 Director's Note
ACLENet is diving into public education to prevent lightning injuries and deaths in Africa, printing newspaper inserts and producing television broadcasts.
Knowledge is the first step to saving lives.
Whenever deaths occur, there is an outcry for the purchase and installation of 'lightning arrestors' (lightning rods). Unfortunately, lightning protection (LP) is a very specialized area and few are trained in lightning protection, even electrical engineers. Parents may scrimp and save to purchase lightning protection for their children's schools, only to have more deaths the next year due to improperly designed and installed lightning protection systems that are not compliant with international LP codes such as IEC62305 or NFPA780.
ACLENet is working with governments and school districts to raise awareness and improve the level of design and installation of lightning protection systems.
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Tell your story
We invite you to share your questions and stories about lightning with readers worldwide who are interested in lightning, especially in Africa. We will do our best to publish it and respond to questions with expert advice from our worldwide pool of research advisers and lightning safety experts.
If you witness a lightning incident, please report it, post images on our social media sites and be part of the effort to 'reduce deaths, injuries, and property damage'.
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LIGHTNING MYTHS AND FOLKLORE
A common belief in Africa (Rwanda)
 In Rwanda, “Gakubitwe n’inkuba” (to be struck by lightning) is considered a curse and many fear it.
75 year-old historian, Jean Damascene Rwasamirera said some Rwandans believe that lightning is an animal that looks like a rooster that has the power to kill. She says, “Rwandans are frightened by lightning. They never call it by its name 'Inkuba' but rather 'Umwami wo hejuru' (king from above) lest they infuriate it."
During rain, they will remain standing in houses and can not sit since the seat is reserved for the king. "You cannot sit when the king is present. That is considered disrespect for him."
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African Lightning Events for February
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Two dead in KZN lightning strike
South Africa
31 January, 2019
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Lightning bolt surges through Secunda house and strikes man in passage
South Africa
4 February, 2019
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13-year-old boy dies, 12 others injured after Soweto lightning strike
South Africa
6 February, 2019
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Lightning strikes PF camp, kills one
Zambia
7 February, 2019
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Lightning strike kills two
Zambia
10 February, 2019
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Lightning strikes kills two in Kaputa
Zambia
11 February, 2019
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Man dies after being struck by lightning near Sasol in Secunda
South Africa
11 February, 2019
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One killed in Limpopo lightning strike kills
Zimbabwe
14 February, 2019
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Lightning conductors to be installed in KZN's high-risk areas
South Africa
15 February, 2019
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Lightning strikes Rusape family, kills mother
Zimbabwe
16 February, 2019
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Two sportsmen dead in Gauteng: highlighting the dangers of lightning
South Africa
17 February, 2019
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Lightning kills four tobacco farmers
Zimbabwe
19 February, 2019
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Secunda resident is stunned when lightning strikes his moving car
South Africa
20 February, 2019
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Two escape burning vehicle
South Africa
21 February, 2019
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Hundreds in Tshwane left in the dark after substation struck by lightning
South Africa
23 February, 2019
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Two people struck by lightning
Mauritius
23 February, 2019
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Lightning kills child, scores displaced by heavy rains
Uganda
25 February, 2019
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