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The African Gourmet

The African Gourmet: Explore African Culture & Recipes

One bowl of fufu can explain a war. One proverb can outsmart a drought.
Welcome to the real Africa—told through food, memory, and truth.

Christmas & New Year in Africa

FOOD PROVERBS

French is the Official Language in 19 African Countries

French is the Official Language in 19 African Countries
French is the Official Language in 19 African Countries




French language was introduced to Africa due to colonialism.

French is the Official Language in 19 African Countries
French Africa

French is the official language in 19 African countries. France and the forced assimilation of language, food, colonized Africa and culture has lasting results on her people. French is the official language in 19 African countries because the French language was the language of the authoritarians.

French is the Official Language in 19 African Countries.


List of French Speaking African Countries.

There are 19 French-speaking African countries. In Africa, the French language in Africa is usually the lingua franca or the language for business and education. Lingua franca definition is any language that is widely used as a means of communication among speakers of other languages.

Hence, French is the official language of 19 countries in Africa but it does not mean French is widely spoken in French-speaking Africa. The 19 countries of Africa where French is the official language are Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, and Togo.

Madagascar grandmother.

The French Colonial Domain

Throughout the latter part of the fifteenth century, the French and other Colonials began to establish their presence in Africa. The French Colonialists established a trade port on the West African coast as early as 1659 at St. Louis, present-day Senegal. Assimilation lay at the base of French Colonial practice in Africa and many regions in Africa would become a part of France.

By the early years of the twentieth century, the French held most of what would come to be their colonial territory in West Africa including present-day Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, and Niger.

By the close of the Second World War, the African peoples of French Colonial West Africa were making their discontent with the French Colonial structure heard. West Africans had participated in the Napoleonic Wars and other World Wars for France and the mounting opposition to French Colonial rule and its exploitative nature, resulted in an African protest movement that would ultimately lead to independence for the French-speaking African territories.

Did You Know?
The Anglophone Problem is increasingly dominating the political agenda of Cameroon but, the Anglophone problem, what is it? In 2016 and 2017 protests by English-speaking Cameroonians, who have complained of marginalization in the largely French-speaking country are growing in number.

French is the official language in 19 African countries

 Benin
 Burkina Faso
 Burundi
 Cameroon
 Central African Republic
 Chad
Cote d’Ivoire
 The Democratic Republic of the Congo
 Djibouti
 Equatorial Guinea
 Gabon
 Guinea
 Madagascar
 Mali
 Niger
 Republic of the Congo
 Rwanda
 Senegal
 Seychelles
 Switzerland
 Togo
Wise men in Afataranga Benin Africa

In Africa the French language is usually the lingua franca or the language for business and education. 

African Recipes Organized by Meal Time

African Drinks & Beverages

Snacks & Appetizers

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Desserts

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About the Author

A Legacy Resource, Recognized Worldwide

For 19 years, The African Gourmet has preserved Africa's stories is currently selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives, the world's premier guardian of cultural heritage.

Trusted by: WikipediaEmory University African StudiesUniversity of KansasUniversity of KwaZulu-NatalMDPI Scholarly Journals.
Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

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Recipes as Revolution

Recipes as Revolution

When food becomes protest and meals carry political meaning

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African woman farmer

She Feeds Africa

Before sunrise, after sunset, seven days a week — she grows the food that keeps the continent alive.

60–80 % of Africa’s calories come from her hands.
Yet the land, the credit, and the recognition still belong to someone else.

Read her story →

To every mother of millet and miracles —
thank you.

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African Gourmet FAQ

Archive Inquiries

Why "The African Gourmet" if you're an archive?

The name reflects our origin in 2006 as a culinary anthropology project. Over 18 years, we've evolved into a comprehensive digital archive preserving Africa's cultural narratives. "Gourmet" now signifies our curated approach to cultural preservation—each entry carefully selected and contextualized.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 18 years of continuous cultural documentation—a living timeline of African expression. Unlike static repositories, our archive connects historical traditions with contemporary developments, showing cultural evolution in real time.

How is content selected for the archive?

Our curation follows archival principles: significance, context, and enduring value. We preserve both foundational cultural elements and timely analyses, ensuring future generations understand Africa's complex cultural landscape.

What geographic scope does the archive cover?

The archive spans all 54 African nations, with particular attention to preserving underrepresented cultural narratives. Our mission is comprehensive cultural preservation across the entire continent.

Can researchers access the full archive?

Yes. As a digital archive, we're committed to accessibility. Our 18-year collection is fully searchable and organized for both public education and academic research.

How does this archive ensure cultural preservation?

Through consistent documentation since 2006, we've created an irreplaceable cultural record. Each entry is contextualized within broader African cultural frameworks, preserving not just content but meaning.