African women are very special women. But most times they are taken for granted and misjudged for their weaknesses more than their strengths.

Here are five things that make them special. I know that there are other things that can be added to this list so please do that in the comment section so that we can learn from each other. Just mention any other trait or thing that makes African women special in the comment section after you read this post.

Thanks.

So here they are.

Watch this topic in a video instead.

Five Special Things About African Women You Must Know

They can multitask.

African women can do it all. They are the best at juggling career, homemaking and leadership roles. Even when they choose one role they still multitask in that role.

Their effort is not appreciated sometimes but they are strong women who do a lot for their society.

They can handle lots of problems with a smile on their face.

African women are a typical example of suffering and smiling. While this is not a good thing, it makes them special because they are not easily broken by their problems, hardship and difficulties.

They are beautiful and gorgeous women.

No need to say so much here because they are fine-looking women for sure. They possess both external and internal beauty.

They make great leaders

African women have always been leaders even though they were pushed away from major decision-making tables. They have always been responsible for the education of their children and that is one of the best leadership roles they have played for ages.

Today, African women are taking the bold step to show their leadership skills in broad daylight and on public platforms like politics and social issues. They come in with the wisdom and compassion that the world needs to receive.

They are smart and intelligent

They excel at whatever thing they put their minds to. They manage to make amazing things out of the little they have or are given.

These are some of the things that make African women very special. If you are an African woman reading this and you didn't know how special you are, I hope that you do now.

Today I want to address some things that we African women have been suffering from for a long time. these things and habits have hindered us from growing for a long time and it's time to unlearn them.

Here are things, thoughts and habits that African need to unlearn.

Watch my video on this topic by clicking here.

Negative Things African Women Need To Unlearn About Themselves In Order To Progress In Life

You have to suffer in relationships before enjoying it

Gone are the days when you need to tolerate a man who doesn't treat you right for years hoping that one day he will realize your worth before turning back to loving and respecting you full time.

Men are used to doing what they like in relationships and return to loving their long life partners in their old age. This is because we let them. Let's not continue to make this a pattern. It's time to say stop to this. It's time to unlearn this habit my dear African ladies. We are worth better men.

They have to look like someone else in order to be considered beautiful

This is sad but true. Most African women believe that they need to look like women of other races in order to be considered beautiful.

Your sole purpose of existence & looking beautiful is for a man or to attract and keep a man

African women make men the centre of their lives a lot. Men are important to us but we don't exist because of them. This also stems from our culture where women were brought up to please men. But we have to unlearn that and live for ourselves as human beings. Men are only our companions in life and not our reason for existence.

Not discussing sex as women

Sex is a taboo topic for most African women. We don't talk about sex enough and this affects how we participate in the act. Even if women marry as virgins they need adequate sex education and they should not feel like talking about sex makes them bad or spoilt.

It is important that more African get involved in sex talks because they need to understand their role and the consequences it has on them.

Light skin is better than black skin

The one thing African women have a problem with the most is the colour of their skin. We feel light skin is better than black skin and this makes us want to change our skin colour to be lighter.

This stems from colonial times and it's time to unlearn this. Black skin is as beautiful as any other skin colour and when you valorize it you will see the true beauty in it.

Successful women slept their way to the top

This one may come from jealousy or envy or low esteem or just the fact that we don't like to support each other as women. But this thought really stops us from progressing because it shows that we have brought ourselves so low to think that we can't accomplish anything by ourselves.

Not all women are assisted by men to become who they are. Not all women sleep their way to success even if they act or dress sexily all the time.

Thinking like this about other women means you don't believe you as a woman have the ability to become successful.

Dear African Sis, let's change from this, unlearn these negativities and move forward.

This holiday season, I did some online shopping from two Cameroonian entrepreneurs. One bakes cakes and the other is a cosmetic brand. I just wanted a big delicious yoghurt cake to satisfy my craving and also I needed beauty products for my body.

How I chose these brands to buy from was simple. I knew them already (the CEOs) and trust was already established though it was my first time actually buying their products. They are small growing brands.

As an entrepreneur myself, it felt good to support and patronise people I know. I didn't buy from them in order to judge their service. It was because I needed their products. To my surprise, I learned a lot from the experience.

Here are the things I learned from my online shopping with these brands.

Buying From Online Cameroonian Brands | What I Learnt As An Entrepreneur

What I Learned As An Entrepreneur Buying From Cameroonian Brands Online

It's essential to deliver on time

Delivering on time shows that you value your customer's time. I ordered for the cake days before but on the day of delivery, the vendor called me to say she will be running late. It was a good thing she called me to let me know she won't be able to deliver on time and I appreciated that.

