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The African Gourmet

The African Gourmet: Explore African Culture & Recipes

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.

Christmas & New Year in Africa

Christmas & New Year Across Africa

Holiday traditions, recipes, and celebrations

Christmas across Africa

Merry Christmas in African Languages

Traditions
Krampus dessert

Krampus's Favorite African Dessert

Recipes
New Year fireworks in Africa

How Africa Celebrates New Year

Celebrations
Black eyed pea casserole

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Luck & Prosperity

FOOD PROVERBS

African Food Proverbs

Culinary wisdom passed down through generations

African food sayings and proverb

Best Ten African Food Sayings & Proverbs

Culinary Wisdom
Meat stew representing animal wisdom

Honoring Animal: African Wisdom of Thankfulness

Gratitude
Diverse hands placing food on shared table

Bring Something to the Table

Community
Lemon varieties representing spice of life

6 African Proverbs That Will Spice Up Your Cooking

Transformation

Capoeira African-Brazilian Dancing Gymnastics Heritage

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📁 African Art 📁 African facts

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Capoeira is an African Brazilian ritual dance displaying agility, power, strength and culture. Capoeira requires great physical strength and flexibility to dance and move on your hands and feet. Music is integral to capoeira. 

Capoeira is an African Brazilian ritual dance

Capoeira is a flow of communication between two capoeiristas or players through martial art dance and gymnastics performed to with musical instruments and singing. Capoeira requires superior hand–eye coordination, mental agility, and alertness, the word Capoeira maybe of Portuguese or Bantu origin. 

The reason why the roots of Capoeira are unknown is due to Angolan slaves introducing the sport to Brazil during the slave trade. There was no written record of Capoeira in Angola, only in Brazil. 

Capoeira requires great physical strength and flexibility to dance and move on your hands and feet. Capoeira is an African Brazilian ritual dance displaying agility, power, strength and culture. 

Capoeira fighters in Africa have cultural heritage of Capoeira in Angola, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Mozambique, South Africa, Guinea, and Senegal. Capoeira is indeed practiced throughout the world in Europe, Asia, Africa and South and North America. 

The word Capoeira may be of Portuguese or Bantu origin. The reason why the roots of Capoeira are unknown is that Angolan slaves introduced the sport to Brazil during the slave trade. There was no written record of Capoeira in Angola, only in Brazil. 

Therefore, the origins of Capoeira will remain unknown since oral and not written history is a tradition of many African people. Nevertheless, what is known is that African slaves brought Capoeira to Brazil by way of Portuguese slave traders.

The ginga is a move in capoeira used for attack and defense

Capoeira circles are called roda and are formed by capoeiristas and capoeira musical instruments players. The roda is a place where knowledge and skills are learned by teaching and practice. Music is integral to capoeira. 

It sets the tempo and style of game that is to be played within the roda. On November 26, 2014, Capoeira became an intangible cultural heritage of Brazil's humanity according to The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.  

The practice now joins Círio de Nazaré, Frevo, the Oral and Graphic Expressions of Wajãpis and Samba de Roda of the Recôncavo Baiano, which are already recognized by UNESCO.

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Recipes as Revolution

Recipes as Revolution

When food becomes protest and meals carry political meaning

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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.

Working Hands of Africa

The labor and love that feeds a continent

Hands holding African fruit

African Culture & Traditions

Harvest & Heritage
Hands preparing fufu

How Fufu Explains Politics

Food & Power
Farming hands in Africa

Slow Food Disappearance

Farming & Tradition
Hands with plantains

The Universal Plantain

Cooking & Community

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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.