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.

Food Is Not the Main Imported Item into Africa

Machinery and equipment, Chemicals, Petroleum products, Scientific instruments, and Foodstuffs are the top five imported commodities into Africa.

Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa with the largest economy, followed by South Africa and Egypt while Oil-rich countries such as Equatorial Guinea, Angola have Africa's highest GDP per capita along with Algeria, Libya and Gabon, and mineral-rich Botswana.


List of African Nations and their top imports and import partners


Sewing T Shirts in Ghana
Sewing T Shirts in Ghana

Algeria

Imports - commodities: capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners: France 18.7 percent, China 9 percent, Italy 8.5 percent, Spain 6 percent, US 5.5 percent, Germany 5.3 percent, Russia 4.6 percent, Turkey 4.1 percent


Angola

Imports - commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods

Imports - partners: Portugal 19.3 percent, China 14.7 percent, US 12.3 percent, Brazil 8.3 percent, South Africa 5.4 percent, France 4.3 percent


Benin

Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Imports - partners: China 39.8 percent, US 14 percent, Thailand 6.9 percent, France 6.9 percent, Malaysia 4.2 percent


Botswana

Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal products


Burkina Faso

Imports - commodities: capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum

Imports - partners: Cote d'Ivoire 26.4 percent, France 18.2 percent, Togo 7.3 percent, Libya 4.2 percent


Burundi

Imports - commodities: capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs

Imports - partners: Saudi Arabia 18.3 percent, Kenya 10.7 percent, Belgium 7.9 percent, France 5.8 percent, Uganda 5.1 percent, China 4.9 percent, India 4.5 percent, Germany 4.3 percent


Cameroon

Imports - commodities: machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food

Imports - partners: France 21.6 percent, Nigeria 14.2 percent, China 9.2 percent, Belgium 6.2 percent


Cape Verde

Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners: Portugal 39.5 percent, Netherlands 11.4 percent, Spain 6.5 percent, UK 6.3 percent, Cote d'Ivoire 4.4 percent, Brazil 4 percent


Central African Republic

Imports - commodities: food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners: France 17.3 percent, Cameroon 9.8 percent, Netherlands 7.3 percent, US 6.7 percent


Chad

Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners: France 19.2 percent, Cameroon 16.2 percent


Comoros

Imports - commodities: rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products, cement, transport equipment

Imports - partners: Brazil 13.5 percent, France 13.2 percent, China 10.5 percent, UAE 9.2 percent, South Africa 6.1 percent, Italy 5.3 percent, Pakistan 5.3 percent, Singapore 4.2 percent, Kenya 4.2 percent


Dem Rep of the Congo

Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners: South Africa 22.1 percent, Belgium 11.5 percent, Zambia 8.3 percent, Zimbabwe 7 percent, Kenya 5.9 percent, China 5.6 percent, France 5.4 percent


Cote D’ivoire

Imports - commodities: fuel, capital equipment, foodstuffs

Imports - partners: Nigeria 32 percent, France 15.1 percent, China 7.8 percent


Djibouti

Imports - commodities: foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products

Imports - partners: Saudi Arabia 22.1 percent, India 16.6 percent, China 9.1 percent, US 6.5 percent, Malaysia 4.5 percent, Ethiopia 4.3 percent


Egypt

Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels

Imports - partners: US 11.7 percent, China 9.7 percent, Italy 6.4 percent, Germany 6.3 percent, Saudi Arabia 4.7 percent, Russia 4.3 percent


Equatorial Guinea

Imports - commodities: petroleum sector equipment, other equipment

Imports - partners: Spain 15.2 percent, US 13.4 percent, France 12.4 percent, Cote d'Ivoire 11.9 percent, China 10.4 percent, Italy 6.3 percent, UK 5.8 percent


Eritrea

Imports - commodities: machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods

Imports - partners: Italy 16.9 percent, UAE 15.7 percent, China 13 percent, India 9.4 percent, US 6.7 percent, Germany 6 percent, Turkey 5 percent


Ethiopia

Imports - commodities: food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles, cereals, textiles

Imports - partners: China 19.5 percent, Saudi Arabia 17.9 percent, India 7.2 percent, US 5 percent, Italy 4.4 percent


Gabon

Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials

Imports - partners: France 32.1 percent, US 11.1 percent, China 5.2 percent, Belgium 4.6 percent, Cameroon 4.4 percent, Netherlands 4.2 percent


The Gambia

Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners: China 22.7 percent, Senegal 11.7 percent, Cote d'Ivoire 8.4 percent, Brazil 7.4 percent, Netherlands 4.9 percent


Ghana

Imports - commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs

Imports - partners: China 15.9 percent, Nigeria 15.8 percent, US 5.9 percent, France 4.7 percent, UK 4.7 percent


Guinea

Imports - commodities: petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs

Imports - partners: China 10.3 percent, France 7.8 percent, Netherlands 7.6 percent


Guinea-Bissau

Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products

Imports - partners: Portugal 24.6 percent, Senegal 17.3 percent, Pakistan 4.8 percent, France 4.6 percent, Cuba 4 percent


Kenya

Imports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics

Imports - partners: UAE 12.5 percent, China 10.5 percent, Saudi Arabia 8.7 percent, India 8.3 percent, South Africa 6.6 percent, Japan 5.6 percent, US 4.2 percent


Lesotho

Imports - commodities: food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products

