African Food, Art, and History Blog

Mount Kenya grows purple tea leaves that make a royal cup of thistle colored purple tea. Black tea was first introduced in Kenya around 1904, on a farm on the foothills of Mount Kenya , today's farmers grow unique purple tea plants. Kenyan farmers grow purple tea leaves that make a unique cup of purple tea. Growing Fields of Purple Tea leaves in Africa’s Kenya Kenyan farmers grow purple tea leaves that make a unique cup of purple tea. Kenya in East Africa is the world’s leading exporters of tea and Kenya's Kirinyaga County town of Kerugoya is the crown jewel of purple tea leaves. The purple comes from leaves with high levels of anthocyanins, responsible for the red, purple, and blue colors in fruits, vegetables, cereal grains , and flowers. Kenya's purple tea leaves were developed and pre-released by the Tea Research Foundation of Kenya however, there is currently a very small market for purple tea, the processing techniques use hand ro

Nyansapo Wisdom Knot Represents Intelligence Wisdom Knot Adinkra Symbol Nyansapo the wisdom knot Adinkra symbol represents intelligence and wisdom. Adinkra symbols are symbolic pictures. Many corporations use the Adinkra symbols as their company logo. Nyansapo Wisdom Knot Represents Intelligence Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture 8-31-2015 Nyansapo Adinkra Symbol Adinkra symbols are commonplace today but were the exclusive right of royalty and spiritual leaders, and only used for important ceremonies. Adinkra also means goodbye or farewell in Twi the language of the Akan.  Wearing Adinkra symbols were the tradition of the Akan especially the Asante to wear clothes decorated with Adinkra symbols on important occasions especially at funerals. Adinkra symbols are symbolic pictures Nyansapo the wisdom knot Adinkra symbol represents intelligence and wisdom whose secret meaning is a knot in which the Asante ch

Kenya’s Gikuya tribe calls Mount Kenya Kere-Nyaga where the supreme God Ngai lives. Mogai gave a wife to Gikuyu named Moombi and they created nine beautiful daughters. Origin of the Gikuyu Tribe of Kenya Mogai, the divider of the universe called a man named Gikuyu to him taking him to the top of Kere-Nyaga (Mount Kenya). Mogai pointed out the lush fertile lands and told the Gikuyu man all is his, if he is ever in need, raise his hands toward Kere-Nyaga and pray. Mogai also gave a wife to Gikuyu named Moombi and they created nine beautiful daughters . However, Gikuyu wanted a son to carry on his name.  Mogai told Gikuyu not to worry and make sacrifices to the mountain Kere-Nyaga where the God Ngai lives but he must do this while standing under a fig tree.  Mogai told Gikuyu if he did as told he would be blessed with nine handsome strong young men to marry his beautiful nine daughters.  Gikuyu did as he was told making sacrifices to Kere-Nyaga.  When he ret

So said the Elders Au fait decisions African proverbs Africa influenced the world in the area of thought and wisdom with proverbs. Much of the language and thought of Africans are expressed in proverbs. Au fait  proverbs about making decisions, in some African cultures, when a proverb is quoted, it is preceded with a statement “So said the elders... Odenkyem, the crocodile, Adinkra symbol for prudence and practicality.  Reading and collecting African proverbs from your elders is the perfect place to begin your African culture journey. So said the Elders Au fait decisions African proverbs The mouth is responsible for discord among people. A relative's slap hurts more than a stranger's. A thing that comes does not beat a drum. That which comes without work is a curse. You should cross a stream before the floods come. To ask is the desire to know the way. Don't put the key to happiness in someone else's po

Cowrie Shells What Are They Cypraeidae, common name cowries, singular: cowry, is the symbol of fertility and birth, as well as used for money and is a popular artifact used in fortune-telling. Wearing cowrie shells and glass beads a Karo Woman in Ethiopia is beautiful Cowrie Shells What Are They Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture Brief History of Cowrie Shells Cowrie Shells Cowries occur primarily in coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans. The cowries are a relatively small family of about 200 species but are the most collected of all seashells.  The basic shape of the shell is the same in all species. A natural coating of enamel on the outer surface gives the shell a brilliant polished look.   Long prized by people for their shape and attractive colors, they were widely used for money in ancient times. While some cowries are abundant, some species are now quite rare and get a very high price from collectors.   Cowrie or c

