo

• Capital: Kinshasa
• Population: 111 million
• French-speaking population: 49 million
• Independence: June 30, 1960 (Belgium)

DR Congo, a Central African nation, is home to about 111 million people, making it one of the largest French-speaking countries in Africa. Nearly half of its population, or 49 million people, speak French as their first or second language.

French is the official language of DR Congo, but it also recognizes four other languages: Kikongo ya leta, Lingala, Swahili, and Tshiluba.

2. Cameroon 

• Capital: Yaounde
• Population: 28.7 million
• French-speaking population: 11.8 million
• Independence: January 1, 1960 (France), October 1, 1961 (UK)

Located in West Africa, Cameroon is the second-most populous French-speaking country in Africa. Out of its 28.7 million people, 11.8 million, or 41.17 percent, use French as their primary or secondary language.

The country has two official languages: French and English. It also has several regional languages, such as Cameroonian Pidgin English, Fula, Ewondo, Chadian Arabic, and Camfranglais.

3. Ivory Coast 

• Capital: Yamoussoukro (political), Abidjan (economic)
• Population: 30.9 million
• French-speaking population: 9.7 million
• Independence: August 7, 1960 (France)

Ivory Coast, located in West Africa, is one of the French-speaking countries on the continent. Out of its 30.9 million inhabitants, 9.7 million (33 percent) speak French as their official language. The rest of the population uses various local languages, such as Bete, Jula, Baule, Abron, Anyin, and Cebaara Senufo.”

4. Madagascar 

• Capital: Antananarivo
• Population: 29,611,714
• French-speaking population: 7,729,277
• Declaration of Independence: June 25, 1960

The island country of Madagascar has Malagasy and French as its official languages. Furthermore, there are 7.7 million French speakers on the island, accounting for 26 percent of its population (29.6 million).

5. Burkina Faso

• Capital: Ouagadougou
• Population: 21,935,389
• French Speaking Population: 5,403,610
• Independence: August 5, 1960 (France)

The landlocked country of West Africa has 5.4 million (24 percent), French speakers, out of its estimated 21.9 million population. Besides French as an official language, there are four national languages; Mossi, Bambara, Dyula, and Fula, and indigenous languages such as Mande, Gur, Senufo, and Hausa.

6. Senegal 

• Capital: Dakar
• Population: 17,923,032
• French Speaking Population: 4,640,365
• Independence: April 4, 1960 (France)

The West African country of Senegal has an estimated population of 17.9 million, and out of this, 4.6 million (26 percent) speak French. In addition to French, Arabic and Wolof are the other two official languages, while Balanta-Ganja, Jola-Fonyi, Mandinka, Mankanya, and Noon are spoken as national languages.

7. Benin

• Capital: Porto-Novo
• Population: 13,763,688
• French Speaking Population: 4,306,099
• Independence: August 1, 1960 (France), October 1, 1960 (UK), July 31, 1961 (Portugal)

There are about 4.3 million French speakers in the West African country of Benin. The French speaker made up 33 percent (13.7 million) of the country’s population, while the rest speak several languages, including Arabic, English, Aguna, Gen, Phera, Waci, Kabye, and Lukpa.

8. Guinea 

• Capital: Conakry
• Population: 13,237,832
• French Speaking Population: 3,776,660
• Independence: October 2, 1958 (France)

27 percent (3.7 million) of Guinea’s population (13.2 million) speak French. Even though the West African country’s official language is French, they also speak several vernacular languages such as Arabic, English, Fula, Malinke, Kissi, Koro, Dan, Dyula, and Maninka.

9. Mali 

• Capital: Bamako
• Population: 21,473,764
• French Speaking Population: 3,702,660
• Independence: June 20, 1960 (France)

Mali, another landlocked country in West Africa uses French as its official language. As a result, there are 3.7 million French speakers accounting for 17 percent of the country’s population (21.4 million).

Also, there are indigenous languages such as Bambara, Bomu, Bozo, Mamara, Maninkakan, and Soninke.

