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5 African Tribes With Unique Traditions [PHOTOS

Published

2 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

JUST IN: Tinubu Directs INEC Chairman Yakubu To Immediately Proceed On Leave

Published

9 hours ago

September 26, 2025

Editor

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly directed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to proceed on leave ahead of the expiration of his tenure.

Insider sources say the move comes in response to what they described as Mahmood’s “last-minute betrayal” of the All Progressives Congress government that appointed him.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma reportedly met with President Tinubu shortly after the president returned from a 12-day working vacation, alleging that Mahmood’s efforts to register new political parties at the end of his tenure had disrupted Tinubu’s preparations for a second term.

The governor also claimed that Mahmood was covertly backing a candidate in the Imo State governorship election.

Following this briefing, Tinubu reportedly requested that Mahmood suspend all official duties and proceed on terminal leave.

The decision has thrown the commission’s schedule into disarray, leading to the abrupt cancellation of Mahmood’s final quarterly consultative meeting with political parties, as well as a planned session with civil society organisations.

Tinubu is now expected to submit the name of a new INEC Chairman to the National Assembly in the coming days.

Mahmood was appointed to office by then-President Muhammadu Buhari on October 21, 2015, succeeding acting chairperson, Amina Zakari.

News

400 Golfers Storm Abuja For Nigeria @ 65 Tourney

Published

10 hours ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

More than 400 golfers are set to compete in the Nigeria @ 65 Independence Golf Tournament at the Tukur Yusuf Buratai International Golf Resort and Country Club, Abuja.

The week-long tournament, organised to mark Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary, will also honour retired and serving officers of the Nigerian Army.

The Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Dr James Agbonhese, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday that the tournament aims to promote unity, camaraderie and national pride.

“This is more than a sporting competition. It is a reflection of our national values; unity, perseverance, discipline and excellence,” Agbonhese said.

He said the event would also feature the commissioning of new facilities at the resort, including a midway hut, a modern golf practice range, a back nine starter shed and a golf cart bay.

Agbonhese commended the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Grand Patron of the tournament, for his unwavering support.

The Vice Chairman of TYB Golf Club, Dr Ali Peters, who represented the Club Captain, Maj.-Gen. Samson Jiya, said the event was a symbolic tribute to the military’s role in safeguarding national unity.

“As we celebrate, we must reflect on the legacy of our founding fathers and the sacrifices that brought us this far,” Peters said.

He added that the new facilities would greatly improve the golfing experience for members and visitors.

Jummai Adamu, a member of the LOC, said more than 100 female golfers, including three professionals, would participate in this year’s tournament, reflecting golf’s growing popularity among women in Nigeria.

Tournament Manager, Mr Shola Adebayo, said the event would feature daily games, networking sessions and cultural showcases.

“It’s set to deliver not just top-level golf but an unforgettable experience for everyone involved,” he said.

News

Fire On Board Forces Lagos-Atlanta-bound Aircraft Diversion To Ghana

Published

11 hours ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

A Delta Airlines flight en route from Lagos, Nigeria, to Atlanta, United States, was forced to make an emergency diversion to Accra, Ghana, following a fire incident in the aircraft’s oven.

According to the spokesperson for the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, on Thursday, the incident occurred on Tuesday, 23 September, affecting Flight DL055, which had departed from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

He said airline officials confirmed that while the fire was swiftly contained and posed no threat to passengers, the delay caused the crew to exceed their expected duty time, making them unable to continue the journey as scheduled.

Following the unscheduled landing in Accra, the airline initiated rebooking arrangements for stranded passengers. Some were accommodated on a Delta Accra-New York service the same evening, with further passengers rebooked on the following night’s flight.

He said, “However, some passengers were rebooked on the airline’s Accra-New York flight the same evening, and this effort was repeated on Wednesday night for additional passengers.

“Flight DL055 LOS – ATL finally departed from Accra today, 25 September 2025, at approximately 1200 hrs.”

In a related development, Delta Airlines also cancelled its inbound flight ATL-LOS (Atlanta to Lagos) for Thursday, 25 September.
Though passengers were said to have been informed in advance, “The airline provided hotel accommodations and ground transport for those who still reported to the airport.”

To mitigate the disruption, the airline rebooked 23 affected passengers on Air France, while others were scheduled to travel via British Airways, KLM, and Lufthansa.

The remaining passengers will be airlifted on Delta’s regularly scheduled flight tomorrow, 26 September, at 11:40 a.m.

He added, “Regarding today’s 25 September 2025 ATL – LOS arrival cancellation, although passengers were duly informed about the cancellation, the airline accommodated those who arrived at the airport by providing transportation to hotels as reported in the flight disruption this morning.

“Twenty-three passengers had been rebooked on Air France, while others would be airlifted on British Airways, KLM, and Lufthansa Airlines. The remaining passengers are scheduled to depart on the airline’s scheduled flight tomorrow, 26 September 2025, at 1140 hrs.”

Contrary to earlier reports, the Air France flight from Lagos has not been cancelled and is expected to operate at 01:30 a.m.

“Air France flight has not been cancelled as speculated, but would operate at 0130 hrs. Kindly note that I am attending meetings in Montreal, but I have had to constantly leave the hall to make calls and get feedback.

“Follow-up continues. While wishing you safe travels, do not hesitate to reach out to me if there is a further need to,” Achimugu added.