Geometry.Net - the online learning center
Home  - Basic_W - Wolof Indigenous Peoples Africa
e99.com Bookstore
  
Images 
Newsgroups
Page 5     81-100 of 100    Back | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5 
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  

81. Winne.com - Report On Gambia, Open For Business
has also attracted indigenous of many African countries into The Gambia. wolof or people from other tribes who own cattle will often entrust them to
http://www.winne.com/gambia/bf02.html
Search by Region
document.write(messageDate);
GAMBIA
open for business
Geography
Climate People History Government Economy Tourism, enjoy your Holidays ... Lexique
PEOPLE
Tribes
WOLOF
The Wolof mostly inhabit the western areas of the country. Traditionally farmers and traders, the Wolof today controls a great deal of commerce. The Wolof language is used as a common tongue in many parts of Gambia often instead of English. The Wolof are almost exclusively Muslim.
MANDINKA
The Mandinka are the single largest group in Gambia, The Mandinka people are also called Mandingo, and are related to other Manding-speaking groups such as the Bambara of Mali, where they originate. They are thought to have migrated to the Senegambia region between the 13th and early 16th centuries, and to have brought Islam with them. Traditionally engaged in farming and fishing, most Mandinka people are Muslim, and they also have a strong musical tradition. Islamic feast days, such as the end of Ramadan, and family celebrations, such as a Wedding or circumcision, or even the arrival of a special guest, are often seen as very good reasons for some music and dancing. FULA The Fula are found across West Africa, as far east as Sudan and south into countries like Ghana and Nigeria, although they look on the Futa Toro region in northern Senegal as their cultural homeland. The Fula are also called Fulani and Fulbe. These names, as well as Fulfulde or Pulaar also knows their language.

82. Africa
Afrikaans is the language of 60%, and German and some indigenous languages like South africa The two main official languages are English and Afrikaans,
http://lazarus.elte.hu/~guszlev/gb/afri.htm
Africa
  • Ascension is a part of the UK as a dependency of Saint Helena
  • Botswana was a Crown Colony until 1966. Besides English, Setswana is the other official language, and Bantu is spoken as well.
  • Cameroon was a Crown Colony until 1961. English and French are the two official languages, plus 24 major African language groups exist here.
  • The Gambia gained independence from Britain in 1965, English is the official language but Mandinka, Wolof, Fulani and other indigenous vernaculars are spoken.
  • Ghana became an independent country from the UK in 1957. English is the official, but African languages (Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe and Gã) are native.
  • Lesotho was a protectorate until 1966. Sesotho is official besides English, and Zulu and Xhosa are other important languages.
  • Liberia is the country where liberated slaves from the US were settled from 1822. It has been an independent country since 1847. English is the native tongue of about the 96% of the population, and 20 local languages from the Niger-Congo language group are spoken.
  • Malawi was a protectorate until 1964. The two official languages are English and Chichewa.

83. The World Fact Page
Ethnic divisions African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, wolof 16%, LanguagesEnglish (official), Mandinka, wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
http://www.africanculture.dk/gambia/backgrnd.htm
Facts and Figures About The Gambia
Taken from The World Factbook Background: The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity, but a new 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another round of presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early 2002.
Location:
13 28 N, 16 34 W Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Flag
Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 11,300 sq km

84. CIA - The World Factbook 2002 -- Gambia, The
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, English (official), Mandinka, wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
http://www.faqs.org/docs/factbook/print/ga.html
Country List World Factbook Home The World Factbook 2002 Gambia, The Introduction Gambia, The Background: The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity, but a new 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another round of presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early 2002. Geography Gambia, The Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 16 34 W Map references: Africa Area: total: 11,300 sq km
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,300 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Delaware Land boundaries: total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km Coastline: 80 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)

85. Project MUSE
The Gullah People and Their African Heritage. By William S. Pollitzer. Moreover, the connection of Louisiana Creole culture to the wolof/Muslim cultures
http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/american_literary_history/v015/15.3wilentz.html
How Do I Get This Article? Athens Login
Access Restricted
This article is available through Project MUSE, an electronic journals collection made available to subscribing libraries NOTE: Please do NOT contact Project MUSE for a login and password. See How Do I Get This Article? for more information.
Login: Password: Your browser must have cookies turned on Wilentz, Gay Alden 1950- ""What Is Africa to Me?": Reading the African Cultural Base of (African) American Literary History"
American Literary History - Volume 15, Number 3, Fall 2003, pp. 639-653
Oxford University Press

