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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.

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FOOD PROVERBS

Africa's Most Visited Cities

Africa's Most Visited Cities
Did you know South holds three of the top five most visited cities in Africa?

It is not easy to identify the five most visited cities in the whole of Africa but here are our top picks. Africa top five visited cities are South Africa’s' Johannesburg, Cape Town South Africa, Cairo Egypt, Casablanca Morocco and Durban South Africa.

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Africa's Most Visited Cities


South Africa’s' Johannesburg is Africa’s Most Visited City in 2015 according to MasterCard’s global destination power rankings.

Many of Africa’s cities are changing so rapidly that they are barely recognizable when compared to what they were a decade ago. Below, in order are the top five of Africa's Most Visited Cities.

Africa's Most Visited Cities

Johannesburg South Africa


South African Woman

Johannesburg or Joburg the City of Gold has over 40 art galleries and is the hub of the fashion industry and winemaking in South Africa. The largest city in South Africa, Johannesburg is also the wealthiest.

Johannesburg also has a reputation for crime. The city was established in 1886 following the discovery of gold. A separate city from the late 1970s until 1994, Soweto is now part of Johannesburg.

Cape Town South Africa


South African Wine

South Africa is world famous for producing some of the world’s most delectable wines. Cape vineyards, where cultivation of grapes dates back to the 1600’s today this is the largest winemaking region in South Africa, and organized wine tourism has become big business. 

However, an El Nino-triggered drought two years ago hit agricultural production and economic growth throughout South Africa. Cape Town was particularly hard hit, and lack of good subsequent rains around the city has made its water shortage worse. 

The Vaal Dam is a major supply source for Gauteng, the province that includes Johannesburg, Pretoria and much of South Africa’s industry. South Africa’s drought-stricken Cape Town “Day Zero,” when taps in the city run dry and people start queuing for water will be in August 2019.

Cairo Egypt


Camel parade

Cairo Egypt was once known as the Paris of the Middle East. Cairo’s priceless pyramids of Giza, Saqqara, Memphis and Dahshur should be on everyone’s bucket list of must-see places to visits before you die. 

Also on the list are the Egyptian museum, Coptic Cairo, City of the Dead, Saladino's citadel and the Marble Mosque. With a population of over 9 million spread over 3,085 square kilometers or 1,191 sq mi, Cairo is the largest city in Egypt. Cairo's Tahrir Square was the focal point of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution against former president Hosni Mubarak.

Casablanca Morocco


Casablanca Morocco has beautiful buildings in shades of blue in the city of Chefchaouen.
Chefchaouen, Casablanca Morocco

Casablanca Morocco has beautiful buildings in shades of blue in the city of Chefchaouen, the Atlas Mountains, Sahara Desert and camel trekking in the Erg Chebbi sand dunes. Casablanca is located in the central western part of Morocco bordering the Atlantic Ocean, is the largest city in Morocco. 

It is also the largest city in the Maghreb, as well as one of the largest and most important cities in Africa, both economically and demographically. The area that is Casablanca today was founded and settled by Berbers around the seventh century BC. It was used as a port by the Phoenicians and later the Romans. 

Leo Africanus in his book Description of Africa, Casablanca as Anfa, a great city founded in the Berber kingdom of Barghawata. He believed Anfa was the most prosperous city on the Atlantic Coast because of its fertile land. Following the defeat of the Barghawata around the 12th century, Arabs of Hilal and Sulaym descent settled in the region. 

Durban South Africa


Durban is also known as eThekweni in the Zulu language

Durban also known as eThekweni in the Zulu language has one of the world’s largest aquariums, uShaka Sea World. uShaka Sea World is the fifth largest aquarium in the world where you can swim with the dolphins and watch penguins swim and play. 

Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third most populous in South Africa after Johannesburg and Cape Town. 

It is also the second most important manufacturing hub in South Africa after Johannesburg. Located on the east coast of South Africa, Durban is famous for being the second busiest port in the country, after Wetty Station.


The meeting and greeting etiquette in South Africa and Cairo may be different from what you are used to.
A smile is a universal language

Did you Know?

The meeting and greeting etiquette in South Africa and Cairo may be different from what you are used to. When dealing with foreigners, most people shake hands while maintaining friendly eye contact and smiling. 

Some women do not shake hands and merely nod their head, so it is best to wait for a woman to extend her hand first. Men may kiss a woman they know well on the cheek instead of giving a handshake. 

Traveling to Africa maybe different than your hometown customs, for example greetings are leisurely and include time for exchanging pleasantries and social discussion.

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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: WikipediaEmory University African StudiesUniversity of KansasUniversity of KwaZulu-NatalMDPI Scholarly Journals.
Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

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Recipes as Revolution

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.

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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.