The African Gourmet: African Cuisine, Folktales and Cultural Stories

He Who Holds Another in the Mud Must Stay There — Igbo African Proverb Meaning He Who Holds Another in the Mud Must Stay There — Igbo African Proverb Meaning The Igbo proverb “He who will hold another down in the mud must stay in the mud to keep him down” teaches a timeless moral truth. When someone seeks to shame, control, or harm others, they degrade themselves in the process. To keep someone beneath you, you must remain there as well. Across Africa, proverbs serve as essential teachers. They shape ethical thinking, guide relationships, and preserve community balance. This Igbo saying offers guidance on dignity, justice, self-governance, and emotional maturity. Cultural Context: Understanding Why This Proverb Matters African ethical systems emphasize: Community wellbeing Fairness and reciprocity Personal accountability A person who humiliates another cannot stay clean. Public shaming and gossip injure not only the victim but also the aggress...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

African Medicinal Plants Traditional Healing Wisdom & Modern Applications Home > African History > African Medicinal Plants Hub For millennia, African communities have harnessed the healing power of nature. This comprehensive hub brings together traditional knowledge and modern research on Africa's most powerful medicinal plants, exploring their uses, benefits, and cultural significance across the continent. African Medicinal Plants Collection Powerful Healing Plants Cancer Bush Leaves: Traditional Uses & Modern Research Explore the potential of this remarkable plant in traditional cancer trea...

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 Woma...

In Kibera Kenya, 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, N...

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 Ta...

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 consiste...