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.

African Athletics All-Africa Games 50th Anniversary 2015

The Unity Games formerly named All-Africa Games is a Olympic-style summer and para events. The 2023 All-Africa Unity Games will be hosted by Ghana.

The Unity All-Africa Games is held every four years, one year before the Olymic Games.

In 1965, the first Africa Games were held in Brazzaville Congo. The 52nd anniversary of the games from 1965-2023 will see a record number of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals awarded to African athletes from 53 African Countries.

All-Africa Games Lagos Nigeria 1973

African Athletics Africa Games 

The All-Africa Games are organized by The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, which was founded in 1981 in Lome Togo. The All Africa Games were originally named the Friendship Games and then the Pan-African Games and now known as The Unity Games celebrate African athletics and African unity. 

In 2012, the name changed again to Africa Games. One of the original All Africa Games supporters was an International Olympic Committee first African member, Egyptian sprinter Angelo Bolanaki. He was the first International Olympic Committee member from an African nation. 

In 1965, the first All Africa Games were held in Brazzaville Congo. Unfortunately, a military coup forced the cancellation of the second games in Mali in 1969. The spirit of the games could not be crushed; Lagos Nigeria hosted the second games in 1973. 

In 1977, the third games were scheduled to take place in Algiers Algeria, but were postponed for a year and were held in 1978. The last of the delays, in Nairobi Kenya the original due date of the games was in 1983 but were deferred until 1985 finally taking place in 1987. South Africa was first permitted to compete in the All-Africa Games in 1995. 


List of All-Africa Games Host Countries 

1965 Brazzaville Republic of the Congo 1969 Disrupted by Military Coup, Bamako Mali

1973 Lagos Nigeria

1978 Algiers Algeria IV 1987 Nairobi Kenya

1991 Cairo Egypt

1995 Harare Zimbabwe

1999 Johannesburg South Africa

2003 Abuja Nigeria

2007 Algiers Algeria

2011 Maputo Mozambique

2015 Brazzaville Republic of the Congo

2019 Rabat Morocco ber, and aluminum

The 2023 All-Africa Unity Games will be hosted by Ghana.


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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  3. Worst serial killers recorded in history are women
  4. Indigenous healers and plants used
  5. Night running illness or magic
  6. What is back to Africa

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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Why Study the Kingdom of Kongo When It Failed

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A Kingdom Torn Apart: The Forces Behind Kongo’s Collapse. Why study and honor defunct ancient African kingdoms? These kingdoms no longer exist, they were failures; hpwever, they were once thriving societies with remarkable achievements. Before the arrival of Portuguese explorers, the Kingdom of Kongo flourished as a prosperous and powerful African state.  It boasted a sophisticated social structure, strong economic systems, and rich spiritual traditions. The King of Kongo was regarded as a sacred intermediary between the gods and his people, embodying the kingdom's deep reverence for spirituality and governance.  This existence, however, became a battleground as the Portuguese wielded their “divide and conquer” strategy with precision, exploiting internal rivalries and introducing advanced weaponry that disrupted the balance of power, deposing the king. Economic pressures intensified as the Portuguese fueled the transatlantic slave trade, transforming allies into rivals and co...
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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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