A range hat is designed to allow over-the-head, earmuff-style hearing-protection to be worn comfortably over the hat. It accomplishes this by forgoing two features that are common to most baseball caps. Those features are a fabric-covered button (squatchee) on the crown of the hat and the hatmaker’s buckram reinforcement of the front two panels of the hat. Without the squatchee and the buckram, a ranger hat is better able to conform to the shape of the wearer’s head under the muffs. The American Hat Company version of the range hat is made of lightweight, ripstop cotton with a comfortable sweatband … The post American Hat Company Range Hat, by Thomas Christianson appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

On April 28, 1937, the first trans-Pacific flight by a commercial passenger airliner was completed when Pan American Airways’ Martin M-130, China Clipper, arrived at Hong Kong. The flight had departed San Francisco Bay, California, on the 21st of April with seven revenue passengers and then proceeded across the Pacific Ocean by way of Hawaii, Midway Island, Wake Island, Guam, Manila, Macau, and finally Hong Kong. — April 28, 1965: US Marines invaded the Dominican Republic. They stayed until October 1966. — Today’s feature is by SurvivalBlog staff writer Tom Christianson. — We need more entries for Round 118 of … The post Preparedness Notes for Monday — April 28, 2025 appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

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Tom Homan, President Donald Trump’s border czar, insisted Sunday that the Trump administration did not “deport” American children to Honduras — arguing that the White House sent the children to the country because their mothers, who were being deported, wished to bring them. Early Friday, three U.S. citizen children from two families were removed from the United States with their mothers by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. One of them is a 4-year-old with Stage 4 cancer who was...

"Thank God a lot of it never actually got recorded."

from MintPress News: On March 25, Donald Trump signed an executive order declassifying all documentation related to Crossfire Hurricane, the FBI’s 2016 investigation into alleged collusion between Russia and then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. The order has unexpectedly resurrected buried documents that cast new light on the Steele dossier — and when it was known to be false. […]

Humiliating. Not a woman’s job. Shame on the family. Such comments were frequently directed at Tahani Al Shati and Yusra Mohammad Nmour when they started training as plumbers. In Jordan, the proportion of women in paid work is among the lowest in the world, due in large part to social and cultural norms. Entering the workforce is already a challenge for many — never mind breaking into a field dominated by men.  Al Shati recalls one day when she and some fellow trainees spotted a pipe leaking water onto the street. They pulled out their tools to try to stop the spillage. But a female passerby saw them and began scolding them. Tensions mounted, but the trainees carried on working. In one of the world’s driest countries, preventing water loss was ultimately more important. There are now hundreds of fully certified female plumbers in Jordan. Courtesy of GIZ Today, Al Shati and Nmour are among hundreds of fully certified female plumbers in Jordan. Speaking in Amman, the capital city, through a translator, they say this unconventional career has provided life-changing confidence and independence, plus opportunities to travel their country while training other women. “My husband and kids are so proud. My neighbors envy me now,” says Nmour.  A different service  Over the past 20 years or so, various training projects have targeted women in Jordan, offering options from basic skills in installing water-saving devices at home to professional plumbing qualifications. Some of these also target Syrian refugees: Jordan is a major host of refugee populations. German government aid agency GIZ has trained more than 260 women as part of its focus on water resource management. Water scarcity is a big issue in Jordan — partly due to geographical and environmental factors, but also because half the country’s total water supply is lost each year through leaks and theft. Involving women in water resource management makes sense, explains Hind Alshdaifat, a water and sanitation advisor with GIZ, as they can spread awareness and expertise among others, young and old. “Women are the main users [of water]. They use water in the houses. They are teachers. They are mothers,” she says.  Some of the plumbers, including Al Shati and Nmour, have joined forces as part of the Wise Women Plumbers Cooperative, formed in 2014. Working together helps ensure safety and financial stability, plus opportunities to bid for larger projects. With around 40 registered members, the cooperative provides services in schools, mosques and government buildings, according to Al Shati and Nmour. Its members also serve households — where they offer a significant advantage over their male counterparts. That’s because a female customer needing a plumber might have to wait for her husband to return from work, as it would not be considered acceptable for her to be alone with another man in their house. Weighed down by negative news? Our smart, bright, weekly newsletter is the uplift you’ve been looking for. [contact-form-7] Khawla Sheikh, who became Jordan’s first licensed female plumber in 2006 and was later one of the first female trainers recruited by GIZ, has long sought to encourage more women into the trade. (Sheikh was initially part of the Wise Women Plumbers Cooperative, but left shortly afterwards following a disagreement.) Male plumbers, assuming housewives don’t know any better, might take advantage by doing more work than necessary, she says. Or, as Nmour puts it, they “overreact and overprice.” Women take time to explain to customers what they’ve fixed, and to offer advice, she says — for example, on which harmful cleaning products to avoid.  