In this weekly feature, COVID Tech, Digital News producer Tshepiso Moche, covers tech innovations related to COVID-19 and lockdown. In this edition, as the continent celebrates Africa Month, we look at four apps that best reflect her uniqueness, among them African delicacies as well as African music. With the COVID-19 lockdown still in effect in South Africa, many are seeking ways to keep themselves occupied while at home, here’s how:
African food
If you, like many South Africans, are stuck at home looking for ways to keep busy during lockdown, learn a new skill…how about cooking an authentic African meal!
An app such as Potjiekos Recipes may just be the right place to start.
It offers a variety of recipes from breakfast to brunch, lunch and dinner.
The Potjiekos is a traditional South African way of preparing meals using an open fire and using a three-legged cast iron pot.
Some of the recipes on the app are of much-loved African meals such as dumpling, tripe, chicken feet and pork trotter, among others.
African sounds
Many musicians have quickly adapted to lockdown by doing virtual concerts and other events, listeners are being kept entertained.
For the love of music – live or not – there is also Deedo, a Pan African Music app.
It gives you access to more than 12 million A
rican songs and allows you to search for your favorite song or album by country.
From the legendary Malian Afro-pop star Salif Keita, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, Zimbabwen Afro-jazz musician Oliver Mtukudzi, to South African jazz legend Hugh Masekela, the app has got you covered.
Indigenous games
Should you run out of ideas, there is a skilful and fun way in indigenous games.
Games such as Diketo, Morabaraba, Ludo, Muruba, Igisoro, Kiela, Tchouba Njombwa and Owarepa are some of many games the older generation have played for centuries.
They all have their origins in different parts of the continent.
Communities in countries such as Mozambique, South Africa, Ghana, Rwanda and Burundi still hold on to this evergreen form of entertainment.
But now, there are virtual versions. We recommend you try the popular Morabaraba app.
It is one of the indigenous games young and old people can enjoy.
Parents can use this lockdown period to teach their children and grandchildren how to play these games while sharing some of their fondest memories of how life was when they grew up. It will also take you down memory lane!
Africa stories
The African Storybook Reader app provides users with tales from the African continent.
It has a unique collection of over 1500 approved picture storybooks for early reading in 40 African languages.
Parents can read for their young ones as some grades and crèches remain closed during this lockdown period.
All the storybooks have English versions and many have Portuguese and French versions.
For previous editions of the series COVID Tech, see the links below:
‘Basic Education missing mark with celebrity reading project’
COVID Tech Part I: Government, UCT partner for tracing app
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