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The African Gourmet

The African Gourmet: Explore African Culture & Recipes

One bowl of fufu can explain a war. One proverb can outsmart a drought.
Welcome to the real Africa—told through food, memory, and truth.

Christmas & New Year in Africa

FOOD PROVERBS

How many countries does Africa have?

How many countries in Africa and the real truth behind the confusing number of countries.

Africa has 58 Countries, Africa has 55 countries, Africa has 54 countries, and all are true statements.

Africa has 58 Countries, Africa has 55 countries, Africa has 54 countries, and all are true statements.

How many countries does Africa have


How many countries does Africa really have?

Africa has 58 Countries, Africa has 55 countries, Africa has 54 countries, and all are true statements.

The answer is if you are referring to sovereign states officially recognized by the African Union, Africa has 54 however if you are referring to United Nations African countries then Africa has 58 but, African states whose sovereignty is internationally recognized with diplomatic recognition is 55. This explains why in some cases Africa is listed as having 54, 55 and 58 countries.

The African Union (AU), founded May 2001 is a continental union recognizes Africa has having 54 countries.

African Union recognized African Countries

1. Algeria

2. Angola

3. Benin

4. Botswana

5. Burkina Faso

6. Burundi

7. Cabo Verde

8. Cameroon

9. Central African Republic

10. Chad

11. Comoros

12. Cรดte d'Ivoire

13. *Democratic Republic of Congo

14. Djibouti

15. Egypt

16. Equatorial Guinea

17. Eritrea

18. Ethiopia

19. Gabon

20. Ghana

21. Guinea

22. Guinea-Bissau

23. Kenya

24. Lesotho

25. Liberia

26. Libya

27. Madagascar

28. Malawi

29. Mali

30. Mauritania

31. Mauritius

32. Mozambique

33. Namibia

34. Niger

35. Nigeria

36. Republic of the Congo

37. Rwanda

38. Senegal

39. Seychelles

40. Sierra Leone

41. Somalia

42. South Africa

43. South Sudan

44. Sudan

45. Swaziland

46. Tanzania

47. The Gambia

48. The Republic of Congo

49. Togo

50. Tunisia

51. Uganda

52. Western Sahara

53. Zambia

54. Zimbabwe


Democratic Republic of Congo was suspended in 2013 from the African Union.

There are 55 African states whose sovereignty is internationally recognized with diplomatic recognition.

African Union’s 54 counties plus:

Morocco


The United Nations (UN) an international organization founded in 1945 recognizes Africa has having 58 countries.

African Union’s 54 counties plus:

1. Mayotte

2. Rรฉunion

3. Western Sahara

4. Saint Helena


Public opinion lists Africa as having 57 countries; this is the only number that is incorrect. The 57 African countries include a portion of Africa Union’s countries and one of the United Nations countries.

1. Morocco

2. Somaliland

3. Western Sahara

African family

Did you know? Somaliland is a self-declared African state that seceded from Somalia in 1991, and advocates independence for the northwestern portion of the Somali Democratic Republic.


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

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Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

African Recipes Organized by Meal Time

African Drinks & Beverages

Snacks & Appetizers

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Desserts

Photo of Ivy, author of The African Gourmet

About the Author

A Legacy Resource, Recognized Worldwide

For 19 years, The African Gourmet has preserved Africa's stories is currently selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives, the world's premier guardian of cultural heritage.

Trusted by: WikipediaEmory University African StudiesUniversity of KansasUniversity of KwaZulu-NatalMDPI Scholarly Journals.
Explore our archived collections → DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17329200

View citations →

Recipes as Revolution

Recipes as Revolution

When food becomes protest and meals carry political meaning

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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.

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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 18 years, we've evolved into a comprehensive digital archive preserving Africa's cultural narratives. "Gourmet" now signifies our curated approach to cultural preservation—each entry carefully selected and contextualized.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 18 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 18-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.