Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Did you know?

1. No African country names begin with the letters F, H, I, J, O, P, Q, V, W, X, or Y.

2. Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent.

3. The Republic of the Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa.

Examples of Cooking in Africa

Photos from recent cooking escapades in Africa making homemade African food recipes for family and friends.
 
African cooking in Rwanda camp for internally displaced people

Examples of cooking good food in Africa

You do not have to be a classically trained chef to make delicious food.


Banku or Akple is fermented corn or cassava dough mixed proportionally and cooked in hot water into a smooth whitish consistent paste. Served with soup, stew or a pepper sauce with fish.

Making Banku in Ghana

Making Banku in Ghana

Beatrice Ananga cooking a mix of Gnetum (okok) and Peanuts in the village of Minwoho, Lekié, Center Region, Cameroon.

Cooking Gnetum in Cameroon

Cooking Gnetum in Cameroon

Women cooking vegetable porridge in the village of Maderia, in Gemechis, a district of Oromia Region in Ethiopia.

Making lunch for the family in Ethiopia

Making lunch for the family in Ethiopia

Carrying shea to the cooking area. The nuts are crushed, roasted then pounded and ground into a fine paste. The paste is mixed with water to separate the fat, which is then manually churned into creamy butter, Burkina Faso.

Shea nut processing

Carrying shea to the cooking area in Burkina Faso.

Jeanne Mwakembe and Bernardette Maselé at the Moutuka Nunene market in Lukolela, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Women at the market in DRC

Women at the market in DRC

Kids collecting vegetables, Yangambi, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Armful of greens

Kids collecting vegetables, Yangambi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Cooking a meal of vegetable soup made from locally available products in the village of Maderia, in Gemechis, a woreda district of Oromia Region Ethiopia.

Prep for vegetable soup

Cooking a meal of vegetable soup in Ethiopia

Using a pestle and mortar to prepare a rice meal in Atsimo-Atsinanana the Republic of Madagascar.  

Using a pestle and mortar to prepare a rice meal in Atsimo-Atsinanana the Republic of Madagascar.

Throughout the island of Madagascar, recipes typically consists of rice and vegetables


An African bird called the greater honeyguide is famous for leading honey hunters to Mozambique precious honey.

Part of the honey harvest from a wild bees' nest in the Niassa National Reserve, Mozambique.


An African bird called the greater honeyguide is famous for leading honey hunters to Mozambique precious honey.

Ghana Fish Stew

Woman cooking fish in Ghana.

Woman cooking fish in Ghana

Recipe for Fresh Ghanaian Fish Stew

Ingredients
2 mackerel fillets
2 tsp tomato purée
3 small pieces young fresh root ginger finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 medium onions, chopped
1 scotch bonnet, finely chopped
2 whole cloves
1 tsp smoked paprika 
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp coriander seeds
3 medium diced tomatoes
1 sprig thyme
1 Irish potato, diced
2 cups frozen okra
1 tsp oil

Directions
Heat the oil in a large pot, fry ginger, garlic, onion and scotch bonnet until light golden-brown and softened. Add cloves, paprika, fennel and coriander. Stir in the remaining tomato puree; add tomatoes, thyme and potatoes. Simmer 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft.
Gnetum (Gnetum africanum and G. buchholzianum), is a climbing vine in the tropical rainforest of West and Central Africa. The leaves are highly valued as a nutritious green vegetable.

Cooking in small village Cameroon Africa

Preparing the Gnetum for making okok in the village of Minwoho, Lekié, Center Region, Cameroon.

Africa is surrounded by water but is not an island, here are a few African Island facts.

Madagascar is the 4th large island in the world and is located in the Indian Ocean supporting a unique biology, about 90% of its plants and animals are found nowhere else on earth.

Composed of 155 islands, Seychelles is Africa's smallest country. By far the largest island is Mahe, home to about 90% of the population and the site of its capital city of Victoria.

Cabo Verde has a strategic location 310 miles or 500 km from the west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site.

Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent. Continents can not be considered islands because of their size and also by historic definition since many people who study geography define islands and continents as two different things.

