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One bowl of fufu can explain a war. One proverb can outsmart a drought.

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

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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: Wikipedia • Emory University African Studies • University of Kansas • University of KwaZulu-Natal • MDPI Scholarly Journals.
Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

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Nigerian Breakfast Fried Akara and Ogi

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📁 African egg recipe 📁 African food 📁 African Food Culture 📁 African Ingredients 📁 African Recipes

Make the popular breakfast recipe Fried Akara and Ogi fermented corn porridge.

Typical breakfast in Nigeria consists of fried Akara bean cakes and corn porridge Ogi. Here is the recipe for fried Akara and sweet Ogi breakfast recipe.

Tasting Akara fried bean cakes.

Tasting Akara fried bean cakes.


 
Fried Akara Ingredients and Directions.

Ingredients
1 15 ounce can black eyed peas with all liquid drained

1 tablespoon self-rising flour

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Oil for frying


Directions
In food processor add all ingredients and mix until smooth. Form into small flat discs and fry until brown about 2 minutes on each side. Serve with Ogi corn porridge recipe below for breakfast.

How to make Nigerian Ogi for breakfast.
Nigerian Ogi

Ogi is a traditional corn porridge fermented for up to three days until sour and is sort of a thick pudding made from corn flour, sugar with a pinch of salt and water. Corn flour is a fine powder simular in texture to all-purpose flour made by grinding dried corn kernels. Buy fermented corn flour from any supermarket or online.


Ogi for breakfast made easy.

Ingredients
1/2 cups fermented corn flour
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup white sugar
4 cups water

Directions
Add boiling water in a large pot, add all ingredients and mix ingredients together well. Too much water and your Ogi will be thin, too little water and the Ogi is too thick. On high heat on the stove, stir constantly until thick paste forms. Serve in a bowl and add evaporated milk if you like extra sweet Ogi.


Here are a few other names of Ogi in other African countries; same dish different name.

 
Ogi, Ugali and Akamu in Nigeria.
 
Ngima, Buru, Sembe, Chenge, and Arega in Kenya.
 
Bando and Kaunga in Uganda.
 
Moteke, Bidia, and Bugali in The Democratic Republic of the Congo.
 
Isitshwala and Bogobe in Botswana.
 
Xima and Chima in Mozambique.
 
Mealie and Pap in Lesotho and South Africa.
 
Soor in Somalia and Zambia.


More breakfast recipes to make right now so you never have to eat or prepare a boring breakfast meal again.

  1. Enkula fir-fir is an Ethiopian breakfast recipe of scrambled eggs
  2. Senegalese Sombi Sweet Milk Pudding
  3. Warm Pineapple Banana Couscous Breakfast Recipe
  4. Mungongo Fruit Sweet Porridge Cereal
  5. Drink Coffee Like Ethiopians Do

Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=
The African Gourmet explores how African food, history, and science intertwine. Here, a plant is a healer, a story is a map, and the kitchen is a laboratory. I’m Ivy — a writer raised by historians, now sharing Africa’s wisdom from the U.S. through cookbooks, cultural research, and storytelling. If you’re curious about where flavor meets memory, you belong here.

Recipes Explain Politics

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.

Read the Rice Riots Analysis → Try Liberian Rice Bread Recipe
Understanding Africa through the stories our food tells • Since 2006

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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.