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 Immigrants are a Lucrative Business

African illegal immigrants are a lucrative business bringing billions of dollars to governments, business, human smugglers and individuals.

Men, women and children line up on a Somalia beach to board the boats that will take them across the Gulf of Aden to Yemen.

African Immigrants are a Lucrative Business

April 2015, Rwandan President Paul Kagame confirmed a multimillion dollar deal with Israel to host its Eritrean and Sudanese African

More than 1,800 people are feared to have died crossing the Mediterranean in 2015 so far - a 20-fold increase on the same period in 2014. 

Italy received more than 170,000 of the 2014 arrivals, large numbers of which were from Syria and Eritrea. Egypt's ambassador to the United Kingdom warned of boats full of terrorists if the international community does not act against human smugglers, while the Italian government has expressed fears of militants infiltrating the boats, while emphasizing that the boats are a humanitarian crisis. 

However, experts have cautioned that it is difficult to verify the threat without evidence. Israel is set to deport Eritrean and Sudanese asylum-seekers estimated to be over 50,000 to countries in Africa including Rwanda and Uganda under a new policy which has been greatly criticized by human rights defenders. 

Rwandan President Paul Kagame said that Israel planned to return the immigrants to their countries of origin but some refused citing danger to their lives. About 60,000 people are estimated to have tried to cross the Mediterranean this year with the aid of human smugglers, fleeing conflict and poverty. 

Since the 2011 uprising, Libya has been without a stable government, and the chaos has allowed human smuggling trafficking networks to thrive. Ikenna Azuike hosts What’s Up Africa a show produced by RNW. Nearly 50,000 Eritrean and Sudanese asylum-seekers are in Israel, video blog satirist Ikenna Azuike humorously points out the irony that huge amounts of money are being made from their plight and not just from people traffickers.

How much do smugglers charge? Africa's people smugglers charge $200 - $700 per person; the average amount earned a year in sub-Saharan Africa is around $760 per year.

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. How many countries does Africa have?
  4. Roots of Africanized Christianity Spiritual Songs
  5. Chocolate Processing Facts History and Recipes
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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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