Posts

Showing posts from March, 2014
Photo of Ivy, author of The African Gourmet

About the Author

Ivy is the researcher and writer behind The African Gourmet, blending African food, history, and cultural storytelling. Her work is cited by universities, Wikipedia, major news outlets, and global food writers.

View citations →

Start Your African Journey

From political insights through food to traditional wisdom and modern solutions - explore Africa's depth.

Kei Apple Tomato Chutney

Image
Authentic South African Kei Apple Tomato Chutney Recipe - Traditional & Modern Authentic South African Kei Apple Tomato Chutney Discover more African food culture & recipes on our homepage. 📋 Recipe Quick Facts Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 45 minutes Total Time: 1 hour Yield: 2 cups Difficulty: Easy Cuisine: South African What Are Kei Apples? Dovyalis caffra , commonly known as Kei apple, is a spiny evergreen fruit tree native to southern Africa. It gets its name from the Kei River area of South Africa where it grows abundantly. In different languages and regions, Kei apples are known as: Afrikaans: Kei-appel Zulu: umqokolo Ndebele: amaqokolo English: Wild apricot or Dingaan's apricot Kei Apple Flavor Profile Kei apples have a unique sweet and tangy flavor that combines citrus notes with tropical fruit undertones. The flesh is juicy with a refreshing sweet-sour taste that makes it perfect ...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

How to Make Astronaut Cornbread in Honor of the Moon Rock Stolen from Chad

Image
How to make Astronaut cornbread dressing recipe in honor of the missing goodwill rock stolen from Chad in Africa. The stolen Chad goodwill moon rock was a gift from the USA's Apollo 17 mission. Mystery Of The Missing Chad Moon Rock Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture A story of the stolen goodwill moon rock gifted to Chad. The Chad National Museum is a national museum of Chad located in Chad's capital city of N'Djamena. The museum was established in 1962 and opened in 1984 however; many of its artifacts have gone missing due to the unsteadiness in the country. Chad has experienced decades of conflict and instability. The 1972 Apollo 17 lunar Moon rock aka the “goodwill moon rock” fragment is from a lava Moonstone. This was a goodwill gift from the United States of America Apollo 17 mission to Chad and nations worldwide. The goodwill rocks were distributed during President Nixon's term of office between 1973 and 1974. The splashdown and recov...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

Africa’s Education System: Why Policy Alone Can’t Fix It (A Guide for Teachers)

Image
Africa’s Education System — Why Policy Alone Can’t Fix It (A Guide for Teachers) Teaching about Africa is powerful, but complex. Many U.S. educators approach African education as if it follows the same structure, timelines, and policy solutions found in the United States. In reality, Africa’s education systems are shaped by very different cultural, economic, and historical forces. Understanding these differences is critical if we want to teach about Africa accurately and avoid oversimplifying the challenges students face. Why U.S. Education Models Don’t Translate Easily In the U.S., access is assumed to be universal and mandatory; funding and policy debates focus on curriculum, testing, or teacher pay. In much of Africa, however, poverty, cultural traditions, and economic survival shape who gets to learn . Simply passing new laws about “universal education” cannot undo deep-rooted barriers overnight. Gender Roles and the Economics of Schooling One major differen...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

How Tribal Marks Came To Be Used African Folktale

Image
How tribal marks came to be used is a priceless African folktale.  African folktale How tribal marks came to be used is a story forming part of an oral storytelling tradition shaped by the tongues of African elders passed down from one generation to the next. How Tribal Marks Came To Be Used African Folktale How Tribal Marks Came To Be Used A King named Sango sent two slaves to a distant country on an important mission. In due course they returned, and he found that one slave had achieved successfully what he had been sent to do, while the other had accomplished nothing. The King therefore rewarded the first with high honors, and commanded the second to receive a hundred and twenty-two razor cuts all over his body. This was a severe punishment, but when the scars healed, they gave to the slave a very remarkable appearance, which greatly took the fancy of the King’s wives. Sango therefore decided that cuts should in future be given, not ...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

If you made your bed hard and you have trouble lying in it, don't complain

Image
Paying the Piper African Proverb Paying the Piper African Proverb If you made your bed hard and you have trouble lying in it, don't complain is an African Proverb. The African culture expresses wisdom in an interesting way through proverbs. If you made your bed hard and you have trouble lying in it, don't complain   - African Proverb More quotes and wise sayings about paying the piper With lies, you may get ahead in the world — but you can never go back. There is no pillow as soft as a clear conscience. Your life may be the only Bible some people read. Before you begin on the journey of revenge, dig two graves. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time. Who lies for you will lie against you.
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