Training doesn’t always lead to paid work: When Sheikh took a course with 15 other women in 2004, none of the others took it further, she says, because of the “shame of culture.” But she was determined to continue. She was able to work with her husband, an engineer who runs his own company, for two years, to build up the practical experience needed before securing her license. “I was lucky … without his support I would never be as I am now,” says Sheikh. Still, even those who don’t enter the trade benefit from learning to make simple repairs, which means saving money, Sheikh notes: “Even if she doesn’t want to work as a plumber, she can still help herself at home.” Changing perceptions Those women who do work in the trade are challenging long-established social norms. While Jordan performs well on some measures of gender equality — more than half of university graduates are women — others are much less positive. The female workforce participation rate is less than 15 percent (compared with more than 60 percent for men), and female professionals earn 33 percent less than their male counterparts. In the Global Gender Gap Index 2024, which looks at various areas including the labor market, political leadership and health, Jordan ranked 123rd out of 146 countries. Women who work in plumbing are challenging long-established social norms. Courtesy of GIZ For Sheikh, a key benefit of women learning to be plumbers is in changing perceptions among younger generations. She recalls a woman she had trained recounting that her five-year-old son had seen her one morning fixing a faucet. “I told her, you are sending two messages,” says Sheikh: not only showing him how to fix things himself, but also demonstrating what kind of work mothers can do. Alshdaifat also notes this influence on younger people: She knows several women plumbers whose daughters are looking to enter the trade now, too. Women plumbers have also attracted some high-profile attention. Princess Basma Bint Talal of Jordan has shown her support, as have both Queen Rania and King Abdullah II, says Sheikh. She was even introduced to British royalty during a visit to Jordan in 2021.  A mixed picture Training up women plumbers has multiple benefits, says Alshdaifat, including boosting their income and reducing water usage and bills for their customers. (GIZ does not have more specific data on the project’s impact.)  Recently the Wise Women also trained deaf and blind men and women in basic household plumbing skills. Alshdaifat, who attended one of the sessions, says she sensed the participants’ pride afterwards. One described the course as one of few opportunities available to do something outside her home; another talked of surprising her parents with her new skills. Training materials are now available in sign language and in braille.  GIZ has only supported two training courses for people with disabilities — the hope is that other donors will fund more, says Alshdaifat. That reflects a wider issue: While many international donors, non-governmental organizations and Jordanian government bodies have supported training, often this is through time-limited projects. Asked about current challenges, Al Shati says she and her colleagues need further training to keep up with the modern technology now being adopted by many customers; the women cannot afford to pay for training and GIZ is no longer funding this area.  Wait, you're not a member yet? Join the Reasons to be Cheerful community by supporting our nonprofit publication and giving what you can. Join Cancel anytime Nmour highlights another ongoing challenge for self-employed workers — a drop in requests for services in recent months. And overall, the prospects for women in trades like plumbing remain mixed. Ahmad Awad, founder and director of the Phenix Center for Economic and Informatics Studies in Amman, says there has been “noticeable growth” in women’s participation in non-traditional professions in recent years, such as carpentry and appliance repair. Many families now prefer hiring women for tasks traditionally performed by men, he says. But societal resistance, lack of funding for tools and training, and limited marketing to drive visibility of women’s services are all preventing further growth. But Alshdaifat sees the continued presence in the market of the Wise Women and other female plumbers as an achievement in itself. “With their insistence, with their power, they managed to stay alive … even though [there have been] different projects and different donors,” she says. That’s in large part thanks to the women gaining a government-recognized license, she believes, which makes them “feel more sustainable and more powerful.”  Al Shati suggests that their presence — and their refusal to listen to those early critics — is impacting other sectors, too: “We broke this shame culture … I believe we opened the door to a lot of women to have the courage.” The post Women Plumbers in Jordan Are Breaking Taboos appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful.

