Fields of Purple Tea Leaves Kenya grows purple tea leaves that make a royal cup of thistle colored purple tea. 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. Growing Kenyan Fields of Purple Tea Leaves Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture 8-31-2015 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 leave

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 8-29-2015 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 co

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

African Folklore Fight of Moon and Rabbit The Best African Folklore Fight of Moon and Rabbit Ever wonder why rabbits have a slit in their nose? The African folktale Why the Rabbits Nose is Slit explains the mystery. 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 s

Poverty Porn Not For The Greater Good Poverty is an old enemy that has many faces. Poverty Porn is exploiting the poor destitute person in order to achieve success for the greater good, in the end, outweighs the means. 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. The stereotype of poverty porn is the African child with a swollen belly, staring blankly into the camera, waiting for salvation," state

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

How Africa Got Her Name Naming Africa Interesting facts about Africa, there are three dominant theories on how Africa got her name. Learn How Africa Got Its Name And Interesting Facts About Africa Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture 8-25-2015 Africa is 11.68 million square miles or 30.2 million km2 and covers 20.4 percent of the total land area on Earth with over 2,000 languages, 1.2 billion people and 3 theories on how Africa was named. Africa covers 20.4 percent of the total land on Earth. There are three dominant theories on 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 alw