African Living History, Art and Food

Fruit and vegetables are considered edible parts of plants such as its seeds, flowers, buds, leaves, stems, shoots and roots, either cultivated or harvested wild. Fruit and vegetables are grown by small-scale producers around the world, either for their own use or for sale. Fruit and vegetables tend to be worth more per pound than other types of food. However, they may also require more labor than for many other types of food. Fruits are normally eaten in their uncooked form such as in berries or after peeling oranges, bananas, papayas and mangoes. The colors of fruits and vegetables are often linked to the nutrients and chemical compounds they contain. Purple and blue fruits and vegetables contain high antioxidant properties that can reduce the risks of cancer, stroke and heart disease. Examples are beetroot, red cabbage, eggplants, blackberries, blueberries, purple grapes, plums, and passionfruit. Red fruit and vegetables can help lower the risk of cancer and improve heart healt

Do not insult a crocodile while your foot is still in the water. African Proverb. African proverbs express the timeless wisdom of African people. Do not insult a crocodile while your foot is still in the water  More wise sayings on learning when to speak and when to stay silent. “A hog that has wallowed in the mud seeks a clean person to rub against” “Boasting is not courage” “It is easy to cut to pieces a dead elephant” “Even silence speaks” “He who has done something in secret, and sees people talking together, thinks they are talking of his action” “A man with a cough can never conceal himself” “Swallow your pride occasionally, it's non-fattening” “Be mindful of humility: the gale that breaks the pine does not bruise the violet.” More African Proverbs from the motherland. Your Attitude African Proverbs What is an African Proverb Do not invite evil to sit at y

Kenya is home to numerous types of vegetables due to its rich soil. Leafy vegetables are most common in the traditional diet of Kenyans and cabbage has become a favorite food. It is usually served with Ugali . South Kenyan cabbage is a mixture of maize meal and vegetables cooked in one pot and inexpensive and easy to make. South Kenyan food market One-Pot Spiced Cabbage Leaves. The African Gourmet creative sautéed cabbage recipe is cooked until the green cabbage is tender along with fresh red cabbage and red bell pepper. Green cabbage and red cabbage can naturally be used interchangeably as cabbage gets sweeter as it cooks; however, red cabbage is certainly more attractive looking. Prep time: 20 min Cook time: 30 min Total time: 50 min One-Pot Spiced Kenyan Cabbage Leaves Ingredients 1 head green cabbage 1 head red cabbage 1 chopped red bell pepper 1 bunch chives, chopped 1 tablespoon onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic salt Pepper to taste 1 ta

Ujima African Proverb The meaning of the proverb is just because one set of people may have caused harm or unhappiness in your life that does not mean everyone will hurt you. You have a choice every day to either focus on what separates or focus on what holds together. Everything and everyone you hate is written across your heart, in the end, you are causing more pain to yourself than the people you despise. A crab walks so walks his children. - African Proverb from Liberia Being a force for good, Ujima, in someone's life can help build a lasting community bond. When you help others, you give off positive vibes, which can rub off on your peers and improve your friendships, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health. Both parties will contribute to maintaining a mutually beneficial dynamic. Whether with a large group of people in a volunteer organization, or just between two friends exchanging words of advice, helping people creates a feeling of communi

Argan oil is used for cooking, making beauty products, and medicines throughout Africa's Morocco and the world.  The multipurpose argan tree is a very common tree native to southwestern Morocco. The trunk and branches of the tree are used for firewood, the leaves used to create medicine but the almond-sized fruits are the star of the show. The tree is prized for its fruits that contain kernels which are processed for their much-beloved oil. Argan oil is used much like olive oil, for cooking, beauty products, and medicines. Argan oil extraction is a difficult, time-consuming, and labor-intensive process. Berber women manually harvest the fruit between June and August, which are the hottest season in Morocco. Once the fruit is gathered it is left in the sun to dry for a few weeks. The Argan fruit covering dries out turning a brownish coffee color and the covering is now easy to remove extracting the prized oval shape seed. Argania spinosa is the scientific name for the evergreen

