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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

FOOD PROVERBS

Libya has the highest obesity rates in Africa while Ethiopia has the lowest. List of countries and percent of adults aged 18 and over considered obese.

Here is a list of countries and percent of adults aged 18 and over considered obese in Africa. The five most obese African countries are Libya, Egypt, South Africa, Algeria and Tunisia. 

Obesity is defined as an adult having a Body Mass Index greater to or equal to 30. Most of the world's population lives in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight, this includes Africa despite the media perception of starving Africans.

Throughout Africa as part of the trend toward greater consumption of convenience foods, demand for fried potatoes is increasing. Over-consumption of these high-energy products, along with reduced physical activity, can lead to overweight. Therefore the role of fried foods in the African diet must be taken into consideration in efforts to prevent overweight, obese and diet related non-communicable diseases, including heart disease and diabetes.


Obese Rank African Country Population Total Obese %Obese
1 Libya 6.9 Million 2.2 Million 32.5%
2 Egypt 104.4 Million 33.4 Million 32%
3 South Africa 56.4 Million 15.9 Million 28.3%
4 Algeria 42. 9 Million 11.7 Million 27.4%
5 Tunisia 11.7 Million 3.1 Million 26.9%


Grilled chicken served at a roadside restaurant in central Libya.
Grilled chicken served at a roadside restaurant in central Libya.


Obesity is a complicated but preventable health topic resulting from a combination of causes and individual factors such as behavior and genetics. Once considered a first world problem, obesity is on the rise in low- and middle-income countries in urban African communities.

In urban African populations out of the 20 fastest rising countries with obesity, nearly half are in Africa. Contributing factors include the prevalence of fast food restaurants such as McDonald's and KFC and food marketing and promotion. Libya has the highest obesity rates in Africa while Ethiopia has the lowest.


Ghana market place.

Obesity is frequently subdivided into categories:

Class 1: BMI of 30 to 35.

Class 2: BMI of 35 to 40.

Class 3: BMI of 40 or higher, class 3 obesity is sometimes categorized as extreme or severe obesity.

Percent of fat people in Africa listed by country.


World Rank African Country Percent of Obesity
16 Libya 32.5
18 Egypt 32
31 South Africa 28.3
38 Algeria 27.4
40 Tunisia 26.9
45 Morocco 26.1
114 Botswana 18.8
119 Namibia 17.2
122 Lesotho 16.6
124 Eswatini 16.5
126 Zimbabwe 15.5
127 Gabon 15
130 Seychelles 14
131 Djibouti 13.5
132 Mauritania 12.7
133 Sao Tome And Principe 12.4
134 Cabo Verde 11.8
135 Cameroon 11.4
136 Ghana 10.9
137 Mauritius 10.8
138 Cote D'ivoire 10.3
139 The Gambia 10.3
141 Liberia 9.9
142 Benin 9.6
143 Republic of the Congo 9.6
144 Guinea-Bissau 9.5
145 Nigeria 8.9
146 Senegal 8.8
147 Sierra Leone 8.6
149 Mali 8.6
151 Tanzania 8.4
152 Togo 8.4
153 Somalia 8.3
154 Angola 8.1
155 Zambia 8.1
156 Equatorial Guinea 8
157 Comoros 7.8
158 Guinea 7.7
159 Central African Republic 7.5
160 Mozambique 7.2
161 Kenya 7.1
164 Democratic Republic of the Congo 6.7
165 South Sudan 6.6
166 Sudan 6.6
170 Chad 6.1
173 Malawi 5.8
174 Rwanda 5.8
175 Burkina Faso 5.6
177 Niger 5.5
178 Burundi 5.4
180 Madagascar 5.3
181 Uganda 5.3
183 Eritrea 5
185 Ethiopia 4.5

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

  1. African Country Names Your Saying Wrong
  2. What do Waist Beads Symbolize in Africa?
  3. About African Healers and Witchdoctors
  4. Hurricanes are Angry African Ancestors
  5. Highest Temperature and Lowest Temperature in Africa
  6. About African Night Running


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African Recipes Organized by Meal Time

African Drinks & Beverages

Snacks & Appetizers

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Desserts

Recipes as Revolution

Recipes as Revolution

When food becomes protest and meals carry political meaning

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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.

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.