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Showing posts from November, 2015

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.

Hot Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Africa

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Hot Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Africa Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in South Africa is not surprising since the diverse South African marketplace is home to many American food companies. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts South Africa Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Africa. There are restaurants and retailers overseas that specialize in American style food such as Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Large well-known American retail and fast food companies see South Africa as a gateway into the growing African market. American businesses are looking to get into Africa to tap into emerging food and retail markets. American doughnut company Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. on July 13, 1937 Vernon Rudolph opened the first Krispy Kreme in historic Old Salem in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in the United States. Krispy Kreme corporate operations is in Charlotte, North Carolina USA. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is opening its newest store in Johannesburg Rosebank Mall November 2015. South Africa has 23 Krispy Kreme...

Simple Ukwa African Breadfruit Porridge

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Breadfruit facts and making a simple breadfruit porridge recipe. Breadfruit facts . Treculia Africana or African breadfruit grows throughout Tropical Africa. Breadfruit name is derived from the texture of the cooked fruit, which has a taste similar to potatoes. Breadfruits are large, cantaloupe-sized fruit, usually yellow-green in color, with hard, starchy white flesh similar to a potato. Skin texture of breadfruit ranges from smooth to rough to spiny. Ripe breadfruit is eaten fresh cooked and when cooking smells like fresh baked bread. Breadfruit seeds are cooked similar to beans. Breadfruit goes by many names in Africa, blèfoutou or yovotévi in Benin, afon in the Yoruba language, bafafuta in Hausa and Ukwa in Igbo. African breadfruit  Breadfruit Recipe Simple Ukwa African breadfruit porridge is easy to make a side dish or a main meal. Tip: Treat breadfruit as you would a potato. Simple Ukwa Breadfruit Porridge Ingredients 1 breadfruit cored, peeled an...

What is the Difference Between Sweet Potatoes and Yams

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Sweet Potatoes and Yams differences. The truth is what you call a yam is most likely a sweet potato. Yams and sweet potatoes are both flowering plants however, that is their only relation. Compared to sweet potatoes, yams are starchier and drier. What is the Difference Between Sweet Potatoes and Yams What is the Difference Between Sweet Potatoes and Yams The mix-up between yams and sweet potatoes began in the United States when firm varieties of sweet potatoes were grown by African slaves before soft varieties. They called the soft sweet potatoes yams because they resembled the yams in Africa. Therefore, soft sweet potatoes were referred to as yams to distinguish them from the new firm varieties. Sweet potato varieties are classified as either firm or soft. The skin color can range from white to yellow, red, purple or brown. The flesh also ranges in color from white to yellow, orange, or orange-red. Currently, sweet ...

Iniko’s Make Believe Kindness African Short Story Folklore

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Iniko’s make-believe kindness African Folklore is a story about Iniko who pretends to be a river that flows into a sea of generosity but, that is something he is not, generous. In this African folklore, pretending to be generous hurts far more than a punch to the face bringing with it more pain than just saying no in the beginning. Iniko’s Make Believe Kindness African Short Story Folklore African Folklore Iniko’s Make Believe Kindness African Short Story Folklore Nuru asked her husband Iniko to attend to the food on the fire while she went to fetch water.  On her return, she found her husband skimming off the stew from the top of the pot. After he filled a calabash high with stew, he hid it inside the house. Nuru did not let him know that she had seen him and went into the house, poured the stew her husband took from the pot back into the stew pot.  She then returned the calabash to her husband  secret  hiding place. At dinner, when I...

Fish Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

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Fish Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe Get creative with sweet potatoes and make crispy baked sweet potatoes stuffed with fish, cranberries, pecans, and coconut. Savory fish stuffed sweet potato recipe has all your favorite ingredients found in just one bite. Fish Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe Fish Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe Ingredients 4 medium any type of cooked fish fillet 4 large sweet potatoes 2 tablespoons butter, softened ¼ cup orange juice 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/2 cup flaked coconut 1 teaspoon grated orange peel ¼ cup dried cranberries 3/4 teaspoon salt Directions Preheat oven to 425°F. Scrub and pierce potatoes with a fork and place on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave, uncovered, on high 12-14 minutes or until tender, turning once. Cool, cut each  potatoes  lengthwise in half. Scoop out pulp, leaving 1/4inch thick shells. Place  potatoes  in a baking pan. In a large bowl...

Beyoncé African Queen Inspired Fashion L'Officiel Paris

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Beyoncé African Queen Iconic French luxury and fashion Magazine, L'Officiel Paris chose the American diva Beyoncé to wear different colorful outfits and headpieces in a nod to Nigerian musician and human rights activist Fela Kuti in an African Queen themed 90th-anniversary issue. Beyoncé African Queen Inspired Fashion L'Officiel Paris Beyoncé African Queen Inspired Fashion The fashion magazine L'Officiel Paris celebrated its 90th birthday in 2011 and to celebrate this anniversary, the festivities start with the March issue, with Beyoncé on the cover. Beyoncé posed for the magazine L'Officiel Paris in over the top fashion designer clothes as a return to her African roots. While many fell in love with the fashion spread, some believe the L'Officiciel stylist’s creative license is artfully used while others considered the use of blackface that darkened Beyoncé skin to depict an African Queen racist.  The designs are all reflective of the African influence on fa...