10. Togo

• Capital: Lomé
• Population: 8,608,444
• French Speaking Population: 3,554,266)
• Independence: April 27, 1960 (France)

Located in West Africa, Togo has a population of 8. 6 million people, and of this number, 3.5 million accounting for 40 percent speak French. Besides French being the country’s official language, Arabic, English, German, Ewe, Gbe, Gur, Kwa, Kabiye, Talensi, Wasa, Aguna, and several others are spoken.

See Also-Safest Countries In Africa

11. Republic of the Congo 

• Capital: Brazzaville
• Population: 5,657,000
• French Speaking Population: 3,518,464
• Independence: August 15, 1960

Republic of the Congo also known as Congo-Brazzaville has 60 percent (3.5 million) of its entire population (5.6 million) as French speakers. The Central African country also recognized Kituba and Lingala as national languages.

12. Niger

• Capital: Niamey
• Population: 24,484,587
• French Speaking Population: 3,362,988
• Independence: August 3, 1960 (France)

Niger, a landlocked country in West Africa has French as its official language. There are 3.3 million French speakers in the country whose population is estimated to be around 24.4 million. By implication, 12 percent of Nigeriens speak French, while 88 percent speak other languages such as Arabic, Buduma, Fulfide, Hausa, Kanuri, Songhai, and Tebu.

13. Chad 

• Capital: N’Djamena
• Population: 17,963,211
• French Speaking Population: 2,249,023
• Independence: August 11, 1960 (France)

Chad is officially called the Republic of Chad with both Modern Standard Arabic and French as official languages. French speakers in the country are about 2.2 million (12.9 percent), and Standard Arabic speakers are 615,000 (0.2 percent). This is in sharp contrast to the Chadian Arabic (vernacular version of Arabic) speakers who make up about 40-60 percent of Chad’s population.

14. Gabon 

• Capital: Libreville
• Population: 2,341,179
• French Speaking Population: 1,519,474
• Independence: August 16-17, 1960

French is the official language of Gabon, a Central African country with an estimated population of 2.3 million people. 1.5 million representing 65 percent of the population speak French. Moreover, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Fang, Mbete, Mynene, Nzebi, Punu, Teke, and Vili are spoken across the regions of the country.

15. The Central African Republic

• Capital: Bangui
• Population: 5,454,533
• French Speaking Population: 1,435,061
• Independence: August 13, 1960 (France)

The Central African Republic (CAR) is a landlocked country in Central Africa with a population of 5.4 million people and has French and Sango as official languages. French speakers are estimated to be around 1.4 million, which represents 28% percent of the country’s population.

Besides the two, Ubangian, Runga, Bongo–Bagirmi, and Bantu are indigenous languages.

16. Burundi 

• Capital: Gitega (political), Bujumbura (economic)
• Population: 11,865,821
• French Speaking Population: 1,073,506
• Independence: November 28, 1966 (Belgium)

Burundi has three official languages; Kirundi, French, and English. There are 1.07 million French speakers representing about 8.50 percent of the country’s population (11.8 million), while Kirundi is spoken by the vast majority of Burundians. English on the other hand became the third official langue in 2014.

17. Rwanda

• Capital: Kigali
• Population: 12,955,736
• French Speaking Population: 792,815
• Independence: July 1, 1962 (Belgium)

Out of Rwanda’s estimated 12.9 million population, 792,815 (5.8 percent) speak French, which is one of the country’s official languages alongside Kinyarwanda, English, and Swahili. Moreover, Kinyarwanda is the first language of Rwanda and is spoken in almost the entire country.

18. Djibouti 

• Capital: Djibouti
• Population: 957,273
• French Speaking Population: 17,000
• Independence: September 4, 1992 (France)

Djibouti located in the Eastern horn of Africa has an estimated population of 957,273 people, and has Arabic and French as official languages. Similarly, there are about 17,000 French speakers in the country, while Somali and Afar have 524,000 and 306,000 speakers, respectively.