Oko and the Snake African Folktale is retold for those who appreciate and understand the social value of folklore in African countries. There several versions of the same folktale story throughout  Africa  however, the meaning is the same; a snake is always a snake at heart no matter the kindness shown. Oko and the Snake African Folktale  When you raise a snake, you should not be surprised when it bites you. West African Proverb

Why is the Rabbits Nose is Slit African Folklore Story “Long, long ago, when the world was quite young, the Lady Moon wanted someone to take a message to Men. She tried first one creature and then another, but no! They were all too busy, they couldn’t go. At last she called the Crocodile.  He is very slow and not much good, but the Lady Moon thought she would pinch his tail and make him go quickly. So she said to him: ‘Go down to humans at once and give them this message: “As I die and, dying, live, so also shall you die, and, dying, live.” “Know how the Moon is sometimes big and round like she is now in the sky. Every night she gets smaller and smaller until there’s no more Moon: she is dead.  Then one night a silver horn hangs in the sky thin, very thin. It is the new Moon that grows, and grows, and gets beautiful and golden and so it goes on, always living, and growing, and dying, and living again. “So the Lady Moon pinched old Oom Crocodile’s tail, and he gave o

Poverty is an old enemy that has many faces. Poverty Porn is exploiting the poor in order to line your own pockets and make yourself rich , achieve success any means necessary and in the end, exploiting the poverty in Africa outweighs the fact that stereotyping hurts far worse. Poverty porn is considered any type of media, be it written, photographed or filmed, which exploits the poor condition in order to generate the necessary sympathy for selling newspapers or increasing charitable donations or support for a given cause. Poverty porn is typically associated with poverty-stricken Africans, but can be found everywhere.  "Poverty porn is typically associated with poverty-stricken Africans but can be found everywhere. The subjects are overwhelming children, with the material usually characterized by images or descriptions of suffering, malnourished or otherwise helpless persons. Exploiting property does not bring salvation.  The stereotype of poverty porn is the Afri

Tanzanian Curried Fish Recipe African Seafood Recipe Tanzanian Curried Fish Recipe Tanzanian Curried Fish Recipe Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture 8-26-2015 By Chic African Culture African food recipe Tanzanian curried fish recipe is a simple African food recipe to make for a weeknight dinner. Tanzanian curried fish recipe is the favorite fish curry dish of coastal Tanzania, the addition of coconut milk adds a sweet savory taste dimension to this dish. Tanzanian Curried Fish Recipe Serves 4 African food Total time from start to finish 30 minutes Ingredients Tanzanian Curried Fish Recipe 2 fresh white fish fillets or catfish 2 tablespoons good quality curry powder 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 onion, chopped finely 2 tablespoons of butter 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/2 tablespoon cumin 1 cup coconut milk Directions In a large saucepan brown over medium, heat the butter, curry, onions, garlic, cumin a

Three theories on how Africa got her name Afri Aprica Aphrike Learn three theories on how Africa was named and a listing of African country names to understand Africa and the 54 names each country received on her contient after the historic Berlin Conference. Africa. How Africa Got Her Name First theory on how Africa received her name is from Afri the name of peoples in North Africa located near Carthage under Roman rule in modern Tunisia in the third century B.C. Second theory on how Africa was named is from the Greek word Aphrike meaning without cold. Lastly, the third theory on how Africa was named in Latin, Aprica means sunny or always hot derived from the Egyptian sun God Ra. Every African country has a short name, an official name and a standard country code as well as local long names and local short names. The short name is an unofficial name that everyone knows the country by, official names are used on official documents and official government p

Xhosa (Koh-Suh) folklore tradition is very important to the people of the South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Xhosa people have a deeply rooted folklore history passed down through generations. Xhosa  Folklore Story of Long Snake A girl left her father's place, and went to the village of long snake. Having arrived she remained there, but the owner was absent. The only person present was the mother of the owner. That evening, the mother of long snake gave that girl some millet, and told her to grind it. After it was ground, she made bread. When it was ready the mother of long snake said: "Carry this bread into the house." Xhosa Folklore Story of the Long Snake A short time after she went into the house, the owner arrived; she feed him bread and fermented milk. When they finished the food, they went to sleep. Then early in the morning, long snake went away, because in the daytime he lived in the open country. The girl went to the house of the parents of