DOCSLIB.ORG

Accommodation Services for Competitive Tourism in Sub-Saharan Africa: Historical Evidence from Malawi

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Accommodation Services for Competitive Tourism in Sub-Saharan Africa: Historical Evidence from Malawi Bulletin of Geography. Socio–economic Series / No. 38 (2017): 73–92 BULLETIN OF GEOGRAPHY. SOCIO–ECONOMIC SERIES DE journal homepages: http://www.bulletinofgeography.umk.pl/ http://wydawnictwoumk.pl/czasopisma/index.php/BGSS/index http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/bog ISSN 1732–4254 quarterly G Accommodation services for competitive tourism in Sub-Saharan Africa: Historical evidence from Malawi Alice Magombo1, CDF, Christian M. Rogerson2, CFMR, Jayne M. Rogerson3, CMR 1Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture, Lilongwe, Malawi, phone: +265 775 499, e-mail: [email protected]; 2Univer- sity of Johannesburg, School of Tourism & Hospitality, Kerzner Administration Building, Bunting Road Campus, Bunting Road, Auckland Park, 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa; phone: +270 115 591 167, e-mail: [email protected] (corresponding author); 3University of Johannesburg, Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, D3 Lab Office 331, King- sway Campus, Kingsway, Auckland Park, 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa; phone +270 115 592 439, e-mail: [email protected] How to cite: Magombo, A., Rogerson, C.M. and Rogerson, J.M., 2017: Accommodation services for competitive tourism in Sub-Saharan Af- rica: Historical evidence from Malawi. In: Biegańska, J. and Szymańska, D. editors, Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series, No. 38, Toruń: Nicolaus Copernicus University, pp. 73–92. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/bog-2017-0035 Abstract. The accommodation services sector is a vital underpinning of the com- Article details: petitiveness of destinations in especially emerging tourism regions of the glob- Received: 20 September 2016 al economy. Within the environment of Africa building the competitiveness of Revised: 31 January 2017 Accepted: 21 July 2017 countries as tourism destinations is inseparable from the challenge of establish- ing a network of different forms of accommodation at competitive prices and in- ternationally acceptable quality standards. This paper uses a longitudinal approach to analyse the development of the accommodation services sector in one Afri- can country – Malawi – which is scaling up its tourism industry. Using historical evidence the objective is to examine the unfolding evolution of accommodation services as a factor in enhancing tourism destination competitiveness. The cheq- uered pathway followed in Malawi to building the country’s network of hotels and Key words: small-scale accommodation establishments is traced from the colonial period to tourism geography, post-independence developments. It is argued that in understanding the histori- accommodation services, cal evolution of accommodation services policy re-orientations have been signif- competitiveness, icant drivers of change. Malawi tourism. © 2017 Nicolaus Copernicus University. All rights reserved. Contents: 1. Introduction . 74 2. Tourism competitiveness and accommodation services ..................................... 75 3. The evolution of accommodation services in Malawi ....................................... 77 3.1. Accommodation services in the Colonial Era ......................................... 77 3.2. Accommodation services development since independence . 79 © 2017 Nicolaus Copernicus University. All rights reserved. © 2017 De Gruyter Open (on-line). 74 A. Magombo, Ch. M. Rogerson, J. M. Rogerson / Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series / 38 (2017): 73–92 3.2.1. Government planning and direction of the hotel sector ................................ 80 3.2.2. The retreat of government and facilitation of private sector investment................... 85 4. Conclusion ............................................................................ 88 Acknowledgements ..................................................................... 88 References ............................................................................. 89 1. Introduction in enhancing tourism destination competitiveness in one African country. Under scrutiny is the case of Across Africa considerable importance is attached Malawi, a landlocked country of central Africa bor- to tourism as a lever for job creation, poverty re- dered in the north and east by Tanzania, Zambia duction, improving livelihoods and generating lo- in the west and Mozambique in the south and east. cal economic development prospects (Ashley, Roe, As the former British colony of Nyasaland, Malawi 2002; Mitchell, Ashley, 2006; Rogerson, Rogerson, gained independence on 6 July 1964. From the ear- 2010; Spenceley, Meyer, 2012; Saarinen, Rogerson, liest colonial days to the present-day the economy 2014; UNWTO, 2015a; Butler, Rogerson, 2016; de has been narrowly based with agriculture the main Boer, van Dijk, 