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The African Gourmet

Welcome to the African Gourmet Foodways Archives

Archiving the intangible systems of African food.
African food are a system of knowledge

Africa told through food, memory, and time.

 The African Gourmet

Stories from the Continental Table

The African Gourmet is not a list of facts. It is a deep, ongoing study of a continent through its most fundamental cultural expression: food. Here, a recipe is a historical document. An ingredient is a character in a diasporic story. A cooking technique is a philosophy passed down through generations. This site is a curated archive for those who understand that to eat is to know, and to cook is to remember.

This is a focused collection of culinary history, ingredient deep-dives, and recipes that serve as points of entry into complex cultural conversations. I write not about Africa as a monolith, but about the specific, vibrant, and interconnected foodways that tell its true story.

Gourmet here does not mean fancy. It means discernment. It means choosing depth over breadth. It means treating the story of West African stews, the science of fermentation bridges with Korea, or the political weight of a cashew nut with the seriousness they deserve. This is writing for readers—and editors—who are tired of surface-level takes and hungry for substance.

I am a writer specializing in African culinary history and culture. This site is my ongoing portfolio and research hub. I am available for commissioned writing, speaking, and collaborative projects that engage with food as a primary source. For professional inquiries, please [contact me here]

Food proverb


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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.

The African Gourmet Foodways Archive

Feeding a continent

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 19 years, we have evolved into The African Gourmet Foodways Archive—a structured digital repository archiving the intangible systems of African food: the labor, rituals, time, and sensory knowledge surrounding sustenance. "Gourmet" signifies our curated, sensory-driven approach to this preservation, where each entry is carefully selected, contextualized, and encoded for long-term cultural memory.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 19 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 19-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.