The fertility magic of Baobabs

In the mythology of many African nations, the baobab tree represents life, fertility and is a keeper of the earth. Unsurprising then that the baobab is also steeped in folklore.  There is a belief that women living in huts where baobabs are plentiful have more children than those living outside the baobab zones –which is possibly true as the women eat soup made of baobab leaves which are rich in vitamins and EFA and compensate for any deficiency in their diet.  Baobab fruit powder too, is rich in vitamin C, anti-oxidants, magnesium, potassium and dietary fibre all of which would contribute to good health, 

The Venda believe that if you wash a baby in water  infused with baobab bark, the child will become fat and healthy. 🙂 

Continue reading....

Find more interesting articles below

The hidden benefits of baobab oil and fruit powder

The hidden benefits of baobab oil and fruit powder

Annie Nenzhelele has been collecting baobab fruit for EcoProducts for a few years now.  Last week when I was visiting her village she said that she has been using the money she has earned for building her house.  She took me into her house to show me the bags of cement she  had bought to […]

Read more
Look honey! I shrunk the baobab tree!

Look honey! I shrunk the baobab tree!

I  have never quite understood the appeal of bonsai, so I decided to see for myself what it was all about.  I visited Lampies Schoeman who has about 100 trees, surely one of the largest collection of baobab bonsai in the world!  He has grown and created most of his bonsai himself over the last […]

Read more
Birds in baobab trees

Birds in baobab trees

Photographer Vanessa Bristow has wonderfully captured these different birds perched in baobab trees in Zimbabwe.  Featured here are a Marabou Stork, an owl and a pair of Bennett’s woodpeckers busily pecking away (the female below the male). As Vanessa says of her photographs: ‘They are in humble tribute to a mighty tree! Baobab’s provide shade in summer, beautiful […]

Read more