Lord Slynt, meet the “ghostly giants” of Africa.

Here are 10 interesting facts you should Know about the Dinka tribes of South Sudan.

1. First of, you are mostly likely pronouncing the name of the tribe wrong, it is pronounced DEEN-kuh.

2. The Dinka are one of the largest ethnic groups in the Republic of Sudan. They belong to a group of cultures known as the Nilotic peoples, all of whom live in the southern Sudan.
In 1983, a civil war erupted in the Sudan, pitting the largely Arab and Muslim northern Sudan against the black African peoples of the south. Lasting into the 1990s, the war has had dire consequences for the Dinka and other Nilotic peoples. Tens of thousands of Dinka have died; countless others have become refugees. Rebel groups and international human rights organizations have accused the Sudanese government of attempting genocide against (extermination of) the Dinka.

3. The Dinka culture revolved around their cows. It is estimated that they have more than 400 words to refer to cattle alone—their movements, their diseases, and their variety in color and form.

4. Dinka herdsmen receive a bull when they come of age. They often give up their birth names and take the nickname of the cow, the beast is known as namesake ox. The herdsman identifies with the bull, emulating it to the point where he believes that he and the animal are one.

5. Dinka religion may be regarded as monotheistic (believing in one deity). Nhialic (creator) is thought to be the source of all life and death. Lesser manifestations of the creator’s power are honored by the Dinka through ritual sacrifices. Rituals are performed at births, deaths, to cure disease, and in times of crisis.

6. Beautifying with Ash
Ash from dung fire is used to beautify and protect the body. Covered with Ash, the Dinka, who are up to 7’6″ tall were referred to as “gentle giants” or “ghostly giants” by the early explorers.

7. FAMILY LIFE
Polygamy (multiple spouses) is common among the Dinka. Men of high social standing may have as many as fifty to one hundred wives. In polygamous marriages, wives cooperate in performing household duties, although each rears her own children. Much of Dinka public life is dominated by men. However, women play a significant and even powerful role in local life.

8. Tho the Dinka wear very little clothing and no shoes. Men go naked, and the women may wear goatskin skirts. Pregnancy out of wedlock is absolutely taboo and damages a girl’s prospect of finding a good husband.

9. Traditionally Dinka men marry at 30 years old and girls between 17 and 20 years old.

10. Dinka have traditionally produced all the material resources needed to sustain their livelihood via a combination of horticulture (gardening) with pastoralism (nomadic herding), fishing and occasional hunting. Millet is the mainstay of the Dinka diet. Depending on the season, it is supplemented with cow milk, fish, meat, beans, tomatoes, or rice.

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But Somalia is also a beautiful country with a rich and ancient history to be proud of.

Here are 5 interesting facts about Somalia you should know

4. According to most scholars, Somalia is among the most probable locations of the fabled ancient Land of Punt. Punt was an ancient Kingdom that existed about 3,500 years ago and in its heydays, traded and rivaled with ancient Egypt in glory.  

5. All food in Somalia is served halal, almost 99% of the country’s 16 million people are Muslims.

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The city of Johannesburg in South Africa has some of Africa’s most interesting and iconic scenes. The city is one of Africa’s major financial and tourist center.

here are 12 interesting facts you should know about Johannesburg

It’s been Rebuild four times

– Within the last century, Johannesburg has been transformed from a tented camp, a tiny shanty town, four-story Edwardian brick buildings and now, a city of modern Skyscrapers.

Johannesburg is the Richest city on the Continent

– the total wealth held in Johannesburg amounts to USD 248 Billion, the city also boasts 18,200 dollar millionaires, far more than any other African city.

It boasts the Tallest Buildings in Africa

– The Leonardo Building is the Tallest in Africa followed by Carlton center also in Johannesburg.

It has Africa’s largest hospital

-The Chris Hani – Baragwanath Hospital has the ability to Serve up to 3.5 Million people in Johannesburg, a staff strength of 6,660 people, a total of 3,400 beds and covers an area of 70 hectares. More than 2,000 patients are received daily,

Johannesburg has the Busiest Airport In Africa

– OR Tambo International Airport serves an estimated 28 million passengers every year, more than 50 percent of South Africa’s air traveling passengers are processed through this airport.

University of Johannesburg

It is home to one of the best Universities on the Continent, UJ – University of Johannesburg. This university is ranked fourth-best on the continent and 439 on the QS World University Ranking for 2021.

