Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Did you know?

1. No African country names begin with the letters F, H, I, J, O, P, Q, V, W, X, or Y.

2. Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent.

3. The Republic of the Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa.

Okra Stew Is a Universal Dish in West Africa

West African Okra Stew


Fresh picked okra

Okra stew is a universal dish in West Africa; you have as many variations as there are languages. African food is delicious; West African Okra Stew is full of flavor and spice lovingly prepared by African families for generations.

Spices lovingly prepared by African families


West African Okra Stew


Ingredients

3 cups fresh okra (whole or sliced)

3 cloves garlic crushed

1 tablespoon lemon juice

3 cups vegetable stock

1 tablespoon caraway seeds

2 medium fresh tomatoes evenly sliced

Salt and pepper to taste



Directions
In a large pot on medium heat, add oil then sauté garlic and caraway seeds one minute. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer covered for 30 minutes.


[Read: Pickled Okra Recipe]


What is okra

Okra is a vegetable, a good source of minerals, vitamins, and fiber. It contains a distinctive gooey liquid used to naturally thicken sauces. The taste is mild, but it has a unique texture with peach-like fuzz on the outside and small, edible seeds on the inside of the pod.



Africa is surrounded by water but is not an island, here are a few African Island facts.

Madagascar is the 4th large island in the world and is located in the Indian Ocean supporting a unique biology, about 90% of its plants and animals are found nowhere else on earth.

Composed of 155 islands, Seychelles is Africa's smallest country. By far the largest island is Mahe, home to about 90% of the population and the site of its capital city of Victoria.

Cabo Verde has a strategic location 310 miles or 500 km from the west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site.

Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent. Continents can not be considered islands because of their size and also by historic definition since many people who study geography define islands and continents as two different things.

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Being African in America I have grown up learning about different ethnic cultures. My father and mother are historians of African culture and history and their influence expanded my activities to several best-selling cookbooks, magazine columns, self-branded products, and a popular African culture and food blog.

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