Pumpkin Roti Flatbread Roti is a flatbread many South African Indians consider a staple food. Roti is similar to a Spanish flour tortilla and eaten in a similar way. Recipes for appetizers, snacks, entrees, and even desserts all start with a roti. Making homemade roti is the perfect time to use your infused oils and add that extra extraness to your meal. Pumpkin Roti Flatbread Ingredients 1 cup canned mash pumpkin 2 ½ cups Durum wheat flour (you can use regular wheat flour or all-purpose the texture will be different) Pinch of salt Directions Mix flour and salt then add pumpkin to make dough by hand. Add water or more flour depending on the dough’s consistency.  The dough should feel slightly sticky to the touch but not stick to your hands.  Knead the dough and roll it into small balls of equal sizes. On medium heat add one tablespoon of oil to a large frying pan or griddle.  Roll out the dough into round shapes using rolling pin. Place rolled dough

Stuffed Crabs recipe Stuffed Crabs recipe boil your own crabs for this recipe simply remove the large shell, clean and stuff. Ghanaian cuisine has diverse traditional dishes one of which is Akotonshi or Ghanaian Stuffed Crabs. Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture 9-6-2017 You can make your own little “imitation” crab shells by forgoing the crab shells using large hollowed out red tomato, a large red grilled bell pepper or use an attractive red baking dish. Akotonshi Ghanaian Stuffed Crabs African recipes by African Gourmet Ghanaian cuisine has diverse traditional dishes one of which is Akotonshi or Ghanaian Stuffed Crabs.  Prep time: 20 min Cook time: 5 min Total time: 25 min   Ingredients 2 cups crab meat or imitation crab meat 24 small fresh shrimp, peeled, deveined   2 medium size ripe tomatoes, finely chopped 2 bunches of green onions, chopped   3 cups tomato puree ½ tea

Papaya relish Papaya recipe Making tropical pawpaw papaya relish unique recipe using a fruit with a sweet taste, vibrant color, and the wide variety of health benefits cannot help but make the best papaya relish ever. There are countless Papaya Recipes from sweet to savory, Tropical PawPaw Papaya Relish Recipe incorporates both flavors. Fun unique papaya recipe from the food and nutrition experts at Chic African Culture. This papaya recipe is different than the ones you usually make. Tropical PawPaw Papaya Relish Recipe African Recipes by African Gourmet Easy sweet and savory Tropical African PawPaw Papaya Relish recipe is made with ripe papaya, onions, ginger, cloves, and raisins. Serve Tropical African PawPaw Papaya Relish over grilled, baked or fried fish. Prep time: 15 min Cook time: 1 day to marinate Total time: 1 day 15 min Ingredients 1 large ripe papaya, seeded, peeled and sliced ½ cup raisins 1 cup diced red onions ¼ cup minced fresh ginger ½ cu

Isijingi Easy Pumpkin Zulu Recipe Pumpkins are a popular squash and Isijingi is an easy pumpkin Zulu recipe. Isijingi is a Zulu  recipe of cornmeal and pumpkin, this African food recipe will be the star of any table. Isijingi is delicious, full of flavor and spice lovingly prepared by Zulu families for generations. Isijingi Easy Pumpkin Zulu Recipe Ingredients 3 cups of canned pumpkin 3/4 cup cornmeal 2 cups half and half   ½ stick unsalted butter Salt to taste Directions Add all ingredients to a large pot and simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring constantly. Serve hot as you would sweet potatoes or mashed potatoes.   If you do not plan on gaining weight this holiday season then try our lighter recipe version of Isijingi that will greatly reduce the amount of calories in this dish. Healthy Isijingi Pumpkin Zulu Recipe Ingredients 3 cups of canned pumpkin 1/3 cup cornmeal 1 cup unsweet apple juice 1 cup appl

Witblits white dog moonshine the famous high-octane spirit. Witblits Moonshine from South Africa. Whatever you call it; firewater, n dop brandewyn, moonshine, witblits, donkey dop, white dog this powerful sundowner (alcoholic drink) made from grapes will surely cause anyone a babalas, that means hangover in Afrikaans.    Philippolis is the oldest settlement in the Free State province of South Africa and is quiet most of the year. However, in April it’s time to celebrate a local tradition of distilling Afrikaans "white lightning" at the Philippolis Witblits Festival. Witblits is made from grapes and is an undiluted homemade brew that does not involve any “calming down” therefore Witblits is not the smoothest brew and the alcohol content of the clear brandy can reach up to 70-80%. Distinctive family recipes and small-batch manufacturing of Witblits means there is great variety in the manufacturing of white dog. In most homemade brews, a “still” is used to create the pr

