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

Here entrants cannot imagine life without admiring mirrors, hairy upper lips, the freedom of wheelchairs and sincere apologies.

When I was very young, people used to tell me that I looked like my sisters.

Like his president, Gabriel can't imagine life without a moustache

At that time this made me very happy because my sisters are so beautiful and the idea that one day a part of my face would turn hairy made me nervous.

But then a time came - and I do not know how fast it happened - when a part of my face turned hairy.

It was goodbye to looking like my sisters.

"Ok," I thought. "No use crying over spilt milk."

But gradually another kind of enjoyment developed within me.

I grew to love to the newcomer, the moustache on my upper lip.

This love gradually became so strong that now the thought of living without my moustache makes me sad.

When I go to a barber to get it trimmed I warn them beforehand, "Hey... take care of my moustache. I don't want to look like a woman!"

I could not live without a mirror - even a small piece that fits into my shirt pocket will do.

I am handsome from the hairs of my head to the soles of my feet Chidi Onyenduzi

I look out for a mirror wherever I go and when none is found, it makes me sad.

You see, I am a very handsome person. Nature fixed my eyes, nose and teeth in the right position.

My nose is so pointed that some who are jealous try to press it down jokingly. My skin is smoother than that of Venus.

I am handsome from the hairs of my head to the soles of my feet.

Pestered

The girls refer to me as a "Greek god" and even the boys call me handsome.

Without my wheelchair I spent the day stuck like a pumpkin in a garden Lucy Nabirye

I have induced pain in the necks of so many girls as they look back to admire me when I pass.

Too many of them are pestering me to marry them and I do not know who to choose!

To keep up with my handsomeness, I always look in a mirror to pick my teeth; keep my hair in its desired shape; see to it that my earrings are dangling and conspicuous; make sure there are no spots on my face.

And of course I need a mirror to admire myself to be sure that my overall dressing is decent.

I could not do without a mirror or I would lose the status that keeps me proud and great: my handsomeness.

My mother tells me that I was born lame so I have lived with my wheelchair for the whole of my life and, without a doubt, I will live with it for the rest of my life.

I cannot go anywhere without it.

The wheelchair gives me the freedom of going places without relying on people to carry me here and there.

Last week, when it was taken for repair, I found myself in one place for whole days.

No-one strong enough was left at home to carry me, so I spent the days stuck in one place like a pumpkin in a garden.

It was a very tough week and I hated it.

But then it inspired me to write in to say that I cannot live without my wheelchair, I know this for sure.

Being a very proud person, I had always believed a man should never apologise to a woman.

I felt guilty but as usual I would not apologise to a woman and told her that she was not supposed to be out at that time of the night Che Nicodemus Fru

Whenever I had problems with a girlfriend, I tried implicating her such that she would be the one to apologise even if I was in the wrong.

That was until I met Vivian. She changed my life.

One night Vivian caught me cheating on her. She was very angry and threatened to quit me.

She expected me to say sorry.

Intelligent

I felt guilty but as usual I decided I would not apologise to a woman.

I told her that she was not supposed to be out at that time of the night.

But Vivian was intelligent and knew her rights so she did not fall into my usual trap - she left me!

I managed without her for the first two weeks but by the third week, I started feeling her absence.

So I went to Vivian and apologised and she forgave me and things became normal once more.

Since then, the phrase "I am sorry" has become part and parcel of me and I cannot live without it.

I also realised that because I had not used it in the past, so many nice people and things passed me by.

Brothers and sisters - learn to use it too because it heals old wounds and broken hearts, opens locked doors and renews old relationships.

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 [email protected], 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.

The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide.