African Food and Art: Sharing History and Heritage

Understand that you are not your past. When someone uses your past against you and enjoys reminding you of your past mistakes, all trust is lost and you cannot tell anything personal to anyone because you feel they will throw it all back in your face. What happened in the past is used to gain power and control over you by blaming and shaming you. Throwing Mud African Igbo Proverb teaches you cannot throw mud and stay clean. He who will hold another down in the mud must stay in the mud to keep him down - African Igbo Proverb  Releasing the past and those who trigger the memories associated with it, is a crucial step in moving forward and achieving peace of mind. It allows us to let go of the burden of past mistakes, hurts, and regrets, and focus instead on the present moment and creating a brighter future. By doing so, we are able to release ourselves from the chains that bind us to the past and embrace the endless possibilities that await us. Acceptance is the first step to letting g

Charging Cell Phones in Rural Africa Chic African Culture The simple task of charging a cell phone is no simple matter in rural African villages far from an electric grid. With the advent of tiny rooftop solar panels electricity could be accessible to millions. Mobile phone charging business in Uganda Africa African governments are struggling to meet to electric needs of the poorest of the poor living in rural areas. Living off-grid may be a lifestyle choice to some and a fact of everyday living to the poorest of the poor.  However, tiny rooftop solar panels and high-efficiency LED lights across the African continent could provide enough electricity to charge cell phones. Cell phones are vital for people in rural areas with no access to banks in order to send and receive money, access medical care and stay in contact with family and friends.  What does Off-Grid Mean? Off the grid (off-grid) means creating your own self-suf

Mount Koussi, also called Emi Koussi, located in northern Chad is the highest peak of Africa’s largest driest desert, the Sahara.  African Desert volcano Emi Koussi   The Sahara desert is not just miles and miles of sand  In the Sahara desert, there are lots of sand dunes, with some of them as high as 500 feet high, that’s a little more than one and a half football fields and is taller than the Statue of Liberty.  The Sahara is the largest desert on the African continent and is Earth's largest hot desert.   There are also volcanoes in the world’s largest hot desert, Emi Koussi .  The Emi Koussi volcano at 2.1 miles above sea level is the highest peak of Africa’s largest driest desert, the Sahara.    African Desert volcano,  Emi Koussi is located in northern Chad, at the southeastern end of the Tibesti Mountain Range in the Sahara desert.  Chad is largest of Africa's 16 landlocked countries with 1.284 million sq km or about 4.9 million sq miles of t

Potjiekos is a traditional South African Afrikaner stew cooked in a cast iron pot over an open fire. Our version of Potjiekos is made on the stovetop. Potjiekos ( Pot = potjie and Food =kos )  Potjiekos Chicken and Plantain Stew Potjiekos Chicken and Plantain Stew Ingredients 4 chicken thighs with skin 2 medium onions, finely sliced 2 ripe plantains, sliced 2 medium carrots, cut into strips 2 medium potatoes, diced 1 large tomato, sliced 2 sprigs chopped parsley 1 sprig thyme 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 hot pepper, finely chopped 1 teaspoon ground cloves 2 teaspoons curry powder 1 tablespoon of any flavor of chutney 2 dried bay leaves 4 cups water Salt and pepper to taste Directions To make a delicious and satisfying meal, gather all the required ingredients and add them to a generously sized stew pot with a lid. Let the mixture simmer gently for an hour, filling your home with mouth-watering aromas. Once ready, serve the hearty stew over a bed of fluffy rice or with a si

When you receive advice from a clever African Proverb and you are too stubborn to follow advice, do not be surprised at the pitiable results. You roll your eyes and say I know, I know, but, in the end, a tree falls on you and you die - African Proverb What is stubbornness. Stubbornness is basically a rooted resistance to change. Moreover, given that life is all about change, stubbornness is effective resistance to life itself. A fundamental resistance drives the person with stubbornness to being forced to do anything or experience anything against his will. The personality with stubbornness is over-sensitive to the possibility of having sudden or unwanted change imposed and sees the threat of it everywhere. Anything new, different, or involving change is perceived as a direct threat even if the change in question is positive and in the person’s best interests. In the case of stubbornness, the early negative experiences typically consist of domestic instability or upheaval an

Yesterday, today and tomorrow, children are our future teach them well and let them lead the way. Today’s seedlings are tomorrow's flowers – African Proverb Children African proverbs, sayings, and quotes Children are not dogs; adults are not Gods. Bricks and mortar make a house, but the laughter of children makes a home. We have not inherited this land from our ancestors; rather we have borrowed it from our children. Old men are twice children. Children speak in the field what they hear in the house. Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born in another time. He who teaches children learns more than they do. Parents who are afraid to put their foot down usually have children who step on their toes. One father is better at caring for ten children than ten children are for one father. Children are not dogs; adults are not Gods. Bricks and mortar make a house, but the laughter of children makes a home. We have not inherited this land from o

South African herbalists therapeutic oil recipe South African herbalists or Inyanga have thousands of years of herbal knowledge Treating ailments using plants growing in the garden and in the wild. Still, to this day, many South Africans have faith in the healing powers of the Inyanga. Black Rhino Therapeutic Oil Recipe Black Rhino Therapeutic Oil Recipe Ingredients 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 2 teaspoons ground black caraway seeds 1/2 teaspoon black sea salt or basic sea salt ½ cup olive oil Directions In a small saucepan add all ingredients carefully heat the oil up to body temperature or approximately 98 degrees Fahrenheit; if you accidentally allow the oil to get too hot, let it cool to the proper temperature. Caution, do not overheat mixture or you will cause severe burns, only use mixture lukewarm which is 98 degrees F or 36 degrees Celsius. Uses - Variations of Black Rhino Therapeutic Oil recipe has been used for centuries by natural healers. Apply the luk

It is a common belief male frogs croaks are love serenades meant to attract a lover. However, the true reason frogs  croak  is explained in the ancient African Short Story Folklore Why Frogs Croak. Why Frogs Croak African Short Story Folklore The animals arrange a wrestling match between frog and elephant.  It is agreed that at the beginning of the match, at the signal each contestant will rush forward into the wrestling match and begin the contest.  However, the elephant comes so fast, that he stumbles and falls over on his back, frog jumps through elephant's legs, pins him and wins the match.  All Frog's relatives began to croak, and to this day, they crock to each other celebrating the victory over the elephant. [Read Next: Short African Story of Death, Disease, and Shame .] Learn more about Africa. Roots of Africanized Christianity Spiritual Songs Chocolate Processing Facts History and Recipes Awesome Kenyan Woman Land is Not

In Kibera Kenya, AfricA touring slums for profit is a normal part of life. Life in Kibera is characterized by extreme poverty and tourism dollars. Generations have lived in Kenya’s largest slum of Kibera, one of Africa’s largest squatters settlements. Kibera slum is well known for its crime, overcrowding, poverty, lack of proper sanitation and of course tourism. Kibera Slum in Kenya is a little smaller than New York’s Central Park and receives just as many tourists. Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture Kibera (Key-bear-a) is a Nubian word meaning Forest or Jungle. Slum tourism is alive and well in Africa and Kenya Kibera is no exception. Selling guided trips through Kibera, a short drive from the luxury hotels that serve most foreign visitors in Nairobi is not unusual. Paying Money To Tour Slums in Africa In Kibera Kenya, touring slums in Africa for profit is a normal part of life   Over 100 years ago

Rotting from the inside out. Beautiful on the outside, but rotten on the inside, dressed up trash can African Proverbs teaches people who do not respect themselves can never respect anyone else. Dressed Up Trash Can African Proverbs Dressed Up Trash Can African Proverbs Ten Dressed Up Trash Can African Proverbs The tail of a goat cleans where it is seated. Pure truth, like pure gold, has been found unfit for circulation. Do not scratch the cockroach's scars. It is the feathers that make a chicken big. Things please the more the farther fetched. A liar is like heap of straw that covers other things while its own roots are wet. He who has not clapped what neighbor is success that means he has a baboon's heart. The wise man does that at first which the fool must do at last. Once swallowed it is not sweet anymore. Manhood is beneath the clothing. Punishment follows hard upon crime. O dabi iru eefin kan, ti o dara julọ ti o si jẹ ọlọla sibẹ t

What does Ostrich meat taste like? Ostrich meat tastes like beef. Ostrich Meat is a red meat low in fat and is used in any recipe using red meat. Ostrich meat is naturally low in fat and is used for frying, stewing, sautéing or in any of dish as a substitute for beef. Ostrich Vegetable Stew Recipe Ingredients 1 ½ pounds cleaned ostrich 4 cloves garlic crushed 2 diced medium sized tomatoes 1 medium onion, sliced 1 cup baby carrots 2 cups peeled diced yucca  3 cups green beans 1 teaspoon lemon juice 2 teaspoons coriander 1 hot pepper chopped 2 cups vegetable stock Salt and pepper to taste Directions In a large pot on medium heat, add oil then sauté garlic one minute. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer covered for 30 minutes. Did you know Ostrich Meat is a red meat low in fat and is used in any recipe using red meat. More economical easy breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes to make right now so you never have to eat or prepare a boring meal again. Curried Tanzan

Plantain Cassava Foufou is a staple African food recipe made throughout the African continent.  How to eat Foufou Simply tear off a small piece of Foufou, hold it with your fingers making a slight indentation to keep the food, and scoop up a small portion bringing the food and tasty Foufou into your mouth and savoring the homemade taste.  Plantain Cassava Foufou African recipe is indispensable to any meal to scoop up delicious food and soak up every bit of flavor. Pounded Foufou Foufou, also known as fufu or foofoo, is a staple food in several West African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, and the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire. While there are similarities in the preparation and consumption of foufou across these countries, there are also some notable differences in ingredients and regional variations. In Ghana, foufou is typically made from pounded yam, plantains, or cassava. The chosen starchy ingredient is boiled, pounded, or mashed into a smooth, thick consistency.