19. Equatorial Guinea 

• Capital: Malabo (Current), Cuidad de la Paz (under construction)
• Population: 1,468,777
• Percentage of French Speakers: 2.5 Percent
• Independence: October 12, 1986 (Spain)

Equatorial Guinea has an estimated population of 1.4 million people and has two official languages; Spanish and French. Nearly 90 percent speak Spanish, while French is spoken by 2.5 percent of the population. While Portuguese, Pichibglis, Fang, Ibo, Bubi, Annoboneses, Creole English, and German are spoken by the remaining 7.5 percent.

20. Comoros 

• Capital: Moroni
• Population: 850,886
• Independence: July 5, 1975 (France)

The archipelagic country, Comoros has three official languages; Comorian, which is mostly spoken in the country; French, which is used in formal education and administrative dealings; Arabic, which is for religious purposes. These three make up nearly 60 percent of languages spoken by Comorians, while the Bushi language is spoken by 40 percent.

Apart from the official languages, English and Malagasy are spoken by a smaller faction in the country.

21. Seychelles (52,699)

• Capital: Victoria
• Population: 99,331
• Independence: June 29, 1976 (UK)

Seychelles is one of the twenty-one Francophone countries in Africa. It has an estimated population of 99,331 people who speak three official languages; English, French, and Seychellois Creole.

Creole, the country’s first language is used in education, governance, and the media, while English is spoken by a small section of the population and is mostly used in business and governance.

French, the third official language is mostly used in religious activities by the Roman Catholic Church and is also used by a small percentage of the population.

The post French Speaking African Countries appeared first on WeAfrique.

South African actress and producer, Alice Krige is one talented actress whose ability to fit perfectly into every movie role is breathtaking. She has made a significant impact on stage, film, and TV productions over the years since her debut in the mid-70s.

She made her first movie appearance in the musical drama Vergeet My Nie (1976). However, her most noteworthy roles came in subsequent years in Chariots of Fire (1981) and Star Trek: First Contact (1996) where she played the roles of Sybil Gordon and “Borg Queen” respectively.

Alice Krige Hails From Upington, South Africa

The Chariots of Fire actress was born on 28th June 1954 in Upington, Cape Province (now Northern Cape), South Africa. She is currently 69 years old. Her father, Louis Edmund Krige was a physician while her mother, Patricia Krige was a Professor of Psychology. She has two brothers Jake Krige and Luke Krige, who are both Physicians.

They grew up in Port Elizabeth in what Elizabeth described as a “very happy family”. They still maintain a close relationship as they celebrated their father’s 90th birthday with close friends and family in 2008. Her mother died in 2010 at 92.

She Currently Lives in between Los Angeles and London

Krige and her husband, Paul Schoolman lived in Los Angeles for the most part until the 2007 California wildfires that destroyed hundreds of houses, killing a number of people.  According to her, the fires destroyed a total of 73 houses including theirs. They lost everything, but one of their dogs, Schipperke survived the inferno.

Fortunately for the actress and her husband, a friend gave them a place in southwest England to stay, and when he passed on, he left the house for them. However, other reports indicated they stayed with a friend in Hampstead.

Consequently, she spends more time in London than in Los Angeles due to her acting career.  She reveals the reason for this in an interview saying she feels very comfortable in London. This is not unconnected to the architectural outlook of houses there. The houses there are distinguishable compared to Los Angeles which is quite complicated.

Going forward, she is still in the business of acting. Some of her recent projects on TV and in film include; The Alienist: Angels of Darkness (2020), She Will (2021) Star Trek: Lower Decks (2021), Echoes of the Past (2021), and Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)

However, Krige is believed to be enjoying her old age alongside her husband of 36 years in their home in the United States.

See Also-Erica Peeples- 10 Interesting Facts About The Actress

Do You Know These Fascinating Facts About Her?

1. She wanted to be a Dancer growing up

As a child, Alice Krige wanted to become a dancer but her father did not approve of that dream and so she decided to follow in the footsteps of her mother by pursuing an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Rhodes University in Grahamstown.

