Tag Archive for: From The Hippo’s Ears

Facts you may not have know about Mozambique:

Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique, is a country in Southeast Africa. The capital of Mozambique is Maputo (formerly known as “Lourenço Marques” from 1876 to 1976). Mozambique is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Southern African Development Community, and is an observer at La Francophonie.

Mozambique has a population of approximately 28 million, is a Unitary, dominant-party, semi-presidential, constitutional republic, and gained independence from Portugal in 1975.

1.  When you first meet someone, how do you greet them?

The common Portuguese greeting is “Olá” (hello), “Como estás?” (how are you?) It is also common to greet by saying “Bom dia” (good morning), “Boa tarde” (good afternoon), or “Boa noite” (good night), depending on the time of day.

2. What languages are spoken in the country?

The only official language of Mozambique is Portuguese, which is spoken mostly as a second language by about half the population. Common native languages include Makhuwa, Sena, and Swahili. Most Mozambicans living in the cities speak Portuguese as their first language. Makhuwa is spoken at home by the largest percentage of the population.

3. Do you use a twelve hour clock, or a twenty-four hour clock?

We use a 24-hour system.

4. What side of the road do people drive on? What do we need to know about driving in the country?

We drive on the left side of road. There are over 30,000 km of roads, but much of the network is unpaved.

5. How important is punctuality?

Punctuality is not a very important part of local culture, and people may arrive late for events.

6. Which types of music are popular? Who are some of the most popular musicians?

The music of Mozambique serves many purposes, ranging from religious expression to traditional ceremonies. Musical instruments are usually handmade. Some of the instruments used in Mozambican musical expression include drums made of wood and animal skin; the lupembe, a woodwind instrument made from animal horns or wood; and the marimba, which is a kind of xylophone native to Mozambique and other parts of Africa.

Mozambique’s own music is similar to reggae and West Indian calypso. Other music types are popular in Mozambique like marrabenta, kwaito, afrobeat and other Lusophone music forms like fado, bossa nova, kizomba and semba.

For a taste of Namibian music, listen to Lizha James’ Mutxangana, and Stewart Sukuma’s Xitchuketa Marrabenta.

7. Are there any Traditional Dances?

There are over 1000 traditional dances in Mozambique, each region, each village has their own traditions and variations of different rhythms and dances. There can be dances symbolising celebration, war, love or harvesting, however, today variations of the dances are mainly used as an individual expression or to represent the rich Mozambican culture at events. Watch some examples of traditional local dance here.

8.  What traditional Festivals are celebrated in the country?

AZGO Festival in Maputo
This is an annual international music festival which takes place over 3 days in the outdoors. It includes a variety of bands, music documentaries, and workshops. Additional facilities include a food court and restaurants, stalls for food and drink as well as designer fashion, merchandising and crafts.

STRAB Festival in Ponta Malongane
STRAB is the abbreviation for the Subterranean Rhythm & Blues experience, an annual music festival which started out as live entertainment for a birthday bash held by a group of scuba divers in 2003. It has grown over the years and now features about 20 live bands. Since 2008 STRAB has continued to provide exposure to bands from rock to blues to jazz to fusions of these.

Independence Day Festivities in Maputo
Independence Day is celebrated in June. The festivities include live performances and traditional dancing. The national stadium is the venue for a fantastic concert during which many celebrated Mozambique bands perform. The President often attends and addresses the attendees. Many cultural events such as poetry, dancing and visual arts take place the week before.

TAMBO International Art Camp/Festival in Pemba
The city of Pemba hosts this colourful festival that celebrates cultural diversity through art, dance, theatre and music performances. Visitors will enjoy 7 days in which to make art, exchange ideas and enjoy various kinds of workshops. There will be live performances and opportunities to interact with traditional artists from Pemba and other parts of the world.

9. What are the seasons like?

Mozambique has a tropical climate with two seasons, a wet season from October to March and a dry season from April to September. Climatic conditions vary depending on altitude. Rainfall is heavy along the coast and decreases in the north and south. Average temperature ranges in Maputo are from 13 to 24 °C (55.4 to 75.2 °F) in July (winter) to 22 to 31 °C (71.6 to 87.8 °F) in February (summer). Cyclones are common during the wet season.

