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5 African Tribes With Unique Traditions [PHOTOS

Published

3 years ago

June 12, 2023

Editor

With an estimated three thousand tribes nestled within 54 countries occupied by over 1.4 billion people, the African continent boasts unique cultures and traditions passed down over centuries.

Owing to her custom’s impact on the diverse African culture practised by many across the continent, many of these practises and traditions have over the years gained some level of traction and acceptance, but for some, they have remained alien and inconceivable.

Bantu tribe – Malawi and Chewa Festival for the Dead

The Bantu tribe in Malawi is home to the Chewa people, a group of locals with a unique burial ceremony for their dead.

Called the Chewa festival for the dead, this ceremony/practice calls for a purification ceremony for the dead. The process calls for the throat to be slit and water poured through until the body is clean. The water is then collected and used to prepare a meal for the community.

This practise is believed to rid the dead of their iniquities.

Banyankole tribe – Uganda; the Potency test

The Banyankole tribe in Uganda tests the potency and virility of a groom before he is permitted to get married. This tribe charges the bride’s aunt to have sex with the groom to confirm his potency. She is also required to ‘test’ the bride’s virginity. Some traditions permit the bride’s aunt to either listen in or watch the couple consummate their marriage to prove their potency.

Aka tribe – Congo and the Breastfeeding dad.

A parenting ritual called ‘couvade’ is practised by the Aka Pygamy tribe of Congo. This practise, many have termed shocking, encourages skin-to-skin contact between dad and baby.

Dads are encouraged to cradle their newborns against their bare chests and breastfeed them. The AKA Pygamy tribe believes this will aid in fostering a deeper connection between father and child.

Wodaabe tribe – Niger Republic; Guérewol Beauty Contest

The Cure Salée festival, held at the end of the rainy season in September, is a male beauty contest and courtship ritual practised by Wodaabe men. Styled to perfection with make-up and other fashion accessories, these men compete for the affection of their women.

An ideal contestant is a tall man with perfectly white teeth and eyeballs. To impress these women, the men make different gestures, including rolling their eyes and smiling brightly to reveal their beautiful white dentition.

The Guérewol beauty contest is also judged by young women.

Maasai tribe – Northern Tanzania and Kenya ; Maasai spitting

Spittle holds major significance in Maasai culture. Tribal members show their respect through this medium, which is also regarded as an act of blessing.

The Maasai people believe that one’s spittle represents one’s essence, hence the ritual set up for greeting elders in the community. Young Massai men are required to first spit into the palms of the elders before offering them a handshake. This act is highly revered.
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News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.