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.

How Much is a McDonald's Big Mac in Africa

In 1995 McDonald's opened its first restaurant in South Africa
In 1995 McDonald's opened its first restaurant in South Africa

All About McDonald's In Africa

Did you know? 

McDonald's Big Mac in South Africa cost 30 rands or $2.17 US dollars.

McDonald's has restaurants in 6 African countries.

McDonald’s restaurants are located across Africa in the South, North, East and West.

McDonald's in Africa, but of course! 

The African fast food economy is a money-fueled fast paced food business. 

Dates McDonald’s first opened in Africa 

McDonald’s restaurants are located across Africa. In South Africa first opened on November 11, 1995, Morocco McDonald’s first opened on December 18, 1992, Egypt McDonald’s first opened on October 20, 1994, Mauritius McDonald’s first opened on July 4, 2001, Tunisia first McDonald’s opened on January 3, 2018 and Kenya first McDonald’s is set to open August 2018. 

McDonald’s restaurants in South Africa 

South Africa is a middle-income African country with abundant natural resources; well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors; and a stock exchange that is Africa’s largest and among the top 20 in the world. 

In the middle-income country of South Africa, a cheeseburger happy meal costs 33 rand or $2.71 US dollars, McCafe 22.50 rand or $2.10 US dollars and a jalapeno chicken sandwich will cost you 41 rand or $3.37 US dollars. 

McDonald's menu items such as salads, hotcakes, chicken, burgers, oatmeal, English muffins, fries and McCafe and tea taste just the same in South Africa as they do in New York. Besides a few local favorites such as the McDonald's South Africa Boerie Burger and a side of fresh corn, the menu would be recognizable to any traveler. 

McDonald's success is consistency, yes McDonald's is the same the world over, even in Africa. The favorite menu item, McDonald's South African Boerie Burger, is a beef boerewors flavored meat patty, smothered in ketchup, mustard, and grilled onions. Boerewors is a type of sausage originating in South Africa and is an important part of South African food history.

McDonald's South African Boerie Burger cost 22 rand or $1.81 US dollars
McDonald's South African Boerie Burger cost 22 rands or $1.81 US dollars

All McDonald’s restaurants are certified Halaal by the Muslim Judicial Council. South Africa’s religious population is Protestant 36.6%, other Christian 36%, Catholic 7.1%, Muslim 1.5%, Other 2.3%, Unspecified 1.4%, and None 15.1%. 

Today there are over 200 restaurants in all nine provinces across South Africa; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape. The South African rand is the currency of South Africa. 

McDonald’s restaurants are a natural fit in South Africa since the beef, poultry, and dairy industry are agricultural financial powerhouses. The beef industry is a major employer in South Africa, stock farming is one of the only viable agricultural activity in a large part of the country where 27% of the population is unemployed. 

According to McDonald's South Africa website, McDonald's employs over 10,000 people across 1,600 miles or 2,500 kilometers of South Africa.

More economical easy lunch and dinner recipes to make right now so you never have to eat or prepare a boring meal again.

  1. Curried Tanzanian Coconut Okra Recipe
  2. Yedoro Stir Fried Ethiopian Chicken Dinner
  3. Senegalese Chicken Vermicelli
  4. Caldo Verde Portuguese Kale Soup
  5. Air Fryer Black Eyed Pea Dumpling Stew

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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