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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.

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Charles Mumbere From CNA to African King

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Charles Mumbere From CNA to Ugandan African King

King Charles Wesley Mumbere is the the first reigning king in post-independence Uganda to be arrested, remanded and charged with murder.

Charles Wesley Mumbere, known by his royal title Irema-Ngoma I, is the king of the African kingdom of Rwenzururu, a subnational kingdom within Uganda. In November 2016, King Charles Mumbere was arrested after a government raid on his palace in which more than 80 people died.

The government has accused the Rwenzururu kingdom in Kasese district of recruiting and training militants that are seeking secession from the rest of Uganda to create their own republic, to be called Yira. Before becoming king, Mumbere spent many years living in the US, where he worked in a Pennsylvania nursing home.

The Nande and Konjo are a Bantu speaking ethnic group, they speak Konjo language. They live in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in the Rwenzori Mountains of southwest Uganda. Their King Charles Wesley Mumbere is the the first reigning king in post-independence Uganda to be arrested, remanded and charged with murder.


Charles Wesley Mumbere African King

The Nande of Congo and the Konjo people of Uganda are a single ethnic group, called the Yira. They trace their origins to the Ruwenzori Mountains between the two countries.

Their population in Congo is estimated to be 7.5 million while in Uganda they are about 1.5 million, their king is known as King Charles Mumbere. He was crowned King in October 2009 after returning from exile in the United States working as a nurses aid in a Pennsylvania nursing home.

On November 27, 2016 Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) commandos attack King Mumbere’s palace in Kasese Town, leaving 46 royal guards dead as government forces pursue suspects believed to have been involved in the attacks. King Mumbere is also arrested and flown to Kampala Uganda as the army brands him a terrorist and rebel leader.

The King was charged with murder. The arrest affidavit stated Charles Wesley Mumbere and others still at large on March 24, 2016 at Field Force Unit Detach in Kidondo Cell in Central Division, Kasese Municipality in Kaseses District murdered police constable Kasimba Godfrey. The king was jailed in Uganda Kirinya prison until December 13, 2016.

King Charles Wesley Mumbere was granted bail in January 2017; the case was postponed until June 2017 and granted a bail extended to February 2018. His case to date has not been brought to trial.

Did you know? The Konjo people believe in monotheism, animism, vitalism, spirit, ancestor worship, and witchcraft and sorcery. They believe ancestral spirit could bring good or bad luck in the community such as getting a prosperous generation, having good harvests for the farmers and also good luck for fishermen also it can bring a curse in the community like death, drought and famine.

Spiritual Insight: Discover how ancestral spirits and modern beliefs intersect in Night Running in Africa: Tribal Art, Witchcraft, or Sadism .

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
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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.

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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.

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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.