Imports - partners: China 31.1 percent, Taiwan 23.5 percent, Hong Kong 19.4 percent, India 13.8 percent, Germany 5.2 percent


Liberia

Imports - commodities: fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; foodstuffs

Imports - partners: South Korea 27.5 percent, Singapore 25.2 percent, Japan 11.6 percent, China 11.2 percent


Libya

Imports - commodities: machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment, consumer products

Imports - partners: Italy 18.9 percent, Germany 7.7 percent, China 7.3 percent, Tunisia 6.8 percent, France 5.7 percent, Turkey 5.4 percent, US 4.3 percent


Madagascar

Imports - commodities: capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food

Imports - partners: China 16.3 percent, France 12.1 percent, Iran 8.3 percent, South Africa 6 percent, Mauritius 4.3 percent


Malawi

Imports - commodities: food, petroleum products, semi manufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment

Imports - partners: South Africa 35.7 percent, India 8.1 percent, China 7.2 percent, Tanzania 5.8 percent, US 4.5 percent


Mali

Imports - commodities: food, petroleum products, semi manufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment

Imports - partners: South Africa 35.7 percent, India 8.1 percent, China 7.2 percent, Tanzania 5.8 percent, US 4.5 percent


Mauritania

Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners: France 16.3 percent, China 8.4 percent, Netherlands 6.2 percent, Spain 5.9 percent, Belgium 5.2 percent, US 4.9 percent, Brazil 4.4 percent


Mauritius

Imports - commodities: manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners: India 21.2 percent, China 11.4 percent, France 10.7 percent, South Africa 7.4 percent


Morocco

Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics

Imports - partners: France 16.1 percent, Spain 13.6 percent, China 7.3 percent, Italy 6.7 percent, Saudi Arabia 6.4 percent, Germany 5.9 percent, US 4.5 percent, Netherlands 4.1 percent


Mozambique

Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners: South Africa 36.7 percent, Australia 8.5 percent, China 4.6 percent


Namibia

Imports - commodities: foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners: South Africa 85.2 percent, US


Niger

Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

Imports - partners: France 19.4 percent, Nigeria 8.6 percent, China 8.5 percent, French Polynesia 7.6 percent, Belgium 5 percent, Cote d'Ivoire 4.9 percent


Nigeria

Imports - commodities: machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals

Imports - partners: China 10.6 percent, Netherlands 7.9 percent, US 7.8 percent, South Korea 6.6 percent, UK 5.7 percent, France 4.3 percent, Brazil 4.2 percent, Germany 4.1 percent


Rwanda

Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material

Imports - partners: Kenya 17.1 percent, China 6.2 percent, Uganda 6 percent, Belgium 5.9 percent, Germany 5.1 percent


Sao Tome and Principe

Imports - commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products

Imports - partners: Portugal 62.2 percent, US 11.6 percent, Gabon 4.5 percent


Senegal

Imports - commodities: food and beverages, capital goods, fuels

Imports - partners: France 22.2 percent, Netherlands 10 percent, China 7.4 percent, UK 6.2 percent, Thailand 5.2 percent, Belgium 4.5 percent


Seychelles

Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners: Saudi Arabia 18.3 percent, Singapore 12.9 percent, France 10.8 percent, Spain 8.5 percent, Germany 7.4 percent, South Africa 5.7 percent


Sierra Leone

Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals

Imports - partners: China 10.5 percent, Cote d'Ivoire 8.9 percent, US 7.9 percent, Belgium 6.7 percent, UK 6.7 percent, Thailand 5.2 percent, India 4.2 percent


South Africa

Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific instruments, foodstuffs

Imports - partners: Germany 10.9 percent, China 10 percent, Spain 8.2 percent, US 7.2 percent, Japan 6.1 percent, UK 4.5 percent, Saudi Arabia 4.2 percent


Sudan

Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, refinery and transport equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles, wheat

Imports - partners: China 24.9 percent, Saudi Arabia 8 percent, UAE 5.9 percent, India 5.8 percent, Egypt 5.3 percent


South Sudan – no information


Swaziland

Imports - commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners: South Africa 95.6 percent, EU 0.9 percent, Japan 0.9 percent (2006)


Tanzania

Imports - commodities: consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment, industrial raw materials, crude oil

Imports - partners: China 14.5 percent, South Africa 7.3 percent, Kenya 7.2 percent, India 6.3 percent, UAE 6.1 percent


Togo

Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products

Imports - partners: China 39.1 percent, Netherlands 7.9 percent, France 7.2 percent, Thailand 5.1 percent


Tunisia

Imports - commodities: textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners: France 23.8 percent, Italy 21.9 percent, Germany 9.7 percent, Spain 5 percent, Libya 4.4 percent


Uganda

Imports - commodities: capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals

Imports - partners: Kenya 31.8 percent, China 7.8 percent, UAE 7.7 percent, South Africa 5.9 percent, India 5.2 percent, Japan 4.8 percent


Zambia

Imports - commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer; foodstuffs, clothing

Imports - partners: South Africa 49.3 percent, China 8.2 percent, UAE 7.9 percent, India 4.4 percent


Zimbabwe

Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, other manufactures, chemicals, fuels

Imports - partners: South Africa 52.2 percent, China 7 percent, Botswana 4.5 percent


Port of Dar es Salaam is the principal port serving Tanzania
Port of Dar es Salaam is the principal port serving Tanzania

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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