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About the Author

Ivy is the researcher and writer behind The African Gourmet, blending African food, history, and cultural storytelling. Her work is cited by universities, Wikipedia, major news outlets, and global food writers.

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Learn Africa through science, stories, recipes, proverbs, history, and geography — interconnected, just as life is.

European Cash Coasts of Africa: Pepper, Ivory, Gold and Slave Coasts Explained

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📁 Berlin Conference 📁 conflict minerals 📁 Gold Coast 📁 Ivory Coast 📁 Pepper Coast 📁 Slave Coast

European Cash Coasts of Africa

Map of Africa showing the Pepper, Ivory, Gold and Slave Coasts

Before the Berlin Conference formalized European claims to African land in the late nineteenth century, coastal West Africa was already mapped for commerce. Early French and Portuguese traders in the sixteenth century divided the shoreline into four cash coasts, each tied to a major export: the Pepper Coast, Ivory Coast, Gold Coast, and Slave Coast.

Pepper Coast — Also Called the Grain Coast

The Pepper Coast, sometimes called the Grain Coast or Malaguetta Coast, stretched across what is now Liberia. It earned its name from the valuable Malaguetta pepper once exported in huge quantities to Europe.

Ivory Coast

The French named Côte d’Ivoire, literally Ivory Coast, for the lucrative ivory trade. Portuguese sailors had earlier referred to the region as Costa do Marfim, and French traders sometimes called it côte des dents, or teeth coast, referencing elephant tusks.

Gold Coast

The Gold Coast, present-day Ghana, was famed for its rich gold deposits. British, Portuguese and Dutch merchants all fought to control this profitable hub.

Slave Coast

The Slave Coast included parts of modern-day Nigeria, Togo, Benin and the Bight of Benin. From the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries, this region was a center of the transatlantic slave trade, supplying enslaved Africans to European ships bound for the Americas.

Did you know? The term “Cash Coasts” reflects how Europeans reduced Africa’s rich coastal societies to export zones — ivory, pepper, gold and human lives — long before full colonial occupation.

The Berlin Conference and Its Lasting Impact

The Berlin Conference of 1884 to 1885, also known as the Congo Conference, was not the beginning of European exploitation but marked the formal partition of Africa. European powers — Britain, France, Portugal, Germany, Belgium and others — expanded claims so rapidly that by 1900 nearly 90 percent of Africa was under colonial rule. These artificial borders ignored existing ethnic and cultural boundaries, leading to divisions and displacement still felt today.

Africa’s New Mineral Coast — From Gold to Conflict Minerals

Today Africa’s coasts and interior supply global markets with new cash crops: conflict minerals such as tantalum, tin, tungsten and gold. These minerals fuel modern technology but can also fund violence.

In 2010, the United States passed the Dodd-Frank Act, requiring companies to trace and disclose the origins of these minerals if they come from conflict zones, especially the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbors. Firms like Apple have committed to auditing smelters and removing non-compliant suppliers to promote responsible sourcing.

Related Reading

The African Gourmet explores how African food, history, and science intertwine. Here, a plant is a healer, a story is a map, and the kitchen is a laboratory. I’m Ivy — a writer raised by historians, now sharing Africa’s wisdom from the U.S. through cookbooks, cultural research, and storytelling. If you’re curious about where flavor meets memory, you belong here.

Recipes Explain Politics

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🍚 When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations. The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe."

🍲 The Deeper Recipe:

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

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African Gourmet FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Why "The African Gourmet" if you cover more than just food?

Great question! While many associate "gourmet" exclusively with cuisine, its true meaning is "a connoisseur" – someone with refined taste and deep expertise. For over 18 years, I've served as a gourmet of African culture at large, savoring and presenting the continent's rich history, vibrant traditions, timeless wisdom, and contemporary stories with the same discerning palate one would apply to fine food. The name reflects my commitment to curating Africa's cultural wealth with authority and passion.

What makes The African Gourmet different from other culture sites?

With 18 years of consistent publishing, I offer depth and continuity that's rare online. I don't just report on African culture – I contextualize it, connecting traditional wisdom with modern realities, and food with folklore, politics, and daily life. It's a holistic view of Africa's past, present, and future, all through the lens of a seasoned cultural storyteller.

How do you choose what to write about?

My content selection is driven by a desire to showcase Africa's incredible diversity and challenge stereotypes. I balance covering foundational cultural elements (like proverbs and recipes) with timely analysis of current events (like the AGOA trade agreement). The goal is always to educate and illuminate the complex, dynamic realities of the African continent.

Do you focus on specific regions of Africa?

My coverage spans the entire continent – from North to South, East to West. While certain stories may focus on specific countries or regions, my mission is to represent the breathtaking diversity of 54 countries and thousands of cultures. I make a conscious effort to include both well-known and underrepresented cultures in my work.

Can I request a topic or contribute to the site?

I welcome thoughtful topic suggestions from engaged readers! While I maintain editorial control to ensure quality and consistency, I'm always interested in hearing what aspects of African culture you're curious about. Feel free to reach out through my contact page with your ideas.

How can I support The African Gourmet's work?

The greatest support is engaged readership – sharing articles you find valuable, participating in discussions, and helping spread cultural understanding. Following the blog and sharing it with others who would appreciate this unique perspective on Africa helps this 18-year labor of love continue to grow and reach new audiences.