Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Did you know?

1. No African country names begin with the letters F, H, I, J, O, P, Q, V, W, X, or Y.

2. Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent.

3. The Republic of the Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa.

Strong, Intelligent African Woman Folktale

There are many African folktales that feature strong, intelligent, and resourceful African women as central characters.


The Dancing Palm Tree folktale from Nigeria

As the Elders say, in a small village in Nigeria, there lived a young girl named Adetutu. 

Adetutu's family owned a beautiful palm tree that was known throughout the village for its delicious palm wine. 

One day, a group of greedy men came to Adetutu's village and demanded that her family give them all of the palm wine from their tree. 

Adetutu's father refused, but the men threatened to harm him and his family if they did not comply.


The Dancing Palm Tree folktale from Nigeria
The Dancing Palm Tree folktale from Nigeria

Adetutu was a clever girl, and she knew that the only way to defeat the greedy men was to outsmart them. 

She challenged them to a dancing contest, with the palm tree as the judge. 

If the men could dance better than the palm tree, they would get all the palm wine they wanted, but if the palm tree danced better than the men, they would have to leave the village empty-handed.

The men agreed to the contest, thinking it would be an easy win. 

But when they began to dance, the palm tree remained still, unimpressed by their efforts. 

Then Adetutu stepped forward and began to dance. 

She danced so beautifully that the palm tree began to sway along with her, and soon the entire village was watching in amazement.


The Dancing Palm Tree folktale from Nigeria
The Dancing Palm Tree folktale from Nigeria

In the end, the palm tree declared Adetutu the winner, and the greedy men left the village in shame. 

From then on, Adetutu's family was able to keep their palm wine, and the young girl was celebrated throughout the village for her intelligence and bravery.

And that's the African folklore story of The Dancing Palm Tree folktale from Nigeria, which teaches the reader that sometimes the best way to defeat our enemies is to outsmart them with our intelligence and cunning.


African folktales feature strong, intelligent, and resourceful African women
African folktales feature strong, intelligent, and resourceful African women

What is folklore?

Folklore is a collection of traditional stories, beliefs, customs, and practices that have been passed down from generation to generation within a particular culture or community. 

These stories and practices are typically not written down, but are transmitted orally or through other non-written mediums such as music, dance, or visual arts.

Folklore can take many forms, such as folktales, myths, legends, proverbs, riddles, songs, dances, and festivals. 

These forms often serve as a way for people to understand and interpret their cultural and natural surroundings, as well as to transmit moral and ethical values, social norms, and beliefs.

Folklore can also be used as a means of resistance and empowerment, allowing marginalized or oppressed communities to express their identity and agency through storytelling and other creative practices. 

Additionally, folklore can be adapted and reinterpreted over time to reflect changing social and cultural contexts, making it a dynamic and evolving aspect of human culture.


More links to articles you will find thought provoking.

  1. That African Fabric You're Wearing Isn’t AfricanThat African Fabric You're Wearing Isn’t African=
  2. About neck elongation ringsAbout neck elongation rings=
  3. Lighthouses of Egypt and MoroccoLighthouses of Egypt and Morocco=
  4. Mental Illness in Africa TaboosMental Illness in Africa Taboos=
  5. Kente cloth inspired by a spiders web Kente cloth inspired by a spiders web=

Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

Africa is surrounded by water but is not an island, here are a few African Island facts.

Madagascar is the 4th large island in the world and is located in the Indian Ocean supporting a unique biology, about 90% of its plants and animals are found nowhere else on earth.

Composed of 155 islands, Seychelles is Africa's smallest country. By far the largest island is Mahe, home to about 90% of the population and the site of its capital city of Victoria.

Cabo Verde has a strategic location 310 miles or 500 km from the west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site.

Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent. Continents can not be considered islands because of their size and also by historic definition since many people who study geography define islands and continents as two different things.