10. What are some interesting facts about the President?

President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi has served as Mozambique’s fourth President, in office since 2015. He previously served as Minister of Defence from 2008 to 2014. President Nyusi has also served on the board of directors of the state-owned Mozambique Ports and Railways authority (CFM), and as president of Clube Ferroviário de Nampula, a top-division football club based in Nampula. He has a mechanical engineering degree from Brno University of Technology in Czechoslovakia, and a postgraduate degree management from the Victoria University of Manchester in England.

Nyusi is a member of the Makonde ethnic community. He is married to Isaura Nyusi, and has four children.

11. What are the country’s major industries?

The largest economic sectors are gas and oil, agriculture, forestry, mining, manufacturing, and tourism. Mozambique’s main exports include unwrought aluminum, tobacco, electricity, hydrocarbons nuts, seeds, and sugar cane.

12. How do people spend their free time?

Locals spend their free time watching popular sports, such as football and rink hockey, as well as trying out new restaurants and bars with family and friends.

13. What is a popular local drink?

Aside from the widely served Mozambican tea, known as Cha, and coffee, locally brewed beer made from maize is also very much enjoyed by people of Mozambique. Madeira, a Portuguese wine, is also popular in Mozambique.

14. What is a popular local dish?

The staple food for many Mozambicans is ncima, a thick porridge made from maize/corn flour. Cassava and rice are also eaten as staple carbohydrates. All of these are served with sauces of vegetables, meat, beans or fish. Other typical ingredients include cashew nuts, onions, bay leaves, garlic, coriander, paprika, pepper, red pepper, sugar cane, corn, millet, sorghum and potatoes.

15. What do you pay, on average, for the following? (1 USD = approx. MZN 61)

3 Course meal: MZN 1,100
Domestic beer (500ml): MZN 60
Cup of coffee: MZN 108
Coca cola (330ml): MZN 50
Milk (1l): MZN 92
Loaf of white bread: MZN 50
Apples (1 kg): MZN 125
Water (1.5l):MZN 52

16. Any general safety tips?

Although Mozambique does not pose a high crime rate, safety is still important when travelling. Remember to lock all your car doors when you leave your vehicle. Keep all valuables in a safe place when you leave the premises you are staying at. When site seeing and touring, make sure to keep the valuables you are carrying close by. Be careful of sharks when swimming in the sea, as there may not be nets. Do not go off the beaten track as Mozambique is known to have undetected landmines from its past civil war in isolated areas. Some areas may have restrictions on photography.

17. In conclusion, famous (and sometimes infamous) people from the country include:

  • Samora Machel, a Mozambican military commander, politician and revolutionary. A socialist in the tradition of Marxism–Leninism, he served as the first President of Mozambique from the country’s independence in 1975.
  • Graça Machel, a Mozambican politician and humanitarian. Machel is a member of the Africa Progress Panel, is an international advocate for women’s and children’s rights, and was made an honorary British Dame by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997 for her humanitarian work.
  • Mia Couto, a Mozambican writer. He won the Camões Prize in 2013, the most important literary award in the Portuguese language, and the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 2014.
  • Maria Mutola, a retired female track and field athlete from Mozambique who specialised in the 800 metres running event. She is only the fourth athlete to compete at six Olympic Games. She is a three-time world champion in this event and a one-time Olympic champion.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, and Remuneration needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2], [3]. Image sources: Rohan Reddy [1].

Facts you may not have know about Namibia:

Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean; it shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. Its capital and largest city is Windhoek, and it is a member state of the United Nations (UN), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU), and the Commonwealth of Nations.

Namibia has a population of approximately 2.6 million, is a Unitary dominant-party semi-presidential republic, and gained independence from South Africa in 1990.

1.  When you first meet someone, how do you greet them?

The basic physical greeting is the handshake. In English, the common greeting is “hello”. In Afrikaans, it’s “hallo”. German speakers say “guten tag”, and in Oshiwambo it’s “Ongaipi”.

2. What languages are spoken in the country?

English is the only official language in Namibia. The most common language, spoken by around half of the population, is Oshiwambo. Other common languages include Nama, Afrikaans, Otjiherero, Kavango, Lozi, San, and German.

3. Do you use a twelve hour clock, or a twenty-four hour clock?

We use a 24-hour system.

4. What side of the road do people drive on? What do we need to know about driving in the country?

We drive on the left side of road. Due to low traffic volumes the majority of roads are not tarred.

5. How important is punctuality?

Punctuality is important in Namibia, with trying to arrive on time being part of the local culture.