While at the University, Krige enrolled in a Drama class in order to get extra credit. while in the drama class she had an epiphany that led her to change from pursuing a degree in psychology to pursuing a degree in drama and graduating with honors in 1975. She was awarded an honourary “Litt.D.” degree in April 2004.

2. Krige left South Africa for London to chase her Dreams against her Father’s wish

Just as any concerned father would act, Alice Krige’s father did not support her choice of career when she disclosed that she wanted to be an actor. He, on the other hand, wanted her to have a safe career by becoming an academic.

However, her mom was supportive of her when she took the decision to hit the rocky road of acting and left South Africa for London and began her three years of study at London’s Central School of Speech and Drama.

3. The Chariots of Fire Actress made her Husband on Set of Chariots of Fire

The Veteran Actress is married to Writer and Director, Paul Schoolman. The couple met in 1981 on the set of “Chariots of Fire” and got married in 1988. They might or might not have kids as there is nothing about their kids in public knowledge.

However, Krige is believed to be enjoying her old age alongside her husband of 36 years as they go about pursuing their dream and aspirations in the movie industry.

4. The 69 year-old Earned an international award for Shingetsu

a Special Jury award at the International Film Festival for Peace, Inspiration, and Equality in Jakarta for her outstanding performance in Shingetsu, where she played the role of a war-traumatized surgeon for Doctors Without Borders.

The short film was shot in Los Angeles, California with Krige starring alongside Gunter Singer. In addition, she produced the short piece together with her husband who also doubles as director and Sahil Gill.

5. She is Earning Judiciously from her Acting Career

The Veteran Actress has created a fortune in her 48-year profession. At the moment, various sources have given different figures for her net worth. However, it is possible to use a few of her major movie projects to at least determine her net worth. Star Trek: First Contact, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and Thor: The Dark World grossed $92 million,$215 million, and $664.8 million at the box office, respectively.

Putting all these into consideration, it is safe to assume she has a net worth that is above $10 million.

Moving forward, the South African actress spends part of her fortune on animal charities. She mentioned in an interview that she has become very aware of the work done by animal charities, and because of the awareness she has, she has decided to work with animal charities.

She was fascinated with how people dedicate their lives to caring for defenseless animals who have been subjected to human cruelty. Krige also has actively participated in rescuing dogs for as long as they have been together as they themselves are also dog owners.

She has worked with Animal Charities like Network for Animals, Humane Society International, PETA, SSPCA, Dogs Trust, and Animal’s Survival International.

Alice Krige, a veteran in the movie industry, can be said to have reached the zenith of her career as an actress and producer alongside her husband of 36 years. Despite that, she doesn’t seem like she is ready to retire from acting or shooting anytime soon. 

The post Alice Krige: Where Is The Actress? Other Facts About Her appeared first on WeAfrique.

Ryan Babel is a 37 year-old Dutch winger who had spells in the Netherlands, England, Germany, Spain, and Turkey for clubs such as Ajax, Liverpool, Fulham, Hoffenheim, Besiktas, and Galatasaray. Additionally, he has represented the Dutch national team since 2005 and at every level from the Under-17 to the Under-23. He was part of the team that represented the Netherlands at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cup in Germany and South Africa, respectively.

He was a lethal goal-scoring weapon at Ajax but failed to impress after his almost £12 million move to Liverpool in 2007. Presently, he is out of contract.

Early Life And Background Of The Dutch Footballer

Ryan Babel was born Ryan Guno Babel on 19th December 1986 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands to his parents, Asta Babel and Guno Babel. He is currently 37 years old.

The winger has one younger sister, Janice Babel born on 10th November 1992 who is also an athlete. She was a world under20 championships bronze medalist and a national indoor champion.

He developed an interest in soccer at a young age after he was fascinated by the likes of former Dutch footballers, Ruud Gullit, and Frank Rijkaard, and went on to play for local teams such as S.V Diemen and Fortius.

