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The African Gourmet

The African Gourmet: Explore African Culture & Recipes

One bowl of fufu can explain a war. One proverb can outsmart a drought.
Welcome to the real Africa—told through food, memory, and truth.

Christmas & New Year in Africa

Christmas & New Year Across Africa

Holiday traditions, recipes, and celebrations

Christmas across Africa

Merry Christmas in African Languages

Traditions
Krampus dessert

Krampus's Favorite African Dessert

Recipes
New Year fireworks in Africa

How Africa Celebrates New Year

Celebrations
Black eyed pea casserole

New Year's Black Eyed Pea Casserole

Luck & Prosperity

FOOD PROVERBS

African Food Proverbs

Culinary wisdom passed down through generations

African food sayings and proverb

Best Ten African Food Sayings & Proverbs

Culinary Wisdom
Meat stew representing animal wisdom

Honoring Animal: African Wisdom of Thankfulness

Gratitude
Diverse hands placing food on shared table

Bring Something to the Table

Community
Lemon varieties representing spice of life

6 African Proverbs That Will Spice Up Your Cooking

Transformation

Learn Southern Africa Braai Vocabulary

Explore More Content

📁 African food 📁 African Food Culture 📁 African Ingredients 📁 African Recipes

Popular in This Category

Braai Dictionary

The word braai is a South African Afrikaans language word pronounced BRY rhyming with why.

Braai is popular in Southern Africa especially with people who live in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. 

Braai may have originated with the South African Afrikaner people, but has since been adopted by South Africans of many ethnic backgrounds. 

An important distinction between a braai and a barbecue is that it’s fairly uncommon for a braai to use gas rather than an open flame.

Women rarely braai at a social gathering, as this is normally the braai realm of men.
 
Braai is popular in Southern Africa

Learn Southern Africa Braai Vocabulary

Braaivleis is the roasted meat.
 
Braai is barbecue or roast.
 
Vleis is the raw meat used to cook.
 
Braaier or Baas is the chef and the boss, person in charge.
 
Braaistand is the fire or grill.
 
Varkstert is a tool for turning meat.
 
Braai hi jacker is someone you don’t really want to invite but, you have too.
 
Braaimaster is the master of the grill.
 
Doek Sag is very tender meat.
 
Flou kole is tired at the end of a long braai and drinking.
 
Jislaaik is what you say when the braaier managed to turn a very big steak without trouble.
 
Halaal Braai is a braai where all meat used is Halaal meat from animals that have been slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law.
 
O gatta! is an exclamation when you burnt the meat or the police are coming.
 
FlattyBraaied chicken is chicken cut open and spread flat open on braai grill.
 
Breakfast braai is early morning braai, taking place before noon.
 
Krismisbraai is the braai that many Southern Africans have on the Christmas Day December 25.
 
Braai has been around for centuries and has truly stood the test of time. One simple spice recipe is a basic beef rub of garlic, coriander, allspice and many other fragrant ingredients, enjoy this recipe next time you grill meat on an open fire.

Picking peppers in South Africa

South African Simple Braai Spice Recipe

1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground allspice

Spice Recipe


Read more facts and food recipes about Africa

African people are praised for good eats, proverbs, history, and traditions. Learn more about Africa from the articles below.

West African Ginger Beer Recipe

Sierra Leone Fish Soup Recipe

African Countries and Capitals That Begin with M Word Search

Quick and Easy Bitter Leaf Stew Recipe

All 54 African countries have national anthems.


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African Recipes Organized by Meal Time

African Drinks & Beverages

Snacks & Appetizers

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Desserts

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About the Author

A Legacy Resource, Recognized Worldwide

For 19 years, The African Gourmet has preserved Africa's stories is currently selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives, the world's premier guardian of cultural heritage.

Trusted by: Wikipedia • Emory University African Studies • University of Kansas • University of KwaZulu-Natal • MDPI Scholarly Journals.
Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

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Recipes as Revolution

Recipes as Revolution

When food becomes protest and meals carry political meaning

Loading revolutionary recipes...
African woman farmer

She Feeds Africa

Before sunrise, after sunset, seven days a week — she grows the food that keeps the continent alive.

60–80 % of Africa’s calories come from her hands.
Yet the land, the credit, and the recognition still belong to someone else.

Read her story →

To every mother of millet and miracles —
thank you.

Working Hands of Africa

The labor and love that feeds a continent

Hands holding African fruit

African Culture & Traditions

Harvest & Heritage
Hands preparing fufu

How Fufu Explains Politics

Food & Power
Farming hands in Africa

Slow Food Disappearance

Farming & Tradition
Hands with plantains

The Universal Plantain

Cooking & Community

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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.