  In 1862, European imperialist interests led a young noble couple to a new land: the deeply divided, war-torn, and impoverished country that was Mexico in the tumultuous 19th century. Their noble intentions and European manners were insufficient to establish a successful empire. Their imperial dreams proved to be nothing more than a fleeting illusion; the Second Mexican Empire lasted barely three years before spiraling to a tragic end.   When Mexico Became an Empire Entry of the French Expeditionary Corps into Mexico, June 10, 1863, oil painting, by Jean-Adolphe Beaucé, 1868. Source: Collections du château de Versailles   Unknown to many, Mexico was also an empire for a time. In the tumultuous 19th century, the problems of the newly independent country were notable: significant conflicts and battles over how to govern the country raged while the coffers were empty. Everyone sought progress, but beliefs regarding how to achieve it differed greatly between the liberals and conservatives. The latter believed it could only be achieved through a monarchical system, a corporate society, and a strong church and army. On the other hand, the liberals wanted a federal, representative, and popular republic similar to the American model, seeking to eliminate any remnants of the colonial and monarchical past.   These two models clashed for a long time, involving several wars, treaties, and laws. By 1860, it seemed the liberals were gaining ground, as the elections gave the victory to President Juárez, who immediately sought to reorganize the country. However, the shortage of funds forced him to suspend the payment of loans and debts. The disgruntled conservatives took advantage of this situation. They sought to interest French Emperor Napoleon III in establishing a monarchy in Mexico as a bulwark against the expansion of the United States. The pretext was the suspension of payments owed to France, England, and Spain. It started as a blockade of the ports but quickly escalated, and French troops landed, initiating the armed conflict that, a year later, led Mexico to succumb to occupation.   Emperor and Empress in Mexico Photograph of a full-length double portrait of Maximilian and Carlota, 1862. Source: Royal Collection Trust   After the successful occupation, Napoleon saw his dream of restoring an imperial presence on the American continent as feasible. Taking advantage of his desire to strengthen ties with Austria, he offered the monarchy to the brother of the Austrian emperor. Maximilian of Habsburg, Archduke of Austria and second son of King Francis Charles of Austria and Princess Sophie of Bavaria, along with his wife Carlota, the only daughter of King Leopold I of Belgium, one of the wealthiest monarchs of his time, became the prime candidates for the throne.   Maximilian was not certain about accepting the position on an entirely new continent in exchange for renouncing all his titles and noble rights in Europe. His wife persuaded him to accept, as did many conservative Mexicans who came to seek his help. He accepted, under the false impression that the Mexicans wanted him to restore order.   After visiting the Pope, the young emperors embarked for Mexico, arriving at the port of Veracruz in May 1862. The port, quite liberal, received them very coldly, in contrast to the more conservative and wealthy cities like Orizaba, Puebla, and Mexico City, which went out of their way to welcome the new emperors with sumptuous balls, festivities, and gatherings.   The Mexican Delegation appoints Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria as Emperor of Mexico, by Cesare-Dell’Acqua, 1867. Source Wikimedia Commons.   They established residence in Chapultepec Castle, located in Mexico City, the former home of viceroys when the territory was New Spain. As a national palace, it was austere and dilapidated and did not match Maximilian and Carlota’s idea of an imperial residence. They ordered it to be remodeled in the likeness of European bourgeois enclaves of the time and constructed a direct road to the city center and the cathedral. They were captivated by the beautiful views of the Valley of Mexico visible from the heights of the castle. They also had a large summer residence in Cuernavaca, called “the place of eternal spring” for its lush tropical vegetation.   They quickly fell in love with Mexico’s landscapes and its people. They spent much time traveling the country and marveling at its natural beauty, even finding volcanic landscapes that reminded them of their homeland. They were also enchanted by their new country’s food, customs, and traditions, recognizing its value and diversity as well as the misery and fractures caused by half a century of wars.   Panoramic view of Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City, 2023. