The African Gourmet: African Cuisine, Folktales and Cultural Stories

Where Are the Zimbabwe Kombis Minibuses? In Zimbabwe, kombis — privately owned minibuses — have long powered daily life in Harare and Bulawayo. Kombis are shared-ride minibuses that operate without fixed timetables but follow well-known routes. Popular across urban and rural Zimbabwe, they are cheap, flexible, and often crowded. Passengers pay the conductor while the driver navigates bustling streets. The term kombi comes from the classic Volkswagen Type 2 minibus, nicknamed the “VW Kombi.” This model became popular in Zimbabwe and across Africa in the mid-20th century for its practicality. Over time, “kombi” became a generic name for any minibus used for public transport, regardless of brand. Kombis waiting for passengers at a rank in Harare. The Role of Kombis in Zimbabwean Life Urban commuters in Harare and Bulawayo often choose between the state-run Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) buses and privately operated kombis. Kombis dominate because ...

Hugh Masekela was a world-renowned trumpeter musician and political leader who released over 40 albums. Masekela trumpeter musical style was influenced by Miles Davis. Masekela performed at the Monterey Pop Festival alongside The Who. U2 front-man Bono said playing with Masekela was one of the highlights of his career. Trumpeter African Musician Hugh Masekela 20 Years of Freedom Hugh Masekela was born 75 years ago in the town of Witbank, South Africa in 1939. Masekela began to hone his, now signature, Afro-Jazz sound in the late 1950s. In 1960, at the age of 21, he left South Africa to begin what would be 30 years in exile from the land of his birth. On arrival in New York he enrolled at the Manhattan School of Music. This coincided with a golden era of jazz music and the young Hugh Masekela immersed himself in the New York jazz scene where nightly he watched greats like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Mingus and Max Roach. Under the tutelage o...

Algerian Chorba 'dess or Lentil Soup Recipe Algerian Chorba 'dess or Soupe de lentilles or Lentil Soup The African Country of Algeria has the second largest French-speaking population in the world. Chorba 'dess  or Soupe de lentilles or Lentil Soup  Ingredients 1 pound lamb meat thinly sliced 1 large white onion, finely chopped 2 teaspoons good quality ground coriander 1 cup dried lentils 2 large potatoes diced 2 large carrots diced 8 cups of water Salt and pepper to taste Directions Add all ingredients to a large pot simmer until vegetables are tender for about an hour. Serve with rice.

Guinea-Bissau: A Sanctuary for Green Sea Turtles Did you know that many African islands are known as "Turtle Islands"? These remarkable places serve as critical nesting grounds for green sea turtles, and one of the most significant of these is found in Guinea-Bissau, a small West African country. The João Viera-Poilão Marine Park here hosts the largest green sea turtle nesting site on the entire Atlantic coast of Africa. However, despite the country's critical role in turtle conservation, challenges remain in ensuring their protection. A Rich History and Biodiversity Guinea-Bissau may be small, but its cultural and natural significance is immense. Just south of Senegal, this coastal nation is home to the Bijagos Archipelago, a group of 88 islands, 23 of which are inhabited. These islands have been a protected Biosphere Reserve since 1996, making them a rare example of an African marine ecosystem that is internationally recognized for conservation. The country’s history is...

Landmines in Angola Africa, there are no safe steps, the Sarajevo of Africa, Angola Bie Province landmines Kuito, a city located in the Bie Province of Angola, has been heavily affected by landmines due to the country's long history of armed conflict, particularly the Angolan Civil War that lasted from 1975 to 2002. Landmines pose a significant threat to the local population and have severe consequences for people living in and around Kuito. Kuito is the distressed but slowly restoring capital of Bie Province. Bié is a province of Angola located on the Bié Plateau in the central part of Angola. Parts of Angola are contaminated with landmines as a result of four decades of almost continuous warfare, making it the most mine-affected country in sub-Saharan Africa and one of the most mined countries in the world. An anti-personnel weapon is one primarily used to inflict death or cause major bodily injury to people. Anti-personnel landmines are explosive devices designed to explode...