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The African Gourmet: Folktales, Cuisine & Cultural History

Explore Africa’s Heritage

Explore tales that carry Africa’s wisdom, courage, and humor. From river spirits to trickster animals, every story holds a lesson.

From hearty stews to fragrant grains, experience traditional African recipes and the history behind every dish.

Ancient African proverbs and modern interpretations — explore the wisdom passed down through generations.

Dive into Africa’s kingdoms, independence stories, and modern milestones that shape the continent today.

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....

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...

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...

Potatoes in Africa — Production, History, and Recipes

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Potatoes Are Grown in 37 African Countries Egypt leads North Africa in potato production, while South Africa is the top potato grower in the southern half of the continent. Potatoes grown in African soil. The potato is cultivated in over 150 countries. Egypt leads Africa in potato production, and South Africa is the largest producer in sub-Saharan Africa. Across the continent, potatoes serve as both a subsistence crop and a commercial crop. Commercially, more potatoes are processed to meet rising demand from fast food, snack, and convenience food industries. As a subsistence crop , potatoes feed farm families with little surplus for markets. The potato ( Solanum tuberosum ) originated over 8,000 years ago near Lake Titicaca in the Andes of South America. Colonial governors, missionaries, and settlers later introduced it to North Africa’s Nile Delta and Morocco’s Atlas Mountains. ...

Baked Black-Eyed Pea Casserole with Rice and Herbs

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Mix cans of black-eyed peas herbs and shallots into a meatless vegetarian casserole dish creamy inside, crisp on top, casserole reheats beautifully. Our recipe for baked black-eyed pea casserole with herbs and shallots is where you open up a few cans of black-eyed peas, mix everything together. The casserole dish also has fresh flavors from fresh shallots, tomatoes and herbs. This is a meatless vegetarian dish gets finished off with a crunchy, butter-dotted crust of Parmesan and breadcrumbs. Baked black-eyed pea casserole is creamy inside, crisp on top and when you scoop up this casserole you see the pink shallots, the green flecks of herbs, and of course the golden creaminess of cheese and black-eyed peas. The casserole reheats beautifully and pairs with a fresh green salad. It is the ideal balance between hearty, comforting, wholesome, and light. The casserole can be prepared and assembled up to one day in advance, just cover and store in the refrigerator. When baked straight from...

Make Yoruba Asun Peppery Goat

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Asun is a stir fry recipe of peppered goat meat made in Nigeria using 20 ground hot peppers. Eat your Asun spicy goat with amala pounded plantain. The female goat is used in most recipes because the meat from female goats is tenderer. Goat meat is consumed widely throughout Nigeria. Goat meat is unique in flavor and palatability. It is leaner than many other red meats and usually less tender. If you add too much liquids your pan will cool down too fast and your goat will simmer and not fry and you need your goat meat to fry. To make a good Asun Spicy Goat stir-fry, you absolutely must have an extremely hot sauté pan or wok. Just keep in mind, goat meat should be served how you like your steak, rare, medium or well-done. Yoruba Amala is a starch dish typically made from yam or plantain flour. Eat your Asun spicy goat with Amala pounded plantain, it's easy to make but first lets make the Asun using the simple recipe below. Asun Peppery Goat Stir-Fry Ingredients 1 pound goat me...

Christianity in Africa: Historical Roots and Spiritual Diversity

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Christianity in Africa: Historical Roots and Spiritual Diversity Christianity’s story in Africa is ancient and remarkable. From its arrival in North Africa in the 1st century AD to its spread into sub-Saharan Africa by Portuguese missionaries in the 15th century, the message of Christ has journeyed across deserts, savannas, and oceans. Christian communities have deep roots in Africa — from ancient Egypt and Ethiopia to modern-day nations with near-universal Christian populations. Faith Across a Continent Many African nations today are overwhelmingly Christian — places like Lesotho, Rwanda, and Zambia where almost everyone identifies with Christ. Yet Africa’s spiritual landscape is beautifully complex. Alongside Christianity thrive Islam, Animism, Hinduism, Vodun, and other traditions, creating a rich tapestry of faith and culture. This diversity shows how belief systems interact, sometimes blending and sometimes existing in tensi...

How Are You Feeling Today? Find an African Proverb or Story to Match Your Mood

How Are You Feeling Today?

Type or tap a mood. Your storyteller returns a proverb, mini-folktale, recipe, cooking activity, and a cultural note.

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Folklore Meets Science

Folklore Meets Science
African stories that explain the universe

African Gourmet FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The African Gourmet blog about?

The African Gourmet explores African food, history, and culture through recipes, folktales, and proverbs written for curious readers worldwide.

Who writes The African Gourmet?

The blog is written and curated by Ivy, a lifelong historian and storyteller who highlights Africa’s culinary and cultural richness.

How can I find African recipes on this site?

Use the “African Recipes” category or explore posts like African Recipes for regional dishes and ingredients.

Can I share or reprint your articles?

You may share articles with attribution and a link back to The African Gourmet. Reprinting in print or commercial use requires permission.

Where can I learn more about African proverbs and folklore?

Explore our African Proverbs and African Folktales sections for timeless wisdom and stories.

African Gourmet Newsletter

Light African snack spicy popcorn

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African Studies

African Studies
African Culture and traditions