African Food and Art

Thank you to our latest donor, Tony. Thank you, Tony. We were able to purchase three new stainless steel pots to continue our cooking and teaching heritage.

All About The Democratic Republic of Congo

All About The Democratic Republic of Congo
Africa DRC History.

The Democratic Republic of Congo a brief history; it is estimated that half of the native Congolese population died in the period 1885-1908 because of Leopold's administration’s brutal systems. This period in The Democratic Republic of Congo history is known as the African Holocaust. Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga was the dictator 2nd President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1965 to 1997.

Kisingani, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

All About The Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC


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The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), previously named Zaire was the personal property of brutal Belgian King Leopold II in the late 19th century, who exploited its people ruthlessly to extract its great mineral resources and to grow and export rubber for the growing international automobile market. Leopold's army, the Force Publique, adopted a terrifying brutal policy towards the black African Congolese people to ensure their free labor.

It is estimated that half of the native Congolese population died in the period 1885-1908 because of Leopold's administration’s brutal systematic reign of terror. This period in DCR history is known as the African Holocaust. After independence, the Force Publique was renamed the Congolese National Army or ANC.

DRC acquired independence in 1960 after 52 years under Belgian state rule but quickly descended into political turmoil. One hundred thousand white Europeans left the country soon after independence. The first President of the The Democratic Republic of Congo Joseph Kasavubu and Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba quickly had major conflicts.

Patrice Lumumba was the first Prime Minister of the independent Democratic Republic of the Congo from June until September 1960. He played a significant role in the transformation of the Congo from a colony of Belgium into an independent republic. Ideologically an African nationalist and Pan-Africanist, he led the Mouvement National Congolais (MNC) party from 1958 until he was kidnapped and killed by militants from the mineral rich Katanga Province.

In 1965, the Congolese Army's Chief of Staff, Joseph Mobutu, took power in a coup, Mobutu, then called Joseph Mobutu Mobutu quickly set about nationalizing foreign owned companies and renamed the country, The Republic of Zaire in 1971. Corruption reigned supreme and the DRC economy nosedived when Mobutu focused his attention on increasing his own personal wealth estimated to be worth 5 billion US dollars by 1984.

Mobutu gave free reign to his cabinet, leaving them to accumulate personal fortunes. Whenever any individual became too rich or powerful Mobutu imprisoned, tortured, and then reinstated them to both retain their loyalty and keep them in their place. Infrastructure crumbled and all but his Special Presidential Division could guarantee a regular wage.

For a brief period in 1975, the media was forbidden from mentioning any name but Mobutu's. US President Reagan hosted Mobutu at the White House on three separate occasions, and when Katangan rebels invaded from Angola in 1977, French and Belgian troops came to his aid, with logistical support from the US.

DRC military justice officer

Mobutu was eventually overthrown in 1997 by long-time rebel Laurent-Désiré Kabila, who commanded an invading army, supported by the Rwandan and Ugandan governments. Relations between Rwanda and Mobutu had been strained since 1994 when Mobutu appeared sympathetic towards the radical Hutus who had initiated the genocide of Tutsis - many of whom had fled into Eastern Zaire. Mobutu retained his position for 32 years through several sham elections, as well as through brutal force.

Kabila exiled Mobutu and renamed Zaire the Democratic Republic of Congo. In August 1998, Kabila regime was itself challenged by a second insurrection again backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe intervened to support Kabila's regime. In January 2001, Kabila was assassinated by his bodyguards and his son, Joseph Kabila, was named head of state. An estimated five million people died in the ensuing civil war. His son Joseph Kabila is the current president and in 2002 successfully negotiated the withdrawal of the last Rwandan troops from the East of the country.

In 2009, following a resurgence of conflict in the eastern DRC, the government signed a peace agreement with the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP), a primarily Tutsi rebel group. The DRC continues to experience violence committed by other armed groups including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, the Allied Democratic Forces, and assorted Mai Mai militias. The DRC Constitution bars President Joseph Kabila from running for a third term; on November 6, 2017, The Democratic Republic of Congo announced that the much-delayed elections to replace President Joseph Kabila would take place in December 2018.

Kasai region of The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)



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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 and
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Ethiopian Midwest American Hotdish

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Our Ethiopian hot dish combines Ethiopian cooking with classic Minnesota Midwest casserole meal. The hot dish’s origins are a product of settlers traditions in Midwest America dating back to the early 20th century. A hot-dish or casserole is a one-pan meal that traditionally includes a combination of starch like potatoes, pasta, or rice, ground meat, vegetables, and a creamy canned soup base, all topped with crunchy goodness like breadcrumbs or tater tots. The concept of hot dish became popular in the Upper Midwest, particularly in states like Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, in the 1930s and 1940s. This period was marked by economic challenges, including the Great Depression. The need for economical and filling meals led to the creation of dishes that could be stretched to feed many people using simple, affordable ingredients . Hot dishes became synonymous with potlucks, church suppers, and social gatherings. These events were central to rural and small-town communities, where
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Top 20 Largest Countries in Africa

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African Country by Size List. Africa Which are the top twenty largest, smallest, and territorial country in Africa by land area? 1. The continent of Africa is the world’s second largest based on land area and population just after Asia. 2. Top five largest countries of Africa are Algeria, Congo Democratic Republic of the, Sudan, Libya and Chad. 3. Top five smallest African countries and territories are Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Saint Helena and Mayotte. African Country from largest to smallest Area sq mile Area sq km Algeria 919,595 2,381,740 Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) 905,568 2,345,410 Sudan 718,723 1,861,484 Libya 679,362 1,759,540 Chad 495,755 1,284,000 Niger 489,191 1,267,000 Angola 481,354 1,246,700 Mali 478,767 1,240,000 South Africa 471,011 1,219,912 Ethiopia 435,186 1,127,127 Mauritania 397,95
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Neck elongation rings how to put on and take off

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Neck elongation rings how to put on and take off. Idzila are Ndebele wives traditionally wear rings around the neck as a status symbol and wear rings around the arms, legs, and neck. Wearing Neck Rings. For centuries, married South African Ndebele tribes’ women saw wearing heavy rings around their neck as an honored status symbol. Neck rings are any form of stiff necklaces worn around the neck of an individual. The neck rings are usually made of copper or brass. During initiation, girls wear an array of colorfully beaded hoops called izigolwan around their legs, arms, waist, and neck. After marriage, the Ndebele wife would wear copper and brass rings around her arms, legs, and neck, symbolizing her bond and faithfulness to her husband, once her home was built. Idzila rings were believed to have strong ritual powers. Husbands used to provide their wives with rings; the richer the husband, the more rings the wife would wear. These outward symbols can be removed only in ca
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