6. Which types of music are popular? Who are some of the most popular musicians?

The music of Namibia has a number of folk styles, as well as pop, rock, reggae, jazz, house and hip hop. Folk music accompanies storytelling or dancing. The Namaqua use various strings, flutes and drums while the Bantu use xylophones, gourds and horn trumpets. The Namibian reggae platform has produced artist such as Ras Sheehama, Petu, Ngatu, who has been performing since 1994. Rock n roll is widely celebrated by the white communities of Namibia. Die Vögel is one of Namibia’s most outstanding rock n roll bands. Kwaito is also very popular in Namibia, with local artists including The Dogg, Gazza, Sunny Boy, Qonja, Tre Van Die Kasie, and OmPuff.

For a taste of Namibian music, listen to Ras Sheehama’s Inotila, and Makgona Ngwao.

7. Are there any Traditional Dances?

Traditional Namibian dance occurs at events such as weddings and at traditional festivals such as the Caprivi Arts Festival. Watch an example of traditional Namibian dance here.

8.  What traditional Festivals are celebrated in the country?

Lusata Festival
Lusata Festival is an annual festival for all Mafwe tribal people of Namibia and nearby countries. The Mafwe people are one of the largest ethnic groups in the Caprivi Region. The festival celebrates traditional values, commemorates the past, and looks forward to the future. It occurs annually in the last week of September. The festival’s name is a reference to the royal mace – an ivory-encrusted stick. Most people from all villages in Caprivi come to celebrate by dancing and feasting. It always is held where the king stays, in Chinchimani village, 6 km away from Katima Mulilo.

Bank Windhoek Arts Festival
Held every February, the Bank Windhoek Arts Festival celebrates local artists and their work. It encourages the development of artists, helping locals establish a name in the industry and giving people a vehicle to enjoy the local design scene. A variety of events from dance and theater to visual arts are held throughout the capital.

Windhoek Karneval
The biggest cultural event in Windhoek, and Namibia in general, is the Windhoek Kareneval or WIKA. A remnant leftover from German occupation, visitors in attendance will feel a distinct German vibe throughout the festival. Held in April, WIKA involves a number of events including musical performances and a masked ball for adults and carnival and Independence Avenue parade for kids.

Oktoberfest
Having formally been a territory of the Germans, Namibians naturally celebrate what has become one of the world’s best-known drinking events, Oktoberfest. Beer, fun and games attract people of all ages to the capital of Windhoek..

9. What are the seasons like?

The winter (June – August) is generally dry. Both rainy seasons occur in summer: the small rainy season between September and November, the big one between February and April. Rainfall is highly variable, and droughts are common. Weather and climate in the coastal area are dominated by the cold, north-flowing Benguela Current of the Atlantic Ocean, which accounts for very low precipitation (50 mm (2 in) per year or less), frequent dense fog, and overall lower temperatures than in the rest of the country. Efundja, the annual seasonal flooding of the northern parts of the country, often causes damage.

10. What are some interesting facts about the President?

President Hage Geingob has been President of Namibia since 2015. He previously served as the country’s Prime Minister, from 2012 to 2015, and its Minister of Trade and Industry, from 2008 to 2012. After obtaining a MA degree in International Relations in New York, Geingob was appointed SWAPO Representative at the United Nations and to the Americas. He served in this position until 1971.

Geingob is known to be an avid football fan, and has attended many high-profile games. He also regularly attends the Namibia Annual Music Awards (NAMAs), and in his youth sang in a choir, and played in a band.

11. What are the country’s major industries?

The largest economic sectors are mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. About half of the population depends on agriculture (largely subsistence agriculture) for its livelihood, but Namibia must still import some of its food. Namibia is the fourth largest exporter of non-fuel minerals in Africa and the world’s fourth largest producer of uranium. Tourism is a major contributor to Namibia’s GDP, creating tens of thousands of jobs directly or indirectly, and servicing over a million tourists per year. The country is a prime destination in Africa and is known for ecotourism which features Namibia’s extensive wildlife.

12. How do people spend their free time?

Locals spend their free time with family and friends, visiting the beach, taking road trips or off-roading, camping, or watching local sports matches. There are also a number of nature reserves to visit.

13. What is a popular local drink?

Namibia has a strong beer culture, and produces many varieties of local beer, including traditional African millet varieties. Examples are Windhoek lager, DAS Pilsner, and Oshikundu. Despite the climate, the country also produces its own wine.

