Posts

Showing posts from July, 2021
๐ŸŒฟ Share this page

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.

Christmas & New Year in Africa

FOOD PROVERBS

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=

King of eSwatini spent millions on diamonds, private jets and 19 custom Rolls Royce's for his wives while 65% of eSwatini lives on $1.90 a day.

His Majesty King Ingwenyama Mswati III of Eswatini and his 19th wife

King of eSwatini in the photo above with his 19th wife during a ceremony at the world bank; its good to be king or wife of the king? Rsponsible and irresponsible political leadership in eSwatini statement of the issues explained below.

The eSwatini King, King Mswati III, has been head of the Swazi Royal Family since 1986 since he was 18 years old. In June 2021, it was reported the King fled the country with his wives to South Africa as a political Asylum. Landlocked eSwatini is almost completely surrounded by South Africa and depends on South Africa for a majority of its exports and imports and duties on imported goods. South Africa and eSwatini are joined at the hip as far as the economy is concerned.

King Mswati III rules one of the world's last absolute monarchies and has ruled the eSwatini kingdom for 35 years. The King spends millions on diamond watches with a matching diamond suits, two private jets and spent 24.4 million US dollars buying his 19 wives custom Rolls Royce’s in late 2019. It was said that the Royal family lives off the sweat of the ordinary people as well as foreign aid from the USA.

In 1973, political parties were banned and declared terrorists by the king. The People’s United Democratic Movement, Pudemo Party, has criticized the king for his lavish spending while his country lives in hellish poverty and people are starving in the streets and dying at the hands of suppressed political activities.

Many other smaller opposition groups to the King were sparked by a decree to quell democratic reform creating boiling anger and frustration during the many peaceful and violent demonstrations. Some protesters have been killed and many others wounded in complaints and criticisms that has been simmering for years against the Royal Family monarchy.

Through the security assistance program the USA brings around six members of eSwatini military forces per year to the United States for education and training purposes. The United States also supports training for eSwatini law enforcement through training and programs.

In eSwatini, around 65% of the population lives below the international poverty line of $1.90 a day. In addition, eSwatini is number one in the world when it comes to the highest rate of HIV with approximately 30% of adults aged 15-49 being HIV positive, around 200 thousand people.

Tuberculosis is also at crisis levels among liSwati, singular, emaSwati, plural. The overall life expectancy is 59 years leaving hundreds of thousands of orphans; around 33% of the population is under the age of 14, the median age is 23.7 years old.

King Mswati III has been head of the Swazi Royal Family since 1986 but a frail and weakening economy, high unemployment rate of 47% and an uneven distribution of resources all combine to exacerbate the already persistent poverty, and now political unrest in eSwatini.

Despite the name change from Swaziland to The Kingdom of Eswatini on May 25, 2018 this African county remains embattled economically, socially and politically. The King spent millions on diamonds, private jets and 19 custom Rolls Royce’s while not responding to the ordinary liSwati medical, economic and political needs according to Pudemo Party leaders.

The King of eSwatini offical title is His Majesty King Ingwenyama of eSwatini, Ingwenyama means little lion male ruler in the Swazi language.


Together we build awareness that boost harmony, education, and success, below are more links to articles you will find thought provoking.

  1. Dangerous Erupting Volcanoes of AfricaDangerous Erupting Volcanoes of Africa=
  2. Top 20 Largest Countries in AfricaTop 20 Largest Countries in Africa=
  3. What is an African ProverbWhat is an African Proverb=
  4. African Water Spirit Mami WataAfrican Water Spirit Mami Wata=
  5. Percentage of White people living in Africa Percentage of White people living in Africa=


Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

Cite The Source

Copy & Paste Citation

One click copies the full citation to your clipboard.

APA Style: Click button to generate
MLA Style: Click button to generate
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

African Recipes Organized by Meal Time

African Drinks & Beverages

Snacks & Appetizers

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Desserts

Ivy, founder and author of The African Gourmet

About the Author

Ivy is the founder and lead writer of The African Gourmet. For over 19 years, she has been dedicated to researching, preserving, and sharing the rich culinary heritage and food stories from across the African continent.

A Legacy Resource, Recognized Worldwide

The African Gourmet is preserved as a cultural resource and is currently selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives.

Cited and trusted by leading institutions:
Wikipedia
Emory University African Studies
University of Kansas
Cornell University SRI Program (Madagascar resource)

Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

View all citations and backlinks

Recipes as Revolution

Recipes as Revolution

When food becomes protest and meals carry political meaning

Loading revolutionary recipes...
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.

More African Reads

African Ancestors and Atlantic Hurricanes: Myth Meets Meteorology

Survival of the Fattest, obese Europeans starving Africa

Top 20 Largest Countries in Africa by Land Area (2025 Update)

African Proverbs for Men About the Wrong Woman in Their Life

Ugali vs Fufu — What’s the Difference Between Africa’s Beloved Staples?

Charging Cell Phones in Rural Africa

Beware of the naked man who offers you clothes African Proverb

African Olympic Power: Top 10 Countries with the Most Gold Medals | The African Gourmet

Perfect South African Apricot Beef Curry Recipe

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.