Yam vegetable stew with plantain dumplings recipe local food name is Counin Zindo that is super simple to prepare by Burkinabé cooks.

Plantain dumplings are a small amount of soft dough that is boiled in yam veggie stew. How do you make plantain dumplings from scratch, well its easy just drop plantain dough gently into a pot of simmering stew for about 20 minutes. The full recipe directions and ingredients are below.

Ingredients for Yam Vegetable Stew.

2 yams cut into cubes

2 large onions, diced

2 large tomatoes, diced

1 small eggplant, peeled and diced

3 medium carrots, diced

2 medium white potatoes cut into cubes

1 medium sweet potato cut into cubes

1 hot pepper, chopped

Salt to taste

4 cups water

Directions for Yam Vegetable Stew.

Add all ingredients to a large lidded pot simmer 10 minutes. Then follow the directions for plantain dumplings.

Ingredients for Plantain Dumplings.

2 ¼ cups self-rising flour

2 large mashed ripe plantains

1 tablespoon ground parsley flakes

1 cup vegetable broth

Directions for adding Plantain Dumplings to Yam Vegetable Stew.

In a large bowl stir together flour, plantains, and parsley, slowly add water; stirring until soft dough forms. Add equally sized plantain dumplings into the yam vegetable stew one by one waiting 10 seconds in between drops. Simmer covered for 20 minutes until yams are tender.

Homemade breakfast Boerewors sausage patties. 

If you love the taste of Boerewors, a traditional South African sausage, but don't have the time or equipment to make it in links, you can try making these homemade breakfast Boerewors sausage patties instead. 

They are easy to make and delicious to eat, with a blend of spices that give them a distinctive flavor. Boerewors means farmer's sausage in Afrikaans, and it is usually made with a combination of beef, pork, and sometimes lamb. 

The meat is seasoned with coriander, cloves, allspice, vinegar, and other spices, and stuffed into casings. Boerewors is typically cooked over coals on a barbecue, or fried in a pan on the stove. It is often served in a bread roll with tomato and onion sauce, or with pap, stiff cornmeal porridge, and gravy.

Boerewors Sausage Patty Sandwich

To make Boerewors sausage patties, you will need the following ingredients:

1 pound of ground beef

1/4 pound of ground pork

2 teaspoons of salt

2 teaspoons of ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon of ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon of black pepper

2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons of water

Directions:

In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef and pork with your hands until well combined. In a small bowl, whisk together the salt, coriander, cloves, allspice, pepper, vinegar, and water. Pour the spice mixture over the meat and mix well with your hands until evenly distributed. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight to let the flavors develop. Divide the meat mixture into 8 equal portions and shape them into patties about 1/2 inch thick. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the patties for about 4 minutes per side or until browned and cooked through. Enjoy your homemade breakfast Boerewors sausage patties with eggs, toast, or your favorite breakfast sides.

These patties are also great for freezing and reheating later. Just place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until firm. Then transfer them to a freezer bag and store them for up to 3 months. To reheat, microwave them for about 2 minutes or until hot. Homemade breakfast Boerewors sausage patties are a great way to enjoy the flavor of South African cuisine without having to make sausages from scratch. They are easy to make, delicious to eat, and perfect for any breakfast occasion.

It is essential to know the difference between minced meat and ground meat when making South African Boerewors. Boerewors uses minced meat and not ground meat. Minced meat is meat that is chopped up very finely; ground meat is more pulverized since it is put through a meat grinder possibly with other fillers such as fat, soybeans, and water to bulk the ground meat up.

The word Boerewors is literally translated to farmer’s sausage in the Dutch Afrikaans language and is a traditional South African sausage. The spice coriander and cloves define Boerewors' taste. Serve in between two slices of bread, mushrooms, tomatoes, cheese, and eggs for the ultimate Boerewors breakfast sandwich.

Breakfast sandwich with Boerewors sausages

The proverb is a reminder that we are not helpless victims of our circumstances. We have the power to choose our own company and our own path in life.

African Elders will tell you do not invite evil to sit at your table then cry because your life is hard.

The African proverb Do not invite evil to sit at your table then cry is a warning against the dangers of associating with negative people and behaviors. The proverb teaches that if we choose to surround ourselves with people who are negative, toxic, or destructive, we will eventually reap the consequences of those choices. 