14. What is a popular local dish?

When you visit Namibia, you will find that the cuisine is very different and varied. Local specialities worth sampling are Swakopmund green asparagus (September to April), Luderitz oysters (all year round), Kalahari truffles (May and June if they appear), and Omajowa, the large fleshy mushrooms that appear for a brief period at the foot of termite hills north of Okahandja shortly after the rains in February.

A wide selection of home-made cheeses are made by Danis Kuche near Otjiwarongo and the production of Namibian olives — the Kalamata (black) variety as well as the green —has taken off well. In Swakopmund, Luderitz and Windhoek you can indulge in traditional German-style confectionery including classics such as Schwarzwälder, Kirschtorte, and Apfelstrudel as well as the renowned Springer chocolates produced in Windhoek. A favourite breakfast and light lunch are crisp bread rolls, referred to as Brötchen, filled with cheese, eggs, meat or salad.

15. What do you pay, on average, for the following? (1 USD = approx. NAD 14)

3 Course meal: NAD 250
Domestic beer (500ml): NAD 20
Cup of coffee: NAD 25
Coca cola (330ml): NAD 12
Milk (1l): NAD 18
Loaf of white bread: NAD 10
Apples (1 kg): NAD 30
Water (1.5l):NAD 17

16. Any general safety tips?

Namibia is generally very safe for travellers. Exercise the same precautions as you would back home: don’t have valuables on show, and don’t walk through the townships at night unless accompanied by a guide. It is safer to call a taxi than hail one on the street – your accommodation should be able to arrange this for you. Avoid driving outside of the towns at night – the roads are not lit and vehicles are in danger of colliding with roaming wildlife.

17. In conclusion, famous (and sometimes infamous) people from the country include:

  • Rosa Namises, a politician and human rights activist, and former member of parliament. A prominent voice on gender issues, human-rights violations, and violence against women and children in Namibia, she is the director of Woman Solidarity Namibia.
  • Frankie Fredericks, a former track and field athlete. Running in the 100 metres and 200 metres, he won four silver medals at the Olympic Games (two in 1992 and two in 1996), making him Namibia’s so far only Olympic medalist. He also won gold medals at the World Championships, World Indoor Championships, All-Africa Games and Commonwealth Games. He is the world indoor record-holder for 200 metres, with a time of 19.92 seconds set in 1996.
  • Trevor Dodds, a professional golfer. Turning pro in 1985, Dodds has compiled 14 wins on four different tours.
  • Samuel Shafiishuna Daniel Nujoma, a Namibian revolutionary, anti-apartheid activist and politician who served three terms as the first President of Namibia, from 1990 to 2005. Nujoma was a founding member and the first president of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) in 1960. He played an important role as leader of the national liberation movement in campaigning for Namibia’s independence from South African rule. Nujoma led SWAPO during the lengthy Namibian War of Independence, which lasted from 1966 to 1989.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, and Remuneration needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2], [3]. Image sources: Jonatan Pie [1].

Facts you may not have know about Ivory Coast:

Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d’Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, is a sovereign state located in West Africa. Ivory Coast’s political capital is Yamoussoukro, and its economic capital and largest city is the port city of Abidjan. Its bordering countries are Guinea and Liberia in the west, Burkina Faso and Mali in the north, and Ghana in the east. The Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic Ocean) is located south of Ivory Coast.

Ivory Coast has a population of approximately 23 million, is a unitary presidential republic under a parliamentary system, and gained independence from France in 1960.

1.  When you first meet someone, how do you greet them?

The basic physical greeting is the handshake. It is common to greet those you pass, for example in an elevator. Once on friendlier terms, people may greet using French-style cheek kisses.

2. What languages are spoken in the country?

French is the only official language in Ivory Coast, and is taught in schools. Vernacular languages include Bété, Dioula, Baoulé, Abron, Agni, Cebaara, Senufo, and others. An estimated 65 languages are spoken in Ivory Coast. One of the most common is the Dyula language, which acts as a trade language, as well as a language commonly spoken by the Muslim population.

3. Do you use a twelve hour clock, or a twenty-four hour clock?

We use a 24-hour system.

4. What side of the road do people drive on? What do we need to know about driving in the country?

We drive on the right side of road. While the main highways are properly tarred and generally free of imperfections, be careful of potholes on less frequented roads, and on dirt roads.