By the age of 11, he went for his first AFC Ajax youth trials in 1997 and made it through the first round of selection. Unfortunately, he was unable to go beyond the round.

The following year, he made it and played for the AFC Ajax D1 team in the 1999/2000 season. Subsequently, he rose through the ranks of the youth system and was offered his finest ever promotional contract at 18. Hence, his professional football career began.

Babel’s Professional Football Career Began In 2004

He started His Journey At Home

The Dutch footballer started his professional club career with AFC Ajax in 2004 after giving him a professional contract. He made his debut for the club in February 2004 in a 4-0 victory over ADO Den Haag. Over the next 3 years, Babel impressed the Eredivisie side, scoring a couple of goals and even helping the club to a championship win on 2 different occasions.

His performances attracted the attention of clubs abroad and was heavily linked with a transfer to English clubs; Arsenal and Newcastle United in early 2007. A couple of months later, Liverpool signed the Dutch footballer on a 5-year contract worth £11.5 million.

His Spells Away From Home

During his debut season with the Merseyside club, he showed class and talents and scored some good goals in a few critical games including the champions league against Besiktas, Arsenal, and Chelsea. However, everything changed in his second season at the club. He was short of goals and playing time.

In 2011, he left the English club and joined German Bundesliga side, Hoffenheim for a reported £5.8 million fee, which was half the amount Liverpool paid Ajax for him in 2007. After spending a brief time at the club, he was released in the summer of 2012.

Later on, he returned to his boyhood club Ajax where he played for a year, scoring 4 goals in 16 league games. In June 2013, he moved to the Turkish Super lig side, Kasimpasa for 2 seasons before joining Al Ain of the UAE in 2015.

In September 2016, Babel joined the Spanish side, Deportivo La Coruna for a short time. He impressed in front of goal for the club, scoring 4 in 11 games. Despite that, he didn’t negotiate to extend his stay at the club. So in January 2017, he returned to Turkey and signed a 2 and a half year deal with Besiktas said to be £1.8 million per season.

At the end of his contract with the Turkish side, he returned to the EPL to play for Fulham in January 2019. Unfortunately, he left the English club after it was relegated and joined Turkish giants, Galatasaray on a 3-year deal in June 2019. In January 2020, he was loaned out to Ajax, and as of July 2022, he is without a club.

See Also-Naby Keita: 10 Fascinating Facts To Know About The Footballer

Ryan Babel Scored On His Debute For The Dutch National Team

The former Liverpool winger made his first international appearance for the Oranje in March 2005 at the age of 18 and scored a goal. It was in a 2-0 win over Romania, where he was introduced as a substitute for Arjen Robben. He made history as the youngest goalscorer for the Netherlands in 68 years as well as the 4th youngest of all time.

A year after making his debut, he was in the squad that represented the Oranje in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. However, he only made a single appearance as a substitute due to a knee injury.

Four years later, he was included in the 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, but he didn’t play a single game.

At the youth level, he played for the Under-17, 19, 20, 21, and 23 teams in various competitions including the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and 2007 UEFA Under-21 Championship.

Here Are 5 Fascinating Facts About Ryan Babel

1. He Shares The Same Heritage As Former Dutch Midfielder Clarence Seedorf

As mentioned earlier, Babel was born in Amsterdam. He has ethnic roots in Suriname, a small country in South America whose official language is Dutch. Interestingly, the former Dutch football legend and one of the greatest midfielders of his time, Clarence Seedorf is of Surinamese descent.

2. The Dutch Footballer Is Also A Rapper

Apart from football, Babel is also passionate about music which started when he was a child, but the former took center stage. However, with his football days gradually coming to an end, he decided to flame his desire for music. He even featured in songs of several Dutch artists such as Ali B, Lange Frans, and Baas B.

He went as far as starting a record label to help upcoming artists. To him, music is his platform to tell stories people don’t know about him rather than use it for fame.

