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.

Love never loses its way home but is it cultural appropriation

Love never loses its way home but is it cultural appropriation
African Adinkra symbols meanings originally created by the Ashanti of Ghana. We will learn why wearing Adinkra symbols are popular and is wearing Adinkra symbols cultural appropriation.

African Adinkra symbols meanings Bi Nka Bi (harmony), Ese Ne Tekrema (interdependence), Denkyem (adaptability), Fihankra (security), Gye Nyame (importance of God)
African Adinkra symbols meanings Bi Nka Bi (harmony), Ese Ne Tekrema (interdependence), Denkyem (adaptability), Fihankra (security), Gye Nyame (importance of God)

Love Never Loses Its Way Home | The Language of African Symbols

Explore and Understand Africa Through Her Food and Culture

West Africa Adinkra symbols represent ideas, proverbs, expressions, attitudes and behavior depicted in simply drawn figure. Adinkra symbols are well-known visual symbols that have a hidden meaning, deciphering Adinkra symbols is the same as reading a sentence as long as you know what is the symbols true meaning.

Odo Nnyew Fie Kwan
Odo Nnyew Fie Kwan

Odo Nnyew Fie Kwan- secret meaning is “Love never loses its way home" Odo Nnyew Fie Kwan is the symbol for the power of love.

Akoma Ntoso
Akoma Ntoso

Akoma Ntoso - secret meaning is understanding, agreement and unity” Akoma Ntoso is the symbol for extension of the heart.
Osram Ne Nsoromma
Osram Ne Nsoromma

Osram Ne Nsoromma - secret meaning is “love, faithfulness, harmony” Osram Ne Nsoromma represents the moon and the star reflecting the harmony that exists in the bonding between loved ones.

Akoma
Akoma

Akoma - secret meaning is “take heart” using patience, love and faithfulness.
Bi Nka Bi
Bi Nka Bi

Bi Nka Bi - secret meaning is "do not bite one another" symbol of peace and harmony. This symbol cautions against incitement and conflict. The image is based on two fish biting each other tails.


Why wearing Adinkra symbols are popular
Adinkra symbols are popular today as commercial logos and personal tattoos. These symbols have been worn in Africa to express personal theological or philosophical beliefs for centuries. 

For starters, why Adinkra symbols are popular today is because the look is being reimagined in a way that speaks expressly to the young, appealing to millennials and Generation Z. For now, the trend retains its relevance, firmly rooted in its time on conscience and unconscious levels.
 
Tattoos of Adinkra symbols are tricky, can communicate trust or chaos, make you look smart or clueless, and come across as expensive or cheap. Today, social media is the driver, the Adinkra symbols resonating with those selfie addicts who like to flash their heavily tatted trophies on Instagram, their Adinkra symbol readily identifiable.
 
However, status is not the only draw. Younger people are adopting Adinkra symbols to signal their allegiance to a tribe or cause. Whether we want to admit it or not, we are influenced by, how others look and treat them accordingly. 

Being aware of how perceptions influence reality, we should also remember that anyone can look the part, and it is time well spent to get to know the person beneath the Adinkra symbol persona.
 
Mother earth Adinkra symbol

Is wearing Adinkra symbols cultural appropriation?
The Atlantic 2015 article by Jenni Avins and Quartz stated "Such borrowing is how we got treasures such as New York pizza and Japanese denim—not to mention how the West got democratic discourse, mathematics, and the calendar. Yet as wave upon wave of shrill accusations of cultural appropriation make their way through the Internet outrage cycle, the rhetoric ranges from earnest indignation to patronizing disrespect.
 
The article goes on further by saying: In the 21st century, cultural appropriation—like globalization—isn’t just inevitable; it’s potentially positive. We have to stop guarding cultures and subcultures in efforts to preserve them. It’s naïve, paternalistic, and counterproductive. Plus, it’s just not how culture or creativity work. The exchange of ideas, styles, and traditions is one of the tenets and joys of a modern, multicultural society.
 
“It’s not fair to ask any culture to freeze itself in time and live as though they were a museum diorama,” says Susan Scafidi, a lawyer and the author of Who Owns Culture? Appropriation and Authenticity in American Law. Cultural appropriation can sometimes be the savior of a cultural product that has faded away.”
 
Engage with other cultures on more than an aesthetic level “What would America be like if we loved black people as much as we love black culture?” asks Stenberg . Cherry-picking cultural elements, whether dance moves or print designs, without engaging with their creators or the cultures that gave rise to them not only creates the potential for misappropriation; it also misses an opportunity for art to perpetuate real, world-changing progress.
 
"The flowers of tomorrows are in the seeds of today." – African Proverb. Love binds us all together in perfect unity.

African Adinkra symbols meanings Bi Nka Bi (harmony), Ese Ne Tekrema (interdependence), Denkyem (adaptability), Fihankra (security), Gye Nyame (importance of God)

Getting to Know Africa

Historical African Country Name
Top 20 Largest Countries in Africa
How many countries does Africa have?

Learn more about Africa.

Roots of Africanized Christianity Spiritual Songs
Chocolate Processing Facts History and Recipes
Awesome Kenyan Woman
Land is Not For Women in Sierra Leone
African Kente Cloth Facts
Accra the Ghanaian Capital Ultimate Mall Experience

Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

Week’s Best African Culture Posts

Kru Tribe Fine Boy Tradition

Image
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...
Read the full post here

What is the difference between ugali and fufu

Image
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 ...
Read the full post here

Berbere Spice Popcorn Topping Recipe

Image
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 ...
Read the full post here

Keto Moroccan Dinner Cooked Slowly

Image
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...
Read the full post here