Story of the Hero Makoma African Folktale

Image
African myth of the Hero. Makoma is a brilliant African folktale legend about the giant Hero Makoma who would find no rest until he fought against five powerful giants.  African folktales are stories forming part of an oral storytelling tradition shaped by the tongues of African elders passed down from one generation to the next.   African myth  of Hero Makoma African Folktale Once upon a time, at the town of Senna on the banks of the African river the Zambezi, was born a child.  He was not like other children, for he was very tall and strong; over his shoulder he carried a big sack, and in his hand an iron hammer. He could also speak like a grown man, but usually he was very silent.    One day his mother said to him: 'My child, by what name shall we know you?' And he answered: 'Call all the head men of Senna here to the river's bank.' And his mother called the head men of the town, and when they had come he led them down to a deep black pool ...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

Meaning of One Cannot Both Feast and Become Rich

Image
One cannot both feast and become rich is an African proverb about sacrificing short-term pleasures and focus on long-term goals. One cannot both feast and become rich is an African proverb about the fact that one cannot enjoy immediate gratification and achieve long-term financial security at the same time. In other words, if you want to accumulate wealth and achieve financial independence, you must sacrifice short-term pleasures and focus on long-term goals. The proverb highlights the importance of discipline and self-control in achieving financial success. In order to become wealthy, one must be willing to forego immediate gratification in favor of long-term financial goals. This means being disciplined enough to save money, invest wisely, and avoid frivolous spending. One cannot both feast and become rich points out that a focus on immediate gratification can actually hinder one's long-term financial prospects. If you spend all your money on luxuries and extravagances, you will ...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

Nelson Mandela Favorite Meal Maize and Beans

Image
Mixture of maize and beans is called Umqusho a simple South African Recipe Nelson Mandela loved to eat. Umqusho or Maize and Beans is a simple vegetarian African food recipe of corn, beans, carrots and spices. Umqusho is a common African dish with many variations that is popular in many regions of Africa.  Nelson Mandela loved to eat Umqusho or Maize and Beans Nelson Mandela Favorite Meal Maize and Beans Ingredients 2 cups frozen whole kernel corn 2 cups canned red kidney beans 1 cup frozen cut carrots 1 teaspoon garlic 1 teaspoon paprika 3 cups puree tomato sauce Directions Add all ingredients to a large pot mix well and heat on medium for 5 minutes. Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s President On 10 May 1994, he was inaugurated as South Africa’s first democratically elected President. On his 80th birthday in 1998 he married Graça Machel, his third wife. True to his promise, Mandela stepped down in 1999 after one term as President. He...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

Recipes Explain Politics

🍚

🍚 When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations. The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe."

🍲 The Deeper Recipe:

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

Understanding Africa through the stories our food tells • Since 2006

Korea & Africa: Top Reads

Africa × World: Editor’s Picks

Cross-continental food, science, history, and cultural exchanges.

African Gourmet FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Why "The African Gourmet" if you cover more than just food?

Great question! While many associate "gourmet" exclusively with cuisine, its true meaning is "a connoisseur" – someone with refined taste and deep expertise. For over 18 years, I've served as a gourmet of African culture at large, savoring and presenting the continent's rich history, vibrant traditions, timeless wisdom, and contemporary stories with the same discerning palate one would apply to fine food. The name reflects my commitment to curating Africa's cultural wealth with authority and passion.

What makes The African Gourmet different from other culture sites?

With 18 years of consistent publishing, I offer depth and continuity that's rare online. I don't just report on African culture – I contextualize it, connecting traditional wisdom with modern realities, and food with folklore, politics, and daily life. It's a holistic view of Africa's past, present, and future, all through the lens of a seasoned cultural storyteller.

How do you choose what to write about?

My content selection is driven by a desire to showcase Africa's incredible diversity and challenge stereotypes. I balance covering foundational cultural elements (like proverbs and recipes) with timely analysis of current events (like the AGOA trade agreement). The goal is always to educate and illuminate the complex, dynamic realities of the African continent.

Do you focus on specific regions of Africa?

My coverage spans the entire continent – from North to South, East to West. While certain stories may focus on specific countries or regions, my mission is to represent the breathtaking diversity of 54 countries and thousands of cultures. I make a conscious effort to include both well-known and underrepresented cultures in my work.

Can I request a topic or contribute to the site?

I welcome thoughtful topic suggestions from engaged readers! While I maintain editorial control to ensure quality and consistency, I'm always interested in hearing what aspects of African culture you're curious about. Feel free to reach out through my contact page with your ideas.

How can I support The African Gourmet's work?

The greatest support is engaged readership – sharing articles you find valuable, participating in discussions, and helping spread cultural understanding. Following the blog and sharing it with others who would appreciate this unique perspective on Africa helps this 18-year labor of love continue to grow and reach new audiences.