Excerpt
What happened to those who were taken away?
Do people hear from them? / How are they?
Shut up child....
All good men and women try to forget;
They have forgotten.
Ama Ata Aidoo, Anowa The fathers may soar / And the children will know their names. Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon From the first enslaved African brought to Barbados in 1509, initiating the largest forced migration of people in human history as well as the emergence of the African diaspora, the relationship between the African continent and the Americas has been a profound and complicated one. For African Americans within the US, for southern Americans, as well as the rest of us living on this continent, that historical moment is still with us today. In her play

86. Senegal
Country information for business, education and travel in africa; From the5th century onwards, wolof and Serer people migrated south of the Senegal
http://us-africa.tripod.com/senegal.html
Africa
About us

Africa

Introduction

Country Files
...
us-africa

SENEGAL
Other great Links

Senegal Online
Rotary Village Well Project SENEVOLU Hotel Mas Mously ... O'Dunbeye Land More Links
Bernard Cloutier: Photos

(c)art: Soly Ibragima Official Name(s) République du Senegal Located West Africa : Mauritania, Mali, The Gambia Capital Dakar Head of State President Maître Abdoulaye Wade Area 196,192 sq km Population 8.5 million Growth rate Languages Currency West African CFA franc GNP per capita Inflation Airlines Fly SN Brussels Airlines from Asia: from USA: Hotels (advertise here) USAfrica Agent Country Advertiser If you want to become the Country Advertiser your logo comes here. USAfrica Research Information Enter your e-mail address to receive e-mail whenever this page is updated. Your e-mail address: JOIN AFRICA-4-AFRICA Senegal is a young country where half the population is under 20. The name 'Sénégal' is said to come from the Wolof name of the dugout canoe in the land of Teranga (hospitality)! Sénégal is the African country closest to the US, and Gorée Island used to be the last spot of the motherland the unfortunate slaves bound to the Americas could see. Fish is the main source of protein for Senegalese who are among the biggest fish eaters in the world, perhaps second only to the Japanese. Baaba Maal Senegal is the buzz place of West Africa – from its hip music and its sophistication to its fantastic capital Dakar. It gets more visitors than any other country in West Africa. One can be overwhelmed by the fantastic variety of music available in nearly all countries on this part of Africa. There is a long musical tradition in West Africa that forms an integral part of the cultures of the region and is now being enjoyed throughout the world – thanks to the recognition of a number of West African musicians such as Salif Keita and the Rail Band, Baaba Maal, Anjelique Kidjo, Youssou N’dour, Mory Kante and Ali Farka Toure.

87. OneWorld UK / In Depth / Africa / Southern Africa / Botswana
Historic Case Awards Land Rights to indigenous People Tuesday that could havefarreaching consequences for indigenous people globally, South africa s
http://uk.oneworld.net/article/country/72/20

88. Balancing Act News Update - African Internet Developments
A wolof learning site uses a little image file to help readers ascertain whether However, as increasing numbers of people in africa encounter the new
http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act_69.html

Current issue
Full archive Submissions Subscribe ... Links
THE KNOTTY PROBLEM OF USING AFRICAN LANGUAGES FOR E-MAIL AND INTERNET On the money Digital toolbox/In search of the business model Africa's digerati Useful websites and discussion lists ... Classified advertisements COMING SOON : E-READINESS STRATEGIES - TURNING PAPER INTO ACTION
WEEKLY PUBLICATION DEADLINE: 12 pm GMT Sunday.
URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT - WE NEED 240 BOOKKEEPING DATA ENTRY OPERATORS

ISSUE NO 69
THE KNOTTY PROBLEM OF USING AFRICAN LANGUAGES FOR E-MAIL AND INTERNET
Don Osborn looks at how these obstacles can be tackled. As the information revolution worldwide becomes increasingly multilingual, and as the new technologies in Africa gradually move beyond the capital cities, what are the barriers to greater use of the indigenous languages of the continent? There are of course a number of interrelated issues to consider in a comprehensive discussion of this question, which one might broadly characterize as including: structural issues (e.g., basic physical access to the technology, technical problems), socio-linguistic factors (issues relating to orthographies, literacy, multiplicity of languages and dialect variation within languages, and attitudes about languages), economic considerations (lack of resources, other priorities in using IT for development), and even political concerns (what effect would validating linguistic diversity in the new technologies have on divisions in a society).

89. OneWorld Africa Home / In Depth / Human Rights / Indigenous Rights
Royalties for South African Bushmen from antiobesity drug Peru pipelineendangering lives of indigenous people, say groups
http://africa.oneworld.net/article/archive/573/800

90. People And Culture Of Senegal
People of Senegal, Wollof, Fulani, languages, religion, music, art, crafts, carvings, Griots of many ethnic groups play it, including the wolof, Sereer,
http://www.africaguide.com/country/senegal/culture.htm
HOME CONTACT US LINK TO US NEWS LETTER ... CHARITIES Jump to a Country Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Congo Dem.Rep. Congo (Zaire) Djibouti Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Bissau Guinea Ivory Coast Kenya Lesotho Liberia Libya Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Morocco Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Reunion Rwanda Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa Sudan Swaziland Tanzania Togo Tunisia Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe Senegal
People
Languages ... Religion
PEOPLE

The population was estimated in 2002 at about 9,8 millions , of which a quarter live in the agglomeration of Dakar, it is composed of many ethnics.
The Wolofs, are the most represented (35%), they make up the majority in all the regions, especially in the centre, the north and the coast of Dakar and Saint Louis. The farmers and the merchants, of Muslim faith for the majority, there importance is certain in the nations economy. The Lebous, established in fishing communities in the peninsula of Cap-Vert and in Saint Louis are related.
The Pulaar (20%), is composed of the Foulbes, Peuls and Toucouleurs, in the northern Senegal, the Fouta Toro, historical source for the propagation of Islam in Senegal, make up the cultural birthplace, they are very active in the commercial domain, as well as breeding and irrigated farming. they populate the Senegalese river valley and the Ferlo region.

91. Map & Graph: Africa:Countries By People: Ethnic Groups
More than 90% of people in Bhutan, Burundi and Burking Faso are involved in Liberia, indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru,
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/peo_eth_gro/AFR

Supporter Benefits
Signup Login Sources ... Pies
Factoid #69 Japan's water has a very high dissolved oxygen concentration - but not enough to prevent drowning in the bath Interesting Facts Make your own graph:
Hold down Control and click on
several. Compare All Top 5 Top 10 Top 20 Top 50 Top 100 Bottom 100 Bottom 20 Bottom 10 Bottom 5 All (desc) in category: Select Category Agriculture Crime Currency Democracy Disasters Economy Education Energy Environment Food Geography Government Health Identification Immigration Industry Internet Labor Language Lifestyle Media Military Mortality People Religion Sports Taxation Transportation with statistic: view: Correlations Printable graph / table Pie chart Scatterplot with ... * Asterisk means graphable.
Related Stats People who viewed "People - Ethnic groups" also viewed:
  • Ethnic groups - A note Divorce rate Sex ratio - 15-64 years Jews ... People : Ethnic groups by country Scroll down for more information Show map full screen Country Description
    Definition:
    This entry provides a rank ordering of ethnic groups starting with the largest and normally includes the percent of total population
    Sierra Leone
    20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed
  • 92. «Conversion» In African Traditional Religion
    The concept of conversion is as relevant to African indigenous religions as it is to 1) And this for many people, is another way of saying that African
    http://www.afrikaworld.net/afrel/conversion.htm

    IN AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGIONS
    By Christopher I. Ejizu
    Introduction
    The concept of conversion is as relevant to African indigenous religions as it is to many other religions of humankind. This may sound something of a surprise to some people. After all, the indigenous religions of Africa do not fall within the category of religions generally referred to as universal or missionary religions. They are rather, classed within the family of traditional or folk religions of the world.(1) And this for many people, is another way of saying that African traditional religions admit of little or no change. They thrive in stable and homogenous ethnic societies. They have no founders, reformers, or prophets, and are handed on much in the same form from one generation to the next. In the words of Mbiti, African traditional religions "have no missionaries to propagate them". As folk religions, they are said to be community-based. "People simply assimilate whatever religious ideas and practices are held or observed by their families and communities"(2). This viewpoint assumed that African traditional religions were more or less fossil reality. Against that backdrop, the discussion of the subject of religious conversion made sense for the protagonists only within the context of the encounter of the indigenous religions with the missionary religions that are available now in the Continent, mainly Christianity and Islam (3).
    While this later contemporary stage in the religious history of Africa is important and of relevance to us in this paper, our discussion of the theme of conversion in African religions proposes to focus on the type of change brought about by dynamic impulses in the differing religious experience of indigenous African groups prior to the encounter, as well as on the phenomenal movement of former adherents as converts to the missionary faiths. This later development clearly amounts to a religious revolution. Both strands of religious change are signalled by and implied in the topic of conversion in African religions. We shall therefore, be handling the two dimensions in this paper. But first, the key concepts ought to be clarified and the scope delimited.