There’s Johannesburg in California

– There is a small town in America named in Honour of the gold miners who worked in Johannesburg, the town has approximately 172 inhabitants.

It Has the World’s Largest Man-made forest

– Johannesburg has over 10 million trees and is touted as having World’s largest Man-made urban Forest, it helps the city cope with greenhouse effects and also lowers the noise levels within the city.

It has the Richest Square mile in Africa

– Sandton City in Johannesburg is Africa’s Richest square mile.

It’s Earned the title City Of Gold

– the city of Johannesburg was formed by a gold rush in the 19th century – 4 October 1886 to be exact.

It’s also home to almost half of the World’s human fossils.

– The cradle of Human-kind is home to 40% of the planet’s human fossils, making it one of the richest Archaeological Sites in the World.

It earned the title Economic Powerhouse Of Africa

– Johannesburg is the most powerful commercial center on the African Continent.

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The Academic Staff of Universities Union (ASUU) and the Federal Government of Nigeria are always in conflict over the funding of Nigerian Universities, better working condition among other ASUU demands.

Here’s the list of ASUU strike since 1999.

1. 1999 – five months

After the end of the military era in 1999, Nigerians ushered in democracy and a government that promised to be people-oriented. But it didn’t take long for Nigerian students to experience a disruption in their academic pursuit. Few months after the Obasanjo-Atiku administration was sworn-in, ASUU embarked on a nationwide strike and it lasted for five months.

2. 2001 – three months

In 2001, ASUU declared another strike over the reinstatement of 49 lecturers sacked at the University of Ilorin. The industrial action was aggravated when the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo described Nigerian university lecturers as “a bunch of lazy and ungrateful people” The strike was called off after three months.

Read more: ASUU Strikes: Why Nigerian Universities are always on strike

3. 2002 – two weeks

Having had an agreement with the Federal Government during the previous strike, the union was forced to embark on another industrial action on Sunday, December 29, 2002, after the Obasanjo administration failed to implement the agreement. The strike lasted for only two weeks.

4. 2003 – six months

In 2003, Nigerian university undergraduates had to stay at home again for six months as ASUU embarked on another industrial action due to the non-implementation of previous agreements, which covers poor university funding and disparity in salary and retirement age.

5. 2005 – two weeks

Nigerian university students again experienced another disruption in their academic calendars as university lecturers went on another industrial action. According to the Guardian,  the lecturers went on strike for just two weeks.

6. 2006 – one week

In April 2006 academic activities were paralyzed in all public universities across the country when  ASUU declared a 3-day warning strike. It eventually lasted for one week.

7. 2007 – three months

The 2006 industrial action was followed by another on March  26, 2007. The strike lasted for three months. The reasons for the strike were pretty much the same reasons for the previous strike.

8. 2008 – one week

In a bid to press home its demands, ASUU went on strike for one week in 2008. The demands included an improved salary scheme and reinstatement of 49 lecturers who were dismissed at the University of Ilorin.

9. 2009 – four months

In 2009, lecturers in public universities across the country embarked on an industrial action that lasted for four months. The strike which started in June was called off in October. Before the strike was called off, the Federal Government and the union had an agreement. The 2009 ASUU/FG agreement would later become the reason for subsequent industrial action.

10. 2010 – five months

The year 2010 also saw another setback for Nigerian university undergraduates in their academics as ASUU embarked on another indefinite strike that lasted for over five months. The strike started on 22 July 2010 and was called off in January 2011.

ASUUstrike

11. 2011 – two months

Since the FG failed to honor its 2009 agreement to adequately fund universities in the country and implement the 70-year retirement age limit for ASUU members, the union again paralyzed academic activities nationwide in December 2011. The strike lasted for 59 days and was called off in 2012.

12. 2013 – five and a half months

Again, the government’s failure to review the retirement age for professors from 65 to 70; approve funding to revitalize the university system; increase the budgetary allocations to the education sector by 26% among other demands led to another industrial action.

The strike was embarked upon on July 1, 2013, called off on Tuesday, December 17, 2013. It lasted for five months, 15 days.

13. 2017 – one month

On August 17, 2017,  ASUU again declared an indefinite strike over unresolved and contentious issues with the Federal Government. The strike was called off in September.

14. 2018 – three months

Again, due to the Federal Government’s failure to meet its demands, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) declared an indefinite nationwide strike.