5. How important is punctuality?

Punctuality is not of the utmost importance, and events often start later than scheduled.

6. Which types of music are popular? Who are some of the most popular musicians?

Each of the ethnic groups in Ivory Coast has its own music genres, most showing strong vocal polyphony. Talking drums are also common, especially among the Appolo, and polyrhythms, another African characteristic, are found throughout Ivory Coast and are especially common in the southwest.

Popular music genres from Ivory Coast include zoblazo, zouglou, and Coupé-Décalé. A few Ivorian artists who have known international success are Magic Système, Alpha Blondy, Meiway, Dobet Gnahoré, Tiken Jah Fakoly, and Christina Goh, of Ivorian descent.

For a taste of Senegalese music, listen to Tiken Jah Fakoly’s Plus rien ne m’étonnes, and Meiway’s Miss Lolo.

7. Are there any Traditional Dances?

The Senufo N’Goron dance is a colorful initiation dance where usually young, Senufo girls wear a fan of feathers, grass skirts, shells, and a hat that is made out of sheep skin. The Senufo girls dance to the panther dance, which needs to be courageous, representing their Senufo tribe. Balafon and calabash music, and older female singers are accompanying the dancers. The dance is about the beauty of women.

Zaouli is a popular mask dance created by Gouros in the fifties. Each Gouro village has its local Zaouli dancer, who performs during funerals or parties. A musicians and singers orchestra first call the Zaouli dancer by its music. The dancer wearing the mask covered by a cloth then arrives after a predecessor who unveils the mask. After the beauty of the mask has been shown to the audience, the dancer performs extremely quick and rhythmical steps according to the flutes of the orchestra. Hands and feet follow a common choreography improvised by the dancer according to the music.

8.  What traditional Festivals are celebrated in the country?

Carnival in Bouaké
The Ivoirians version of Mardi Gras, this week-long carnival is one of the most well-attended events in the Ivory Coast. It is held in Bouaké in March each year.

Fête du Dipri
This eccentric April celebration is held in the town of Gomon, where people perform different kinds of rituals in order to exorcise and drive evil spirits out of the village. The event starts at midnight and continues until late afternoon the following day.

Independence Day
Ivory Coast’s Independence Day is celebrated on August 7 each year to commemorate the country’s liberation from France. The event is marked by all kinds of cultural activities, lively performances, parades, and other festivities.

Fêtes des Masques
The most popular of all the Ivory Coast events, Fêtes des Masques, or the Festival of Masks, is an annual event held in November. It is a time to pay homage to the forested spirits embodied by the villagers who wear colorful costumes and masks. The celebration is held in the northern region in the town of Man.

9. What are the seasons like?

The climate of Ivory Coast is generally warm and humid, ranging from equatorial in the southern coasts to tropical in the middle and semiarid in the far north. There are three seasons: warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), and hot and wet (June to October). Temperatures average between 25 and 32 °C (77.0 and 89.6 °F) and range from 10 to 40 °C (50 to 104 °F).

10. What are some interesting facts about the President?

President Alassane Dramane Ouattara has been President of Ivory Coast since 2010. An economist by profession, Ouattara worked for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Central Bank of West African States, and he was the Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire from November 1990 to December 1993, appointed to that post by President Félix Houphouët-Boigny.

Ouattara has a Master’s in economics from the University of Pennsylvania., and is the President of the Rally of the Republicans (RDR), an Ivorian political party, having been in the position since 1999.

11. What are the country’s major industries?

The Ivory Coast is largely market-based and depends heavily on the agricultural sector. Almost 70% of the Ivorian people are engaged in some form of agricultural activity. Principal exports are cocoa, coffee, and tropical woods. Ivory Coast is among the world’s largest producers and exporters of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm oil. Ivory Coast has made progress in diversifying its economy, and since the 1970s, has steadily expanded the facilities offered to tourists. Resort lodgings in coastal areas have been developed. There are numerous hotels in Abidjan, including international chains.

12. How do people spend their free time?

Locals spend their free time with family and friends, visit one of the local national parks, play sports or watch soccer, and visit one of Ivory Coast’s numerous beaches.

13. What is a popular local drink?

Bangui is a local palm wine. The sap is extracted and collected by a tapper. Typically the sap is collected from the cut flower of the palm tree. A container is fastened to the flower stump to collect the sap. The white liquid that initially collects tends to be very sweet and non-alcoholic before it is fermented. An alternative method is the felling of the entire tree. Where this is practiced, a fire is sometimes lit at the cut end to facilitate the collection of sap.