2016). It is argued that whilst the source of growth. Only in the past decade and a half economic importance of tourism in Africa in the has there occurred a positive structural change with global tourism economy remains modest, as in- a gradual shift out of agriculture into higher produc- dexed by its 5 percent share of international arrivals tivity non-agricultural sectors (World Bank, 2016). and 3 percent share of tourism receipts, since 1990 Among opportunities for economic diversification the sector has been steadily rising in terms of its an interest emerged in the late colonial period con- significance for economic and social development cerning the potential for tourism to develop as an (Rogerson, 2007; Novelli, 2015; UNWTO, 2015b; alternative source of employment, income and live- World Travel & Tourism Council, 2015). This said, lihoods in Malawi. Throughout the post-independ- the state of tourism in Africa must be looked at in ence years tourism has been a continuing focus for relation to its unexploited potential for develop- promotion and embedded in national economic de- ment given the continent’s extraordinary rich tour- velopment planning prioritisation (African Develop- ism assets of wildlife, biodiversity, natural scenery ment Bank, 2012; Mwanakatawe, Kebedew, 2015). and culture (Blanke et al., 2011; World Bank 2014; The volume of tourism scholarship on Malawi Saarinen, Rogerson, 2015; UNWTO, 2015b; Man- remains relatively limited even compared to that wa et al., 2016). In order to maximise tourism de- of several other African countries (Rogerson, Rog- velopment opportunities as well as contribute to erson, 2011). Only a small number of works exist the achievement of the United Nations Sustaina- which deal with a range of issues around entrepre- ble Development Goals it is essential that African neurship (Chilembwe, Gondwe, 2015; Krishnan, countries build their competitiveness as tourism 2016), the development pathways of the tourism destinations and overcome barriers that are con- industry (Magombo, Rogerson, 2012), voluntour- straining tourism development (Blanke et al., 2011; ism (Freidus, 2016), tourist guides (Chilembwe, Manwa, 2011; Mayaka, Prasad, 2012). Among sev- Mweiwa, 2014), employment and poverty allevia- eral factors that can influence tourism demand and tion (Gartner, Cukier, 2012), cultural heritage (Gil- competitiveness one essential prerequisite for the man, 2015) as well as recent ecotourism initiatives growth of any tourism destination is that differ- in protected areas for leveraging international tour- ent forms of accommodation be made available to ism (Novelli, Scarth, 2007; Snyman, 2013; Bello, tourists at competitive prices and acceptable qual- 2015; Bello et al., 2016). Among academic observ- ity standards (Dwyer, Kim, 2003; Ritchie, Crouch, ers and policy-makers alike there is consensus that, 2003; Ernst & Young, 2011; Christie et al., 2013; relative to its neighbours, Malawi underperforms Rogerson, 2016a). as a tourism destination (World Bank, 2011; Ma- The aim in this paper is to examine the unfold- gombo, Rogerson, 2012). Key factors are the lack ing evolution of accommodation services as a factor of air connectivity to the country from Europe and A. Magombo, Ch. M. Rogerson, J. M. Rogerson / Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series / 38 (2017): 73–92 75 Asia, and limited and/or poor tourism marketing of clusive development through the tourism sector the so-called “Warm Heart of Africa” (World Bank, (Bakker, Messerli, 2016). 2011; Krishnan, 2016). Beyond issues of air access In terms of the tourism destination pyramid and of shortcomings in international marketing, Christie et al. (2013) and the World Bank (2014) however, it is acknowledged widely that progress of differentiate African countries on the basis of in- tourism development has been stifled continuously come ranking and the scale of tourism develop- by the underdeveloped state of accommodation ser- ment. Using these criteria, a fourfold typology is vices. In a report produced by the World Bank in set forth of sub-Saharan African countries as tour- 2011 the imperative to increase the competitiveness ism destinations. First, are pre-emergent destina- of Malawi’s accommodation sector was identified as tions which have not yet developed their tourism a core challenge for moving towards a more efficient economies. Examples include The Central African local tourism economy (World Bank, 2011: 44). Republic, Eritrea, Liberia or South Sudan which It is against the above backdrop that this inves- represent countries with governance problems, tigation adopts an historical longitudinal approach low government policy interest in tourism, and, to unpack the emergence and geographical pat- in the short- to medium-term, necessarily limited terns of accommodation services in Malawi.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Item Box Subject Author Title Exps Pages Size Inches Pub. Date Grand
