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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.

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🔵 African Recipes & Cuisine

Dive into flavors from Jollof to fufu—recipes, science, and stories that feed body and soul.

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🔵 African Proverbs & Wisdom

Timeless sayings on love, resilience, and leadership—ancient guides for modern life.

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🔵 African Folktales & Storytelling

Oral legends and tales that whisper ancestral secrets and spark imagination.

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🔵African Plants & Healing

From baobab to kola nuts—sacred flora for medicine, memory, and sustenance.

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🔵 African Animals in Culture

Big Five to folklore beasts—wildlife as symbols, food, and spiritual kin.

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🔵 African History & Heritage

Journey through Africa's rich historical tapestry, from ancient civilizations to modern nations.

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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

View citations →

Recipes as Revolution

When food becomes protest and meals carry political meaning

Median age in Africa is 21 years old

Africa is old but young, the median age in Africa is 21 years old.

Young man fishing in Madagascar.
Madagascar's median age is 20.3, the 35th youngest country in the world

The average age of the world's population is 29.6 years with Niger being the youngest in the world at 14.8 years and Monaco on the French Riviera at 55.4 years old.

Niger average age is 14.8, the youngest African country and the youngest country in the world. The African islands of Seychelles is the oldest African country with an average age of 36.8.

Worlds top ten youngest countries Median Age
Niger 14.8
Uganda 15.7
Angola 15.9
Mali 16
Chad 16.1
Democratic Republic of the Congo 16.7
Malawi 16.8
Zambia 16.8
Mozambique 17
Benin 17

The African land is billions of years old but the population age is young, very young in fact averaging 21 years old with a high average life expectancy median age of 64.5 years. There are 226 countries in the world; Africa has 26 countries in the top 30 youngest countries in the world by population age.

List of African countries by median age.

Youngest Age Rank African County Average Age
1 Niger 14.8
2 Uganda 15.7
3 Angola 15.9
4 Mali 16
5 Chad 16.1
6 Democratic Republic of the Congo 16.7
7 Malawi 16.8
8 Zambia 16.8
9 Mozambique 17
10 Benin 17
11 Burundi 17.7
12 Burkina Faso 17.8
13 Liberia 18
14 Guinea Bissau 18
16 Tanzania 18.2
17 Sudan 18.3
18 Somalia 18.5
19 Cameroon 18.5
20 South Sudan 18.6
21 Nigeria 18.6
22 Sierra Leone 19.1
23 Guinea 19.1
24 Sao Tome and Principe 19.3
25 Senegal 19.3
26 Republic of the Congo 19.5
29 Rwanda 19.7
31 Ethiopia 19.8
32 Togo 20
33 Kenya 20
34 Central African Republic 20
35 Madagascar 20.3
36 Eritrea 20.3
37 Equatorial Guinea 20.3
38 Cote d'Ivoire 20.3
39 Zimbabwe 20.5
41 Mauritania 21
42 Gabon 21
44 Ghana 21.4
45 Namibia 21.8
46 Gambia, The 21.8
54 Eswatini 23.7
62 Egypt 24.1
64 Lesotho 24.7
65 Djibouti 24.9
71 Botswana 25.7
72 Libya 25.8
77 Cabo Verde 26.8
86 South Africa 28
89 Algeria 28.9
91 Morocco 29.1
121 Tunisia 32.7
148 Mauritius 36.2
152 Seychelles 36.7
167 United States 38.5
225 Japan 48.6
226 Monaco 55.4

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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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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.