Africa is a beautiful continent of wonderful people with a very rich culture. More often than not, there are some prejudices concerning Africa that seem to have taken roots in the minds of many. But to visit the continent and fully understand and enjoy the people and the places, you need to be abreast with some facts that you must know about the place.
Africa is a continent with countries and not a country on its own. It consists of 54 countries.
Africa is the 2nd largest continent in the world. It is home to about 1 billion people of the world’s population in different countries.
Africa has some of the best wildlife and nature reserves in the world. This makes it a great place to visit as tourists have a view of nature and enjoy some serenity.
Africa has relatively very religious people who strongly believe in the existence and worship of deities. In Africa, the most common religions are Islam and Christianity.
The continent has strong traditional rulership in most countries and communities. Additionally, these types of rulership are also keen on the governing of the people. They work aside from the centralized form of government.
In Africa, there are over 1500 spoken languages. Most of the languages are grouped into different dialects. The different dialects are spoken by the several ethnic groups that exist.
Africa is the world’s hottest continent with deserts and drylands covering a percentage of the territorial landscape.
Most African countries were colonized by other countries, which is strongly embedded in the history and culture of the people.
The Makola Market (Photo by Adrien Horridge)
9. Africa is a very vegetative continent. It provides a great percentage of the farm foods eaten across the globe.
10. Africa is home to some of the most hospitable people in the world. Africans are always ready to open up their homes and welcome people who wish to tour and have a feel of their continent.
Being armed with these facts about Africa gives you the tourist, an upper hand in knowing and being abreast with information concerning the place you intend to visit as well as debunk any other contradictory information you may have concerning Africa which has impeded your visit. Africa is always ready with open arms. You just need to visit and have the time of your life.
Africa welcomes all.
The ACT team will be glad to welcome you to Africa. We have put together sustainable packages on our website. Use this link to check it out.
Museums are settings where people can visit to draw inspiration from art, craft and aesthetics in other to understand authentic truths about the worlds of the past to help find their identity and shape the future. I believe that African museums offer a unique opportunity to the world to experience the historical past in ways that create a dialogue with contemporary problems and possible futures. African museums established in Europe are of great significance to persons who are focused on the rebirth of African history, culture, identity, and memory.
Learn more about these African museums found in Europe and visit them #backtotheroots
Afrika Museum
The Afrika Museum in Nijmegen Netherlands is a museum that showcases both indoor and outdoor displays. Their temporary exhibitions and permanent displays of traditional African aesthetics portray the history of the African culture. The museum tells wonderful stories about global human themes including marriage and birth celebrations, rites of passage ceremonies, funerals, conflict, arts, crafts, ornaments, prayer and fashion. Visitors can also find out about the traditional architecture of tribes in Ghana, Mali, Benin, Lesotho, and Cameroon. Their collection of contemporary African art makes visitors admire the rich cultural diversity found around the world. Children are not left out; the African museum has a children’s sculpture forest with animals from African myths.
(A collection of objects and musical instruments of cultural, religious and historical importance)
These musical instruments are a few of the many objects, materials, and instruments found at the Afrika museum and their online collection site. To visit this museum, find more information here.
Royal Museum for Central Africa in Belgium
This African museum exhibits a special collection of historical and contemporary art in a global context. The museum is a scientific institution that gathers and manages art collections, embark on scientific research, share knowledge and organize exhibitions utilizing their collections. The royal museum has events and programs to entertain and educate all ages. They organize temporal exhibitions, guided tours, and workshops. they also have a permanent exhibition on their premises.
It is one of the biggest art museums in Switzerland championed by the city of Zurich. The museum works on promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture from Africa and other continents. Their African collection contains 2,400 items mainly from West and Central Africa. Most of their African objects are available to be seen by the public in both their museum galleries and open storerooms. The museum focuses on awareness of the artistic achievements of people around the globe. Rietsberg museum offers educational and leisure programs involving workshops, lectures and guided tours showing a whole range of objects and materials.
Mask of a woman’s face. Foto credit: Rietbergmuseum
Traditional and contemporary African art tell beautiful African stories that help us to connect with the past in other to build the future in unity. It is possible to see, feel and experience Africa in museums in Europe. The experience is amazing. I think visiting am African museum can be used as a first step in getting to know African history and culture. #backtotheroots
To Enjoy during the last quarter of the year 2019 (Year of Return) #goingnative
The past years have witnessed an incredible rise in the number of festivals and carnivals in cities throughout the world. Carnivals and Festivals are moments of merry making that showcase beautiful music, culture, and experiences that one cannot afford to miss. During festivals and carnivals, public celebrations include events such as circus, parades, fashion shows, musical concerts, cultural performances, and many other entertainments. Discover 7 festivals and carnivals that portray the best of the African culture that will catch your attention to see Africa with a different lens to join in the fun.
Below is a recap of the best cultural festivals and carnivals in Africa.
Let’s go!
