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About the Author

A Legacy Resource, Recognized Worldwide

For 19 years, The African Gourmet has preserved Africa's stories through food, history, and folklore. Selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives, the world's premier guardian of cultural heritage, ensuring our digital timeline endures for generations.

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Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

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

Beautifully Rotten African Proverbs

Beautifully Rotten African ProverbsBeautifully Rotten African Proverbs. Beautiful on the outside, but rotten on the inside, beautifully rotten African Proverbs teaches people who do not respect themselves can never respect others.

Three beautiful on the outside, but rotten on the inside African Proverbs.

Beautifully Rotten Cockroach problem African Proverb
Beautifully Rotten African Proverb
Five beautiful on the outside, but rotten on the inside African Proverbs.
Beautifully Rotten African Proverb
Beautiful on the outside, but rotten on the inside, beautifully rotten African Proverb
Beautifully Rotten African Proverb


More Beautifully Rotten African Proverbs

Beautifully Rotten African Proverbs teach us in everyday life to be inspired with ancient words of wisdom from African ancestors and elders. 25 beautiful on the outside, but rotten on the inside African Proverbs.

A bed for two is not a bed for three.

A thief never watches his own home; he watches his neighbor’s.

Conspiracy is stronger than witchcraft.

Dogs make their dinner upon what belongs to fools.

Fair words buy horses on credit.

Great talker, great liar.

He who kills his own body, works for the worms.

It is only the shoes that know if the stockings have holes.

It is when the wind is blowing that folks can see the skin of a fowl.

Lazy folks ask for work with their lips but their hearts pray God that they may not find it.

Liars are always ready to make promises.

Save a thief from hanging and he will cut your throat.




Beautifully Rotten African Proverbs

Spoon goes to bowl’s house; bowl never goes to spoon’s house.

The cow never says thank you to the pasture.

The drum makes a great fuss because it is empty inside.

The hog knows well what sort of tree to rub himself against.

The knife knows what is in the heart of the pumpkin.

The monkey smothers its young one by hugging it too much.

The one holds the skillet that knows the cost of lard.

The teeth are not the heart.

Too much jewelry, empty cabinet.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, only not to-day, lazy people always say.

What troubles the eyes affects the nose.

When the Devil goes to church he hides his tail.

Wherever there are bones, there are dogs.

Women go to church but they no sooner return when the devil piles more sins upon them.

Beautifully Rotten African Proverbs


Getting to Know Africa

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Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

Recipes Explain Politics

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

Africa Worldwide: Top Reads

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.