Photo of Ivy, author of The African Gourmet

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.

View citations →

Start Your African Journey

From political insights through food to traditional wisdom and modern solutions - explore Africa's depth.

African Tribes African Americans Originate From

Explore More Content

📁 African facts

Popular in This Category

African Ancestry helps people of African descent trace their ancestral roots back to a specific tribe, nearly 40 percent of Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Gabon were enslaved along Africa's slave coast and sold to the present day US State of Virginia.

Nearly 40% of African Americans originate from the present day African countries of Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Gabon

African tribes from which most of today’s African Americans originate; Discover your DNA in tribal groups in Africa which number in the thousands, each having their own tribal language and traditional culture.

African Tribes and African American African Ancestry


The Portuguese brought the first slaves in 1444 from Northern Mauritania. King John II of Portugal continued the work of Henry the Navigator by appointing Diogo Cão to explore and further open up the African coast. Diogo Cão was born in 1452 and was the first European known to travel into the Congo and to explore West Africa in 1482, present-day Angola and Namibia.

Nearly 40 percent of Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Gabon


The discovery operations lead by Diogo Cão, the Portuguese were able to travel down the western coast of Africa initiating slave trade relations that grew into the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Between the 16th and the 19th century, nearly one-fifth of the enslaved Africans brought to colonial America were from African regions based mainly on the ports of Brass, Bonny, Opobo and Calabar in Nigeria.

The Slave Coast in the 18th and 19th-century transatlantic slave trade was the section of the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, in Africa, in the present-day republics of Togo, Benin, and Nigeria.

Nearly 40 percent of Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Gabon were enslaved along Africa's slave coast and sold to the present day US State of Virginia. Many of these captives were Igbo, a people living in the area north what is now Nigeria. Here are the African tribes from which most of today’s African Americans originate.

African tribes from which most of today’s African Americans originate.

African tribes from which most of today’s African Americans originate.


Togo
Ewe
Kabre
Mina


Nigeria
Edo
Fulani
Hausa
Ibibio
Igala
Igbo
Ijaw
Itsekiri
Kalabari
Kanuri
Tiv
Yoruba


Benin
Adja
Balanta
Bariba
Dendi
Fon
Ottamari
Yoa-Lokpa


Cameroon
Cameroon Highlanders
Equatorial Bantu
Kirdi
Fulani
Northwestern Bantu
Eastern Nigritic


Gabon
 Fang
Bapounou
Nzebi
Obamba


Links to African Proverbs from the African Tribes African Americans Originate From
African Proverbs Are Often Difficult To Understand
Telling African Folklore Stories in East Africa
Proverbs are the official language of the African Nation
Monday Morning African Proverb Quotes
Prepare the Mind for Elevation


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.

Understanding Africa through the stories our food tells • Since 2006

Africa Worldwide: Top Reads

Africa × World: Editor's Picks

Cross-continental food, science, history, and cultural exchanges.

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.