But I wondered within me if she also considered the fact that the cake could have been for a party or an occasion and the time I gave her needed to be respected.

Let your customer know if you can't deliver on time

As mentioned above, I appreciate the cake service for letting me know she'll be late in her delivery. It made me feel considered and respected. On the other hand, the cosmetic brand didn't deliver during the period we agreed on and I was the one who contacted them to ask why my products had not been delivered.

It's crucial to deliver exactly what was ordered

This is the most important lesson of all. Deliver what the customer asked for. It is bad enough to deliver late but don't allow yourself to deliver a product that is not up to what the client ordered.

This was my case with the cake delivery. Added to the fact that she changed the time of the delivery, she delivered a cake that didn't rise during baking.

Oh yes, she did. She really did. During the delivery, she told me that the baking powder she used wasn't good and she needs to change the baking powder but the cake is ok. I thought it was just a small problem. After collecting the cake and I got home and opened it I was shocked and angry too.

I remembered how I had made it clear to her that I wanted a big cake and she promised me I'll be satisfied. Despite that, she had the courage to deliver a cake that didn't rise properly. I wondered if she even considered the fact that it could be a gift for someone. How do I give such a cake to someone? Honestly, she made my money seem so useless. She delivered the cake still hot meaning that she probably didn't start baking it early enough so she probably took it out before it could completely rise. That's my theory since her story of the baking powder being the problem didn't sound true to me.

Honestly, if I were in her place I would ask if I can deliver a proper cake on another day or simply refund the customer. Not delivering that right product discourages the customer from buying from you.

Ask for feedback from customers and do it on time

Getting feedback from your customers is very important. Not asking them if they received the product, how they find the product or if they like your product may make them feel like you don't care. Depending on the product you should ask for feedback at the time the client might have consumed the product or when he/she might have started seeing results.

The cake lady asked me a few days later how the cake was. I wondered why she took so long to ask knowing very well that there was a problem with the cake. Anyway, I made her understand that I wasn't satisfied and how disappointed I was. She said she'll catch up next time but I feel so discouraged that I doubt if there will be a next time.

Make sure all products are delivered to the customer

When clients orders multiple products, verify that you send them all.

I received all the beauty products except for one and to be honest, I needed it so badly. if the client is located in another town just like in my case it becomes difficult or expensive to send the remaining product.

Keep the client engaged during the purchase

Inform the client of your plans and actions related to his or her order. If delivery is taking a few days update them and keep them in the know of what's going on. Keeping the client engaged helps them develop a good relationship with you.

I wish to patronise more Cameroonian brands online in the future because I know what it means to be encouraged in that manner. I am an online entrepreneur too.

I recently relaxed my one-year-old nappy hair and I felt a conflict within myself because being nappy is not just a choice or a lifestyle. It is an identity. It represents a race and a community. So I must say relaxing my hair after growing it naturally for a year felt like a betrayal.

That's a heavy word but what I felt was close to that.

Disconnected From My African Roots Because My Hair Is Relaxed

Nappy hair gives you a sense of belonging

Many of us like to belong somewhere or in some community. We belong to our family when growing up and later we belong to other groups which construct our personality and identity. Being nappy gives that feeling of belonging, identity, pride and personality to those who have it.

He who is not with us is against us

Since it is a community there are definitely people who feel attacked when you don't align with that lifestyle. And this is not good at all because even though it represents an identity of a community, having relaxed hair doesn't mean renouncing your African roots or identity. It's a matter of intention.

Though it does make you look different, it all depends on why you do it. As long as the intention is not to change who you are there is no problem with it.

My journey to relaxed hair

I relaxed my hair recently after keeping it nappy for a year. I love my relaxed hair. It's still my hair whether relaxed or not and I love wearing it simple most of the time.

Products I used to relax my hair

While with nappy hair, I knew that at some point I was going to relax. And when the time came I did.

Read all about my experience of relaxing my hair here.

My take on this

Whether relaxed or nappy it doesn't matter. Do whatever feels convenient for you. Nappy hair is not for everyone; No matter how much some bloggers and YouTubers make it easy to maintain, it's not easy for everyone. It requires more products, time and dedication to care for it.

It's not to discourage you from keeping nappy hair but just to tell you the truth. I enjoyed my nappy journey because it was different and there are hairstyles I could make with it that I can no longer do with my relaxed hair.

But right now, nappy hair is not for me. I may go back to it in the future or sometime when I feel like keeping it again. there's time for everything and now is the time for relaxed hair. I can always do a big chop and start all over again. I'm happy I am that courageous when it comes to my hair.