🌿 Share this page

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.

Start Exploring Here

🔵 African Recipes & Cuisine

Dive into flavors from Jollof to fufu—recipes, science, and stories that feed body and soul.

Explore Recipes →

🔵 African Proverbs & Wisdom

Timeless sayings on love, resilience, and leadership—ancient guides for modern life.

Discover Wisdom →

🔵 African Folktales & Storytelling

Oral legends and tales that whisper ancestral secrets and spark imagination.

Read Stories →

🔵African Plants & Healing

From baobab to kola nuts—sacred flora for medicine, memory, and sustenance.

Discover Plants →

🔵 African Animals in Culture

Big Five to folklore beasts—wildlife as symbols, food, and spiritual kin.

Meet Wildlife →

🔵 African History & Heritage

Journey through Africa's rich historical tapestry, from ancient civilizations to modern nations.

Explore History →
Photo of Ivy, author of The African Gourmet

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: WikipediaEmory University African StudiesUniversity of KansasUniversity of KwaZulu-NatalMDPI Scholarly Journals.
Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

View citations →

Umkhiwa Salted Figs with Honey Recipe

Figs are one of the world’s oldest trees and were held in such high regard by the Greeks that laws were once created to prevent their export. Fig trees grow from South Africa to Senegal and Egypt, Madagascar and the Union of Comoros. 

Ficus sycomorus or fig tree goes by many names Mukuyu in the Shona language, Vyeboom in Afrikaans, Umkhiwa in Ndebele, شجرة التين in Arabic, and figueria in Portuguese. 

As regards the Fig tree, the popular belief is that it was the tree Judas had hung himself.  The Fig tree never again bore fruit and that the Fig was the identical Fig tree cursed by God; and that all the wild Fig trees sprang from this accursed tree. 

Interestedly, according to a Southern Italy tradition, Judas did not hang himself on a Fig but on a Tamarisk-tree called Vruca or Tamarix Africana. Vruca is now only a shrub, although formerly it was a noble tree; at the time of Judas’ suicide, it was cursed by God, and thereafter became a shrub that is ugly, misshapen, and useless.

Umkhiwa Recipe Salted Figs with Honey

Umkhiwa Recipe Salted Figs with Honey

Ingredients

4 large fresh figs

1 tablespoon olive oil

½ cup orange blossom honey

¼ teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 325°F. Gently wash and pat dry figs. Toss figs with oil place stem side up in a shallow baking pan.  Roast for 20 minutes. Allow to cool and quarter without cutting completely through the figs.  Meanwhile, add honey to a heatproof cup and microwave for 1 minute. Pour honey evenly over figs, sprinkle with salt and serve warm.

The fig tree is one of the first plants cultivated by humans

The fig tree is one of the first plants cultivated by humans


More economical easy lunch and dinner recipes to make right now so you never have to eat or prepare a boring meal again.

  1. Curried Tanzanian Coconut Okra Recipe
  2. Yedoro Stir Fried Ethiopian Chicken Dinner
  3. Senegalese Chicken Vermicelli
  4. Caldo Verde Portuguese Kale Soup
  5. Air Fryer Black Eyed Pea Dumpling Stew

Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=
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.

Africa Worldwide: Top Reads

Read More

African Ancestors and Atlantic Hurricanes: Myth Meets Meteorology

Survival of the Fattest, obese Europeans starving Africa

Top 20 Largest Countries in Africa by Land Area (2025 Update)

African Proverbs for Men About the Wrong Woman in Their Life

Charging Cell Phones in Rural Africa

Beware of the naked man who offers you clothes African Proverb

African Olympic Power: Top 10 Countries with the Most Gold Medals | The African Gourmet

Ugali vs Fufu — What’s the Difference Between Africa’s Beloved Staples?

Perfect South African Apricot Beef Curry Recipe

Usage of Amen and Ashe or Ase and Meaning

Week’s Best African Culture Posts

African Wrestling Traditions: Dambe, Evala & Senegalese Laamb Explained

Korean vs African Cuisine: Fermentation, Fire & Flavor Bridges - The African Gourmet

Kei Apple Recipes: Traditional African Fruit Cooking & Folk Science

Kei Apple (Dovyalis caffra): Origins, Uses, Nutrition & Recipes

Before You Buy Land in Africa: 8 Critical Pitfalls Every Diaspora Member Must Avoid

Ugali vs Fufu — What’s the Difference Between Africa’s Beloved Staples?

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.

What geographic scope does the archive cover?

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.

Can researchers access the full archive?

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.

How does this archive ensure cultural preservation?

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.