Afro-nation Ghana
This mega music beach festival is heading to Ghana from Europe. It is happening in Accra Ghana which has access to the Atlantic coastline and its beautiful beaches and tropical temperature. The venue of this event is at the Laboma Beach. Afro-nation will feature performances from musical legends from across the breadth of Africa. Representing artists are Davido, Stonebwoy, Burna Boy, Shatta Wale, Wizkid, Kiadi, Niara Marley, Kwame Eugene, Akala, Medikal, Navy Kenzo, Wendy Shay, and many others.
I hear tickets are running out since their sold-out Portugal edition took place. Get your tickets here. Festivals and carnivals are programs for showing collective belonging to a group or place (Year of Return). Be part of these occasions to help create opportunities for entertainment, purposeful travel, drawing on shared cultural practices, history and also creating the platform for social interaction.
Kwaku Festival Ghana
Kwaku began in the 1970s as a small football tournament organized for the youth in Bijlmer; a small community in the city of Amsterdam South East. The youth could not afford to travel during the summer vacation and therefore kept themselves busy with football competitions. As the years progressed, they made the competition a bit more fun by also engaging in dance workshops, musical performances debates whiles enjoying some local food and drinks.
Multicultural Festival
Nowadays Kwaku has become a very big summer festival that brings together over 300 thousand visitors to the Netherlands yearly. The festival welcomes diverse people to witness rich cultural performances, film, music, dance, and football.
Kwaku Festival live in Ghana
The Kwaku festival will be happening live in Ghana this October. From October 18th till 3rd November at the Efua Sutherland Children Park, Accra.
This carnival is set to welcome all Africans who would love to reconnect with their roots and finally come back home. The program will showcase a variety of activities in connection with the Global diaspora cultural heritage. The program will feature the rich culture of Ghana through a welcome home carnival opening ceremony; Welcome Home Durbar of Chiefs and Queen Mothers; The Solemn Unveiling of the Memorial Monument of Liberty and Reunification and then finally crowned with The Gala dinner and award show. This program will commence on 27th October till it’s closing-celebration on 7th November. The climax of this event is the global Year of Return Carnival at the National Cultural Center. The traditional Manhyia Palace; the seat and palace of the Ashanti Kingdom is where the carnival parade will be organized to exhibit a breathtaking culture of the Ashanti Kingdom.
Make a date to join the annual kids’ experience during a 2-day exiting funfair at the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park in Accra. Activities scheduled for the program are a grand durbar of chiefs and queens, recitals about Tourism in Ghana, cultural displays, music and dance, fashion shows, horse riding, cooking competitions, local games (ludu, oware, ampe), face painting, arts and craft display, and a book fair organized by children. Local food and drinks will also be available for sale for the guests.
International Festival of Sahara of Douz (Tunisia)
Experience the magnificent nature reserve; the Sahara Desert, where the festival will be held. It is a four-day compilation of celebration and excitement. Join the fun and witness pure traditions and cultural activities including poetry recitals, camel marathons, horse riding, music and dance and traditional rites of passage. 2019’s 52nd edition will be held from 19th until 22 December.
You will fall in love with this intertwined show of colorful lights and music. The Ghana festival of lights will display lights on magnificent historic buildings and monuments in Osu, Accra. In connection with the Global Year of Return 2019, the program will tell stories about the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade (400 years since the first enslaved Africans, mostly Ghanaians first arrived in Jamestown Virginia) and how the City of Accra has evolved. Go native by joining this insightful and enjoyable event. ‘Light of Freedom’.
Location: Accra Independence Arch
Date: 12th -15th December, 2019
Do your want to be part of Ghana’s first Festival of lights? Find out more on how to be a part.
This event is a package of exhibitions from all the 16 regions of Ghana and their capitals namely;
Ashanti Region – Kumasi,
Volta Region – Ho,
Upper East Region – Bolgatanga,
Upper West Region – Wa, Ahafo Region – Goaso,
Bono Region – Sunyani,
Greater Accra Region – Accra,
Northern Region – Tamale,
Savanna Region – Damango,
North-East Region – Nalerigu,
Eastern Region – Koforidua,
Western North Region – Sefwi Wiaso,
Western Region – Sekondi,
Central Region – Cape Coast,
Oti Region – Dambai,
Volta Region – Ho
What to expect
The program is slated to commence from 8th till 15th October. These exceptional and beautiful regions will exhibit their rich cultural exuberance and traditions with their regional ministers and paramount chiefs present. The theme of this event is ‘Empowering the youth through culture, creative arts, and wealth creation’. The exhibition is also meant to promote the traditional values of the people and create a unique platform to showcase their rich culture to the world.
Welcome to African Culture Trip: where you discover experiential African travel from the continent and around the world.
This space serves you meaningful activities to destinations that will explore your knowledge when it comes to the African continent from the view of Panford Baffo, a traveller, mom, culture expert and travel curator.
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ntries and not a country on its own. It consists of 54 countries.