Healthy Alecha Ethiopian Soup Recipe Alecha is an Ethiopian stew that is not spicy. Unlike Ethiopian-Doro-Wat stew, Alecha is a mild soup packed with vegetables and seasonings. Healthy Alecha Ethiopian Soup Recipe If you cannot handle spice and need a gentle tasting African soup then make, Ethiopian-Alecha one of the healthiest African Soup. Healthy Alecha Ethiopian Soup Recipe Ingredients 1 small head cabbage, shredded  2 onions, sliced 2 cups baby carrots 2 large tomatoes, diced 1 large white potato, finely diced 1 green pepper, finely chopped 1 tablespoon minced garlic ½ teaspoon chili powder Salt and pepper to taste 2 tablespoons oil 8 cups of water Directions In a large pot with a lid, lightly sauté onions with garlic add all ingredients to the pot cover and simmer for one hour.  Serve with Ethiopian Injera bread .

When will Anansi learn! West African folktale one good meal deserves another is a popular Anansi African folktale where Anansi thinks he is the most clever person in the room. African folktales are stories forming part of an oral storytelling tradition shaped by the tongues of African elders passed down from one generation to the next. Read with your child and share wonderful African folktales . Children enjoy listening to many types of African folktales learning from the wisdom and rich tradition of African storytelling. Folktales reflect the morals, superstitions, and customs of the African people. Turtle fixed a fine dinner Anansi the Spider hated to share with Turtle When Turtle came to his house at mealtime, he said, "I can't give you food until you've washed your dusty feet!" Turtle licked his lips when he saw the big plate of steaming food but politely walked to the stream to wash. When he returned, the plate was empty. "Good meal," Anan

Tej is or honey wine is a favorite brew in Ethiopia, traditional Tej wine is made by boiling the gesho plant’s stems with honey and fermented over a long period of time.  Tej Ethiopian Honey Wine The African Gourmet easy version of Tej Ethiopian Honey Wine uses dry white wine and honey mixed together to create a sweet-tasting sipping wine perfect for a signature wedding cocktail. About Tej Ethiopian Honey Wine In Africa, it is usually women who brew beer, make Tej, and sell these products. In some parts of Africa, the homebrewed traditional production and drinking of honey wine are still very common. In Ethiopia, honey is not made into beer but into Tej, which is honey wine. Tej is a very important drink in Ethiopian cultural life, served at traditional gatherings and special religious ceremonies. Tej is not necessarily alcoholic – often it is drunk before the brew has started to ferment when it still has a strong yeasty flavo

South African Fish Stew Gemma Kerrie A twist on the South African stew Gemma Kerrie that is usually cooked with beef, but we are using fish to makeover Gemma Kerrie stew for dinner in 30-minutes. Fish Geema Kerrie  Fish Geema Kerrie South African Stew Recipe. Ingredients 2 large fillet of any fish 2 large tomatoes, diced 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 teaspoon ginger 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 hot chili pepper 2 teaspoon curry powder 1/2 teaspoon cumin 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1 bay leaf 6 cups of water Directions In a large pot with a lid add all ingredients, cover, simmer for about 30 minutes, or until well cooked. Remove from heat, and serve with rice or roti bread. Fish Geema Kerrie is even more delicious the next day.

Written law listing in Africa where it is illegal to be LGBTQ+, not including oral or customary law which are passed down codes. Below are the written statute laws penalties and definitions passed by 54 African countries against LGBTQ+ persons or anyone having knowledge, and promoting acts. Five African countries have no written laws enacted by the government on the LGBTQ+ community, they are Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Mali and Rwanda. Cabo Verde, ESwatini, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, São Tomé e Príncipe does not criminalize homosexual acts. Laws prohibiting sodomy of any form including the crime of Buggery exist in the penal codes of 16 African countries; Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.  Chad and Republic of the Congo no information found. Many African countries specify in State Statues prohibiting male homosexual conduct only, aggravated homosex

Groundnut Recipe Groundnuts are used as food and for cooking oil. The seeds in Africa are popularly used for thickening soups and stews and as a seasoning. Easy African Groundnut Powder spice is made with a few uncomplicated ingredients. African Groundnut Powder Spice Recipe Arachis hypogaea generally referred to as peanuts or groundnuts are uncommon in that its flowers are pollinated above ground, but the fruits (peanuts) grow below ground. African Groundnut Powder Spice African Recipes by The African Gourmet Groundnut powder African spice is made with a few uncomplicated ingredients. Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsalted dry roasted peanuts 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder   1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1/2 teaspoon paprika   1 dried bay leaf   1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)   Directions: Combine all ingredients into a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground. If you over grind you will end up with groundnut paste instead of powder (this is ok since you