This is why he released The Autobiography: Chapter 1 in 2021 to tell the tales of his football career, especially his experiences with former Liverpool coach, Rafa Benitez and former Dutch coach, Louis Van Gaal. The rap album includes the following tracks:

• Biography
• Young Champ
• Entree
• Story of Glenn
• Resurrection/ Dream Big
• Glory
• Reminder
• Three Miracles

3. He Has A Son

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ryan Babel (@ryanbabel)

Babel has a son, Riley Babe. He was born to the Dutch winger in 2010. This is one of the reasons questions have been asked regarding Ryan Babel’s wife. Unfortunately, the former Liverpool player is discreet about it. He hasn’t revealed any information on his relationship status, even though it was speculated that he had been involved with two women in the past. It is possible one of them is his son’s mother.

Presently, the only woman he mentioned on his Instagram page as his bestie is Adrienne, a fitness trainer. She is also a yoga instructor and a movement advocate.

4. The Father Of One Is Looking At Other Options For Money Apart From Football

The Amsterdam native’s net worth is above $30 million. The fortune is earned from his football career, businesses, and endorsements.

Regrading football, Babel made money from his £11.5 million deal with Liverpool in 2007, £5.8 million in 2011 with Hoffeinham, and £1.8 million per season with Besiktas in 2017. This is in addition to what he made from other clubs as well.

Apart from football, he is earning pretty decently from his music business as a producer and a rapper. Besides the Dutch winger is into real estate.

To him, investing in real estate would keep money flowing in rather than splashing it on cars and other things. Hence,the kind of real estate he invests in is called the “multi-family homes.” He said investing in multi-family homes is solid considering the fact that hotels and big malls are diminishing due to the current global economic crisis.

His investment in real estate is worth $30 million and covers 50 affordable properties from Amsterdam to Miami.

5. He Is Quite Tall

The former Ajax and Liverpool player stand at a height of 856 feet 1 inch (185cm/1.m). He is taller compared to the average height of men in the Netherlands which is 6 feet 0 inches (184cm/1.85m). This height makes him a serious threat to short defenders, especially when in an aerial battle for the ball.

Presently, Ryan Babel is out of contract. It is unclear whether he would be moving elsewhere to continue playing or focus on his music career and real estate business. Whichever direction he chooses to go, it will be beneficial to him in terms of finances.

The post Ryan Babel: Bio, Career, Other Facts About The Dutch Footballer appeared first on WeAfrique.

Erika Riker is a former ballet dancer and the ex-wife of Randy Jackson who gained notoriety for being one of the longest judges in the history of the American Ido. She has been married to the TV personality for almost 2 decades before the marriage ended. Their divorce was finalized 5 years after it was filed in 2014. Court documents indicated the reason behind the divorce as irreconcilable differences.

Since the divorce, Erika has disappeared from the media’s radar, prompting questions about her whereabouts. Her ex-husband on the hand is allegedly involved in another relationship.

Erika Riker And Randy Jackson Were Married For 18 Years Before Filing For Divorce

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Erika Jackson (@erikadjack)

The story of Riker and Jackson’s love life began sometime in the 1990s when the A-list singer, producer, and bassist crossed paths with his ex-wife when she was a ballet dancer on the location of a music video shoot. Although it is not clear for how long the pair dated, they exchanged marital vows on 29th December 1995, thus marking the beginning of a union that would last for almost 2 decades.

In September 2014, Randy Jackson’s ex-wife filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. In addition, she sought full physical custody as well as joint legal custody of her youngest son Jordan who was said to be a minor at the time.

Sources reported that at the time she filed for the divorce, she and the former American Idol judge were still living together and there was no allegation of infidelity. Initially, the two planned how they were going to file, but Erika went ahead to file. Jackson was disappointed by that because it wasn’t the way he envisioned it would happen or end.

From the period the divorce was filed, it took 5 years for her ex-husband to respond. So, it was finalized in 2019.

