Madagascar Plague

        While researching current events in Africa, I came across a very alerting and interesting news. Officials in Madagascar have discovered a new plague that is spreading quickly. They have identified the source of this plague in an old tradition that is still followed in some parts of Madagascar. The local name for the tradition is called Famadihana, but also known as "turning the bones." Family members of the dead exhume the body of the dead every 5 to 7 years, rewrap with fresh cloth, and dancing with the wrapped corpses before burying them back. While the tradition is important and held very sacred in many cultures, health officials are warning that it could be aiding to spread the plague. Chief of staff in Madagascar's health ministry, Willy Randriamarotia, points out that "If a person dies of a pneumonic plague and is then interred in a tomb that is subsequently opened for famadihana, the bacteria can still be transmitted and contaminate whoever handles the body." 124 people have died from this plague in 2017. This plague can be transferred person to person through airborne droplets, coughing or sneezing. The officials have warned the territories linked to Madagascar to increase awareness and surveillance for the plague and stop Famadihana tradition as well to minimize the risk of the plague spreading.

Giraffe Manor in kenya

I was watching a Netflix series called Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby. I came across an episode about a hotel in Kenya, Giraffe Manor. It is a hotel that combines old-Britsh charm, and many other things including eating your breakfast in the company of giraffes. The owners of the hotel, also own a hotel near by which is very beautiful and luxurious as well. From there, they are taken to a breakfast safari where they get to eat alongside elephants and giraffes. On these breakfast, their guides are warriors from nearby tribes. They also look after their camels, clean the pools, and do housekeeping. The warrior talks in the episode about how life is in both sides and how it affects him and his role in the tribe. He is a samburu warrior who helps looking after the animals for the lodge. He states that between the two worlds, its very different. At one side, he is in the modern world, and at the other, in his cultural world. He also states that working there has been a great opportunity for him and his tribe and that one tribe member's salary from the lodge brings in enough for 10 tribe members. For some, it took them around 3 years to get the proper training and licenses to start working at the lodge. It has also changed the lives of one specific tribe. The land is being rented from the local tribe. They get around $58 for each night a guest stays in each room. With this constant income, it helps the tribe thrive and grow.

Video: Season 1, Episode 3 Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby

Pokot Tribe of Kenya

The Pokot tribe of Kenya are one of the most interesting tribes I have heard of so far. This is because their economy is mostly based on how many cows an individual household owns. About one quarter of the population are "corn people", and the rest are "cow people". Both groups measure their wealth by the number of cows one owns. Within the tribe, cows are used for exchanges, trades, and most significantly bridge wealth. Also, depending on the number of cows you own, a person is permitted to marry more than one woman, as long as he has enough cows to offer to her family in exchange. This is their primary way to run the economy in Pokot tribe.

Since the cows are so valuable alive, they are rarely killed for meat. They also provide butter, milk , and cheese which are essential component of Pokot everyday needs. Because of its value to the tribe, the Pokot people look to surrounding tribes and villages for livestocks. The surrounding villagers and herders are always on alert for Pokot tribe members as many have been attacked before for their livestock. Most herders now a days even carry guns as they always run into Pokot tribe members.

http://www.gateway-africa.com/tribe/pokot_tribe.html