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Africa

Zambia. Dignity and Survival.

The slums surrounding the centre of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, can be classified by their level of degradation. They are located just a few kilometres from the central shops and street stalls. Dirty roads and houses without drinking water: this is what one can see in the suburbs of George and Lilanda, and the…

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The Rock-hewn Churches of Ethiopia.

Tigray, a region of Ethiopia, guards a series of interesting churches, some of which are very hard to reach. We refer especially to religious sites built centuries ago in the area of Amba Gheralta, located in unique places and surrounded by a deep spirituality. These churches are to be found on steep cliffs. Their location…

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Africa. Hotspots 2022.

This year there will be different hotspots in Africa. But two of them will have a deep impact on the security of their regions, due to the dimensions of the concerned states and the complexity of the threats. If Nigeria has long been considered a hotspot, the situation in Ethiopia worsened rapidly in the last…

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Africa forecast 2022.

The return to the constitutional order in three countries hit by military coups, the downsizing of the French military presence in the Sahel and the instability in Ethiopia are the main challenges. In North Africa, prospects for the stabilization of war-torn Libya in 2022 are uncertain. By end 2021, both sides were disagreeing about the…

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Eritrea. The sacrifice of the red goat.

The Kunama, an Eritrean ethnic group living in the remote and isolated area between the Gash and Setit rivers near the border with Ethiopia. Kunama life is marked by traditional rites and ceremonies handed down by the ancient fathers and scrupulously observed. A glance at the rites of tillage. The fields have been cleared and…

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Africa. The boom of e-commerce.

As use of the Internet grows, so does the number of consumers who shop online. A surprising fact: the sector could benefit from around $15 billion between 2025 and 2030 if there were more women-owned businesses on the platforms. The number of online shoppers in Africa has surged annually by18% since 2014 (the global average is 12%) and…

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Kenya/Ethiopia. A journey into Borana’s cultural heritage.

In the vast semi-desert uplands of southern Ethiopia, and in the northern desert region of Kenya, the Borana have their home. They believe themselves to be the first of the groups that form the great Oromo family. “We were the first to arrive, at dawn”. The experts agree that the Borana — around half a…

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Getting married.

Among the Borana people marriage is preceded by several stages and long negotiations, which can go on even for two years. The boy’s father takes the first step by visiting the girl’s parents, on this occasion he brings them some tobacco and coffee as gifts. The girl’s parents accept the gifts the first time but…

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The Gubissa Ceremony.

The birth of a child is always an important event that brings joy to the Borana. The joy is all the more important when the child is a first-born or a male. The announcement of the birth is made by the father who shouts to all “Olla, ilmi dallae buna tambo nyada” (People of the…

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Herbs & Plants. Leonotis nepetifolia. ‘A Lion era’.

In traditional medicine, the plant is used to treat a number of diseases like bronchial asthma, fever, influenza, cough, as well as treatment of epilepsy. Medicinal plants are a huge element of the indigenous medical systems. Leonotis nepetifolia (Family Lamiaceae) is one of such medicinal plant species with significant medicinal values. It is commonly known…

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The Gadamoji Celebration.

Every eight years, the feast of final Borana passage called Gadamoji, when a man reaches complete social and ritual maturity, is celebrated. Due to the fact that it is celebrated at such long intervals and its importance and influence in various aspects of the life of the tribe, this is one of the more typical…

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The Expansion of Cryptocurrency in Africa.

The African crypto-economy has grown over 1200% over the last two years. Moreover, five countries in the continent rank in the top 20 of the Global Crypto Adoption Index. But risks to monetary systems are enormous and largely unpredictable. According to Chainalysis, the private New York company that studies the applications of new technologies called…

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Advocacy

Maria Ressa. Information that gives hope.

“We want to create a federation of international journalistic organisations that collaborate in this effort, starting from the global South,” says Filipino journalist and 2022…

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Baobab

The Leopard, the Dog and the Tortoise.

Once upon a time, there was a leopard. He had a huge walnut tree that was full of nuts. Stingy as he was, however, he forbade…

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Youth & Mission

Mission. In the school of life and humanity.

Three young Comboni missionaries from three continents share their vocation stories and missionary experiences. Fr Victor Cunanan Parungao from the Philippines reflects on 15 years of…

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