    Item Box Subject Author Title Exps Pages Size Inches Pub. Date Grand Total: 3, 139, 369, 104, 343, 159, [and the 210 Namibian 51, 612, 191, 21, 44, 1, 39, 95, 428, docs so far is 2809] (2599) Central Africa:3 1 Central Africa—General Economics UNECA Subregional Strategies 19 32 8x11.5 Hints to Businessmen Visiting The London Board of 2 Central Africa—General Economics Congo (Brazzaville), Chad, Gabon 19 32 4.75x7.125 Trade and Central African Republic Purpose and Perfection Pottery as 3 Central Africa—General Art The Smithsonian Institution 3 4 8x9.25 a Woman's Art in Central Africa Botswana:139 National Institute of Access to Manual Skills Training in 1 Botswana—Bibliographies Bibliography Development and Cultural Botswana: An Annotated 9 13 8x11.5 Research Bibliography Social Thandiwe Kgosidintsi and 2 Botswana—Bibliographies Sciences—Information Publishing in Botswana 2 2 8.5x11 Neil Parsons Science National Institute of 3 Botswana—Bibliographies Bibliography Development Rearch and Working Papers 5 8 5.75x8.25 Documentation University of Botswana and Department of Library Studies 1 Botswana—Social Sciences Social Sciences 28 25 8.25x11.75 Swaziland Prospectus Social Refugees In Botswana: a Policy of 2 Botswana—Social Sciences United Nations 3 7 4.125x10.5 Sciences—Refugees Resettlement Projet De College Exterieur Du 3 Botswana—Social Sciences Social Sciences unknown 3 3 8.25x11.75 Botswana Community Relations in Botswana, with special reference to Francistown. Statement 4 Botswana—Social Sciences Social Sciences Republic of Botswana Delivered to the National Assembly 4 5 5.5x8 1971 by His Honor the Vice President Dt.
    [Show full text]
  • Comprehensive Transport and Trade System Development Master Plan in the United Republic of Tanzania Final Report Volume 2 Curren
    Ministry of Transport, The United Republic of Tanzania Comprehensive Transport and Trade System Development Master Plan in the United Republic of Tanzania – Building an Integrated Freight Transport System – Final Report Volume 2 Current Issues March 2014 JAPAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY PADECO Co., Ltd. Nippon Koei Co. Ltd. International Development Center of Japan Incorporated EI JR 14-068 Note: In this study, the work for Master Plan Formulation and Pre-Feasibility Study was completed at the end of 2012 and a Draft Final Report was issued. This final report incorporates comments on the draft final report received from various concerned parties. In accordance with Tanzanian Laws, the process of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) was carried out after the issuance of the Draft Final Report in order to allow for the study to be officially recognized as a Master Plan. The results of the one year SEA have been incorporated in this report. The report contains data and information available at the end of 2012 and does not reflect changes which have taken place since then, except for notable issues and those related to the SEA. Comprehensive Transport and Trade System Development Final Report Master Plan in the United Republic of Tanzania Volume 2 Current Issues Contents Chapter 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1-1 1.1 Study Background and Subjects ................................................................................ 1-1 1.2 Study Objectives
    [Show full text]
  • What a Tourist Expect
    What a tourist expect Is govt serious in promoting tourism?— P12 P2 Tourism, water: Drivers of Malawi’s economy — P14 2 SPECIAL PULLOUT THE NATION 27 SEPTEMBER 2013 3 PROTECTING OUR COMMON FUTURE by ALICK NYASULU MALAWIAN ECONO M IST BASED IN AUSTRALIA These are the hot institutions that are raising the bar in the tourism and A water sector: K A 1. Airlink UDE SIMW A -CL PH SE 2. Debonaires O 3. Sunbird J PHOTOGRAPH: A white elephant? A tourist lodge lies desolate at Nyika National Park 4. Bata Malawi’s sluggish 5. Palm Valley 6. Kara O Mula tourism industry 7. Likhubula Lodge or many years, tourism fragmented and its growth is One aspect that I find high grade joke in marketing, has been touted as a sluggish and many factors are irritating is how tourism is but such is the reality. It is time Fpotential replacement at play. marketed. I know that that Malawi established a tourism to dwindling tobacco Naturally, it is often quite government is now collecting authority and removed such 8. Hotel Masongola revenues, but it remains very easy to point fingers at a tourism levy from tour functions from the ministry uncompetitive in the southern government because it is operators in whatever form it altogether and do away with Africa region. It is a money some ambiguous institution. comes. It is unclear how these usual Capital Hill bureaucracy spinner in Kenya, South Africa, There are, however, many funds are used other than the in such a high-paced industry. 9. Tongole Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia other players in the industry perennial bus rides organised Any traveller or visitor will and Zambia yet these countries and the role of government is by the tourism ministry for naturally spend money as do not necessary offer unique simply to provide an enabling journalists across the country.
