Africa (continent)

Feel the warm sand tickle your toes under a big, bright sun. Listen to a long, blue river as it sings a quiet song on its way to the sea. In the tall grass, you might see giraffes stretching their long necks to nibble on leaves, or hear the mighty roar of a lion saying hello to the moon. I am a place of giant deserts, deep green jungles, and wide-open plains where amazing animals roam free. I am a land of wonders, filled with ancient secrets and beautiful sights. My name is not just a place on a map. I am the continent of Africa.

My story is the oldest story in the world. Millions of years ago, the very first people who ever lived took their first footsteps right here on my soil. That is why people call me the “cradle of humankind”. It means that everyone’s family story started with me. As people grew, they built amazing homes and kingdoms. In a place called Ancient Egypt, clever builders created giant pyramids that touched the sky. They started building them a very, very long time ago, around the 26th century BCE. These pyramids were tombs for their kings and queens, filled with treasures and secrets. Far away, another incredible kingdom grew, called Great Zimbabwe. Starting in the 11th century CE, its people built huge, curving stone walls so perfectly that they did not need any sticky mortar to hold them together. They were masters at building, and their city was a busy, happy place.

My lands are home to thousands of different groups of people, and each one has its own special way of life. If you listen closely, you can hear the boom-boom-boom of drums telling exciting stories. In my busy markets, you can see people wearing clothes with bright colors like sunny yellow, grassy green, and sky blue. Each pattern tells a story. And oh, the food. You can taste delicious jollof rice that makes your tummy happy and sweet fruits that grow under my warm sun. I am not just one story, but a giant, colorful blanket woven together with thousands of different languages, songs, and traditions. Every part of me has a different dance and a different hello.

My story is not over. It is still being written every single day. Today, amazing artists paint my beautiful landscapes, smart scientists make new discoveries, and creative kids just like you dream up wonderful new ideas. My heartbeat is strong, and my song is still being sung. When you listen to music with a happy beat or hear a story about courage and family, you are hearing a piece of me. Because the first people came from my lands, a little bit of my sunshine and my ancient story lives inside of everyone in the world.