The rich need the poor. Survival of the Fattest, obese Europeans starving Africa Survival of the Fattest is a sculpture of a small starving African man, carrying Lady Justice, a huge obese European woman who is a symbol of the rich world. Survival of the Fattest Meaning The copper statue Survival of the Fattest by Jens Galschiøt and Lars Calmar was created in 2002. The fat woman is holding a pair of scales as a symbol of justice however; she is closing her eyes so the justice. Galschiot symbolized the woman as being blind, refusing to see the obvious injustice. For the rich people of the world the main issue in life is that of overeating while people in the third world are dying every day from hunger. The misery of imbalanced wealth distribution is creating floods of refugees. However the rich only want to preserve their privileges and take measures so harsh against the poor they betray their morals and humanism.   Survival of the Fattest has been displayed throughou

Life Beginnings And Endings Beginnings and Endings No matter how long the night, the day is sure to come shows us to open our eyes and wait for dawn when we will see things in a different light. Life Beginnings And Endings, hold tight to the dawn African Proverb Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture Change and new beginnings are beautiful stressful messes, but growth is impossible without new beginnings. If you cannot accept new beginnings your mind, you cannot change anything in your life. Our openness to ourselves tells the world that we are worthy of affection, not enmity. Our strength derives not merely from the good times in life, but from those that test the rich love of spirit. Rejection, hatred, skepticism, and xenophobia are all ugly words that drag your spirit under murky waters without hope of breathing fresh air. Dark minutes in life cannot define the rich love of spirit, just like changes of the seasons we are constantly spro

Chura Dance Twerking on the Beach in Africa African singer Snura Mushi Hawashi, Frog Dance or Chura twerking music video is claimed to be immoral and against the African country of Tanzania moral beliefs. Chura Dance Twerking in Africa  with Tanzania African singer Snura Chura Dance Twerking in Africa The thick plus sized twerking on the beach in Africa, bouncing, throwing one leg up and grinding, female African singer Snura Mushi's music video Chura is a hit among her fans, but not for the government of Tanzania.  The government declares the Chura song breaches the moral fabric of the public being crude and vulgar video for ages 18 and older. The ministry's Head of Information and Communication, Zawadi Msalla, said that the ban was imposed due to immoral acts in the video.  According to Msalla, the ban will be withdrawn if the artist makes amend of her Chura video and completing the procedures of registering her artistic work at the National Arts Council, BASATA.

DIY African Print No Sew Throw Pillows Transform an ordinary room with African print throw pillows without picking up a needle and thread. Add African culture to your home with a few easy steps and create beautiful DIY African print no sew throw pillows. Simple African Print No Sew Throw Pillows Supplies · 3/4 yard African print ·16" square pillow form · Iron on no sew adhesive bonding tape ·Fabric scissors · Iron and ironing board Directions Use a water-soluble marker to draw a template for cutting the pillow shape from your fabric. Cut both layers of fabric at the same time; turn fabric prints facing each other.   Fold over three edges of fabric 1 inch and run the adhesive tape along the edges. Use an iron and lots of steam to secure the fabric. Let pillow sit for 5 minutes then turn the pillow inside out and stuff in the pillow form. Finish by repeating previous steps to secure the fabric edges closed. Congratulations yo

Can one person know everything? In the African Folklore story of The Man Who Knew Everything, Nyeri learns a valuable lesson to listen first and then speak. The Man Who Knew Everything African Folklore Story In the village ruled by his friend, King Mwangi, Nyeri arrived as an outsider, a guest in a realm not entirely his own. Little did the villagers know that Nyeri, despite his status as a visitor, carried a critical eye that seemed to seek out imperfections like a hawk searching for prey. Nyeri's discerning gaze quickly fixed upon the rice fields, where he deemed the crop not planted to his liking. The fish traps, meticulously crafted by generations of skilled hands, fell under his scrutiny as being made contrary to his perceived standards. Even the sturdy huts, which had weathered storms and stood as a testament to the villagers' resilience, did not escape Ny