We can apply this proverb to many different areas of our lives. For example, if we choose to associate with people who are always complaining, we will likely start to complain more ourselves. If we choose to associate with people who are always gossiping, we will likely start to gossip more ourselves. And if we choose to associate with people who are always making bad decisions, we will likely start to make bad decisions ourselves. 

The proverb also teaches us that we are responsible for our own choices. If we choose to invite evil into our lives, we cannot blame anyone else for the consequences of those choices. We must take responsibility for our own actions and make better choices in the future. 

The proverb is a powerful reminder that we have the power to choose our own destiny. If we choose to surround ourselves with positive people and behaviors, we will create a positive life for ourselves. But if we choose to surround ourselves with negative people and behaviors, we will create a negative life for ourselves. The choice is ours. 

African proverbs have paved the way to success for many Africans. They also provide a safe haven for many people in challenging circumstances to develop and thrive.

Good does not always come from good as the 13 African proverbs below make known.

Here are 13 do not invite evil to sit at your table then cry African proverbs.

Good comes to better, and better to bad.

He pulls at a long rope who desires another’s death.

Soon ripe, soon rotten.

A good dog never gets a good bone.

To rude words deaf ears.

No flies get into a shut mouth.

He does a good day’s work who rids himself of a fool.

After the act wishing is in vain.

After mischance everyone is wise.

What is bad for one is good for another.

He is lucky who forgets what cannot be mended.

He that has no ill luck grows weary of good luck.

The proverb is a call to action. It challenges us to choose positive people and behaviors that will help us create a better life for ourselves. The next time you are tempted to associate with negative people or behaviors, remember the African proverb Do not invite evil to sit at your table then cry. Choose wisely, and you will create a better life for yourself.

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

In Africa, 34 countries are in crisis needing assistance for food due to Covid-19 where unemployment rates were already high.

 

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and food shortages are due to disruptions to the supply of agricultural products and income losses due to closure and illness. To different degrees all 34 African countries listed have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as civil war, floods, desert locusts, planting shortages and high food prices. 

Covid-19 made a bad situation worse for these African countries and the need of humanitarian aid. Humanitarian aid is usually short-term help until the citizens themselves, governments and NGOs or other institutions can supply the long-term needs of a country.

The Covid-19 pandemic is disrupting the global food supply but the effects are more acutely felt in Africa. Below is a listing of the African country, issues causing food shortages and explanations of the issues relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Covid-19 made a bad situation worse for most African countries:

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Central African Republic.

Conflict and displaced persons food supply issues.

The number of severely food insecure people is estimated at 2.4 million during the lean season a 15 percent increase compared to the 2.1 million forecast prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kenya.

Floods and desert locusts.

About 980 000 people are estimated to be severely food insecure in the April‑July 2020 period, mainly located in northern and eastern areas as a result of livelihood losses due to floods in late 2019 and localized damages to crops and pastures due to desert locusts. As of May, about 393 000 individuals had been affected by the floods, which were triggered by torrential rains since March.

Somalia.

Floods, civil insecurity, desert locusts, and lingering impact of consecutive unfavorable rainy seasons on pastoral livelihoods. About 2.7 million people are estimated to be in need of emergency assistance for the April‑June 2020 period. The areas of major concern are the flood‑affected riverine areas, urban IDP settlements and northwestern Awdal and Woqooyi Galbeed regions, where the most vulnerable households are facing emergency levels of food insecurity. As of May, floods, which were triggered by torrential rains in April, affected about 919,000 people.

Zimbabwe.

Below-average cereal harvest and high food price.

The number of food insecure people was estimated at 4.3 million in the first half of 2020. The number of food insecure is expected to remain high and could increase later in 2020, reflecting the impact of a consecutive below-average cereal harvest in 2020 and persisting high food prices; food availability and access will remain poor for many households. 

Burundi.

Floods and landslides.

About 0.85 million people were estimated to be severely food insecure in the June‑August 2020 period, mainly due to livelihood losses caused by floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains since March 2020.

Chad.

Persisting civil insecurity.

About 1 million people are estimated to be food insecure between June and August 2020. Nearly 236,500 people remained internally displaced, almost entirely on account of the insurgency in the northeast. In addition, the country hosts about 470,000 refugees.

Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Persisting civil insecurity.

About 13.6 million people are estimated to be severely food insecure, mostly residing in the areas with a high concentration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees, including the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, where the security situation remains precarious and households face serious food access constraints.

Djibouti.

Consecutive unfavorable rainy seasons.

About 17, 000 people were estimated to be severely food insecure in January 2020, mainly due to consecutive unfavorable rainy seasons. The regions most affected by food insecurity were Dikhil and Obock, where 47 percent of the population were acutely food insecure. As of May 2020, floods, which were triggered by torrential rains since March, affected about 110,000 people. 

Eritrea.

Economic constraints have increased the population’s vulnerability to food insecurity.

Ethiopia

High food prices, floods, desert locusts and impact of previous droughts.

About 8.5 million people were estimated to be severely food insecure between February and June 2020, mainly in eastern agricultural areas and in northern and southeastern agro-pastoral areas due to poor seasonal rains between early and mid 2019. As of May, about 21,000 people have been affected by floods triggered by torrential rains since March 2020.

Niger.

Civil conflict.

About 2 million people in the June ‑ August 2020 period are assessed to be in need of immediate humanitarian assistance. Due to the civil conflict in neighboring countries, the country hosts 223 000 refugees, of which 162,961 are from Nigeria and 58,813 from Mali, while an estimated 265,522 people are internally displaced.

Nigeria.

Persisting conflict in northern areas.

About 7 million people are assessed to need humanitarian assistance between June and August 2020. Over 2.6 million people are estimated to be internally displaced due to persisting civil insecurity. The areas inaccessible to humanitarian interventions are facing the worst food security conditions.

South Sudan.

Severe economic downturn, civil insecurity, and lingering impact of prolonged conflict.

Despite sustained humanitarian assistance, food insecurity still affects large segments of the population, driven by insufficient food supplies, an economic downturn and soaring food prices. About 6.48 million people 55 percent of the total population are estimated to be severely food insecure in the May‑July period. The highest prevalence of food insecurity is reported in Jonglei State, the area worst affected by the floods, where more than 70 percent of the population are severely food insecure. In May 2020, the number of internally displaced people was estimated at 1.6 million. About 12,000 people have been affected by floods triggered by torrential rains in May 2020.

Burkina Faso.

Civil insecurity in the north.

About  2.1 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance for the June-August 2020 period, mainly due to civil insecurity in the north. An estimated 21,000 refugees, most of them from Mali, are living in the country, while about 921,500 individuals are internally displaced.

Cabo Verde.

Poor performance of the 2019 agro‑pastoral cropping season.

Approximately 2 percent of the total population are estimated to be in crisis in the June‑August 2020 period.

Cameroon.

Civil insecurity.

About 2.6 million people were estimated to be severely food insecure in the second quarter of 2020. About 45 percent of the food insecure population are located in the Northwest and Southwest Anglophone regions, where fighting is still ongoing between the security forces and separatist armed groups. Increased levels of insecurity in the Far North Region in March and April 2020 triggered new population displacements.

Republic of the Congo.

Influx of refugees and floods.

The country is estimated to host about 20,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and about 22,000 refugees from the Central African Republic. Between October 2019 and January 2020, heavy rainfall triggered flooding that affected approximately 170,000 people, including 30,000 refugees from the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in northern and eastern areas. Host communities face food shortages and limited livelihood opportunities, and refugees’ food security is essentially guaranteed by continued humanitarian assistance.

Eswatini.

Localized shortfalls in production.

Early in 2020 an estimated 232,000 people were in need of humanitarian assistance.

Guinea.

Localized shortfalls of cereal production.

About 267,000 people are estimated to need food assistance during the June ‑ August 2020 period.

Lesotho.

Localized shortfalls in production.

Between October 2019 and March 2020, an estimated 433,000 people required food assistance. A foreseen upturn in cereal production in 2020 is likely to improve conditions, but localized harvest shortfalls in southern areas will adversely affect food insecurity in these areas.

Liberia.

High food prices.

About 41,000 people were estimated to be in major crisis in the June-August 2020 period. The country is hosting approximately 8,700 refugees.

Libya.

Civil insecurity, political instability and low oil prices.