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Those who had initially supported the emperor did not anticipate that, in practice, Maximilian was very liberal, like Europe at the time. He did not rein in religious tolerance nor return the church’s properties; moreover, he contributed to many social reforms. He quickly fell out of favor with the conservatives.   Maximilian and Carlota did what they could to improve the population’s living conditions, abolishing corporal punishment and child labor, regulating working hours, and enhancing the country’s infrastructure. There is no doubt that the capital was beautified during their presence, and education and scientific research also benefited. Maximilian, also concerned about the country’s economic development, contributed to the nation’s construction and the establishment of banks to facilitate commercial exchanges.   Carlota was behind all these advances and kept a close eye on everything happening with the army and the country as a whole. Maximilian was much more relaxed, with diverse interests; he was a great collector of butterflies and insects who undertook various expeditions throughout the country and enjoyed increasingly prolonged stays at his summer residence outside the capital. He was easily overwhelmed, while Carlota knew how to act and constantly kept an eye on politics and military plans, while engaging in charitable works. She was the first woman to govern the country, albeit on an interim basis. She was a misunderstood woman, shrouded in legend but intelligent and clever.   Dispelling the Illusion: Complications Unfold Portrait of Maximilian I of Mexico, oil painting, by Albert Gräfle, 1865. Source: Government of Mexico   The naivete of a 27-year-old prince in search of adventure led him into a very complicated situation; he did not know what he was getting into, arriving in a war-torn, impoverished country that did not even want him. Soon, he was left without allies: the conservatives saw him as a traitor, while the liberals, due to the way he arrived and because he was a foreigner, would never accept him. The populace faced much more pressing concerns, so he did not gain the support of the people either. He would always be a foreign prince and a stranger to most of the country, no matter how much he dressed as a charro, toured the country, or learned Spanish.   He governed as he would in Europe, beautifying the city and enacting legislation, but that was not what Mexico, a vast, unequal country mired in poverty and wars, needed. Unsurprisingly, the empire, in reality an illusion sustained only by the military support of the French troops throughout the country, quickly fell apart.   The liberals had not given up; they were weakened but waiting for opportunities. Some areas remained very loyal to the previous liberal president, Benito Juárez, making them impossible for the French army to control.   Portrait of Carlota, oil painting, by Albert Gräfle, 1865. Source: Government of Mexico   By late 1865, things started to get even more complicated. With the end of the Civil War in the United States, the northern neighbor supported the liberals with loans, weapons, and protests against foreign intervention in American territory. The liberal army grew while the imperial army shrank, as Napoleon withdrew troops to face the Prussian threat back in Europe.   The emperors had less and less protection, and the situation looked increasingly dire. Maximilian, of sensitive temperament and distressed by everything happening, decided to abdicate. However, Carlota stopped him. Seeing the throne and all they had achieved threatened, her ambition surfaced, and she refused to simply discard their efforts. She did everything possible to dissuade him from leaving, calling abdication dishonorable and for the weak; she offered to seek help in Europe and to speak with Napoleon III and the Pope.   Maximilian and Carlota: A Tragic End Photograph of Carlota at Bouchout around 1914. Source: Wikimedia Commons   During the journey back to Europe, Carlota began exhibiting strange behaviors. She was paranoid, believing people wanted to poison and kill her. At first, they were just minor hallucinations, but they became increasingly frequent. For a while, she believed that she was only safe with the Pope and that everyone else wanted to harm her. She distrusted the food, the water, and the servants. During her stay in the Vatican, she demanded a cat be brought in to test her food before eating it. She only ate what was prepared specifically for the Pope and did not want to leave the Vatican for fear of being poisoned. She screamed, ran, and hid, doing everything possible to avoid being taken away. Her moments of lucidity became fewer and fewer as illness took over. She only drank water from the tap that she collected herself, her hair and nails withered, she ate nothing, and she hallucinated. There was no choice but to confine and care for her as a patient. She distrusted her lifelong servants and anyone around her, even those she saw from a distance.   