    93. Slavery In America
    number of wolof words took root in American English because wolof people were These African interpreters used wolof names for African foodstuffs fed
    http://www.slaveryinamerica.org/history/hs_es_languages.htm
    Essays
    Lesson Plans

    Image Gallery

    Encyclopedia
    ...
    Join Us

    The Impact of African Languages on American English
    Joseph E. Holloway, Ph.D.
    California State University Northridge Most Americans are not aware that many of the words they speak and write every day are derived from African words. Who would have thought that the word " doggies " in the cowboy lyric " ... get along little doggies, for Wyoming shall be your new home," stems from the African word kidogo , which means "a little something," or "something small." How did this African word become part of the American language? Part of the explanation is that one in every five American cowboys was black in the 1880s, and much of what we think of as "cowboy culture" is rooted in African cattle herding. For example, some historians believe that the trail-driving practices of American cowboys (such as the open grazing of cattle) were based on the ways Fulani cattle herders in Western Africa had tended their animals for centuries. So, we should not be surprised to find African words as part of our cowboy culture. The word bronco (probably of Efik/Ibibio and Spanish origins) was used by the Spanish and by enslaved Africans to indicate the horses rode in herding cattle.

    94. Facets Multi-Media - FILM PROGRAM ARCHIVE -> JUNE 2003 -> THE AFRICAN DIASPORA F
    In the reality of The African Diaspora Film Festival, people from diverse races, In wolof and French with English subtitles. DENYING BRAZIL. Sun., Jun.
    http://www.facets.org/asticat?function=web&catname=facets&web=cinematheque&path=

    95. Project MUSE
    In the mother s village, I spoke only French with the young people who went tothe French school. Thierno is the Pulaar equivalent of Serigne (wolof).
    http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/research_in_african_literatures/v035/35.4edwin.html
    How Do I Get This Article? Athens Login
    Access Restricted
    This article is available through Project MUSE, an electronic journals collection made available to subscribing libraries NOTE: Please do NOT contact Project MUSE for a login and password. See How Do I Get This Article? for more information.
    Login: Password: Your browser must have cookies turned on Edwin, Shirin "African Muslim Communities in Diaspora: The Quest for a Muslim Space in Ken Bugul's Le baobab fou"
    Research in African Literatures - Volume 35, Number 4, Winter 2004, pp. 75-90
    Indiana University Press

    Abstract
    The essay explores the Islamic dimension of the novel Le baobab fou (The Abandoned Baobab) by the Senegalese author Ken Bugul to demonstrate that the identity crisis felt by the protagonist Ken in the novel is not only of an African but that of an African Muslim in particular and that this psychological alienation of Muslims provoked by colonialism did not end with colonialism but continues even today as seen in Ken's experiences in Belgium in a capitalistic and neocolonial environment. The analysis explores whether Ken as an African Muslim is allowed to create a truly multicultural space where her cultural and spiritual differences are not suppressed but allowed to co-exist through negotiation and dialogue. To this end, Ken's experiences as a post-colonial subject assume a particular dimension: that of an African Muslim first alienated by false ideologies learned in the French colonial school and later by systems such as capitalism.

    96. CWS Announces International Moringa Conference
    Church World Service will announce today (April 13) during the African “Here is an indigenous nutritional supplement that people can grow in their own
    http://www.ncccusa.org/news/00news38.html
    Church World Service Announces International Moringa Conference The scruffy looking, fast-growing, drought-resistant Moringa Oleifera tree can be found in every country of West Africa. The tree is edible, tasty and highly nutritious in all its parts, with leaves, leaf powder, pods, seeds, flowers, roots and bark offering a complement of protein, calcium, minerals, iron and several important vitamins. It is organized by the American Medical Team for Africa, an Atlanta-based not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to reducing poverty and improving the quality of life in Africa by assisting the healthcare sector with medical related supplies, medical training and facilitating partnerships with American healthcare institutions. We wanted to try to light a few candles and give people a feeling they are not helpless in regard to AIDS. One thing HIV-infected people must do is maintain as high a basic nutritional standard as they can. One of the indigenous ways of doing this is the Moringa tree. Here is an indigenous nutritional supplement that people can grow in their own backyards.

