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.

African Reading and Writing Stats

Literacy rates among African adults aged 15 years and older including statistics and definitions of literacy rates by countries in Africa. 

Learn about what literacy is and put literacy rates in Africa in perspective.

Learning to read and write should be fundamental yet, more than 75% of the world's 781 million illiterate adults are found in South and West Asia and sub-Saharan Africa; of all the illiterate adults in the world, almost 66% are women.

Secondary school Mukono Town, Uganda
Secondary school Mukono Town, Uganda

Nevertheless, keep in mind there are no universal definitions and standards of literacy, therefore, literacy rates in Africa are subjective. Also, Africa is the second most populous continent with about 1.1 billion people or 16% of the world’s population.

Mexico, China, Eastern, and Western Europe, India, the USA, and Japan can all fit into Africa's total land area very comfortably. African countries by the literacy rate generally mean literacy also encompasses numeracy, the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations.

Africa the cradle of language but not literacy. Facts: 793 million adults worldwide cannot read these words, 64% of them are women, 10 countries account for 72% of all illiterate adults and 67 million primary school-age children are not enrolled in school.

Most importantly, over 25% of all languages are spoken only in Africa with over 2,000 languages are spoken on the continent. With such diversity in language, a person is counted as literate by the World Bank as the population aged 15 and above who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life.

The top five African countries with the highest literacy rates are:

Equatorial Guinea 95.3 %

South Africa 94.3 %

Seychelles 91.8 %

Libya 91 %

Mauritius 90.6 %

 The top five African countries with the lowest literacy rates are:

Niger 19.1 %

South Sudan 27 %

Guinea 30.4 %

Burkina Faso 36 %

The Central African Republic 36.8 %


Primary school student in Botswana Africa.
Primary school student in Botswana Africa.


African Country Literacy rates in alphabetical order.
African County Read and Write English Male % Female %
Algeria 73 81 64
Angola 71 82 60
Benin 29 41 18
Botswana 87 87 88
Burkina Faso 29 37 22
Burundi 87 89 85
Cabo Verde 85 90 80
Cameroon 71 78 65
Central African Republic 37 51 24
Chad 38 47 29
Congo 79 86 73
Côte d'Ivoire 41 52 30
Democratic Republic of the Congo 75 88 63
Djibouti no info no info no info
Egypt 72 80 64
Equatorial Guinea 95 97 92
Eritrea 72 81 63
Ethiopia 39 49 29
Gabon 82 85 80
The Gambia 53 62 45
Ghana 71 78 65
Guinea 25 37 12
Guinea-Bissau 58 70 45
Guyana 85 82 87
Kenya 72 78 67
Lesotho 76 66 85
Liberia 43 61 27
Libya 90 96 84
Madagascar 64 67 62
Malawi 61 72 51
Mali 31 43 20
Mauritania 46 57 35
Mauritius 89 92 87
Morocco 67 76 58
Mozambique 51 67 36
Namibia 76 74 78
Niger 15 23 9
Nigeria 51 61 41
Rwanda 66 71 62
Sao Tome and Principe 70 80 60
Senegal 52 66 40
Seychelles 94 93 94
Sierra Leone 46 57 35
Somalia no info no info no info
South Africa 93 94 92
South Sudan 27 35 19
Sudan 74 82 66
Eswatini 83 84 82
Togo 60 74 48
Tunisia 79 87 71
Uganda 73 83 65
United Republic of Tanzania 68 75 61
Zambia 61 72 52
Zimbabwe 84 88 80

About International Literacy Day.

Reading inspires children to be successful in school and life. On November 17, 1965, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO declared September 8th of each year International Literacy Day.

International Literacy Day goal is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. The goal of the program is the promotion of literacy being an essential human right and the groundwork for learning. With formal and non-formal reading programs worldwide, UNESCO works to realize the vision of a literate world for all.

Literacy is a key lever of change and a practical tool of empowerment on each of the three main pillars of sustainable development: economic development, social development and environmental protection. - Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan

What can you do?

Read aloud to your children.

Reading aloud is a gift you can freely give to your children from the day they are born until the time they leave the nest. Children's reading experts agree that reading aloud offers the easiest and most effective way to help children become lifelong readers. It can also be as much fun for you as it is for your children.

A child whose day includes listening to lively stories is more likely to grow up loving books and wanting to read them. To spark this desire in your children, set aside a special time each day to read aloud to your children and reread your child’s favorite story, children often like to revisit some of their old favorites.


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

  1. African Country Names Your Saying Wrong
  2. What do Waist Beads Symbolize in Africa?
  3. About African Healers and Witchdoctors
  4. Hurricanes are Angry African Ancestors
  5. Highest Temperature and Lowest Temperature in Africa
  6. About African Night Running


Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

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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