Carlota was just 26 years old when she was diagnosed with madness but lived in confinement to age 86. She never saw her beloved husband, Maximilian, again. She was confined to a barred room in her castle, where her treatment consisted of total isolation, cold water, and immobilization. She died of severe pneumonia caused by influenza on January 19, 1927.   The Execution of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico, oil painting by Édouard Manet. Source: Kunsthalle Mannheim   Realizing that he had failed to secure the expected support in Europe and that his wife had lost her mind, Maximilian felt increasingly unprotected: the empire was reduced to a few cities, and all the military personnel were returning to Europe while the liberal troops were gaining ground.   He decided to abdicate, but on his way to the port, was dissuaded by the few conservatives who still supported him and by his family, particularly his mother, citing dishonor and responsibilities. It was a brave act on his part, coming from someone who had doubted himself so much throughout his life and knowing that he was completely alone, without his wife Carlota, often the mastermind behind his government.   In a very short time, the situation became critical; his castle was no longer safe, and he had to take refuge in another nearby city. He was offered the chance to flee or to accept defeat with honors, but he remained firm in his decision to fight until the last moment. However, a betrayal facilitated his capture, and he was apprehended by the enemy.   He was sentenced to the maximum penalty despite receiving pleas for clemency from illustrious figures in Mexico and Europe. On June 19, 1867, he was executed along with two other generals. He died with great honor; before being shot, he vowed that his blood would “seal all the misfortunes of my new homeland.” Further reading:  Conte Corti, E. C. (1968). Maximilian and Charlotte of Mexico (Reprint ed.). Archon Books.   Escalante Gonzalbo, P., García Martínez, B., Jáuregui, L., Vázquez, J. Z., Speckman Guerra, E., Garciadiego, J., & Aboites Aguilar, L. (2013). A New Compact History of Mexico. El Colegio de México.

  Despite its diminutive size on the all-too-common world maps that use Mercator projection, Africa is the second-largest continent, second only to Asia (or Eurasia). It covers 11.7 million square miles (30.3 million square kilometers) and is home to almost 1.5 billion people, which represents 18% of the global total.   With a rapidly urbanizing population, the African continent has produced some of the world’s largest cities, both in terms of population and actual size.   Here are 8 of the continent’s biggest cities by urban population.   1. Kinshasa: “Kin La Belle” Kinshasa at night. Source: MONUSCO/Abel Kavanagh/Wikimedia Commons   Formerly Léopoldville, part of the Belgian Congo, the name Kinshasa was adopted in 1966. It is now the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the biggest city in Africa by urban population. It was founded in 1881 by Henry Morton Stanley and served as the capital of the Belgian Congo from the 1920s.   With over 17 million people, it is also the world’s largest Francophone city and one of the world’s largest cities in terms of total urban area. The metric of “city proper” covers an area of 3,848 square miles (9,965 square kilometers) and is the largest city outside of China, ranking 12th in the world.   Kinshasa sits on the southern bank of the Congo River and faces Brazzaville on the north bank, the capital of the Republic of Congo. Rising out of the thick African rainforests, Kinshasa is a hot city that lies just 298.54 miles (480.46 kilometers) south of the equator.   Kinshasa. Source: Wikimedia Commons   As the capital of the DRC, Kinshasa is the center of the country’s political life. It is home to many important buildings, industries, and facilities, such as the Palais du Peuple, the home of the DRC government.   Other important places include the National Museum of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which houses the country’s collections of the cultural history of numerous ethnic groups, and Lola ya Bonobo, the world’s only sanctuary for orphaned bonobos.   Officially, the city’s nickname is “Kin la Belle” (Kinshasa the Beautiful), but sectors affected by poor service delivery and neglect refer to the city as “Kin la Poubelle” (Kinshasa the Dustbin).   2. Lagos: A West African Metropolis The Ikoyi district of Lagos, Nigeria. Source: Reginald Bassey/Wikimedia Commons   With an urban population of over 16 million people, Lagos is the second-biggest city in Africa and the biggest city in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country.   Sprawling northwards from the coast of the Gulf of Guinea and running along the western edge of the Lagos Lagoon, Lagos is a port city that functions as Nigeria’s economic hub. It served as Nigeria’s capital until 1991, when the seat of governance was moved inland to the city of Abuja.   