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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.

FOOD PROVERBS

African Food Proverbs

Culinary wisdom passed down through generations

African food sayings and proverb

Best Ten African Food Sayings & Proverbs

Culinary Wisdom
Meat stew representing animal wisdom

Honoring Animal: African Wisdom of Thankfulness

Gratitude
Diverse hands placing food on shared table

Bring Something to the Table

Community
Lemon varieties representing spice of life

6 African Proverbs That Will Spice Up Your Cooking

Transformation
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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: Wikipedia • Emory University African Studies • University of Kansas • University of KwaZulu-Natal • MDPI Scholarly Journals.
Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

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Iroko Tree African Folklore Story

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๐Ÿ“ Short African Stories
The Iroko Tree African Folklore Story

African traditional storytelling customs
The Iroko Tree African Folklore story reveals African traditional customs and art forms preserved among her people.

Hallowed Forest of Kpasse Benin Africa

The Iroko Tree African Folklore Story


Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture




The Yoruba are one of the three largest ethnic groups of Nigeria and one of the most popular languages spoken outside of Africa. The Iroko tree is one of the most popular Yoruba folklore stories.



The Iroko Tree African Folklore Story

In the forest, there is a giant tree called by the Yoruba’s the “Iroko,” which is shunned by all people, for in it lives the spirit of an old man who prowls about at night with a little torch and frightens travelers.

Anyone who sees the Iroko-man face to face goes mad and speedily dies.

Seeing the thick branches and mighty trunk of the Iroko, woodcutters are often tempted to cut the tree down and make use of the wood, but this is very unlucky, as it rouses the displeasure of the Iroko-man and brings misfortune on the woodcutter and all his family.

In any house which contains furniture made of Iroko-wood, there can be heard at night strange groaning and creaking noises; it is the spirit of the Iroko, imprisoned in the wood, who longs to wander about again through the forest with his little torch. 

The Iroko Tree African Folklore
Translated into the Yoruba language


Ninu igbo, nibแบน ni omiran nla kan ti awแปn eniyan Yorรนbรก pรจ ni "Iroko," eyi ti o jแบน ti gbogbo eniyan, nitori pe ninu rแบน ni แบนmi ti arugbo kan ti o nrรฌn ni alแบน pแบนlu kekere atupa ati awแปn alarinrin awแปn แบนru.

แบธnikแบนni ti o ba ri Iroko-eniyan ni oju koju, o nแนฃiwere, o si kรบ ni kiakia.

Nigbati o ba ri awแปn แบนka ti o nipแปn ati แบนhin alagbara ti Iroko, awแปn igbasilแบน igi ni igbagbogbo ni idanwo lati ge igi naa si isalแบน ati lati lo igi, แนฃugbแปn eyi jแบน aanu pupแป, bi o ti fa ibinu ti Iroko-eniyan ati ti o mu ipalara lori woodcutter ati gbogbo ebi rแบน.

Ni eyikeyi ile ti o ni awแปn ohun-elo ti Iroko-igi แนฃe, a le gbแป ni alแบน ajeji ibanujแบน ati wiwa ariwo; o jแบน แบนmi Iroko, ti a fi sinu tubu, ti o fแบน lati tun rin kiri laarin igbo pแบนlu fitila rแบน kekere.

Did you know?
Iroko Tree

Throughout Nigeria and around the world there are over 40 million Yoruba primary and secondary language speakers making it the most widely spoken African language outside Africa.
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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.

Working Hands of Africa

The labor and love that feeds a continent

Hands holding African fruit

African Culture & Traditions

Harvest & Heritage
Hands preparing fufu

How Fufu Explains Politics

Food & Power
Farming hands in Africa

Slow Food Disappearance

Farming & Tradition
Hands with plantains

The Universal Plantain

Cooking & Community

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.