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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

Christmas & New Year Across Africa

Holiday traditions, recipes, and celebrations

Christmas across Africa

Merry Christmas in African Languages

Traditions
Krampus dessert

Krampus's Favorite African Dessert

Recipes
New Year fireworks in Africa

How Africa Celebrates New Year

Celebrations
Black eyed pea casserole

New Year's Black Eyed Pea Casserole

Luck & Prosperity

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

Ivory Coast Does Not Exist, Her Name is Cote d'Ivoire

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📁 African facts

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What’s in a name?

Ivory Coast name changed in 1986 to Cote d'Ivoire.

Cote%2Bd%2527Ivoire%2Bmap%2Bof%2BAfrican%2Bcountry

Foreign overseas traders and exporters solely according to the business and trade economies roughly divided Africa into four coasts; Pepper Coast, Ivory Coast, Gold Coast and the Slave Coast.

The French named the African country of Côte d'Ivoire which literally means Ivory Coast. Côte d'Ivoire was unofficially known as Costa do Marfim and côte des dents or the teeth coast; Ivory Coast reflects the trade in ivory.

The area that became the Ivory Coast on August 7, 1960, previously had been under French sovereignty. The state’s name changed from Ivory Coast to Cote D’Ivoire in 1986.

In 1986, the African government of Côte d'Ivoire declared the République de Côte d'Ivoire to be its formal name, and country must always be referred to by the French name. 

Despite this request by the government, the African country of Côte d'Ivoire is still incorrectly referred to as Ivory Coast for over 30 years.

The Nationality of Côte d'Ivoire citizens is Ivoirian. Foreigners from West Africa, Europe (mainly France), and Lebanon composed about 25% of the population by 1998. 

The latest estimates from 2012 place the foreign population of Côte d'Ivoire at nearly 22% and a median age of 20 years old.

For the nation known today as Côte d’Ivoire, this was a significant matter. In 1986, the Ivorian government officially asserted their identity on the global stage by declaring their country’s name to be Côte d’Ivoire in all languages, rejecting the colonial-era term Ivory Coast. This decision was not merely semantic it was a deliberate act of reclaiming their narrative from a time when their identity was reduced to trade.

Côte d'Ivoire is French for Ivory Coast however using the English word Ivory denotes the county is a commodity in the former slave trade instead of an African country with life and energy. By honoring the name Côte d’Ivoire, we acknowledge the nation’s history, culture, and independence, recognizing it as it defines itself, rather than as it was once labeled by others.What’s in a name? The power of a name and its value is immeasurable.

Cocoa, oil, and coffee are Cote d'Ivoire top export revenue earners.


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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.

Working Hands of Africa

The labor and love that feeds a continent

Hands holding African fruit

African Culture & Traditions

Harvest & Heritage
Hands preparing fufu

How Fufu Explains Politics

Food & Power
Farming hands in Africa

Slow Food Disappearance

Farming & Tradition
Hands with plantains

The Universal Plantain

Cooking & Community

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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.