Chic African Culture

African Diaspora Marketplace Business Plan Competition 




The first African Diaspora Marketplace Business Plan Competition in 2009 received 733 business proposals. For information about previous African Diaspora Marketplace Competitions for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 visit the Diaspora Marketplace


Established in 2009 by The U​.S. Agency for International Development and Western Union, African Diaspora Marketplace (ADM) aims to encourage sustainable economic growth and employment by supporting African diaspora entrepreneurs. 


ADM entrepreneurs are individuals with demonstrable connections to or experience in Africa, and who have innovative and high-impact startups or established businesses on the
continent.



Details on the African Diaspora Marketplace III Business Plan Competition Launch

USAID and Western Union Announce Official Launch of the African Diaspora Marketplace III Business Plan Competition | U.S. Agency for International Development

Good Luck!

Do not insult a crocodile while your foot is still in the water is an African Proverb. African proverbs express the timeless wisdom of African people.
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.”

South African Umfino Healthy African-Food
South African Umfino Healthy African-Food in 30-minutes. Umfino is a mixture of maize meal (cornmeal) and vegetables cooked in one pot. Umfino is a time-honored traditional meal that's inexpensive and easy to make. Umfino Vegetarian African Meal
African recipes by African Gourmet

Umfino is a delicious time-honored traditional meal of maize meal, cabbage, spinach and onions cooked in one pot. Umfino is an African recipe that's inexpensive and easy to make.

Prep time: 20 min Cook time: 30 min Total time: 50 min

One-Pot Vegetarian Meal

Ingredients1 medium shredded red cabbage 4 handfuls of spinach 2 chopped spring onions 3 cups vegetable broth 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup brown rice 1 cup cornmeal Salt and pepper to taste

DirectionsIn a large saucepan add vegetables, butter, and broth, cook for 10 minutes. Add corn meal and rice stir well cook over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, the dish will be thick add broth if neces…

Ujima African Proverb
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…

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 arga…

South African Pumpkin Roti Flatbread
Roti is a flatbread many South Africans 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 African flair to your meal.

South African Pumpkin Roti Flatbread
Ingredients1 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

DirectionsMix 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 into the hot pan. C…

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 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon onion power
1 teaspoon ginger powder
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon red…

Tropical PawPaw Papaya Relish Recipe

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.
Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture
4-24-2009


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

This 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, pe…

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 applesauce or ½ cup Greek yogurt
Salt to taste


 Directions
Add all ingredients to a large pot and …

Witblits White Dog-South African Moonshine?

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, …

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.

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
Ingredients1 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

DirectionsIn 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 folktale 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. Anansi the Spider hated to share

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," Anansi said, patting his full stomach.


"…

Sweet Tej Ethiopian Honey Wine Recipe
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. 

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 flavor. 
Tej is made in huge wooden barrels, which are …

Fish Geema Kerrie South African Stew Recipe
A Twist on the South African Stew Gemma Kerrie that is usually cooked with beef. Instead, we are using fish to makeover Gemma Kerrie stew into a Healthier African Dinner in 30-minutes.


Fish Geema Kerrie Healthy South African Stew Recipe


Ingredients2 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.

Where same-sex love is illegal in Africa Homosexuality in Africa is viewed as unnatural act of sex; below is a listing of where is it illegal to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender in Africa.

Country Where is it Illegal to be Gay in Africa Algeria Any person guilty of a homosexual act is punished with a term of imprisonment of between two months and two years and a fine of between 500
and 2000 Algerian Dinars (about US$6.40–$25.60). Angola The Angolan Penal Code is silent with regard to the criminalization of homosexuality. However, article 71(4) determines that security measures are applicable to people who habitually practice “acts against nature.” Article 70 of the Penal Code lists the security measures, which include confinement in an insane asylum; confinement in a workhouse or agricultural colony; probation; pledge of good conduct; and disqualification from the practice of a profession. According to the Angolan Ministry of Justice, a proposal for a new Pe…