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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.

FOOD PROVERBS

Photo of Ivy, author of The African Gourmet

About the Author

A Legacy Resource, Recognized Worldwide

For 19 years, The African Gourmet has preserved Africa's stories is currently selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives, the world's premier guardian of cultural heritage.

Trusted by: WikipediaEmory University African StudiesUniversity of KansasUniversity of KwaZulu-NatalMDPI Scholarly Journals.
Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

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Blackman and White Snake Folklore Story

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Short African folklore story Blackman and White Snake there are countless versions of the same folklore story but the lesson learned does not change. Understanding the significance of this African Folklore story may help in the solution of difficult real life probelms teenagers and adults face daily. White Snake Blackman and White Snake Folklore Story A Blackman was walking by himself and saw a small white snake lying under a large rock. The white snake begged his help; but when she had become free she said, "Now I will bite you!" The Blackman answered, "That is not right! Let us first go to spider." When spider had heard the affair, he said, "It is right." "No," said the Blackman, "Let us ask scorpion!" Scorpion declared the same, saying, "It is right." "Now let us ask bird," said the Blackman in his despair. The bird answered very slowly and considerately, doubting the whole affair, and demanding to see f...

How to measure Africa's overall success

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Africa’s Human Development Index or HDI is a numerical scale from 1 to 189 used to measure an African country's overall success in its education and economic measurements using data from long and healthy life, access to education, high Gross National Income creating an adequate standard of living. One the best 189 the worst Human Development Index ranking scores explanied. In regards to HDI rankings, Norway is ranked 1, The United States of America is ranked 15 and Niger in West Africa is ranked 189 the lowest HDI score possible. 1. HDI health measurement is calculated by life expectancy at birth. 2. HDI education aspect is measured by average of years of schooling for adults aged 25 years and older and expected years of schooling for children of school entering age. 3. The GNI or Gross National Income is in US dollars and is the money earned in a year per person before any tax income is deducted, the HDI standard of living component is measured by gross national income for e...

Somalia Bananas and Warlords

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In Somalia up until 1990, before warlords, insecurity, drought and poor infrastructure over 20 years has led to a collapse of Somali banana industry. Watering banana seedlings. Before the beginning of the reign of terror of Somali civil war and drought; Somalia was the largest banana exporter in Eastern Africa. The banana industry was vital in Somalia with exports mainly to Italy and Middle Eastern markets. Somalia is closer to Middle Eastern main ports and can thus provide fresher bananas at lower transport cost than bananas from other countries. In the midst of one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, the banana offered a small glimmer of hope for Somalis trying to reclaim economic harmony. Due to the civil war, warlords, poor roads and storage facilities, which result in much spoilage and high prices far from producing areas, hunger and malnutrition were some of the major causes of suffering for significant sections of the population. Before the civil war, almost all ba...

Air Afrique: Africa's Lost Aviation Dream and The Future of Continental Travel

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Air Afrique: Africa's Lost Aviation Dream From Pan-African vision to SAATM — tracing the continent's journey toward unified skies and economic integration. In 1961, a revolutionary idea took flight: a pan-African airline that would connect the continent and symbolize unity. Air Afrique represented more than just transportation—it embodied the dream of a connected, self-reliant Africa. Though it ultimately failed, its legacy lives on in today's efforts to create a Single African Air Transport Market. Air Afrique represented a bold vision for pan-African connectivity and economic cooperation The Rise and Fall of a Pan-African Vision 1961: Air Afrique launched as a joint venture between 11 Francophone African nations, Air France, and Union Aéromaritime de Transport. Headquartered in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, it aimed to promote unity and development through air travel. 1970s: The airline expanded ra...

Number of Doctors in Africa

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The qualified healthcare worker shortage in Africa is felt keenly by the poor as HIV AIDS is the biggest killer second Diarrhea diseases third Malaria.  This article provides data from The World Health Organization on the number of generalist and specialist physicians per 1,000 of the population in Africa but first, the facts. The shortage of qualified healthcare workers brings significant social and economic losses to individuals and society at large. Out of 54 African countries, only one African country, Mauritius meets the criteria established by The World Health Organization. The World Health Organization states 23 doctors, nurses and midwives per 10,000 populations would be sufficient to achieve coverage of primary healthcare needs. African countries that fall below this minimum threshold struggle to provide skilled care to pregnant women, at birth through old age as well as emergency and specialized services. This has direct consequences on the numbers of deaths...

Tasting African History Through Street Food

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Zowey is a popular street food in Ghana made from peanut butter, flour and ginger spices, Puff-puff from Nigeria is a traditional African snack similar to a large hot fresh doughnut hole,  Kelewele is also popular for breakfast in Ghana. The number of street food vendors in Africa is unknown but the historic economic, social and cultural value of street food in Africa throughout history is priceless. Tasting African History Through Street Food. Working on average 10 hours per day street food for many African people becomes the only way to earn a living, and street food vending, in particular, represents one of the easiest and viable jobs, as it requires little start-up capital. Limited access to credit is a major barrier to the growth of the street food enterprises. Food vendors need a license to legally trade in many places in Africa. However neither at the national nor at local level, in Africa there is no framework policy or law specifically regulating street food vending. Str...

Average of 62% of People in Africa Are Without Internet Access

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Top 10 African Countries with the Lowest Internet Access (2025) In 2025 most Africans come online by phone, not computer. Large "usage gaps" mean millions are covered by mobile broadband but still offline. Countries with Critical Internet Access Gaps Eritrea – 12.3% internet penetration South Sudan – 14.8% internet penetration Somalia – 15.2% internet penetration Central African Republic – 16.1% internet penetration Niger – 17.4% internet penetration Chad – 18.2% internet penetration Democratic Republic of the Congo – 19.1% internet penetration Guinea-Bissau – 19.5% internet penetration Burundi – 19.7% internet penetration Madagascar – 19.9% internet penetration Key Insight: These ten countries average just 17.2% internet penetration in 2025, meaning over 82% of their combined population of 218 million remains offline. Top 10 African Countries with the Highest Internet Access (2025) Digital Leaders with Strong Mobil...

Average Age of People in Africa

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List of African countries by median age of the total population and male and female median ages. Which African country has the youngest population. Niger with an average age of 14.8 years old is the youngest country in Africa and the youngest country in the world. Which African country has the oldest population. Seychelles with an average age of 36.8 years old is the oldest country in Africa. What is the average age of the world population; 31 years old. The age demographics for Africa is very young, in fact Niger is the youngest country in the world; 19 out of 20 youngest countries in the world are in Africa. Top 20 youngest countries in the world. Niger 14.8 years old. Uganda 15.7 years old. Angola 15.9 years old. Mali 16 years old. Chad 16.1 years old. Democratic Republic of the Congo 16.7 years old. Malawi 16.8 years old. Zambia 16.9 years old. Mozambique 17 years old. Benin 17 years old. Burundi 17.7 years old. Burkina Faso 17.9 years old. Liberia 18...

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.

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Usage of Amen and Ashe or Ase and Meaning

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.