Palm sap begins fermenting immediately after collection, due to natural yeasts in the air (often spurred by residual yeast left in the collecting container). Within two hours, fermentation yields an aromatic wine of up to 4% alcohol content, mildly intoxicating and sweet. The wine may be allowed to ferment longer, up to a day, to yield a stronger, more sour and acidic taste, which some people prefer. Longer fermentation produces vinegar instead of stronger wine. Palm wine may be distilled to create a stronger drink.

14. What is a popular local dish?

Cassava and plantains are significant parts of Ivorian cuisine. A corn paste called “aitiu” is used to prepare corn balls, and peanuts are widely used in dishes. Attiéké is a popular side dish in Côte d’Ivoire made with grated cassava and is very similar in taste and consistency to couscous. A common street-vended food is alloco, which is ripe plantain banana fried in palm oil, spiced with a spicy sauce made of onions and chili. It can be eaten alone as a snack or often with a hard-boiled egg, as well as a side dish.

Grilled fish and grilled chicken are the most popular non-vegetarian foods. Lean, low-fat Guinea fowl, which is popular in the region, is commonly referred as poulet bicyclette. Seafood includes tuna, sardines, shrimp and bonito.

Maafe is a common dish consisting of meat in a peanut sauce. Slow-simmered stews with various ingredients are another common food staple in Côte d’Ivoire. Kedjenou is a spicy stew consisting of chicken and vegetables that are slow-cooked in a sealed pot with little or no added liquid. This concentrates the flavors of the chicken and vegetables and tenderizes the chicken. It’s usually cooked in a pottery jar called a canary, over a slight fire, or cooked in an oven.

15. What do you pay, on average, for the following? (1 USD = approx. CFA 560)

3 Course meal: CFA 10,000
Domestic beer (500ml): CFA 850
Cup of coffee: CFA 2,060
Coca cola (330ml): CFA 410
Milk (1l): CFA 950
Loaf of white bread: CFA 240
Apples (1 kg): CFA 1,425
Water (1.5l): CFA 465

16. Any general safety tips?

Ivory Coast has a history of violent crime problems, especially in the northern and western areas, and caution is advised. Visitors may encounter police road blocks. Always ensure that your car is locked and no valuables are on display. If possible, travel in a group. Taking photos of military and government institutions is forbidden. Take care at beaches, as the ocean currents can be strong.

17. In conclusion, famous (and sometimes infamous) people from the country include:

  • Didier Drogba, an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a striker for American club Phoenix Rising. He is best known for his career at Chelsea, for whom he has scored more goals than any other foreign player and is currently the club’s fourth highest goal scorer of all time. He has been named African Footballer of the Year twice, winning the accolade in 2006 and 2009.
  • Félix Houphouët-Boigny, the first President of Ivory Coast (1960 to 1993), serving for more than three decades until his death. A tribal chief, he worked as a medical aide, union leader, and planter before being elected to the French Parliament. He served in several ministerial positions within the French government before leading Côte d’Ivoire following independence in 1960. Throughout his life, he played a significant role in politics and the decolonization of Africa.
  • Marguerite Abouet, an Ivorian writer of bandes dessinées (Franco-Belgian comics), best known for her graphic novel series Aya. Aya emerged from her desire to show an Africa with a focus on issues other than war and famine. It won the 2006 Angoulême International Comics Festival Prize for First Comic Book, and has sold over 200,000 copies in France.
  • Constance Amiot, a writer-composer-performer of songs in French and English in an acoustic pop-folk style. After playing in a band as a pianist, she adopted then the guitar as her instrument of preference, influenced by artists such as Tracy Chapman.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, and Remuneration needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]. Image sources: Zenman [1].

Contributions by Mariem.

Facts you may not have know about Tunisia:

Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a sovereign state in Northwest Africa, covering 165,000 square kilometers. Its northernmost point, Cape Angela, is the northernmost point on the African continent. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Tunisia’s population was estimated to be just under 11.93 million in 2016.

Tunisia’s name is derived from its capital city, Tunis, which is located on its northeast coast. The country’s official language is Arabic, and other spoken languages include Berber and French.

1.  When you first meet someone, how do you greet them?

When meeting someone, it is common to shake hands as a greeting. Acquaintances also generally shake hands, while friends may kiss and hug each other.

