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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

New Year's Black Eyed Pea Casserole

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

In Africa, Albino Body Parts Are Sold for Witchcraft and Profit

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📁 albinism witchcraft Africa 📁 albino killings Tanzania Malawi 📁 Gothic African Folklore

In Africa, Albino Body Parts Are Sold for Witchcraft and Profit

Selling albino body parts for witchcraft in Africa

African albinos are killed, dismembered, and even exhumed because charms made from their body parts are believed to bring good luck, fortune, and money.

Myths and Violence Against Persons With Albinism

Women with albinism in Tanzania, Burundi, Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, Nigeria, and Mozambique are often targets of sexual violence due to the false belief that intercourse with them can cure HIV/AIDS or bring wealth. This exposes them to assault, sexually transmitted infections, and unwanted pregnancies.

Infanticide also occurs: infants born with albinism are sometimes killed as they are viewed as a curse. Witchcraft-related demand for body parts fuels trafficking, mutilations, and grave robberies. Since 2006, UN reports document over 600 ritual attacks across 28 African countries.

Did you know? Tanzania has one of the largest populations of people with albinism worldwide — about 170,000.

The Witchcraft Trade

Witchcraft practices known as muti or juju fuel the belief that albino body parts bring wealth, protection, or political power. People with albinism are hunted for their limbs, heads, and organs, which can sell for thousands on the black market.

In Tanzania alone, more than 70 people with albinism have been killed since 2000. Attacks spike during elections when demand for charms allegedly linked to power and prosperity grows.

Tanzanian mother and her albino child
Tanzanian mother and her albino child

Gendered Impact: Women and Mothers

Women with albinism suffer overlapping discrimination. Myths about HIV cures make them vulnerable to sexual violence. Mothers of children with albinism often face rejection, ostracism, and poverty; they may be abandoned by partners accused of infidelity or blamed for bearing a "cursed" child.

Did you know? Many mothers flee their communities to protect children with albinism from violence and social stigma.

What Is Albinism?

Albinism is a genetic condition caused by mutations in at least 12 known genes. It results in little or no melanin, leaving skin, hair, and eyes light and sensitive to sunlight. Two main types exist: Oculocutaneous Albinism (OCA) affects skin, hair, and eyes, while Ocular Albinism (OA) primarily affects the eyes.

Lack of melanin increases the risk of skin cancer and severe sunburn, especially in regions with strong sunlight. Average life expectancy is significantly reduced when protective care is unavailable.

Ukerewe Island community of people with albinism in Tanzania
Ukerewe Island, Tanzania — home to a large albinism community

Changing the Narrative

Documentaries such as In the Shadow of the Sun spotlight the courage of people with albinism fighting for their rights and safety. Activists like Josephat Torner in Tanzania continue to challenge myths and demand legal protection.

Did you know? The UN officially recognizes persons with albinism as a vulnerable group needing special human rights protection.

Explore more African history and culture:

Mental Health Connection: Explore how culture and compulsion merge in Night Running in Africa: Tribal Art, Witchcraft, or Sadism — a story linking traditional beliefs with mental wellness in Kenya.

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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: Wikipedia • Emory University African Studies • University of Kansas • University of KwaZulu-Natal • MDPI Scholarly Journals.
Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

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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.