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Photo of Ivy, author of The African Gourmet

About the Author

Ivy is the researcher and writer behind The African Gourmet, blending African food, history, and cultural storytelling. Her work is cited by universities, Wikipedia, major news outlets, and global food writers.

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Start Your African Journey

From political insights through food to traditional wisdom and modern solutions - explore Africa's depth.

Discover How Africa’s Land, People, and Natural Features Shape Its Story

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These 101 peculiar African time, water, land, boundary, and air details are important to know to understand African geography. Learn these bizarre African time, water, land, boundary and air facts about the African country. Discover cultural meaning in Africa’s landscapes: Highlands and watersheds Mountain lore and stories No African countries begin with the letters F, H, I, J, O, P, Q, V, W, X, or Y. Two time zones. The entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost. The highest mountain in Sub-Saharan West Africa. The largest curtain of falling water. The oldest desert in the world. The source of the Nile River. Westernmost country on the African continent. What the Sahara desert used to look like. World's largest artificial lake by surface area. Part of our African Geography Hub — discover how Africa’s land, people, and natural features shape its story. Here are 101 odd true facts about each African country time, water, land, boundary, strateg...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

Hunters Attack Cowards Tell the Story

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The myth story Hunters Attack Cowards Tell the Story retells why the true story of the coward was hidden and the hunter real death story is a secret. Hunters Attack Cowards Tell the Story Bahasa had two sons; Okob and Elple, the younger one, Elple caused his father much trouble because he not only was lazy, disobedient and unruly, but he also was jealous of his older brother. Okob was the most famous hunter in the family skilled at stalking and killing every large dangerous animal that crossed his path in the forest. One day after Okob stalked, caught and killed a large antelope he became very thirsty and wanted to go and drink water. He said to his little brother "Elple, you and your wife look after the antelope, I am going to get a drink of water. Don't you eat any; we will bring the meat back to the village for the Tihi festival tonight." "Very well, big brother Okob." said the younger while lazily lying under an Ikro Tree with his equally lazy wife. Oko...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

Corporate African Skin

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Structural racism in South Africa operates at the societal level, here is information on the Code of Good Practice and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment policies. Responding to corporate racism in employment the South African government created policies to counter employment racism on the job. Responding to corporate Africa racism in employment the South African government created Code of Good Practice and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment policies to counter structural racism on the job by affecting the ability to successfully bid for Government and public entity proposals, and to obtain licenses.   Code of Good Practice acronym is RCoGP, which is a structural high-level obligation to constant expansion and effort toward best practice for Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment.  Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment acronym is B-BBEE, which is an important certificate and major factor for companies doing business in South Africa due to the economic and social ch...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

Did You Know: Rwanda is Mainland Africa's Most Crowded African Country

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Besides being mainland Africa most crowded African country other curious facts are in Rwanda South, the Virgin Mary appeared and in Rwanda West, Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony is quite famous. Part of our African Geography Hub — discover how Africa’s land, people, and natural features shape its story. The African island of Mauritius is Africa’s most densely populated African country, Rwanda is mainland Africa’s most densely populated crowded African country. Neighboring country to Rwanda, Burundi is the third most densely populated African country and the second most densely populated on mainland Africa. Rwanda has a total population of around 12.7 million people living inside 26,338 square kilometers or 10,169 square mile, roughly the size of the U.S. state of Maryland. Rwanda is Africa’s second most crowed African country but is the fourth smallest on the African mainland after The Gambia, Eswatini, and Djibouti. Rwanda schoolteachers in training. Rwanda has ...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

Should you open a business in Africa

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Best and worst African countries who enforce business contracts you should learn before you open a business in Africa. Considering opening a business in Africa? First take into account what would happen if a vendor on African soil decides not to pay you? International business good practices include efficient contract enforcement through the courts in Africa. Mauritius at 72.22% has the best enforcing contract rate while at 28.84% São Tomé and Principe has the worst enforcing contract rate. Enforcing contracts in Africa looks at the regulatory environment, this is important for firms to operate. Imagine you are a small business and one of your customers decides not to pay you for your goods or service. Well you need that money because you have outstanding debts that you need to repay or maybe you were counting on that money to make your own purchases or investment. Judge in South Africa One of the ways you have to recover that money is to go to the courts but this only makes sense if ...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

Africa is Working for Free

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Most value added manufacturing contracts have no monetary value to Africa and enables the keep Africa poor and backwards business model. Africa is blessed with natural resources, so what?  Manufacturing industries are used to measure growth and structure, if the cost of goods and materials is more than the cost of the final manufactured product then the product is of no value to Africa and it is giving away products for free. Africa is the richest continent on the planet remarkable for her rich soil, abundant land,  forests and trees , oil, minerals, precious stones and metals, water, and wildlife.  Yet Africa remains poor because of a lack of value added manufacturing sectors on the African continent. Africa has an average of 12.7 percent value-added manufacturing. Africa has an average 12.7 percent value-added manufacturing GDP; Algeria has the highest at 24.2% Sierra Leone 1.6% value added manufacturing. Algeria has the highest at 24....
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

Where in Africa is the Desert?