At the moment, information relating to the divorce settlement is not yet public. But, it was said that when they got married, they didn’t sign a prenuptial agreement. If it’s true, then she is entitled to half of his fortune, acquired during the period of their marriage. Currently, celebritynetworth.com reported that Jackson has a net worth of $50 million.

See Also-Jeffrey Rolle Is Kelly Price’s Ex-husband- What Caused Their Divorce?

She Had Two Kids During The 18-Year-Old Marriage

Randy Jackson’s ex-wife is a mother of children. She gave birth to them during her marriage to the TV personality. Just a year after the wedding, she welcomed her first child and daughter, Zoe Jackson (28) on 12th June 1995. A year later, she had her second child and son Jordan Jackson (26) on 19th June 1997

In 2014 when she was filing for divorce, her daughter was almost 19, while her son was nearly 17. It was based on this that she wanted full physical custody and joint legal custody for him at the time for being a minor, while her older daughter was already an adult.

By the time the divorce was finalized in 2019, Zoe was about 24 and Jordan about 22.

The Mother of Two Is Currently In A Relationship

While people have to continue to wonder what happened to Randy Jackson’s ex-wife after the divorce, the media has not able to tell where exactly she is. However, weafrique.com gathers that she went on to further her education and also found love in the arms of another man.

According to our investigation, Erika Riker earned a bachelor’s degree the year she filed for divorce from her ex-husband. She subsequently enrolled at the Pepperdine Univerisity, Los Angeles, California where she bagged a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy in 2019. In celebration of her achievement, her family and friends congratulated her on achieving the feat despite the challenges faced, especially with the divorce.

Going forward, the former ballet dancer has moved on with her life even before the divorce was finalized. Presently, she is in a relationship with a man from New Jersey known as Mahalo. The relationship may have begun around 2016 or thereabout. Available information indicates the two share a strong bond.

Her ex-husband on the other hand is reportedly involved with a young woman that goes by the name of Simone. It was speculated that she is into music as well. Furthermore, the two were first seen together at an art gallery in Los Angeles. At the moment, it is unclear whether the two are still seeing each other or not as the last time they were spotted was in 2018 or thereabout.

Check These Interesting Facts No One Told You About Erika Riker

1. She is Currently 54 Years Old

Erika Riker was born on 28th August 1969 in Los Angeles, California. The 54 year-old is the first of two children born to her parents. Her younger brother’s brother is Leland, he was born on 30th July 1971. She and her younger brother grew up together like twins. This explains why the two are pretty close.

2. Her Father Was A Former United States Army Personnel

Even though the mother of two hasn’t revealed details about her family background, our investigation shows her father served in the United States army. Since she seems discreet about giving private information, the unit he served with is not known.

3. She Wasn’t The Only Woman That Randy Jackson Married

The mother of two is the only woman Randy Jackson married. He was first married to Elizabeth Jackson with whom he shared a daughter, Taylor. However, the marriage was dissolved in 1990.

So 5 years after the end of the marriage, he married Erika in 1995.

4. Before The Divorce, She and Randy Ran A Family Foundation

When Erika and her ex-husband were still married, they founded a family foundation in 2006 known as “The Randy and Erika Family Foundation.” According to reports, the foundation entered a partnership with a few organizations to build dance studios, which targeted youth in Los Angeles.

Now that they are no longer together, the foundation seems not to be in operation anymore.

5. She Asked For Her Maiden Name To Be Legally Restored

According to court documents, she asked for her name maiden name to be legally restored when she filed the divorce in 2014. Now that the divorce has been finalized, she is no longer addressed as Erika Jackson but as Erika Riker.

While the long dream about the divorce was put to rest in 2019, Erika Riker will earn half of Randy Jackson’s wealth, which was acquired during their marriage, because no prenup was signed before the wedding in 1995. By the time, she receives half of her ex-husband’s fortune, she would be more than $10 million rich. 

The post Erika Riker Is Randy Jackson’s Ex-Wife: Their Divorce And where She Is today appeared first on WeAfrique.