    [Show full text]
  • Dominus Illuminatio Mea’: a Commission for the New Library at Douai Abbey
    A Guide to ‘Dominus Illuminatio Mea’: A Commission for the New Library at Douai Abbey Work by Fr. Claude BouCher MAfr. and Mr. Thomas Mpira, KuNgoni Centre of Culture and Art, Mua Mission, Malawi DesCription by R. L. Hewitt, Kamuzu Academy, Malawi 2011 Malawi and the Kamuzu Academy Malawi, which was known under colonial rule most recently as Nyasaland, is a country located in Central Africa: it is surrounded by Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia. It owes its origins to the heroic labour of Anglican, Catholic and Presbyterian missionaries: the most famous are Dr. David Livingstone and Bishop Charles Mackenzie. Among Malawi’s more unexpected institutions is the Kamuzu Academy, which was established by Dr. H. Kamuzu Banda, the first post-independence President, to offer a Classical education to Malawians at the site of the tree under which he had learned his first letters from Scottish missionaries. His foundation has allowed the author to make his living as a teacher of Greek and Latin in Malawi for the past seven years. The Kamuzu Academy has a web-site at <http://www.kamuzuacademy.org>. The MV Ilala II was built in Glasgow in 1951 and remains the only means of communication for many communities living along the shores of Lake Malawi. The MV Ilala II, which is photographed here at Monkey Bay, is named after the district in what is now Zambia in which Dr. David Livingstone died. Fr. Claude Boucher MAfr. and the KuNgoni Centre of Culture and Art Malawi is also the home of the KuNgoni Centre of Culture and Art, which was established in 1976 at Mua Mission, Dedza district, by Fr.
    [Show full text]
  • Mbeya Region Socio-Economic Profile
    THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA MBEYA REGION SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE UGANDA RWANDA KENYA BURUNDI MBEYA ZAMBIA MSUMBIJI Joint Publication by: THE PLANNING COMMISSION DAR ES SALAAM and REGIONAL COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE MBEYA TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages FOREWORD..........................................................................................................................v SECTION I.............................................................................................................................1 LAND POPULATION AND CLIMATE:...........................................................................1 GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION:................................................................................................ 1 REGIONAL AREA AND ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS............................................................ 1 ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:............................................................................................. 2 LAND USE: ............................................................................................................................ 4 (III) 1.2.1 ETHNIC GROUPS:................................................................................................... 7 (IV) 1.2.2 POPULATION SIZE AND GROWTH:.................................................................... 7 POPULATION DENSITY AND DISTRIBUTION: .......................................................12 MIGRATION:......................................................................................................................19 1.1.4
    [Show full text]
  • An Evaluation of the Project
    ICELANDIC INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY AN EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT: “Charting of Lake Malawi for the Safety of Navigation” Monkey Bay 2001–2004 Page intentionally left blank 2 AN EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT: “Charting of Lake Malawi for the Safety of Navigation” 2001–2004 Internal evaluation By Hilmar Helgason Prepared for the Icelandic International Development Agency Reykjavík and Malawi Department of Surveys Monkey Bay April 2005 3 Page intentionally left blank 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..............................................................................................................7 The Project ...................................................................................................................................9 Evaluation, methodology and work plan......................................................................................9 Structure of report ......................................................................................................................10 PROJECT DESCRIPTION............................................................................................................11 Background to the Project..........................................................................................................11 Previous activities at the Hydrographic Survey Unit.................................................................13 Planning and preparation of Project activities............................................................................13 Project management ...................................................................................................................13
    [Show full text]
  • D. Tweddle - Curriculum Vitae
    D. TWEDDLE - CURRICULUM VITAE PERSONAL PARTICULARS Name: Denis Tweddle Date and Place of Birth: 23 March 1949, Corbridge, Northumberland, England (Nationality: British, passport number 740172176) Present Address: South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, P/Bag 1015, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa (South African resident). Telephone (Off.) (27)(46)6035800. (Home) (27)(46)6226 6. Fax no. (27)(46)6222403. E-mail [email protected]. Marital Status: Married, two sons, aged 29 and 23 years. EDUCATION 1960 - 67 King Edward VI Grammar School, Morpeth, Northumberland, England. 9 O-levels, 3 A-levels. 1967 - 70 University College of North Wales, Bangor. B.Sc. Mar Biology/Zoology. EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES 2000-present Research Associate, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (formerly J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology), Grahamstown, RSA. Research Programme: Taxonomy, distribution and conservation of southern African river fishes. Consultancies and contracts: July –August 2008. Survey of fishes of the Kwango tributary f the Congo River. December 2007 - present. Coordinator, EIA on eradication of invasive lien fishes in Western Cape rivers (Envirofish Africa, CapeNature) November – December 2007. Zambia, Lumwana copper and uranium mine EIA fish and fisheries consultant (Envirofish Africa, ight Piesold) January – February 2007. Audit of the Instream Flow Requirements for Phase 1 Dams of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (INR) November 2006 – January 2007. Economic impact of Nile tilapia as an a invasive species (CSIR) May 2006. Malawi uranium mine EIA fish and fisheries sultant (Envirofish Africa, Knight Piesold) May 2005 – present. Coordinator (SAIAB), EU/IUCN southern African freshwater red data assessment programme. July – September 2005. Freshwater fish/fisheries specialist, Zambezi Delta Management Plan.
