Chic African Culture Blog

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. African tech startups raise billions of dollars annually, seven African start-ups were included in the World Economic Forum 2021 cohort of 100 Technology Pioneers.

Xhosa Tribe Made at Home Ingceke Sun Cream

South African Xhosa tribe traditionally make ingceke sun-cream which is a mixture of water and clay to protect themselves from the burning rays of the sun and used as skin ointment to treat rashes and eczema. 

Ingceke is a traditional broad spectrum sunscreen that provides black Africans skin protection from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Sunscreen for African skin is essential in the unrelenting South Africa sun. Learn the use of Ingceke sunscreen cream made from the sausage tree.

Sunscreen Wearing south African tribal woman
Ingceke is a traditional broad spectrum sunscreen

The special sunscreen lotion for African skin made by the South African Xhosa tribe may look like paint for a traditional dance performance but it is simply sunscreen. The white creamy sunscreen lotion for black South African skin is called ingceke. It is used as a sunscreen and skin ointment for protection and healing against the harsh South African sun and wind.

In the Eastern Cape Province conditions inland are usually drier and hotter and there is a lower rainfall level than at the coast. The South African region has Subtropical weather, during the summer months temperatures range from 74℉ - 92℉ or 23℃ - 33℃ between September and April. January is usually the hottest month with hot and humid days, sunscreen then becomes an essential item.   

The Xhosa traditionally make ingceke sun-cream which is a mixture of water and clay to protect themselves from the burning rays of the sun and used as skin ointment to treat rashes and eczema.

Fair-skinned people are likely to absorb more solar energy than dark-skinned people under the same conditions. Given the recognized public health benefits of sunscreen use, Africans use sunscreen with other sun protective measures to make a difference in how well they are able to protect themselves from sunburn, skin cancer, early skin aging and other risks of overexposure to the sun.

Sunscreen comes in many forms such as:

Lotions
Creams
Gels
Oils
Butters
Pastes
Sprays

The popular ingceke cream is made from the fruit of the exotic sausage tree. The fruits are ground to a pulp, burnt to ash and pounded with water to make a white paste to apply to the face and body.

Xhosa ingceke cream is not paint but the ash of the fruit of the sausage tree. Sunscreen for dark skin is essential in the unrelenting South Africa sun. The Xhosa people of southeastern South Africa are the second largest cultural group in South Africa. South African Xhosa tribe traditionally make ingceke sun-cream at home. Ingceke sunscreen cream is made from the sausage tree, Kigelia africana.

Together we build awareness that boost harmony, education, and success, below are more links to articles you will find thought provoking.

  1. Historical African Country Name
  2. Top 20 Largest Countries in Africa
  3. How many countries does Africa have?
  4. Awesome Kenyan Woman
  5. Land is Not For Women in Sierra Leone
  6. African Kente Cloth Facts


Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

Translate

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

Top ten African countries with the most Gold Olympic medals

Image
Gold Olympic Medals Africa Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Cameroon, and Nigeria are the top ten African countries with the most Gold Olympic medals. 10 African countries with the most Gold Olympic medals How much do you know about Africa's history at the Summer Olympics Games? The 2016 summer Olympic Games in Rio officially known as the Games of the XXXI Olympiad has been a part of Africa’s history since 1904. Also in Rio 2016, the first-ever Team Refugees will stand before the world and prove that you can succeed no matter where you're from. Top ten African countries with the most Gold Olympic medals African Country Gold Silver Bronze Total Kenya 24 33 29 86 South Africa 23 26 27
Learn More

Using Amen and Ashe or Ase

Image
Usage of Amen and Ashe or Ase Ashe to Amen learn about the custom of using the words Ashe and Amen historically. Where did the word Amen and Ashe come from why is it said and what does it mean? In Judaism, 3,500 years old and Christian religions 2,000 years old, Amen, means may it be so. In the African Yoruba language among the Yoruba people whose culture is as old as time, Ashe or Ase means may it be so. Ase or Ashe means power, commandment, and authority, the ability to make whatever one says happen from the spiritual to the physical realm. In the Yoruba language, Ashe is omnipresent spiritual energy. Followers of Judaism and Christian religions use the word Amen. It is the word utilized to end prayers as an affirmation for the requests to be provided by God. Yoruba is as old as time, Ashe refers to the life force within all living things, the spark that animates life. It is used as a term used in the same manner as Amen at the end of appeals and prayers as an affirmati
Learn More

South African Beef Curry Recipe

Image
Perfect South African Apricot Beef Curry Recipe South African beef curry recipe is a South African food recipe to share around the world while learning about South Africa rainbow nation food history and favorite recipes of Black African, Colored mixed race ancestry, White, and Indian. South African Beef Curry Recipe When it comes to quick and satisfying slow cooker crockpot meals South African Apricot Beef Curry recipe is at the top of the African food dinner recipe list. Use your slow cooker for this simple South African Apricot Beef Curry recipe, it is full of apricot jam, spices and tender beef to serve with rice and grilled bread. How to Make Perfect South African Apricot Beef Curry Recipe Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture By Chic African Culture African food recipe South Africa food is one of the most diverse on the African continent. South African apricot beef curry is an easy delicious slow cooker dinner recipe to make on a weeknight. South Afr
Learn More

Heqet the Egyptian goddess of childbirth

Image
Heqet usually depicted with a frogs head holding an ankh is the Egyptian goddess of childbirth. Heqet, pronounced Hey-ket is an Egyptian goddess associated with labor and childbirth in Ancient Egypt. She is depicted as a frog, or a woman with the head of a frog. Heqet servants were priestesses who were trained as midwives; a priestess is a woman who to performs the sacred rites of a religion, in this case childbirth delivery, and care after the birth of the mother and child. Heqet, knelling, is the Egyptian goddess of childbirth Frogs signify transformation, change, cleansing through water, fertility, and prosperity. The ancient Egyptians saw thousands of frogs appear all along the Nile at certain times of the year. This appearance of frogs came to symbolize fruitfulness and coming life.  Ancient Egypt’s climate was cooler and wetter. The appearance of frogs along the fertile banks of the Nile River, seasonally flooded agricultural land and canals and ditches were probably toads, the D
Learn More

African cultures express, encourage, and communicate energy

African cultures express, encourage, and communicate energy

Support African History and Culture

Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet are dedicated to discovering, collecting and sharing African history and heritage celebrating 14 years of service in 2021. Share and support in the pride of being part of an important cultural and educational resource.


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.