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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.

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

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

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

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

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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

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From political insights through food to traditional wisdom and modern solutions - explore Africa's depth.

Capoeira African-Brazilian Dancing Gymnastics Heritage

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 Explain Politics

The Deeper Recipe

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

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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.