African Food and Art

This blog explores the wisdom of African proverbs, the depth of folklore, the beauty of art, the stories of history, and the flavors of timeless African food recipes.

Goliath Frogs Big As Newborn Babies

The biggest frogs in the world weigh as much as a newborn baby, African Goliath frogs on average weigh 6-8 pounds. They measure about 13-16 inches in length, which is about the same width as a laptop computer. Goliath frogs are found in very small regions of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea in Africa.


African Goliath frogs are the largest frogs in the world; as big as a newborn baby.


African Goliath frogs for sale in Cameroon

The goliath frog is the largest living frog on earth living in or near fast-flowing rivers and streams in West African rainforests. The frogs are considered endangered amphibians due to overhunting and its small habitat environmental range being destroyed.

The Goliath Frog's scientific name is Conraua goliath and is known as the Giant Slippery Frog. The world's largest frog is known only from southwestern Cameroon from the region of Nkongsamba, and south to Monte Alen in mainland Equatorial Guinea. The goliath frog is part of the Central African bushmeat trade and exported to the USA by animal dealers as pets and competitive frog races.

Goliath frog tadpoles are not much larger than those of other frogs are, but the majority of growth occurs in the first 75 to 90 days of development.


Adult Goliath frogs are from 17 to 32 cm long and from 600 to 3250 grams in weight, 6-8 pounds. They measure about 13-16 inches in length. They have a flattened, wide-body with a triangular head. Their dorsal skin is granular and greenish-brown and the ventral skin is light yellowish green. 

 The hind legs are long, front legs are shorter and stout, and all of the feet are extensively webbed. Their eyes can be nearly 2.5 cm in diameter. Goliath frogs are most active at night as they search for food along rivers. Younger frogs spend most of their time underwater whereas older frogs occasionally bask on rocks.

The world’s smallest frog is the size of a housefly


The Paedophryne amauensis is a species of frog from Papua New Guinea. About the size of a housefly, it is considered the world's smallest known frog. 

Before the Paedophrynes were found, the title of world's smallest frog was bestowed on the Brazilian gold frog (Brachycephalus didactylus) and its slightly larger Cuban relative, the Monte Iberia Eleuth (Eleutherodactylus iberia). They both measure less than 1cm long. 

Because the frogs have calls that resemble those made by insects and are camouflaged among leaves on the forest floor, Paedophryne amauensis were difficult to detect.

The worlds smallest chameleon can fit on the head of a wooden match

Brookesia micra, the minuscule chameleon is less than an inch long from nose to tail as an adult and can sit on a human thumbnail. Newborn and young minuscule chameleons can fit on the head of a wooden match.

It is only found living in Madagascar's 62-mile high Tsingy Razor Spiked Forest. Tsingy is located in the Melaky Region of Mahajanga Madagascar on 375,600 acres or 152,000 hectares of land.
The minuscule chameleon which is less than an inch long from nose to tail is a species only found in Tsingy. The undisturbed forests, lakes and mangrove swamps are the habitat for rare and endangered lemurs and birds.


Something fun


Why Frogs Croak is explained in this true African folklore story


It is a common belief male frogs croaks are love serenades meant to attract a lover. However, the true reason frogs croak is explained in the ancient African Short Story Folklore Why Frogs Croak.

Why Frogs Croak African Short Story Folklore

Why Frogs Croak African Short Story Folklore

The animals arrange a wrestling match between frog and elephant. 

It is agreed that at the beginning of the match, at the signal each contestant will rush forward into the wrestling match and begin the contest. 

However, the elephant comes so fast, that he stumbles and falls over on his back, frog jumps through elephant's legs, pins him and wins the match. 

All Frog's relatives began to croak, and to this day, they crock to each other celebrating the victory over the elephant.


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Week’s Best African Culture Posts

Kru Tribe Fine Boy Tradition

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Dream-nightmare story from the Kru people of Liberia: the newly chosen Fine Boy is temporarily celebrated with fanfare and pleasure. Kru Tribe Fine Boy Tradition Fascinating stories emerged during the Pepper Coast's glory days. Beginning in the 15th century, European traders established outposts along the Liberian coastline, drawn by its wealth of humans, spices, and other commodities.  Centuries later, in the 19th century, the American Colonization Society (ACS) founded settlements in Liberia and began journalling native stories.  Among these tales is a dream-nightmare story from the Kru people of Liberia, a story so intriguing it almost seems too good to be true because, in some ways, it is.   The Kru women periodically held elections to select a young, handsome man as their “Fine Boy.” The announcement of his selection was celebrated with a vibrant procession featuring music, singing, and dancing.  The newly chosen Fine Boy was placed at the front of the para...
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What is the difference between ugali and fufu

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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 ...
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Berbere Spice Popcorn Topping Recipe

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Berbere Spice North African Popcorn Topping Recipe The best African spice for fresh popped popcorn is Berbere, a flavorful and aromatic bold spice blend from North Africa you buy at the local supermarket or online. Berbere is known for its bold mix of spices, often including chili peppers, garlic, ginger, fenugreek, cardamom, coriander, cinnamon, and cloves.  Berbere brings a balance of heat, sweetness, and earthy depth to any dish including fresh popped popcorn. The spice mix symbolizes community and hospitality, often prepared at home with slight variations to suit family preferences. Its fiery yet balanced flavor profile mirrors the complex and vibrant food of North African culture . In cities across Africa, popcorn is a common street snack and is often sold in cinemas, at markets, and by roadside vendors.  Berbere Spice Popcorn Topping Recipe Ingredients ½ cup poped popcorn kernels  2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 teaspoon Berbere spice blend   1 teaspoon salt ...
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Keto Moroccan Dinner Cooked Slowly

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Slow Cooked Moroccan Kefta Lamb Meatballs   Keto Tagine Morocco is at the geographic and cultural crossroads between Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.   In Morocco, the term tagine refers to a slow cooked stew as well as the pot the stew is made in. Kefta Tagine Kefta Tagine is a keto-friendly Moroccan lamb meatball food dish fitted for your low-carb lifestyle. The slow cooking of the meatballs allows the flavors to meld beautifully, creating a fragrant, hearty keto meal. The star of the Kefta Tagine dish is lamb, symbolizing the richness of Moroccan hospitality. Lamb meat has been a staple in North African cuisine for centuries, with lamb being central to celebrations and religious festivals.  Ground lamb meat is spiced and shaped into small balls, known as kefta, a preparation that dates back to ancient Berber traditions.  The kefta are seasoned with cumin, paprika, and coriander, spices that have shaped Morocco’s history in the global trading of spices whi...
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