The union announced the strike on Sunday, November 4, 2018, after their National Executive Council meeting held at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State. The strike was eventually called off on February 7, 2019.

15. 2020 – 9 months

Earlier in March this year, University lecturers embark on an indefinite strike to force the federal government to abandon Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), a salary payment platform that ASUU claims will diminish university autonomy.

ASUU announced it conditionally suspend the strike on 23 December 2020.

The post List of ASUU Strikes Since 1999 up to Date appeared first on AFRICA EXPLAINED.

This desert is the third-largest in the entire world, surpassed only by Antarctica and the Arctic—both of which are cold deserts. That makes it the largest hot desert on earth.

Interested in learning more about this amazing place? here are seven interesting facts about the Sahara!

7. The Sahara is absolutely huge

Imagine a desert roughly the size of the United States or China! It is estimated that this desert takes up a mind-boggling 9,200,000 square kilometers, which is equal to 3,600,000 square miles.

The desert is bordered on the east by the Red Sea and on the west by the Atlantic. On the north are the Atlas Mountains, and in the south is the Niger River. The name “Sahara Desert” is a bit redundant, by the way. “Sahara” actually means desert in Arabic, so when you say “Sahara Desert,” you are essentially saying “Desert Desert.”

6. There are ongoing shifts in the Sahara’s climate

It may be tempting to think that a desert is always hot and dry, but there are many variations in the weather and climate of this one. In fact, there are ongoing shifts in the Sahara desert climate which follow an incredibly long cycle—around 41,000 years. Why 41,000 years? This has to do with a change in the tilt of the earth’s axis between 22 and 24.5 degrees.

Indeed, in around 15,000 years, the desert should become far more green than it is today. The desert has also experienced greener periods in the past as evidenced by prehistoric drawings in caves which indicate that there was once plenty of plant life where today the land is barren. Areas that today would be un-farmable were at the time fertile cropland.

3. Sometimes the Sahara can be quite cold

While the Sahara is classified as a hot desert, sometimes it’s actually quite cold, particularly at night time starting in December and continuing through February.

It is not unusual for temperatures to drop below freezing. And once in a great while, heavy snow may even fall as it did in 2016 for the first time recorded in 37 years.

The sight of snow-capped sand dunes is certainly an unusual one, but some of the pictures from that December are magnificent.

It is also well worth it to check out pictures of the previous snowstorm from 1979. Some of these photos are just as incredible. The snow was so intense that year that it stopped traffic in the region. That said, it didn’t last very long. Within a few hours, it had melted entirely.

Wondering how hot the Sahara gets? During summer, the average high temperatures range to around 40°C. Sometimes they may surge as high as 47°C.

2. The Sahara Desert is anything but lifeless

When you picture a desert, it is easy to imagine nothing but endless miles of sand dunes and barren rocks. But in reality, the desert is a complex ecosystem, and the Sahara is teeming with life. There are estimated to be around 1,200 plant species inhabiting this desert.

There are so many different species of animals and birds. Some of these include gazelles, antelopes, monitor lizards, cheetahs, wild dogs, vipers, and ostriches. Like the human inhabitants of this desert, many of these species are nomadic, migrating in order to follow the water supply throughout the year.

1. The Sahara actually has a number of sub-regions

These sub-regions are known as ecoregions and are defined according to their different precipitation, temperature, elevation, and soil characteristics. Along the west coast for example is the Atlantic coastal desert, which is able to support succulent plants, lichens, and shrubs. In the north is the North Saharan steppe and woodlands. Other ecoregions include the Sahara Desert ecoregion, the South Saharan steppe and woodlands, the West Saharan montane xeric woodlands, the Tibesti-Jebel Unweinat montane xeric woodlands, the Saharan halophytes, and the Tanezrouft.

Some of these areas are particularly desolate and devoid of life. The Tanezrouft for example has almost no vegetation. Other areas however have watercourses which run for part of the year as well as rainfall. This is why the South Saharan steppe and woodlands contain pastures, shrublands, and even dry forests. Most of the Sahara isn’t even comprised of sand at all.

So now you know more about the Sahara! The third-largest desert in the world covers a huge amount of land and is a very unique place. If you are touring Africa and have a chance, you should definitely visit—the experience is one you will never forget.

Just remember that it is an unforgiving place, and you should come well-prepared.

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