2. What languages are spoken in the country?

Arabic is the official language, and Tunisian Arabic, known as Tounsi, is the national, vernacular variety of Arabic and is used by the public. There is also a small minority of speakers of Berber languages known collectively as Jebbali or Shelha.

French also plays a major role in Tunisian society, despite having no official status. It is widely used in education (e.g., as the language of instruction in the sciences in secondary school), the press, and business. In 2010, there were 6,639,000 French-speakers in Tunisia, or about 64% of the population. Italian is understood and spoken by a small part of the Tunisian population. Shop signs, menus and road signs in Tunisia are generally written in both Arabic and French.

3. Do you use a twelve hour clock, or a twenty-four hour clock?

We use a 24-hour clock.

4. What side of the road do people drive on? What do we need to know about driving in the country?

We drive on the right-hand side of the road. Road infrastructure is fine. Drivers tend to respect the traffic lights and signs, but we have to be careful, as taxi drivers can be reckless sometimes.

5. How important is punctuality?

Punctuality is quite important, although a few minutes of delay is accepted.

6. Which types of music are popular? Who are some of the most popular musicians?

he country is best known for malouf, a kind of music imported from Andalusia after the Spanish immigration in the 15th century. Though in its modern form, malouf is likely very dissimilar to any music played more than four centuries ago.

20th century musicians from Tunisia include Anouar Brahem, an oud player, Jasser Haj Youssef, a composer and a violin player, and El Azifet, a rare all-female orchestra, as well as well-known vocalist Raoul Journo, singer and oud player Dhafer Youssef, singer, guitarist and lutenist Nabil Khemir, Lotfi Bouchnak, Khemais Tarnane, Saliha, Saleh Mehdi, Ali Riahi, Hedi Jouini, Fethia Khairi, Chikh El Ofrit, Oulaya and Neema.

21st century alternative music groups include Neshez, Zemeken, Aspirine, Kerkennah, Myrath, Ymyrgar and Checkpoint 303.

For a taste of Senegalese music, listen to Sonia M’barek, and Checkpoint 303’s Rissala Min Qalandia.

7. Are there any Traditional Dances?

Bedouin dance is popular throughout Tunisia, and is featured at a number of music festivals. Nékhikhe, a dance from the Kairouan region, involves tratidional dress, such as scarves.

Tunisian dance can resemble Egyptian dance, and is distinguished mainly by its dynamic, which is faster with more staccato, and its multitude of forms, each region having its own “style”. The variety of dances performed by the Tunisians may reflect the migration flows that have traversed the country throughout the centuries. The National Troupe Folk Art Center and the National Dance of Ariana continue practice the traditional Tunisian dances.

8.  What traditional Festivals are celebrated in the country?

Due to its cultural diversity, Tunisia plays host to a number of popular festivals.

The Carthage Film Festival is held in October and November of every other year, alternating with the Carthage Theatre Festival. It was created in 1966 by the Tunisian Minister of Culture to showcase films from the Maghreb, Africa and the Middle East. In order to be eligible for the competition, a film must have a director of African or Middle Eastern nationality, and have been produced at least two years before entry. The grand prize is the Tanit d’or, or “Golden Tanit,” named for the lunar goddess of ancient Carthage; the award is in the shape of her symbol, a trapezium surmounted by a horizontal line and a circle.

The International Festival of the Sahara, celebrated annually at the end of December, honors the cultural traditions associated with the Tunisian desert. This attracts many tourists and musicians from all around the world, as well as horsemen who flaunt their saddles and local fabrics and skills.

There are also a number of musical festivals; some honor traditional Tunisian music, while others, including the Tabarka Jazz Festival, focus on other genres.

9. What are the seasons like?

Tunisia’s climate is Mediterranean in the north, with mild rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The south of the country is desert. The terrain in the north is mountainous, which, moving south, gives way to a hot, dry central plain. The south is semiarid, and merges into the Sahara. A series of salt lakes, known as chotts or shatts, lie in an east-west line at the northern edge of the Sahara, extending from the Gulf of Gabes into Algeria.

Tunis has an average of 65 annual precipitation days, with annual average precipitation at 465mm. Average highs and lows in mid-summer are approximately 34 and 22 C respectively. In mid-winter, average highs and lows are around 16 and 8 C respectively.

