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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.

Christmas & New Year in Africa

FOOD PROVERBS

Above the Influence African Proverb

African Proverb that makes sense

If you do not control your mind, someone else will, do not be easily influenced by people. As the African ancestors say “Depend, on your walking stick, not others", teaches, blindly following others instead of thinking for yourself is never a good idea.

Above the Influence African Proverb
Above the Influence African Proverb 

Above the Influence African Proverbs

A dog does not enter if the door is not open.

A man without enemies is like a river without stones.

By blackening another, you do not whiten yourself.

Crows gather where the flesh lies.

Nakedness turns round, hunger goes straight.

Breathe deeply and depend on your own walking stick

Not controlling your own mind and not depending on your own walking stick is needless strain taken such a stronghold that the very effort to live life quietly seems as unnatural as to cause much nervous misery. 

To turn the corner from the bad habit of codependency into a true and wholesome one is often very painful, but, the first pain worked through, the right habit grows more and easier, until finally, the better way carries us along and we take it on happily.

Conscious suffering from the strain of work and life needs to get relief, the first thing to do is to notice that it is less the work that tires us than the way of doing it, and the attitude of his mind toward it. Dropping the codependent strain and adopting a healthy mind makes life attractive and relieves the oppressive weariness of relationship addiction.

When you are ready to, you have to move your whole body in your daily life; the first care should be to move your feet and legs heavily. Feel as if each foot weighed a ton and each hand also; and while you sit take long, quiet breaths, breaths such as you see yourself taking when you are very quietly meditating. 

After learning how to breathe properly, your past and present sufferings will lose the power of accepting the abnormal and needs to be educated back to a self-fueled life. You own the power of using your own walking stick, distinguishing between the right and wrong in your own life.

Don't put your nose in a pot that does not boil for you.

More depending on your own walking stick African Proverbs

Don't put your nose in a pot that does not boil for you.

The locust lives only a little while, but it does great damage.

The pearl lies at the bottom of the sea, while the corpse floats on the surface.

The tongue breaks bones though it has none.

Thieves nowadays are not in the forests but in the offices.

You cannot stop the wind, the water, or people's tongues.

Under the pretty glove, the ugliest hand is hidden.

A dog does not enter if the door is not open.


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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.