    [Show full text]
  • 20 Fti Reina De Africa 26 Dias
    RUTA REINA DE AFRICA 2020 26 DÍAS ZAMBIA, MALAWI Y MOZAMBIQUE Rio Zambeze ¡La ruta más salvaje y alternativa por Zambia, Malawi y Mozambique! Grandes atractivos en países poco visitados; safaris a pie, en canoa, barca y 4x4 (de día y de noche) en los mejores parques nacionales, poblados, cultura, gentes y como no, navegaremos en el Ilala en Lago Malawi y descansaremos en las playas más paradisíacas del Índico. VIAJE ALOJAMIENTO GUÍA INCLUIDO OPCIONAL Safaris a pie, 4x4, Camión y 4x4 Hotel, Lodge, Guía Kananga de barca y canoa, Submarinismo, Viaje en grupo Campamento, habla hispana ballenas, navegación pesca, snorkel Bungalows en el Ilala Siguiendo los pasos del Dr. Livingstone os proponemos nuestra ruta más genuina y aventurera. Un itinerario emocionante y salvaje por el corazón de África, recorriendo países poco visitados, como hicieron los primeros exploradores del siglo XIX. En Zambia navegaremos en canoa las aguas amansadas del Zambeze. ¡Una de las actividades más apasionantes que se pueden realizar en África! De las salvajes riveras del gran rio a las llanuras del PN South Luangwa, famoso por su población de leopardos y su gran concentración de fauna. Safaris en vehículos 4x4 de día y noche; y acompañados por expertos guías, un safari a pie para rastrear las huellas de los animales. Rumbo este llegamos a la inmensidad del lago Malawi. Navegaremos el lago de las estrellas a bordo del M.V. Ilala, una experiencia inolvidable que nos transportará a las épocas del pasado colonial en cada parada y puerto. Desembarcaremos para visitar las interesantes poblaciones a orillas del lago, y más tarde exploramos en 4x4 y barca el PN de Liwonde, que protege a lo largo del rio Shire manadas de elefantes y una de las mayores densidades de hipopótamos de Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • Development and Implementation of Uniform Safety
    World Maritime University The Maritime Commons: Digital Repository of the World Maritime University World Maritime University Dissertations Dissertations 2002 Development and implementation of uniform safety standards for inland waterways vessels and non-convention craft in Africa : the case of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Tasiyana Wisdom Tengananwo Kamanga Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.wmu.se/all_dissertations Recommended Citation Kamanga, Tasiyana Wisdom Tengananwo, "Development and implementation of uniform safety standards for inland waterways vessels and non-convention craft in Africa : the case of the Southern African Development Community (SADC)" (2002). World Maritime University Dissertations. 1268. https://commons.wmu.se/all_dissertations/1268 This Dissertation is brought to you courtesy of Maritime Commons. Open Access items may be downloaded for non-commercial, fair use academic purposes. No items may be hosted on another server or web site without express written permission from the World Maritime University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. B>emW WORLD MARITIME UNIVERSITY Malmo, Sweden DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIFORM SAFETY STANDARDS FOR INLAND WATERWAYS VESSELS AND NON­ CONVENTION CRAFT IN AFRICA. The case of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) By TASIYANA WISDOM TENGANAWO KAMANGA The Republic of Malawi A dissertation submitted to the World Maritime University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in MARITIME AFFAIRS (Maritime Administration) 2002 © Copyright Tasiyana Tenganawo Wisdom Kamanga 2002 To My family, Irene, Chawezi and Thobekile Kamanga to My late twin brother and all the lost loved ones and to My colleagues at the Marine Department and the SADC ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work is the culmination of my studies at the World Maritime University.