10. What are some interesting facts about the President?

Tunisia is a semi-presidential republic, whereby the president is the head of state and the prime minister (named Head of Government of Tunisia) is head of government. The president and the prime minister have executive roles, with the executive power being exercised by the president and the government (dual executive). The President is the commandar-in-chief of the military, and does not hold political affiliation while in office.

President Beji Caid Essebsi has served since December 2014. Essebsi is the founder of the Nidaa Tounes political party, which won a plurality in the 2014 parliamentary election. In December 2014, he won the first regular presidential election following the Tunisian Revolution, becoming Tunisia’s first freely and directly elected president.

Tunisia’s Head of Government, Youssef Chahed, serving since August 2016,  previously served as Secretary of State for Fishing from 2015 to 2016, and Minister of Local Affairs in 2016. He is a member of the Nidaa Tounes party. By profession, he is an agricultural engineer, researcher, and university professor.

11. What are the country’s major industries?

Tunisia is an export-oriented country in the process of liberalizing and privatizing its economy. Tunisia, which was ranked the least corrupt Arab African-country in 2016, has a diverse economy, ranging from agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and petroleum products, to tourism. The industrial sector is mainly made up of clothing and footwear manufacturing, production of car parts, and electric machinery.

Tunisia is one of the European Union’s most established trading partners in the Mediterranean region, being the first Mediterranean country to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union, in July 1995.

12. How do people spend their free time?

Many people in Tunisia enjoy exploring their cities, finding new restaurants or coffee shops to eat at, or night clubs to go to. Watching or playing football is also popular.

13. What is a popular local drink?

Tunisians produce grapes, wheat, barley and orchard fruits, which are used to create a number of drinks. These include wines, such as the staple Tunisian wine, Chateau Mornag, beers, brandy, liqueurs, and apple ciders. Scented waters with dark rose or blossom petals can also be found in Tunisia.

14. What is a popular local dish?

Couscous, called “Kosksi”, is the national dish of Tunisia, and can be prepared in many ways. It is cooked in a special kind of double boiler called a ‘kiska’ in Arabic, or ‘couscoussière’ in French, resembling a Chinese steamer atop a Mongolian pot.

Meats, vegetables and spices are cooked in the lower pot. Cooking steam rises through vents into the container above. It is layered with whole herbs such as bay leaves and covered with a fine-grain couscous. The couscous pasta is therefore cooked with aromatic steam. During the cooking process, the couscous needs to be regularly stirred with a fork to prevent lumping, as risotto is cooked.

Preferred meats include lamb or chicken, but regional substitutes can include red snapper, grouper, sea bass, hare, or quail.

Thanks to its long coastline and numerous fishing ports, Tunisia offers an abundant and varied selection of fish. Most diners in Tunisia are also content to have their fish fillet simply fire-grilled and seasoned with olive oil, a lemon squeeze and salt and pepper to taste.

Unlike other North African cuisines, Tunisian food is quite spicy. Tabil is Tunisian and Algerian spice mixture, generally consisting of ground coriander seed, caraway seed, garlic powder, and chili powder, which is closely associated with the cooking of Tunisia.

15. What do you pay, on average, for the following? (1 USD = approx. DT 2.60)

3 Course meal: DT 18
Domestic beer (500ml): DT 3
Cup of coffee: DT 1.79
Coca cola (330ml): DT 1.13
Milk (1l): DT 1.14
Loaf of white bread: DT 0.32
Apples (1 kg): DT 3.31
Water (1.5l): DT 0.64

16. Any general safety tips?

Tunisia is quite safe, as a lot of security measures have been taken by the Tunisian government, not only to protect its citizens, but also its important tourism industry. Visitors to the country will notice that there are CCTV cameras and armed police in many places, as well as bag scanners in hotel lounges. Travelling in a group rather than alone will add safety when travelling around.

17. In conclusion, famous (and sometimes infamous) people from the country include:

  • President Beji Caid Essebsi, Tunisia’s first freely and directly elected president.
  • Abdellatif Kechiche, a Tunisian-French actor, film director and screenwriter. His film ‘Blue Is the Warmest Colour’ won the Palme d’Or (the highest award) at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.
  • Marc Gicquel, a former professional tennis player, who played for France.
  • Aboul-Qacem Echebbi, a poet who wrote the final two verses of the current National Anthem of Tunisia, ‘Humat al-Hima’ (Defenders of the Homeland).

 

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Sources: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]. Image sources: Haythem Gataa on Unsplash [1].