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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.

Trusted by: Wikipedia • Emory University African Studies • University of Kansas • University of KwaZulu-Natal • MDPI Scholarly Journals.
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From political insights through food to traditional wisdom and modern solutions - explore Africa's depth.

Every Strength Is A Weakness, Every Weakness Is Strength

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📁 Affirmations 📁 African proverbs

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Every Strength Is A Weakness, Every Weakness Is Strength African Proverbs

Better fifty enemies outside than one within

How African proverbs are perceived among African people

African Proverbs are a force and have the power to change behavior because the truths portrayed in them are so simple and undeniable that the morals and advice they have, people feel obliged to conduct their lives in the manner prescribed in the African proverbs simply because they are from the wise elders of old. Many African Proverbs convey the truth, every strength is a weakness, and every weakness is strength.

African Cosmos

35 Every Strength Is A Weakness, Every Weakness Is Strength African Proverbs

You are not a loving person; you don't remember good deeds.

Everyone is proud of himself, no one sees himself as ugly.

Good can come out of evil. 

That which is meant to be yours will come your way.

Laugh with them, but it’s not good for you.

A farmer who has a big cutlass may try to fell a big tree with it, or strike it against any stick; but pretty soon, he will find himself with a broken cutlass.

Being greedy for more, you can miss all.

The school of an arrogant principal is unpopular.

Even though I’m lost in Africa I’m home.

The hasty rat misses its hole.

Suffering, it is by you our wealth began.

The danger lies on ease things.

One who gives to earn praise will impoverish himself.

What was withheld as secret thought will come out through a slip of tongue. 

You can be punished as you do sin on the spot. But for others it can come later. 

Even sweet things have their limits.

Who I am

What will small birds overlook, the bigger ones will carry.

Proud people who claim to be self-sufficient are left alone in time of need. 

Days look alike but yet they are not the same. 

If you refuse to work in a far away field, you will find yourself obliged to dwell there.

Productivity in work is better than the mislead use of strength.

When the chiefs are fighting against each other, the little ones are the greatest loosers. 

When the people are numerous, there will be found somebody who is troublesome.

It is when you are in difficulty that you will know who is really your friend.

Foolishness precedes cleverness, cleverness follows.

The one who takes no advice will get hurt with small matters. 

I see, I see, and in the end the tree falls on you and you die. 

The  hen cannot lay eggs of crocodiles, and crocodiles can not lay eggs of hens.

African proverb

More African Proverbs from the motherland.

  1. Your Attitude African Proverbs
  2. What is an African Proverb
  3. Do not invite evil to sit at your table then cry
  4. Mean Coworkers African Proverbs
  5. Having Faith African Proverbs

Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=
The African Gourmet explores how African food, history, and science intertwine. Here, a plant is a healer, a story is a map, and the kitchen is a laboratory. I’m Ivy — a writer raised by historians, now sharing Africa’s wisdom from the U.S. through cookbooks, cultural research, and storytelling. If you’re curious about where flavor meets memory, you belong here.

Recipes Explain Politics

When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations."

The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe.

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

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

Read the Rice Riots Analysis → Try Liberian Rice Bread Recipe
Understanding Africa through the stories our food tells • Since 2006

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Africa × World: Editor's Picks

Cross-continental food, science, history, and cultural exchanges from the archive

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.