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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.

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
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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.
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Legal Drinking Age in Africa

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📁 African Drink Lab 📁 African facts
Legal Drinking Age in Africa | The African Gourmet

Legal Drinking Age in Africa vary from alcohol is prohibited to no official minimum legal drinking ages to no restrictions.


African beer made at home

Legal drinking age in Africa varies between no age to 15, 18, 21 or alcohol is illegal to serve and drink.


The legal drinking age in South Africa is 18, however, mostly all Muslims prohibit Muslims and non-Muslims, from drinking alcohol at any age, due to Islam forbidding the consumption of alcohol. 

Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, and Sudan are the four African countries that forbid drinking alcohol of any form. Alcohol is illegal for Muslims and purchase by others is highly restricted. Non-Muslim tourists are allowed to bring two bottles of alcohol for personal use.
 
There are seven African countries that have no official minimum legal drinking ages and no restrictions as listed by the World Health Organization Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, and Togo. The remaining 43 African countries drinking ages vary between the ages of 15-21 or no information was provided.

List of Legal Drinking Ages in 54 African Countries

List of Legal Drinking Ages in 54 African Countries

Northern Africa Legal Drinking Age
Algeria age 18
Egypt age 21
Libya Illegal
Morocco age 16
Sudan Illegal
Tunisia age 18

Eastern Africa Legal Drinking Age 
Burundi age 18 Without An Adult, No Age Limit If Accompanied By An Adult
Djibouti age 18 Non-Muslims Only
Eritrea age 18
Ethiopia age 18
Kenya age 18
Madagascar age 18
Malawi age 18
Mauritius age 18
Mozambique age 18
Rwanda age 18
Seychelles age 18
Somalia Illegal
South Sudan No Data on drinking age
Tanzania age 18
Uganda age 18


Central Africa Legal Drinking Age 
Angola age 18
Cameroon age 21
The Central African Republic age 21 At Bars And Restaurants, 15 To Buy In Stores
Chad age 18
The Democratic Republic of the Congo age 18
Republic of the Congo age 16 For Beer And Wine, 18 Otherwise
Equatorial Guinea age 21
Gabon age 18
São Tomé and Príncipe No Minimum Age

Western Africa Legal Drinking Age 
Benin No Minimum Age
Burkina Faso No Minimum Age
Cabo Verde age 18
Cote d'Ivoire age 21
The Gambia age 18
Ghana age 18
Guinea age 18
Guinea-Bissau No Minimum Age
Liberia age 18
Mali No Minimum Age
Mauritania Illegal
Niger age 18
Nigeria age 18
Senegal age 18
Sierra Leone No Minimum Age
Togo No Minimum Age

Southern Africa Legal Drinking Age 
Botswana age 18
Eswatini age 18
Lesotho age 18
Namibia age 18
South Africa age 18
Zambia age 18
Zimbabwe age 18

Read Next: Top 20 Largest Countries in Africa
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Continue your journey at the African Drink Lab — where Africa’s brews, wines, and rituals come alive.

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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.