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For 19 years, The African Gourmet has preserved Africa's stories through food, history, and folklore. Selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives, the world's premier guardian of cultural heritage, ensuring our digital timeline endures for generations.

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African Buddhist Monk in Uganda

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Buddhist temples are found throughout Africa. South Africa has the largest Buddhist population on the African continent.


African Buddhist Monk Venerable Bhante Buddharakkhita was born and raised in Uganda and plants Dharma seeds throughout Africa.

Uganda Buddhist Center was established on April 10, 2005, in Kawempe Uganda. Uganda Buddhist Center states "We consider the Buddha's Teachings to be a form of medicine that can end suffering and transform ordinary human beings into perfectly compassionate and perfectly wise beings." The center was founded by Venerable Bhante Buddharakkhita.

Abbott and founder president Bhante Buddharakkhita was born and raised in Uganda, he first encountered Buddhism in 1990 while in India. In June 2001, he began monastic training and in November 2002, he received higher ordination by his Preceptor the late Venerable U Sayadaw Silananda at Tathagata Meditation Center, California. He continued his meditation practice under the guidance of Bhante Henepola Gunaratana for eight years at the Bhavana Society, West Virginia.

African Buddhist Monk in AfricaAfrican Buddhist Monk in Africa's UgandaBorn in Uganda, Venerable Dhammakami became the first Ugandan Theravada Buddhist nun in November 2008.  After her ordination as a nun, she attended the Fifth World Buddhist Summit in Japan. Venerable Dhammakami is also the mother of Venerable Bhante Buddharakkhita.

The centers yoga teacher Venerable Sangha Rakkhita was born in Rwanda and ordained in Sri Lanka on November 1, 2015. He is a professor of T’ai chi, Chuan style Yang and Ashtanga Yoga.

Bhante Buddharakkhita teaches meditation in Brazil, Europe, Australia, Asia and the United States for more than a decade and he is the spiritual director of Flowering Lotus Meditation Center in Magnolia, Mississippi in the United States.

Bhante Buddharakkhita's book, Planting Dhamma Seeds: The Emergence of Buddhism in Africa tells the story of his religious and spiritual work in Africa. In Buddhism, dharma is the doctrine, the universal truth common to all individuals at all times, proclaimed by the Buddha. Dharma, the Buddha, and the sangha (community of believers) make up the Triratna, “Three Jewels,” to which Buddhists go for refuge.

"Speak well of others, not of their faults."

African Buddhist Monk in Africa's Uganda

Buddhist temples are found throughout Africa in the African countries of Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, eSwatini formally Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. South Africa has the largest Buddhist population on the African continent.


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Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=
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

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.

Read the Rice Riots Analysis → Try Liberian Rice Bread Recipe
Understanding Africa through the stories our food tells • Since 2006

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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.