The total number of people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2020 was estimated at nearly 1 million, of which 1/3 require food assistance. Refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced are among the most vulnerable. The number is likely to increase as the local currency depreciates, food prices increase and opportunities for casual labor decrease.

Madagascar.

Reduced harvests in southern areas.

Reflecting the impact of dry weather conditions in southern regions on agricultural production, food insecurity is expected to worsen in 2020.

Malawi.

Localized production shortfalls.

The national upturn in cereal production in 2020 is expected to improve the overall food security, however, in southern parts of the country, localized shortfalls in cereal production are estimated for a second consecutive year and this is expected to maintain high levels of food security in these areas.

Mali.

Civil insecurity.

The country is hosting approximately 45,000 refugees, while 251,000 internally displaced people and 84,000 returnees rely on humanitarian assistance. About 1.3 million people are estimated to need food assistance between June and August 2020 mainly as a result of the civil conflict.

Mauritania.

Poor performance of the agro‑pastoral cropping season.

About 609,000 people are assessed to need assistance between June and August 2020. About 63,000 refugees, mostly from Mali and who require assistance, reside in the country.

Mozambique.

Shortfalls in staple food production.

Cereal production in southern regions is estimated to be below average in 2020 for a second consecutive year due to rainfall deficits and this is expected to maintain a high level of food insecurity in these areas. Nationwide, nearly 2 million people were assessed to be food insecure during the January‑February 2020 period.

Namibia.

Shortfalls in agricultural production.

An estimated 430,000 people were already facing a major crisis between January and March 2020. Although an estimated increase in agricultural production will improve food availability, localized production shortfalls will stress conditions in affected areas.

Senegal.

Localized shortfalls in cereal production.

About 767,000 people are estimated to need assistance between June and August 2020. An estimated 14,500 refugees, mostly from Mauritania, are residing in the country.

Sierra Leone.

High food prices.

About 1.3 million people are estimated to be severely food insecure during the June-September 2020 period.

Sudan.

Conflict, civil insecurity, and soaring food prices.

The number of severely food insecure people was estimated at 9.6 million for the June-September 2020 period. The areas most affected by food insecurity are South Kordofan and Blue Nile State, and most of the Greater Darfur region.

Uganda.

Localized crop production shortfalls, refugee influx and floods.

About 500,000 people were estimated to be severely food insecure in eastern Teso Region and northeastern Karamoja Region in early 2019. About 881,000 refugees from South Sudan and about 415,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo are hosted in camps and rely on humanitarian assistance. As of May, about 177,000 people have been affected by floods triggered by torrential rains since October 2019.

Tanzania.

Localized crop production shortfalls.

About 499,000 people are estimated to be in need of emergency assistance in the May September 2020 period, mainly in northeastern Manyara and Kilimanjaro regions and in central Dodoma and Singida regions, where 2019 harvests were affected by prolonged dry spells that resulted in significant cereal production losses. As of May 2020, about 31,000 people have been affected by floods triggered by torrential rains since March.

Zambia.

Localized production shortfalls, and high food prices.

In southern parts of the country, localized production shortfalls are estimated for a second consecutive year and this is likely to sustain the high levels of food insecurity in these areas.

Unemployment stats for Africa have not been complied since June 2019, however here are the current unemployment rates before the Covid-19 pandemic in the 34 African countries most effected by food shortages.

Burkina Faso

6.3%

Burundi

1.4%

Cabo Verde

12.2%

Cameroon

3.4%

Central African Republic

3.7%

Chad 

1.9%

Democratic Republic of the Congo

4.2%

Republic of the Congo.

9.5%

Eritrea

5.1%

Eswatini

22.1%

Ethiopia

2.1%

Gabon

20%

Guinea

4.3%

Kenya

2.6%

Lesotho

23.4%

Liberia 

2.8%

Libya

17.6%

Madagascar

1.8%

Malawi

5.7%

Mali 

7.2%

Mauritania

9.5% 

Mozambique;

3.2%

Namibia

20.3%

Niger 

0.5%

Nigeria

8.1%

Senegal

6.6%

Sierra Leone

4.4%

Somalia

11.4%

South Sudan 

12.2%

Sudan

16.5%

Tanzania

2%

Uganda

1.8%

Zambia

11.4%

Zimbabwe

5%

In Africa, 34 countries are in crisis needing assistance for food due to Covid-19 where unemployment rates were already high. Numerous African countries are expected to lack the resources to deal with critical problems of food shortages.

