African Food, Art, and History Blog

Water Stress and Rainmakers in Malawi Africa Water Stress in Malawi  Most of the African continent is semi-arid and hence prone to extreme variations in rainfall from year to year. The extreme droughts that have plagued the Sahel and eastern Africa are particularly well known. The African continent is home to over one billion people, most of whom reside in semi-arid, drought-prone regions. The West African Sahel is infamous for the extreme droughts that began in the late 1960s and took a tremendous toll on the food-insecure population. More recently the world's attention has been focused on the extreme droughts of eastern Africa. The drought of 2011 produced famine conditions in Somalia, where tens of thousands died of malnutrition; some 11 million in eastern Africa faced severe food shortages. Devastating floods have also occurred. Of great concern is the projection that Africa may be the continent most impacted by climate change and that droughts could become mo

Barbarossa brothers, a Hebrew trading post and an Islamic City About the Algiers Casbah Casbah means a fortified place in Arabic Casbah from the Arabic word for a fortified place were commonly built across North Africa. A Casbah is a large multi-building fort with high walls usually made without windows built on high ground.   The Casbah was designed to provide protection during a battle with twisting alleys that wind between dilapidated mud-brick and stucco houses. In Algeria, the Casbah is both the fortress and the old city itself. When people speak of the Casbah, they are talking about the cramped living quarters on the hillside between the fort and the sea on the Mediterranean coast. The Islamic retreat Casbah of Algeria was founded on the ruins of an ancient Hebrew civilization trading post named Ikosim. In the 10th century a Berber man named Buluggin bin Ziri called the new city El Djazair, which means "the islands" in Arabic. From El Djazair derived the

Read the interpretation of the Quran, Surah Al-Maidah 5:47 Boko Haran uses for yourself. Boko Haram regards Nigerian state run by non-believers. The official Arabic name, Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad, means People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad. The group was initially focused on opposing Western education gaining the nickname Boko Haram, which means Western education is forbidden in the Hausa language. Boko Haram regards the Nigerian state as being run by non-believers. Its followers are said to be influenced by the Quran, Surah Al-Maidah 5:47 which says: "Let the followers of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein, and those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed are the transgressors." Surah Al-Maidah 5:47 Let the followers of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein, and those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed are the transgressors. Boko Haram

Prayer in Africa Serenity Prayer translated into the 10 most popular African languages Christianity Serenity Prayer in Africa Serenity Prayer is a popular verse in Africa. Christianity has deep roots in Africa and infuses itself into many sectors of African life. Serenity Prayer in Zulu, Swahili, Yoruba, French, Portuguese, English, Igbo, Arabic, Hausa and Afrikaans, Africa 10 most popular languages. The Serenity Prayer translated into the 10 most popular African languages Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture 7-16-2014 The Serenity Prayer is brilliant in its simplicity. Just as it is on every continent, there is passion and tension about religious life. There are thousands of languages spoken in Africa; over 2,000 in fact. The top 10 most spoken languages in Africa in order are; Arabic, Kiswahili (Swahili), Hausa, English, Amharic, French, Oromo, Yoruba, Igbo and Zulu. Below is the Serenity Prayer

Wise is as wise does Do not follow the wrong leader Toxic leadership; A fly that does not heed advice follows the corpse to the grave - Igbo Proverb. Emotional health depends heavily on whose advice we choose to follow. Toxic leadership African proverbs are common to all languages; proverbs are the daughters of daily experience.  There is no such thing as a perfect leader or a sweet onion. The sun rises whether the cock crows or not. Poor leaders are like palm wine, they neither keeps secrets nor fulfills promises. If you go through the high grass where the elephant has already gone through, you don’t get wet with dew. Corrupt leaders do not see their faults but the fault in others. Don't set sail on someone else’s star. The foxy leader has a hundred proverbs; ninety-nine are mere rubbish concerning him. To wash a donkey's tail is loss of time and soap. The disobedient fowl obeys in a pot of soup. The mouth is responsible f

Sweet Fig Chicken uses ripe sweet figs and sour cream to create a sweet delicious sauce.  Figs like to grow in dry, sunny areas which make parts of South Africa the ideal place to grow figs. Figs are full of calcium and potassium and fiber and help keep your body running on track.  South Africa Sweet Fig Chicken Recipe Ingredients 2 skinless chicken breasts 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 cup water 1 hot pepper 1 teaspoon red pepper flake 1/2 cup fig preserves 1/2 cup sour cream Salt and pepper to taste Directions Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Season chicken with the spices and add chicken to the pot. Add water and let sit for about 15 minutes or until juice runs clear. Meanwhile, in a large bowl mix sour cream and preserves well. Add sour cream mixture to chicken and over low heat cook an additional 5 minutes. Did you know? Fig trees are known by many names throughout Africa; Mukuyu in the Shona language, Vyeboom in Afrika