Why I love Africa

BBC listeners and readers share their personal experiences of the African continent.

Here are the latest contributions celebrating Africa's cities, birdsong, literary heroes and its sense of belonging.

Taiwo Aderinola Adeleke, Nigeria

I love Lagos, because she is full of life.

I love Bamako, for she's like a spring in the desert Taiwo Aderinola Adeleke

I love Nairobi, for she represents African strength.

I love Accra: she's an embodiment of African hospitality.

I love Ouagadougou: she stands for integrity.

I love Johannesburg, because she represents African pride.

I love Cairo: she has a much cherished history.

I love Bamako, for she's like a spring in the desert.

I love Harare: she's a confident warrior.

I love Casablanca, just because she's an expensive jewel.

I love Dakar, for she's the window to a new world.

But most of all, I love Africa.

Tom Yormah, Sierra Leone

When the I love Africa competition was first launched I was one of those despondent cynics who could not see anything good in Africa.

Hurricane Katrina made Tom Yormah see Africa in a different light

I expected most of the entries to be either sentimental drivel or just sarcasm.

But when I watched the pitiful images of New Orleans residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina; the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami; those who lost everything in the Paris apartment fire disaster; the horrible sight of the victims of the London bombings - I saw I had a cause to love Africa.

I slept in total darkness last night due to the perpetual or near permanent electric power outage in Freetown.

But I awoke this morning to the sound of birds singing in the trees, not to the sound of garbage trucks or horns blaring from impatient motorists or some other urban detritus.

When I opened my windows I immediately felt the gush of fresh breeze caressing me.

And as I stood there I savoured the sweet smell of wild tree flowers - not the carbon monoxide-laden chocking fumes.

Yes, I love fresh Africa!

Awa Innocent Ndah, Cameroon

My unconditional love for the African continent lies in the number of its literary geniuses.

I admire writers like Mazisi Kunene for their courage, commitment, adroitness and intellectual know-how Awa Innocent Ndah

My admiration, respect and desire to emulate and achieve what the sons of African have not achieved in the fields of poetry, prose and drama increases my love and respect of mother Africa.

I am talking about the likes of Wole Soyinka of Nigeria, Bate Besong of Cameroon, Mazisi Kunene of South Africa and Leopold Sedar Senghor of Senegal... the list is infinite.

These men of conscience, despite deathly snares, continue to prick and expose the filth and emptiness of our so-called leaders.

I admire their courage, commitment, adroitness and intellectual know-how.

I love Africa for giving me the opportunity to know these great men of literature.

I am an amateur poet who is striving to make my mentors proud because of my love for Africa.

Jacob Nhial Thon

I love Africa as I love myself - until the day I die.

No-one really wants to be blind because you can not easily walk to a borehole Jacob Nhial Thon

If I hate myself then I hate Africa.

The reason behind this is that no-one ever hates where they belong.

It would be like losing both your eyes and becoming blind.

And no-one really wants to be blind because you can not easily walk to a borehole.

If there wasn't a place like Africa I wouldn't be breathing today and the world wouldn't have a tourist destination for all those who visit needing relief from their hard work and studies.

No words can actually express how much I love my ancestors' home.

Even if I'm not in Africa all the time, my love for it will not disappear because it is the ancestral place of my origin.

Nyokabi Kahura, Kenya

I love Africa because of the beautiful smiles of both children and adults.

Despite many trials, problems and hardships, a smile can always be afforded.

They smile all sorts of smiles - the girl smiles a shy smile as he courts her; the young man smiles a knowing smile after a great achievement that his peers haven't achieved.

The child smiles an innocent smile when greeted, the old man smiles upon seeing how fast his grandchildren have grown and the old woman smiles when her children come home to visit her.

The Africans smile shy smiles: smiles of appreciation, smiles to show love, smiles after eating a healthy sumptuous African meal, smiles at weddings, smiles when a child is born into the community, smiles when you see an old friend after a long time, camera shy smiles, smiles when a child graduates.

Smiles, smiles and more smiles.

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What do you think?

Do you find Africa annoying, frustrating and slow or is it fun, fast and exhilarating? Share your joys and sorrows of the continent in the new 2005 BBC competition - Why I love Africa.

If you have photos to accompany your contribution send them to [e-mail], otherwise use the form at the bottom of the page. Entries should be no more than 300 words.

The best will be published on the news website and broadcast on the BBC World Service's Network Africa programme. Some will receive small prizes.

Use the form below to send your entry.

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