This Week’s Best Posts and Pages

Using Amen and Ashe or Ase

Image
Usage of Amen and Ashe or Ase Ashe to Amen learn about the custom of using the words Ashe and Amen historically. Where did the word Amen and Ashe come from why is it said and what does it mean? In Judaism, 3,500 years old and Christian religions 2,000 years old, Amen, means may it be so. In the African Yoruba language among the Yoruba people whose culture is as old as time, Ashe or Ase means may it be so. Ase or Ashe means power, commandment, and authority, the ability to make whatever one says happen from the spiritual to the physical realm. In the Yoruba language, Ashe is omnipresent spiritual energy. Followers of Judaism and Christian religions use the word Amen. It is the word utilized to end prayers as an affirmation for the requests to be provided by God. Yoruba is as old as time, Ashe refers to the life force within all living things, the spark that animates life. It is used as a term used in the same manner as Amen at the end of appeals and prayers as an affirmati
Learn More

What is the difference between ugali and fufu

Image
How to make the popular African recipes Ugali and Fufu and what is the difference.  Ugali is a starch dish in Kenya and Tanzania made of fine cornmeal cooked in boiling water into a soft dough. Fufu is a thick, dough-like West African food made by boiling then pounding a starchy vegetable such as yam, plantain, or cassava or a mixture of starchy vegetables. The main difference between fufu and ugali is fufu is boiled first then pounded while ugali is simply boiled. Ugali recipe. Easy Ugali Recipe Prep time 5 minutes Cook time 30 minutes Total time 30 minutes Ingredients 4 cups finely ground cornmeal 8 cups water Directions Heat water to boiling in a saucepan. Slowly pour cornmeal into boiling water stirring continuously. Add more cornmeal if necessary until it is thick as soft bread dough. Serve immediately with vegetables, stew, or any dish you would use a spoon with to soak up the sauce, ugali is purposely bland tasting on its own. What is the difference between ugali and
Learn More

How to make sweet Nigerian Agege bread

Image
Pronounced ah-gay-gay agege bread is century old sweet tasting bread very popular with Hausa people in the West African country of Nigeria. Traditional Agege bread is not sold as sliced bread.  Agege is a district in the Ikeja Division of Lagos State, Nigeria. The name Agege bread was created by a Jamaican immigrant, Alhaji Ayokunnu in the town of Agege. His Agege bread was a popular street food for people on the go therefore he opened up a full-time Bakery to where he was providing bread to different stores.  Bread is not an indigenous food to Africans. Agege bread is popular because that's where the first bakery opened up selling this new style of African food on the street to busy Nigerians.    Agege bread is a delicious bread with a very soft center, sweet taste with crunchy crust. Traditional Agege bread is not sold as sliced bread. You can substitute coconut oil for the butter for a different version of Agege bread. Agege bread was created by Alhaji Ayokunnu How to m
Learn More

Africa’s smallest mountain

Image
Egypt is home to the smallest mountain in Africa Mount Horeb.  Africa's smallest mountain is Mount Horeb, also known as Jebel Horeb located in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.   Mount Horeb stands at only 2285 feet (696 meters) above sea level. Mount Horeb is also significant in religious history as it is believed to be the location where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God according to many religions.  More facts about Mount Horeb Africa’s smallest mountain (also known as Jebel Horeb or Ras Horeb) located in Egypt:  Mount Horeb is a mountain range located in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. It is the site where, according to the Bible, Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.  The mountain range is also known as the "Mountain of God" or the "Mountain of Moses" and is considered a sacred site by Christians, Jews, and Muslims.  Mount Horeb is home to several notable peaks, including Jebel Musa (Mount Sinai), which stands at 7,497 feet (2,285 meters) ab
Learn More

African cultures express, encourage, and communicate energy

African cultures express, encourage, and communicate energy

Support African History and Culture

Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet are dedicated to discovering, collecting and sharing African history and heritage celebrating 14 years of service in 2021. Share and support in the pride of being part of an important cultural and educational resource.


Being African in America I have grown up learning about different ethnic cultures. My father and mother are historians of African culture and history and their influence expanded my activities to several best-selling cookbooks, magazine columns, self-branded products, and a popular African culture and food blog.

Chic African Culture

Be better than average and support African history and culture. Since 2008 Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet highlight Africa through her food and culture. Contact us culture1africangourmet@gmail.com

More LOVE from Africa to Read About

Tasting African History Through Street Food African proverbs are to speech what salt is to food What is a person from Africa called