For most people in Africa, there are no taps at home to turn on: when a family needs water, it is the womenfolk who go down to the local river, waterhole, stream or muddy puddle to draw it. The statistics are stark. With only 56% of the continent's people having easy access to clean water, the average African woman walks 12 kilometers a day to obtain water for her family. Furthermore, only 37% of the people have access to sanitation facilities.
As always, the children suffer most. It is estimated that, worldwide, some 5,000 die daily from severe diarrhoea; a baby born in Africa is almost 500 times more likely to die from diarrhoea than a child born in either Europe or the United States. To add to this, there is a fearsome range of diseases that are there to be caught, some even from just touching contaminated water - bilharzia, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, dysentery and river blindness, to name but a few.
As always, the children suffer most. It is estimated that, worldwide, some 5,000 die daily from severe diarrhoea; a baby born in Africa is almost 500 times more likely to die from diarrhoea than a child born in either Europe or the United States. To add to this, there is a fearsome range of diseases that are there to be caught, some even from just touching contaminated water - bilharzia, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, dysentery and river blindness, to name but a few.
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Imagine filling your basin with water when a huge, scaly beast erupts from the river and seizes your arm. Within seconds you are dragged below the surface. If you do not die of shock, if you do not have your arm ripped off, you will soon be dead from drowning.
POLICE BRUTALITY
Police brutality, of the sort Johnny witnesses at MacKinnon Road police station in Sosweza, is widespread in Africa. Many police forces are poorly paid and indisciplined, and lack accountability. For example much criticism has been levelled at the South African police, as described in this Amnesty International report. In Zimbabwe, police routinely torture prisoners to extract confessions.
Police in South Africa have a bad reputation for senseless violence, and reports from Kenya following recent inter-tribal fighting tell of random killings by the authorities.
Police brutality, of the sort Johnny witnesses at MacKinnon Road police station in Sosweza, is widespread in Africa. Many police forces are poorly paid and indisciplined, and lack accountability. For example much criticism has been levelled at the South African police, as described in this Amnesty International report. In Zimbabwe, police routinely torture prisoners to extract confessions.
Police in South Africa have a bad reputation for senseless violence, and reports from Kenya following recent inter-tribal fighting tell of random killings by the authorities.
If this is not horrific enough, hippos are responsible for more deaths in Africa than any other large animal, some 300 - 400 a year. Although some attacks happen on rivers, usually on passing boats, they are more frequent at night, when hippos emerge from the water to raid village vegetable gardens: hippos do not like being disturbed when they are enjoying a meal. Two other reasons for attack are that they are fiercely protective of their young and very territorial.
On the positive side, think what the daily walk to collect water would do for your posture.
On the positive side, think what the daily walk to collect water would do for your posture.
Water, water
MOTORCADE
Soon after independence in many African countries, a new tribe began to emerge. Unlike the WaSwahili or the WaKikuyu or the WaKamba, tribes who had lived in East Africa for generations, this group were called the WaBenzi.
They were easily recognisable by the cars they drove.
The picture above is a South African's view. There is a good, if slightly dated description of the tribe in this article.
Soon after independence in many African countries, a new tribe began to emerge. Unlike the WaSwahili or the WaKikuyu or the WaKamba, tribes who had lived in East Africa for generations, this group were called the WaBenzi.
They were easily recognisable by the cars they drove.
The picture above is a South African's view. There is a good, if slightly dated description of the tribe in this article.
IDI AMIN
Amin, an ill-educated sergeant in the Uganda Army, staged a coup against Uganda's first president, Milton Obote, and became head of an increasingly violent and paranoid government.
Amin, an ill-educated sergeant in the Uganda Army, staged a coup against Uganda's first president, Milton Obote, and became head of an increasingly violent and paranoid government.
DOMESTIC SERVANT
Tabitha is one of millions of African men and women who work in the homes of the rich. In colonial times, some European households had four or five servants - a cook, two house 'boys', a gardener and even a chauffeur. Today, most expatriate households employ at least one.
In the circumstances, it isn't surprising that some are exploited. Yacinta, from Tanzania, worked an 18-hour day to earn money for her education.
Tabitha is one of millions of African men and women who work in the homes of the rich. In colonial times, some European households had four or five servants - a cook, two house 'boys', a gardener and even a chauffeur. Today, most expatriate households employ at least one.
In the circumstances, it isn't surprising that some are exploited. Yacinta, from Tanzania, worked an 18-hour day to earn money for her education.
PHOTOS courtesy of - Women at Waterhole: Julien Falissard ; Woman carrying Water and Baby Rocco Stecher; WaBenzi Flag: Wildebeast1
