No life in Africa without...

In the new BBC competition for Africa, listeners and readers describe what they could not live without out on the continent.

Here entrants cannot imagine life without chewing on a kola nut and sex without a condom.

Teghen Hosea Muno, Bamenda, Cameroon

When I was a little boy I followed my father to almost every occasion in and around the village: funeral services; village council meetings; "njangi" or yam festival dances.

I always carried his bag hung over my shoulder.

I bought and ate as much as I could... sometimes eating as many as 35 kola nuts a day Teghen Hosea Muno

From time to time he would say to me: "Can I have some nice kola nuts from the bag, son?"

So I would hand some to him and he would share them with his friends.

They never gave me any, they would say: "Your teeth will go brown too soon if you eat them." Ha!

But like Adam and Eve in the Bible, from time to time I helped myself from the bag and each time I ate them I would not get any sleep at night, I suffered restlessly and they would dry my eyes.

So later, when I was in secondary school and I had to read throughout most nights to catch up, I was so tired, but then I remembered, "Ah! The kola!"

So I bought and ate as much as I could. And how it worked! I had kola nuts in my school bag, my cupboard, drawer, box, pockets, in fact everywhere.

My friends knew one thing they could get from me at anytime!

To be honest with you, sexual intercourse for me can be impromptu and I can have sex at any time Cornel Ekeh

Even in class I would select a sizeable one, throw it whole into my mouth and "crock, crock!" my teeth would crush the kola to the amusement of everyone.

I could eat as many as 35 kola nuts a day!

Thanks to the kola, I scored well in 10 papers in secondary school and three science papers in high school.

But after my results I had a terrific chest pain. I was suffering and when I consulted the doctor he said to me," Too much kola is bad for your health".

"Bad?" I cried, "But I can't live without it!"

Cornel Ekeh, Nigeria

I am not afraid to say it.

I am not shy or intimidated about saying that I could not live without my pack of condoms.

Cornel Ekeh says he needs condoms to stay alive

Anywhere I go, I carry a pack of condoms in my wallet.

The government and health workers have warned that Africa is ravaged by the devastating effects of HIV/Aids.

We are told that over 4m people are infected with HIV/ Aids in Nigeria and that South Africa is the worst hit by this epidemic in Africa.

Since I was told that the condom can given 98% protection from HIV/Aids and sexually transmitted infections, everywhere I go I carry my pack of condoms.

To be honest with you, sexual intercourse for me can be impromptu and I can have sex at any time - morning, afternoon or at any time or any day!

So, I need my condoms to stay alive and be HIV free.

The condom also helps me to avoid unwanted pregnancies because I do not want to become a father when I am not yet ready.

The condom: the tiny sheath that protects everyone.

Your Life Without

The BBC is running a new competition for Africa - No Life Without. Let us know what brings most meaning to your life in Africa that you could not imagine living without - perhaps a mobile phone, a car or your husband?

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 BBC 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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