10 Reasons Why Being African Is Awesome

There may not be any more African teams left in the World Cup now, but there are still plenty of reasons why it’s awesome to be African.

1. Everyone’s your cousin

Wagogo-gogo people / Via kwekudee-tripdownmemorylane.blogspot.com.es

We don’t get hung up on fancy genealogy: if someone is a longtime family friend or if one of their relatives was married to one of yours, then their kids will be your cousins! In return for being “generous” with the facts you get a warmer, family-feel community that’s at the core of everyday life.

2. There’s always room for one more

Roberto Neumiller/SOS SAHEL / Via pinterest.com

And because of our sense of community, there’s always room (or food!) for one more.

Speaking of food…

3. You know what’s in your food

Via dohanews.co

From the courtyard to the cooking pot, that’s how it’s done. Saves us from unsavory discoveries…

4. You’re always the underdog

Vince Lombardi / Via pinterest.com

People may underestimate us, but we’re all about making lemonade: everyone loves an underdog, those who have little to lose and everything to gain!

5. You have amazing proverbs like…

Via pinterest.com

An army of sheep led by a lion can defeat an army of lions led by a sheep.

Or how about…

A fight between grasshoppers is a joy to the crow.

6. You always have the ultimate icebreaker

Via cdn.difflearn.com

In need of a conversation starter? Don’t mind explaining for the umpteenth time where that country of yours is, that you've never seen a lion and that the capital city has skyscrapers? Just say you’re from [insert African country here].

7. Rain can’t do you nothing

buzzfeed.com

When what was a road 5 minutes ago suddenly turns into a river, we keep our cool and sit it out or just play on – what else can you do? It’s only rain.

8. Improvisation is your middle name

Via joyreactor.com

Nothing ever goes according to plan – we know that, which is why we can get very creative when the need calls for it.

9. You get to smile at people who are proud of speaking two languages!

buzzfeed.com

That’s like the minimum number of languages we speak. With between 800 – 3,000 languages spoken in Africa, intermarriage, multiculturalism and the continuing influence of colonial European languages mean that most Africans can speak three or more languages.

10. You’re a born businessperson.

buzzfeed.com

Trade and business – it’s in our blood.