With its waters rich in fish and with numerous bays and inlets, the area that became Lagos was a populated fishing spot for many centuries before the advent of urbanization. The city that sprang up there grew to become a major hub of the slave trade, exploited by the Portuguese who first landed there in 1472.   With the end of the slave trade in the area, Lagos was attacked and came under the control of the British in the latter half of the 19th century. In 1960, Nigeria was granted independence.   Today, Lagos is a metropolis filled with culture, art, fashion, entertainment, bustling commerce, and many other things that make it a modern, multi-faceted city.   3. Cairo: A City of Contrasts Cairo, Egypt. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Cairo is a city with a long and storied history. However, by Egyptian standards, the city is relatively young – only one thousand years old!   It was founded in 969 CE by Jawhar al-Siqilli of the Fatimid Dynasty, and throughout the centuries that followed, it became the main urban center in Egypt. At the center of a major trade network that brought Europe, Asia, and Africa together, Cairo became prosperous as a political, cultural, and economic capital.   With all its differing influences, Cairo is a city of huge contrasts, mixing West with East and the old with the new. Built on the site of ancient capitals, many areas of Cairo serve as windows to the ancient past, whether housed in museums or standing as landmarks visible from the busy streets.   Architectural monuments from ancient and Roman to medieval and Ottoman dot the cityscape, while modern highrise buildings and minarets form the skyline of this enduring city, filled with wonders, from spice-filled marketplaces to five-star resorts.   4. Giza: The Home of the Pyramids Giza City and the pyramids at night. Source: Pexels   The name “Giza” is more commonly associated with the Great Pyramids, but Giza is also a city. Giza City spans the western bank of the Nile opposite Cairo.   A 2021 census put Giza’s population at 9,250,000, making it the fourth-largest city in Africa. Connected to Cairo via bridges over the Nile, the two cities together make up the biggest urban agglomeration in Africa.   Famous for its historical landmarks, the City of Giza is home to the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, and all their surrounding structures. However, these are not all Giza has to offer. The city is a tourist mecca and caters to a wide variety of associated industries. The waterfront along the Nile is particularly popular, being home to casinos, resorts, and beautiful parks.   The city is also home to Africa and the Middle East’s oldest zoo. Established in 1891, the Giza Zoo spans 80 acres and is home to a vast array of endemic fauna and flora.   5. Luanda: Angola’s Economic Hub The Luanda skyline in 2015. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean to its west, Luanda sits on the northern coastline of Angola and serves as the country’s capital and largest city. It was founded in 1576 by the Portuguese, who used it as a base of operations for their colony of Angola. Like many ports on the west coast of Africa, Luanda served as a major hub for the slave trade. It was an important departure point for slaves being taken to Brazil – Portugal’s colony on the other side of the Atlantic.   Angola was granted independence in 1975, and most Portuguese people left the city. As a result of the power vacuum, a struggle for power descended into a civil war that engulfed neighboring regions and drew in the South African army as well as the Cubans who fought to decide the fate of Angola.   Sunset over Luanda. Source: André Pereira/Wikimedia Commons   As a result, Luanda’s population swelled as refugees fled the countryside to the cities, looking for safety. Ultimately, the South Africans, who were trying to stop the spread of communism, were defeated, and Luanda became the seat of a socialist government.   Today, Luanda is home to more than 9 million people, almost a third of Angola’s entire population. The city serves as the country’s administrative center and largest port. It houses the offices of many important industries, including large oil companies that exploit Angola’s huge natural reserves.   Like all modern cities, Luanda has its fair share of contrasts, from high-end, luxury villas and the picturesque waterfront to sprawling slums.   6. Dar es Salaam: “Abode of Peace” Tanzanite Bridge and Dar es Salaam. Source: Pexels   With over 7.5 million residents, Dar es Salaam is the biggest city and the financial hub of the East African nation of Tanzania. Its name comes from Arabic and means “abode/house of peace.” Throughout the centuries, the city has lived up to its name. Conflicts have mostly steered clear of this city, and it has been relatively free from ethnic tension.   