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African countries with deserts totals nineteen and there are nine hot dry deserts, semi-arid deserts, and coastal deserts in Africa named the Chalbi, Danakil, Guban, Sahara, Kalahari. Karoo, Namib, Nyiri deserts. Listing, description and location of nine African deserts and where does desertification occur in Africa with neighboring African countries. Africa has the largest hottest dry desert in the world, the Sahara Desert. The three main types of deserts in Africa include hot and dry deserts, semi-arid deserts, and coastal deserts. Most of the northern third of Africa is covered by the dry barren desert, the Sahara while much of the southern part of the African continent are dry deserts, coastal deserts and semi-deserts. There are nine deserts in Africa, they are the Chalbi Desert, Danakil Desert, Guban Desert, Kalahari Desert, Karoo Desert, Namib Desert, Nyiri Desert, and the Sahara Desert. African Desert Description. The Chalbi Desert is located entirely in northern Kenya. Dan...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

Who Where the Powerful One-Eyed and Body-Positive Queens of Africa

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Who Where the Powerful One-Eyed and Body-Positive Queens of Africa Powerful Queen Shanakdakhete, one-eyed Queen Amanitore, and body-positive Queen Amanishakheto are three well-known women rulers of Africa's Kush and the Meroë Empires.  African Queen The Kingdom of Kush was an ancient kingdom in Nubia, now named Sudan, and just south of Egypt. Sudan has more than 350 pyramids, double the number found in Egypt, and many are dedicated to female rulers. Meroe thrived as the capital of Kush around 750 BCE to 350 CE and became renowned as a city of tremendous wealth. Located on the Nile in the region of modern-day Sudan, Meroe grew rich from trade and its ironworks and abundant grain supply ensured a steady production of goods others wanted and needed; but it was the monarchy, periodically controlled by women that established and maintained the trade that encouraged such affluence. The title Kentake or Kandake in the Meroitic language and means Queen Regent or Queen Mother or Royal Woma...
Explore Africa: Food, History, and Culture

Recipes Explain Politics

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🍚 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.

Understanding Africa through the stories our food tells • Since 2006

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African Gourmet FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Why "The African Gourmet" if you cover more than just food?

Great question! While many associate "gourmet" exclusively with cuisine, its true meaning is "a connoisseur" – someone with refined taste and deep expertise. For over 18 years, I've served as a gourmet of African culture at large, savoring and presenting the continent's rich history, vibrant traditions, timeless wisdom, and contemporary stories with the same discerning palate one would apply to fine food. The name reflects my commitment to curating Africa's cultural wealth with authority and passion.

What makes The African Gourmet different from other culture sites?

With 18 years of consistent publishing, I offer depth and continuity that's rare online. I don't just report on African culture – I contextualize it, connecting traditional wisdom with modern realities, and food with folklore, politics, and daily life. It's a holistic view of Africa's past, present, and future, all through the lens of a seasoned cultural storyteller.

How do you choose what to write about?

My content selection is driven by a desire to showcase Africa's incredible diversity and challenge stereotypes. I balance covering foundational cultural elements (like proverbs and recipes) with timely analysis of current events (like the AGOA trade agreement). The goal is always to educate and illuminate the complex, dynamic realities of the African continent.

Do you focus on specific regions of Africa?

My coverage spans the entire continent – from North to South, East to West. While certain stories may focus on specific countries or regions, my mission is to represent the breathtaking diversity of 54 countries and thousands of cultures. I make a conscious effort to include both well-known and underrepresented cultures in my work.

Can I request a topic or contribute to the site?

I welcome thoughtful topic suggestions from engaged readers! While I maintain editorial control to ensure quality and consistency, I'm always interested in hearing what aspects of African culture you're curious about. Feel free to reach out through my contact page with your ideas.

How can I support The African Gourmet's work?

The greatest support is engaged readership – sharing articles you find valuable, participating in discussions, and helping spread cultural understanding. Following the blog and sharing it with others who would appreciate this unique perspective on Africa helps this 18-year labor of love continue to grow and reach new audiences.