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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.

FOOD PROVERBS

African Food Proverbs

Culinary wisdom passed down through generations

African food sayings and proverb

Best Ten African Food Sayings & Proverbs

Culinary Wisdom
Meat stew representing animal wisdom

Honoring Animal: African Wisdom of Thankfulness

Gratitude
Diverse hands placing food on shared table

Bring Something to the Table

Community
Lemon varieties representing spice of life

6 African Proverbs That Will Spice Up Your Cooking

Transformation
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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: Wikipedia • Emory University African Studies • University of Kansas • University of KwaZulu-Natal • MDPI Scholarly Journals.
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Red, Black and Green, Every Race Has a Flag but the Coon

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📁 African facts

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Marcus Garvey's work through the Africa Times and Orient Review and his emphasis on the importance of a flag highlights his dedication to empowering people of African descent and instilling a sense of pride in their heritage.


Marcus Garvey, in response to the 1900 coon song, created the Pan-African flag in 1920.
The Pan-African flag or Black Liberation Flag is a tricolor flag consisting of three equal horizontal bands colored red, black, and green. 

The three colors on the Pan-African flag represent red for the blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry and shed for liberation, black for the people of Black African ancestry, and green for the abundant natural wealth of Africa.

One of Marcus Garvey's famous quotes is, "Show me the race or the nation without a flag, and I will show you a race of people without any pride." This statement underscores Garvey's belief that a flag symbolizes the pride and unity of a people. For him, a flag was not just a piece of cloth but a powerful symbol of identity, self-respect, and national or racial consciousness.

Jamaican political leader Marcus Garvey was a founding member and former president of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA) created the Pan-African flag in 1920 in response to the 1900 song "Every Race Has a Flag but the Coon." The song was written by Will A. Heelan, and J. Fred Helf was very popular in the United States and Britain. 

Marcus Garvey in response to the 1900 coon song created the Pan-African flag in 1920.

The Africa Times and Orient Review was a publication founded by Marcus Garvey in 1919. In a 1921 report appearing in the paper, Marcus Garvey stated the importance of the flag “Show me the race or the nation without a flag, and I will show you a race of people without any pride. Aye! In song and mimicry, they have said, "Every race has a flag but the coon." How true! Aye! But that was said of us years ago. They can't say it now!" The flag later became an African nationalist symbol for the worldwide liberation of people of African origin. The flag became popular during the Black Liberation Movement to symbolize Black pride.

The Africa Times and Orient Review served as a platform for Garvey to disseminate his ideas and messages to a wide audience. It focused on issues related to African and African diaspora communities, discussing topics such as racial equality, self-determination, and black empowerment. The publication played a significant role in spreading Garvey's vision of racial pride, self-reliance, and the importance of cultural identity.

Although other designs and colors, including yellow, are also considered to be International Pan-African flags, the horizontal stripes of red, black, and green originated from the UNIA in 1920. Flag names include the UNIA flag, Marcus Garvey flag, Black Liberation flag, Pan-African flag, and the Black or African Nationalist flag.

Garvey advocated for creating a flag for African people, as he saw it as a crucial step towards fostering a sense of pride and unity among individuals of African descent. He considered it essential for African nations and communities to have their own flags to assert their identity, culture, and aspirations.

The three colors on the Pan-African flag represent red for the blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry, and shed for liberation, black for the people of Black African ancestry and green for the abundant natural wealth of Africa.
Red, black and green beauty 

Minstrel music song chorus for Every Race Has a Flag but the Coon

For Ireland has her Harp and Shamrock

England floats her Lion bold

Even China waves a Dragon

Germany an Eagle gold

Bonny Scotland loves a Thistle

Turkey has her Crescent Moon

And what won’t Yankees do for their Red, White, and Blue

Every race has a flag but the coon

Red, Black and Green, Every Race Has a Flag but the Coon
1900's Music Hits Every Race Has a Flag but the Coon

Fascinating History of the Red, Black, and Green Pan-African Flag

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Recipes as Revolution

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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.

Working Hands of Africa

The labor and love that feeds a continent

Hands holding African fruit

African Culture & Traditions

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How Fufu Explains Politics

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Slow Food Disappearance

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The Universal Plantain

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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.