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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.

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Learn Africa through science, stories, recipes, proverbs, history, and geography — interconnected, just as life is.

African Proverbs About Fear and Frauds

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Proverbs from Africa; the young may think are just old out-dated African proverbs quoted by their elders as simple ways of speaking. However, as they grow older they are surprised to learn that many, if not all fear and frauds African proverbs had been used for centuries not only their parents, grandparents and ancestors but also all over the world. 

The influence of fear and frauds African proverbs over the hearts and lives of African people is unquestioned as spoken authority and the last word. African Proverbs About Fear and Frauds

African Proverbs About Fear and Frauds

African Proverbs About Fear Fiends and Frauds

Fear

■ The cow that has been burnt out of its shed sees the evening sky red and trembles.

■ Once bitten by a snake he fears a rope.

■ Who has burnt himself with hot food blows at cold.

Frauds

■ There are many preachers and teachers who don't hear themselves.

■ A healer of others, himself diseased.

■ Wise teachers give fruits not flowers.

Fiends

■ When the poor man grows rich, he beholds the stars at noonday.

■ When he had filled his belly, he began to mock the poor.

■ When the old goat goes to church, he does not stop until he gets to the altar.

African Proverbs About Fear

Definition of African Proverbs

African proverbs are life decoded in simple words. African proverbs communicate timeless insight about truth and sincerity, kindness and wickedness and wisdom and foolishness. African proverbs touch the place in our hearts where we are silent, listening to the wise words of our ancestors.

The African culture expresses lessons learned through wisdom in Proverbs. This is why African proverbs express the timeless wisdom of African people.

African proverbs are the wisdom and humor of epochs of African ancestor’s thoughtfulness to point to a moral lesson or embellish a story. Proverbs of African people are the index of their lives.

Proverbs from Africa contain the essence of moral truth and practical lesson; they are drawn from real life and are generally the fruit of philosophy grafted on the stem of experience. African proverbs help the people of today see Africans as they are and understand African culture better.

More African Proverbs about fear and frauds

Battling the enemy from within is the greatest challenge in life; you can be your biggest supporter or your worst critic.

Fear, frauds and friends can influence not just the quality of your life but also the length of it; through African proverbs choose who guides you in life wisely.

Read More African Proverbs

On a fool’s beard, the barber learns to shave.

Nothing falls into the mouth of a sleeping lion.

To wash a donkeys tail is loss of time and soap.

After mischance everyone is wise.

The one-eyed are kings in the land of the blind.

A good lawyer is a bad neighbor.

He does a good day’s work that rids himself of a fool.

He who rides on the giant’s shoulders sees further than he who carries him.

What is learned in the cradle lasts until the grave.

One half of the world laughs at the other.

What is enough was never little.

A friend is known in the time of need.

There is no such thing as an insignificant enemy.

Too late the bird cries out when it is caught.

A fine cage won’t feed the bird.

For the last-comer the bones.

Unstringing the bow does not cure the wound.

The eagle does not hunt flies.

The tree does not fall at the first stroke.


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Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=
The African Gourmet explores how African food, history, and science intertwine. Here, a plant is a healer, a story is a map, and the kitchen is a laboratory. I’m Ivy — a writer raised by historians, now sharing Africa’s wisdom from the U.S. through cookbooks, cultural research, and storytelling. If you’re curious about where flavor meets memory, you belong here.

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.

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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.