    [Show full text]
  • Malawithe BEST OF
    MalawiTHE BEST OF LAKE I WILDLIFE I LANDSCAPE I CULTURE The Best of Malawi ThIS brochure & directory is brought to you by the Malawi Travel Marketing Consortium. The Consortium comprises over 40 companies who represent the Best of Malawi. They cater for the needs of international visitors, providing high quality accommodation and services and ensuring that discerning travellers have trouble-free, memorable and highly enjoyable stays in what has become known as the Warm Heart of Africa. Our Tourism Information Office is based in the UK but reacts to worldwide enquiries, providing further information and advice on any aspect of travel to and within Malawi. Responses are prompt and have the most up-to-date and accurate information available. RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL Ask most Malawi lodge owners if they have a ‘Responsible Tourism Policy’ and it’s unlikely you’ll find many such formal documents. But ask if they work closely with communities, provide good employment opportunities and actively initiate sustainable projects of conservation and development in their local area, and they will be incredulous that you even had to ask! For many, it’s the very reason they are there. Tourism has the potential to be a significant engine of economic growth for Malawi and already the vast majority of lodges are ensuring that it has a direct, positive effect on the country and on as many Malawians as possible, as well as being sustainable for Contents future generations. One thing you can be sure of in Malawi is that your tourism Dollar, Welcome to Malawi Euro or Pound (or Kwacha!) is one that is very well spent.
    [Show full text]
  • In Troduction 
    In troduction Monica was a slender woman in her early forties—or maybe her late forties. She was not sure. She sat on the back porch of her home, folding small quantities of baking soda into scraps of paper ripped from a child’s school exercise book. She would sell the packets to neighbors and perhaps turn a small profi t. Monica’s sister Elisa sat next to her on a woven reed mat. She was combing her hair in preparation for tying small tufts of it into braids or knots. Th e two women looked out from the porch into the inner courtyard of their compound. Th ey had swept the earthen ground that morning, as they did every morning, to remove the debris of meal preparation, the fallen leaves, and the loose layer of soil deposited by the wind since the last go-around the day be- fore. Several chickens pecked about—selling them was another small business venture Monica had started. Th e yard was at the center of a rectangular property, framed on three sides by small homes made carefully of mud bricks and thatched roofi ng and on the fourth side by a fence fashioned from bamboo and twine. Th e three buildings each had a veranda fac- ing the courtyard, which was where most of the day’s activities took place. Monica and Elisa sat near the door to the home where Monica stayed along with her four youngest children. Hers was the only building in the compound that was whitewashed—the edifi ce smeared in a mixture of lime and water—making it stand out starkly against a rural African landscape dominated by browns and greens.
    [Show full text]
  • Sub-Saharan Africa 160 Suez Canal 166 Terik 172
    Index Africa Geography with approx Page Numbering Africa 2 African Great Lakes 8 AG1 14 AIDS in Africa 20 Bantu peoples 25 Congo River 31 Culture of the DRC 37 Demographics of Africa 43 Demographics of South Africa 49 East Africa 55 Geography of Africa 61 Horn of Africa 67 Lake Albert (Africa) 72 Lake Edward 78 Lake Kariba 84 Lake Malawi 90 Lake Tanganyika 96 Lake Turkana 102 Lake Victoria 108 List of African countries 113 Maghreb 119 Mount Kilimanjaro 125 Mount Nyiragongo 131 Niger River 137 Nile 143 North Africa 149 Southern Africa 155 Sub-Saharan Africa 160 Suez Canal 166 Terik 172 http://cd3wd.com wikipedia-for-schools http://gutenberg.org page no: 1 of 176 Africa zim:///A/Africa.html Africa 2008/9 Schools Wikipedia Selection. Related subjects: African Geography SOS Children works in 44 African Countries. For more information see SOS Children in Africa Africa is the world's secondlargest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 Africa million km² (11.7 million sq mi) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area. With about 922 million people (as of 2005) in 61 territories, it accounts for about 14.2% of the world's human population. The continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Suez Canal and the Red Sea to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. There are 46 countries including Madagascar, and 53 including all the island groups.
    [Show full text]