Locust Swarms Blanket Skies and Devastate Farmland, Leaving Communities in Ruins.

There are 28 African Countries affected by the Desert Locust.

Desert locusts are a type of grasshopper that are found in arid and semi-arid regions of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. They are known for their ability to swarm and cause widespread damage to crops, vegetation, and other vegetation. 

When desert locust populations are not controlled, they can cause devastating impacts on food prices and livelihoods. In recent years, there have been several outbreaks of desert locusts in Africa that have had significant impacts on agriculture and food. The outbreak was exacerbated by climate change, with favorable breeding conditions leading to a surge in locust populations. 

Desert locusts consume large amounts of crops and vegetation in a short period of time. This can lead to significant losses in agricultural production and livelihoods, particularly for small-scale farmers who rely on their crops for subsistence and income. When desert locusts destroy crops, it can lead to food shortages and increased food prices. This can exacerbate existing food insecurity in affected areas, particularly in regions that are already facing challenges such as drought or conflict. 

Controlling desert locust populations typically involves the use of pesticides, which can be expensive and may have negative environmental impacts. This can make it challenging for small-scale farmers and communities to access effective control measures. Many of the regions that are affected by desert locusts are already facing significant development challenges, including poverty, conflict, and weak governance. 

Locusts are part of a group of insects called grasshoppers that have large hind-legs for jumping. Locusts differ from grasshoppers in that they have the ability to change their behavior and habits and can migrate over large distances.

Desert Locusts on the African Continent.

The Desert Locust is one of about a dozen species of short-horned grasshoppers that are known to change their behavior and form swarms of adults or bands of hoppers or wingless nymphs. The swarms that form can be dense and highly mobile. Desert Locust lives a total of about three to five months, females can lay at least three times in their lifetime laying around 80 eggs at one time and eggs can hatch in two weeks.

Desert Locusts have been moving to very remote areas, to immense territories where they spread out. In Ethiopia they are scattered across the Somali region near Dire Dawa with little infrastructure. In Turkana County in northern Kenya, sorghum crops with around 15 to 20 percent damage or reduction of the crops were lost due to Desert Locusts. During quiet periods Desert Locusts are usually restricted to the semi-arid and arid deserts of Africa, but during active periods also known as plagues, 80 million Desert Locusts can spread over 11.2 million square miles or 29 million square kilometers into parts of 60 countries.

This is more than 20% of the total land surface of the world. During plagues, the Desert Locust has the potential to damage the livelihood of a tenth of the world's population. The Desert Locust is considered to be the most important species of locust due to its ability to migrate over large distances and rapidly increase its numbers.

Desert Locust are normally solitary adults that are brown in color but for reasons unknown when they become a swarm or gregarious the immature adults are pink in color and mature adults are yellow in color. All locust begin as eggs then grow into wingless hoppers. Desert Locust adults can eat its own weight in food per day which a small part of an average swarm eating the same amount of food in one day as about 10 elephants or 25 camels or 2,500 people. Locusts do not attack people or animals but people do eat locusts.

People in several countries collect locusts using large nets and by other means. Locusts are usually stir-fried, roasted or boiled and eaten immediately or dried and eaten later. Locusts are rich in protein. During periods of increased locust activity, piles of dead locusts can be found in the marketplaces of many countries. In Ethiopia people eat locusts by removing the wings and hind-legs of the locusts, and boil in salted water until soft. In a fry pan add oil fry until brown.

Desert Locust are found in 28 countries in Africa.

The Desert Locust is the most destructive migratory pest in the world here is a list of 28 African Countries affected by the Desert Locust: Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Egypt, Chad, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Cameroon, The Gambia, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Sierra Leone, Côte D’ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Benin, Botswana, South Africa Tanzania. Desert Locust outbreaks have four levels. Desert Locust are always present somewhere in the deserts between Mauritania and India. Desert Locust can rapidly increase in number and within a month or two and unless checked, can lead to an outbreak in one part of a country. If an outbreak or simultaneous outbreaks are not controlled this is called an upsurge and generally affects an entire region. If an upsurge is not controlled then a plague can develop. A major plague exists when two or more regions are affected simultaneously.