This Week’s Best Posts and Pages

Exploring the Rich Waterways of Africa

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Around 5% of mainland Africa is covered by water, including lakes, rivers, estuaries, bays, straits, gulfs and other bodies of water.  Africa is home to some of the world's largest rivers and lakes, such as the Nile River and Lake Victoria. While up to 60% of Africa is classified as desert or drylands, a total volume of around 626.4 million cubic miles (2.616 billion cubic kilometers) of water surrounds Africa. The water resources of Africa play a vital role in supporting the continent's ecosystems, as well as the lives and livelihoods of millions of people who depend on them for drinking water, agriculture, energy generation, industry and commerce. Water is life Exploring the Rich Waterways of Africa: A Look at the Number and Diversity of Lakes and Rivers on the African Continent. Two oceans border Africa. The five major oceans of the world are the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean. There are two oceans that border Africa - the Atlan
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African Food Culture from Jollof to Injera

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From Jollof to Injera: A Journey Through African Food Culture Africa is a vast continent larger than Europe, Antarctica, and Australia combined. Africa is also larger than North and South America combined.  With a continent that large with a diverse range of cultures and food no most popular food is the favorite food throughout Africa.  The ingredients and recipes of the cuisine varies greatly from region to region in Africa. However, if we must choose, five of the most popular African dishes are Jollof rice, Tagine, Injera, Bobotie and Ndolé. Jollof Rice is a spicy and flavorful dish made with rice, tomatoes, onions, and a variety of spices. It is a staple dish in West Africa and is often served with chicken, beef, or fish. Tagine is a slow-cooked stew of meat, vegetables, and spices that is a popular dish in North Africa. It is typically served with couscous or bread. Injera is a sourdough flatbread that is a staple in Ethiopian cuisine. It is typically served with stews or curries
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Rising Above the Dust the World of Evala Wrestling

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Rising Above the Dust Exploring the Grueling Traditional World of Evala Wrestling. Evala is traditional wrestling that is a physically demanding sport that requires strength, agility, and skill. The Evala Wrestling Festival is an annual cultural festival that takes place in the northern region of Togo, particularly among the Ewe tribes of the Agni and Kabye people.  The Evala Festival is usually held during the months of June and July and is a celebration of strength, endurance, and bravery among young Agni and Kabye men.  Wrestling is a popular sport in Togo, particularly among the Kabye people, who are known for their strength and physical prowess.  There are many reasons why wrestling is so popular in Togo. Wrestling has been a part of the culture of many West African societies for centuries, and it is often seen as a rite of passage for young men.  Basic rules of traditional Evala wrestling. Matches are typically contested between two wrestlers of similar weight and age. The object
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What is the difference between ugali and fufu

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How to make the popular African recipes Ugali and Fufu and what is the difference.  Ugali is a starch dish in Kenya and Tanzania made of fine cornmeal cooked in boiling water into a soft dough. Fufu is a thick, dough-like West African food made by boiling then pounding a starchy vegetable such as yam, plantain, or cassava or a mixture of starchy vegetables. The main difference between fufu and ugali is fufu is boiled first then pounded while ugali is simply boiled. Ugali recipe. Easy Ugali Recipe Prep time 5 minutes Cook time 30 minutes Total time 30 minutes Ingredients 4 cups finely ground cornmeal 8 cups water Directions Heat water to boiling in a saucepan. Slowly pour cornmeal into boiling water stirring continuously. Add more cornmeal if necessary until it is thick as soft bread dough. Serve immediately with vegetables, stew, or any dish you would use a spoon with to soak up the sauce, ugali is purposely bland tasting on its own. What is the difference between ugali and
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African cultures express, encourage, and communicate energy

African cultures express, encourage, and communicate energy

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Being African in America I have grown up learning about different ethnic cultures. My father and mother are historians of African culture and history and their influence expanded my activities to several best-selling cookbooks, magazine columns, self-branded products, and a popular African culture and food blog.

Chic African Culture

Be better than average and support African history and culture. Since 2008 Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet highlight Africa through her food and culture. Contact us culture1africangourmet@gmail.com

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