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.

Africa has 79 critically endangered languages

Africa has 79 critically endangered, 66 severely endangered, 44 vulnerable, 51 definitely endangered languages. Africa is experiencing a rapid loss of indigenous cultural identity.

The current era of globalization has a melting pot effect on traditional African cultures.


Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture

Many fear the loss of indigenous cultural identity when ancient African culture is homogenized leading to cultural assimilation including loss of African languages.

Fear of loss of culture


Indigenous African cultures have been disappearing, taking valuable knowledge with them. Each African culture is a unique answer to the question of what it means to be human. In today’s rapidly changing world, people from Africa worry about losing their traditional culture, the traditional way of life is getting lost.

Living in one of the most isolated regions of Ethiopia, the Mursi tribe in the beautiful Omo Valley, are one of the most fascinating tribes in Africa

Cultures are rooted in a time and place. They define how people relate to nature and their physical environment, to the earth and to the cosmos, and they express our attitudes to and beliefs in other forms of life, both animal and plant.


Cultural Survival


The current era of globalization is having a melting pot influence on indigenous African cultures.

While this may promote the integration of societies and has provided millions of people with new opportunities, it also brings with it a loss of uniqueness of indigenous African cultures, which in turn can lead to loss of identity and even self-conflict. This is especially true for traditional African societies, which are exposed to rapid modernization.

Language is a part of culture; nearly half of the 7,000 languages spoken in the world are expected to vanish in the next 100 years.

In Africa, over 2,000 are spoken on the continent and hundreds are endangered or critically endangered. The extinction of a language results in the irrecoverable loss of unique cultural knowledge embodied in it for centuries.

Deep in our hearts, we all understand that the quality of our lives depends, to a great extent, on our being able to take part in, and benefit from our culture. The current era of globalization is having a melting pot influence on indigenous African cultures.


Cultures traditions and rituals in fear of being lost

In 2013, Kenya began a campaign toward the Maasai of educating the tribe on the negative connotations of ear stretching and upper cartilage piercing.

Some Kenyan officials believe tribalism is hurting Kenya and the more mainstream an individual is the more likely they can absorb into conventional society.

The Samburu are extremely dependent on their animals for survival. On November 11, 2011, thousands of the Samburu livestock were impounded due to a dispute over land ownership with Nature Conservancy and the African Wildlife Foundation who purchased the land and gave it as a gift to Kenya for a national park, to be called Laikipia National Park.

The Samburu's legal case was heard in the town of Nyeri December 14, 2011 and the court ruled The Kenya Wildlife Service had secured legal registration of the land.


There are 79 critically endangered, 66 severely endangered, 44 vulnerable and 51 definitely endangered African languages.


List of 79 critically endangered African languages

Akie language
Akum language
Akum language
Anfillo language
Animere language
Argobba language
Baga Mboteni language
Bakole language
Bakpinka language
Baldemu language
Bikya language
Birri language
Bishuo language
Boguru language
Boor language
Bung language
Busuu language
Cambap language
Cobiana language
Cobiana language
Dahaalik language
Danisi language
Defaka language
Dimbong language
Dulbu language
Geme language
Ghomara language
Goundo language
Gweno language
Gyem language
Hijuk language
Hoa language
Ilue language
Jilbe language
Judeo-Tunisian Arabic language
Karo language
Kasanga language
Kim language
Kiong language
Korana language
Kudu-Camo language
Kwegu language
Laal language
Luri language
Mabiri language
Majera language
Mani language
Mani language
Massalat language
Miltu language
Mlomp language
Mono language
Mvanip language
Nǀuu language
Ndai language
Nemadi language
Ngbinda language
Njerep language
Noy language
Omotik language
Ongamo language
'Ongota language
Opuuo language
Sambe language
Sanhaja of Srair language
Sawkna language
Somyev language
Somyev language
Soo language
Tamazight language
Tamki language
Tchumbuli language
Tidikelt language
Xaise language
Xiri language
Yangkam language
Zenaga language
Zenatiya language
Zumaya language

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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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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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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