Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Did you know?

1. No African country names begin with the letters F, H, I, J, O, P, Q, V, W, X, or Y.

2. Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent.

3. The Republic of the Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa.

African Fiery Peri-Peri Seafood Stew Recipe

Peri peri is Swahili for pepper pepper.

Fiery Peri-Peri Seafood Stew recipe is a traditional African recipe made with shrimp, smoked fish, palm oil, hot peri-peri sauce and vegetables. 

African Fiery Peri-Peri Seafood Stew Recipe

African Fiery Peri-Peri Seafood Stew Recipe

What is peri-peri?

Peri Peri or Piri piri is a hot pepper sauce used in cooking or as a condiment used in the same way as hot sauce. Peri peri is Swahili for pepper pepper.

Who Are the Swahili in Africa

The Swahili see themselves as neither African nor Asian, but as having their own unique civilization. 

Swahili is the culture of many groups uniquely blended together. 

Lamu has hosted major Muslim religious festivals since the 19th century, and has become a significant center for the study of Islamic and Swahili cultures.

Swahili was given its name by the Arabs in the 16th century, the Swahili words "Watu wa Pwani or people of the coast.” For centuries, Swahili’s were merchants between the interior of Africa to the coast, dealing mainly in ivory, and slaves from Africa and in textiles and beads from Asia. Swahili identity is unique. The Swahili see themselves as either African or Asian, but as having their own unique civilization.

In the 16th century the Omani influences on Swahili culture are significant. The Omani introduced many Arabic words into the Swahili language, perpetuated the belief that their social status and way of life was superior to that of the Swahili, therefore Arab ancestry became a marker of status. Later, Arab merchants who came in the 19th and 20th centuries married female African slaves.

In time, the Arabs and the slaves adopted the Swahili language and became "Swahili" themselves, although the differences in family linage are always recognized. Non-Muslim local inhabitants were named, "The People of the Coast", given to them by the rulers of the Sultanate of Zanzibar, who looked down on the local inhabitants and gave them this offensive name; the Swahili rarely use this name.

A number of people believe there are four groups of Swahili people; people who claim per Arab lineage, parents are original Swahili people, children born in a family where Arabs intermarried with Swahili people, and people who were born elsewhere but integrated into the Swahili culture.  

Lamu Old Town is located on Kenya's Coast Province in the Lamu District. Lamu has hosted major Muslim religious festivals since the 19th century, and has become a significant center for the study of Islamic and Swahili cultures.  

Swahili Lamu Old Town has continuously been inhabited for over 700 years, for this reason, Lamu Old Town is an UNESCO World Heritage site. Lamu Old Town is the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa, retaining its traditional functions.  

Lamu Museum and Lamu Fort develop and strengthen programs on Swahili culture in universities and colleges in Lamu in order to ensure diffusion of the Swahili culture. Lamu is one of the best East African representatives of the unique Swahili culture, resulting from interaction between the Bantu, Arabs, Persians, Indians and Europeans.


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Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

Africa is surrounded by water but is not an island, here are a few African Island facts.

Madagascar is the 4th large island in the world and is located in the Indian Ocean supporting a unique biology, about 90% of its plants and animals are found nowhere else on earth.

Composed of 155 islands, Seychelles is Africa's smallest country. By far the largest island is Mahe, home to about 90% of the population and the site of its capital city of Victoria.

Cabo Verde has a strategic location 310 miles or 500 km from the west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site.

Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent. Continents can not be considered islands because of their size and also by historic definition since many people who study geography define islands and continents as two different things.

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Being African in America I have grown up learning about different ethnic cultures. My father and mother are historians of African culture and history and their influence expanded my activities to several best-selling cookbooks, magazine columns, self-branded products, and a popular African culture and food blog.

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