"Red soil...the Native's say it's because of all the blood spilt over the land.  It's in your blood, you'll never leave Africa."

Legend tells of the birth of the world, sprouting out of the womb of Mother Africa.  Growing and flourishing under her loving care and, inevitably, left her to make a life of their own.  Billions of years ago.

Forevermore, mother and child would be seperated, even enstranged from their brothers and sisters.

Asia, the big brother, followed his mother's example, and ensured variety for his inhabitants.

Europe, the shy and reserved sister, grew big and strong, giving her children a peaceful winter wonderland.  Eventhough she lost contact, she remained close to home.

The twins, North- and South America, coneected at birth, remained so.  But soon North America grew powerful and towered over his laidback sister, who shrank to the sidelines, content with a life in the sun.

Australia, the smallest, resembles his Mother the most and settled on her far East.

Antarctica, the rebel, sleeps all winter and smiles all summer.  Try as she might, even this harsh white child couldn't hide the remnats of her origins.

Africa often mourned the loss of her children and longed for more life to sustain.  She poured her love into her youngest children and they grew attached to her.  She showed them the wonders of the world, resting peacefully in her bosom.  The Swiss Alps, reflected in the Drakensbergs, the deserts of China in the red sands of the Namib, the forrests of Kambodia in the Congo, the waters of the Amazon, flowing in the Nile.

She gave her children support, she made the oil bubble over and turned the rocks into glimmering diamonds.  Food she gave plenty and made her children love the life abundant.

But soon, like all spoiled children, they grew greedy.  They started fighting over her and the authority she once held.  They plundered her Her jewels and left destruction om their wake.  Soon there were too many mouths to feed and Mother Africa old, tired and abused, couldn't protect them from the horrors they were indirectly inflicting on themselves.

Africa is mourning again.  Crying out to her children to, once again, love her as She loves them.