Dar es Salaam is located several hundred miles south of the equator and is a hot and humid city that was founded in 1862 upon the site of the village of Mzizima on the coast. It remained a small port until the Germans took control of what would become Tanganyika (The former name of Tanzania before it was merged with Zanzibar) and established a strong presence there, turning Dar es Salaam into the capital of their colonial protectorate of German East Africa.   After the Second World War, the city underwent massive modernization through the end of the colonial era and into the present day.   Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Source: Lonely Planet   Dar es Salaam has become a true melting pot and is home to people from 120 ethnicities, including the Chagga, the Maasai, the Swahili, and the Sukuma. Today, the city represents an eclectic mix of these cultural influences. It includes the colonial architecture from both the Germans and the British, the latter inheriting the colony after Germany’s defeat in the First World War.   The city of Dodoma is officially Tanzania’s capital, but Dar es Salaam handles most of the government’s administration. It is also a springboard to the rest of East Africa, as Dar es Salaam serves as an entry point for trade with inland cities and landlocked countries in the interior.   It has vibrant culinary, movie, arts, and culture scenes and is a hugely popular destination for tourists from all over the world.   7. Khartoum: An Enduring Desert City Tuti Bridge and the Corinthia Hotel in Khartoum, Sudan. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Located at the confluence of the White Nile and the Blue Nile, Khartoum is the capital of Sudan and has a population of over 6 million.   The settlement was established in 1821 as an outpost for the Egyptian military, which ruled over Sudan at the time. Given its favorable geographical position, the settlement grew quickly to be a significant center of trade, with enslaved people being one of the primary commodities.   The city has seen its fair share of tragedies and crises. In the late 19th century, it was the scene of a bloody massacre when British and Egyptian forces were besieged by the army of Mahdi Muhammad Ahmad, who led a religious war against Anglo-Egyptian rule. Several years later, the Battle of Omdurman near the city would see the British take revenge, slaughtering thousands and putting an end to the Mahdist rebellion.   Khartoum. Source: cc/Christopher Michel/Store Norske Leksikon   In the 1970s and 1980s, the city was a destination for many people fleeing conflicts in neighboring countries despite Sudan being in a civil war of its own. Since then, Khartoum has endured political upheaval in the form of protests, displacement, and massacres.   Since April 2023, Khartoum has been a central part of a brutal civil war that has engulfed the country. Nevertheless, life in Khartoum continues, and the people there are hopeful that more peaceful and happier times lie ahead.   Khartoum is a city of resilience in the face of despair and a testament to the enduring spirit of its residents.   8. Johannesburg: “Place of Gold” Aerial view of Johannesburg’s urban sprawl. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Johannesburg is the biggest city in South Africa and the country’s economic hub. Founded in 1886 as a mining settlement after the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand, it quickly grew to become a massive center of enterprise connected to the gold industry.   Gold mining dominated the economy for decades, and Johannesburg grew to become the biggest city in South Africa and the wealthiest on the continent. With a foundation of gold mining as its economic base, Johannesburg expanded as other businesses took hold. By the end of the 1980s, South Africa’s focus on gold mining began to shift to other sectors as the economy sought more diversification, yet Johannesburg was, by this time, already established as an economic powerhouse.   The collapse of apartheid and the opening of South African investment opportunities laid the groundwork for international businesses to invest in the country. Johannesburg served as the perfect place for corporations to build their African headquarters.   Despite the prosperity, Johannesburg is a product of colonialism and apartheid, both of which have left their marks on society. The divisions between the rich and the poor are clear. While parts of the city are lush and filled with opulent mansions, much of the city is also characterized by dusty slums.   Johannesburg’s population has swelled to more than 6 million people over the course of its short life and continues its speedy growth as one of Africa’s fastest-developing cities.   Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg at night. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Africa is a growing continent. Having shaken off the shackles of colonialism, its huge cities are progressing towards a future of hope. These cities are integral to the vision of a prosperous Africa, turning around negative stereotypes and creating spaces where people can thrive in the socio-economic and cultural spheres.