    97. TDS; Passports, Visas, Travel Documents
    PEOPLE. About 51% of Senegal s population is rural. All Senegalese speak anindigenous language, of which wolof has the largest usage.
    http://www.traveldocs.com/sn/people.htm
    Senegal Africa
    PEOPLE About 51% of Senegal's population is rural. In rural areas, density varies from about 77 per square kilometer (200 per sq. mi.) in the west-central region to 2 per square kilometer (5 per sq. mi.) in the arid eastern section. About 50,000 Europeans (mostly French) and Lebanese reside in Senegal, mainly in the cities. French is the official language but is used regularly only by the literate minority. All Senegalese speak an indigenous language, of which Wolof has the largest usage. Nationality: Noun and adjectiveSenegalese (sing. and pl.).
    Population (2002 est.): 10 million.
    Annual growth rate:
    Ethnic groups: Wolof 43%; Fulani (Peulh) and Toucouleur 23%; Serer 15%; Diola, Mandingo, and others 19%.
    Religions: Muslim 95%, Christian 4%, traditional 1%.
    Languages: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Serer, Diola, Mandingo, Soninke.
    Education:
    Health: Infant mortality rate69/1,000. Life expectancy52 yrs.

    98. Map & Graph: Countries By People: Ethnic Groups
    Most people live in poverty in most African countries. Liberia, indigenousAfrican tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn,
    http://www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/peo_eth_gro

    Supporter Benefits
    Signup Login Sources ... Pies
    Factoid #23 The United States consumes more energy than India, the Middle East, South America, Africa, South East Asia and Oceania combined - which means more than 3.1 billion people Interesting Facts Make your own graph:
    Hold down Control and click on
    several. Compare All Top 5 Top 10 Top 20 Top 50 Top 100 Bottom 100 Bottom 20 Bottom 10 Bottom 5 All (desc) in category: Select Category Agriculture Crime Currency Democracy Disasters Economy Education Energy Environment Food Geography Government Health Identification Immigration Industry Internet Labor Language Lifestyle Media Military Mortality People Religion Sports Taxation Transportation with statistic: view: Correlations Printable graph / table Pie chart Scatterplot with ... * Asterisk means graphable.
    Related Stats People who viewed "People - Ethnic groups" also viewed:
  • Ethnic groups - A note Divorce rate Sex ratio - 15-64 years Jews ...
  • People : Ethnic groups by country
    Scroll down for more information Show map full screen Country Description
    Definition:
    This entry provides a rank ordering of ethnic groups starting with the largest and normally includes the percent of total population
    Sierra Leone
    20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed

    99. FGC Education And Networking Project - Casamance River’s Native Rice Bonds Sacr
    Since rice fields are central to the Casamance people’s spirituality, Casamance Valley is where African red rice (Oryza glaberrima) was initially
    http://www.fgmnetwork.org/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=28

    100. BioTech IMC | Casamance River’s Native Rice Bonds Sacred Traditions
    Since rice fields are central to the Casamance people?s spirituality, Casamance Valley is where African red rice (Oryza glaberrima) was initially
    http://biotech.indymedia.org/or/2004/04/2778.shtml
    Start page
    Choose Language
    Original
    English

    Castellano

    Search
    Archives
    Breaking news
    Newswire

    Features

    Events
    BioDev 2004

    Sacramento
    People's Caravan Soybeans 2005 ... Radio Topics Biodiversity Nanotechnology Biosafety Field trials ... www.indymedia.org Projects oceania print radio satellite tv ... video Africa ambazonia canarias estrecho / madiaq nigeria ... south africa Canada alberta hamilton maritimes montreal ... winnipeg East Asia japan manila qc Europe andorra antwerpen athens austria ... west vlaanderen Latin America argentina bolivia brasil chiapas ... uruguay Oceania adelaide aotearoa brisbane jakarta ... sydney South Asia india mumbai United States arizona arkansas atlanta austin ... western mass West Asia beirut israel palestine Process discussion fbi/legal updates indymedia faq mailing lists ... English (original)
    Casamance River’s Native Rice Bonds Sacred Traditions
    moth , 30.04.2004 07:15 African red rice (Oryza glabberima) is adapted to the region of the Casamance River in Senegal and other river deltas. Imported corporate agribusiness Asian rice could be introducing GE/GMO strains into the region's people and ecosystem, also driving the local farmers out of the market. This report deals with the problems of assimilation into both religious and WTO corporate monoculture, and encourages the survival of animist traditions that view native African rice as sacred.. following info for public domain, please distribute freely with intent to save native African rice from GE/GMO monoculture..

    A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  

    Page 5     81-100 of 100    Back | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5 

    free hit counter