One-Pot Spicy Kivu Fish Stew

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One-pot spicy Kivu fish stew unique flavor is due to the spices, vegetables and traditional maize meal. Eat one-pot spicy Kivu fish stew with fufu, injera bread or any type of bread. In coastal and lake communities across Africa, fishing is a way of life and vital to providing incomes and nutrition.  Africa’s waters are rich in fish of all varieties and fish is the cheapest source of animal protein. This one pot easy-to-make African fish stew owes its unique flavor to the spices, vegetables, and traditional maize meal. One-Pot Spicy Kivu Fish Stew Ingredients One-Pot Spicy Kivu Fish Stew 2 fillet any white fish 4 cups fresh spinach 2 cups shredded cabbage 2 large diced tomatoes 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 teaspoon hot pepper 1 teaspoon salt 5 cups vegetable broth ½ cup maize meal or cornmeal Directions Add all ingredients into a large pot and simmer 20 minutes. Serve warm with fufu,  injera bre...

Quotes from Five Inspiring African Business Leaders

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Quotes from Five Inspiring African Business Leaders Quotes from Five Inspiring African Business Leaders “You stay divided; you stay backwards Africa” – Dr. Mo Ibrahim "In whatever you do, strive to be the best at it." – Aliko Dangote "Balance is important in life." - Stephen Saad "Man cannot live by bread alone, which is correct, but man can also not live without bread." – Patrice Motsepe "You need to go into the kind of business that suits your lifestyle, interests and passion so that you enjoy what you are doing." -Sudhir Ruparelia Dr. Mohammed "Mo" Ibrahim Dr. Mohammed "Mo" Ibrahim “You stay divided; you stay backwards Africa” – Dr. Mo Ibrahim Mohammed Ibrahim is a Sudanese mobile communications entrepreneur who sold his company Celtel for over 2 billion dollars. According to the foundation's website, “The Mo Ibrahim Foundation was established in 2006 with a focus on the critical importa...

Jaja the Greedy Hunter African Folklore

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Jaja the Greedy Hunter African Folklore African folklore enlightens mists of forgotten centuries. Folklore storytelling is the most ancient art form of the African Community. Just as someone expresses their ideas and the form of music, painting, dance and sculpture folklore takes the ideas of an ancient story and creates with words a picture that enchants the listener with a rich auditory environment. Many African people are born storytellers and spend many long hours practicing their art. Not everyone can acquire the art of folklore storytelling imagery, but for the beginner one should think of folklore storytelling as a heritage passed on from traditional storytellers and dig deep within the ancient storyteller that lies within us all. Time and effort must be given to becoming an African folklore storyteller, just as any artist must give time and effort to developing their skill. African folklore storytelling can turn a shy awkward self-conscious boy or girl into...

Hope in the Human Heart African Proverbs

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African proverbs about hope teach us hope is wanting something to happen and believing it could happen. But, what happens when you are tired of hoping?  You may believe hope has falsely presented itself as a beacon of light in a storm, allowing you to dream and think things will get better. So why hope? Hope allows people to believe who are currently in a dark place that the sun will eventually rise and the world is not a perpetual night. African proverbs about hope make known to us that there is more to life than what we see, hear, feel or taste. African proverbs on hope show us the four-letter word, hope,  is a necessary part of the human design. Hold on to hope African Proverbs Hold on to hope African Proverbs While there is life, there is hope. A little hope each day can fill the rivers to overflowing. Hope is the pillar of the world. If you are rich in hope do not make a baboon your friend. Where there is hope there i...

How Rooster Tricked Leopard Into Cutting Off His Own Head

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African folklore story how rooster tricked leopard into cutting off his own head refers to aspects of African culture in which wisdom of recognizing lies from truth is highly valued in the expressive African oral tradition of folklore. Away leopard went to his town and told his wife that he had been taught some wonderful magic by his friend the rooster. Folklore story How Rooster Tricked Leopard Into Cutting Off His Own Head. As the ancestors say, a rooster and a leopard began a friendship, and not very long afterwards, the leopard lent money to the rooster. It was arranged that on a certain day the leopard should collect his money at the rooster's home. On the morning leopard was to come by his house, rooster ground-up red peppers mix with water so that it looked like blood.  When rooster heard that, the leopard was on the way to his house he went into his courtyard and said to his wife, "When leopard arrives and as...

Growing Passion Fruit in Africa

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Yellow passion fruit, also known as Golden passion fruit, is a popular variety of passion fruit grown in Kenya.  Yellow passion fruit is one of Kenya Africa top three export fruit crops important to Kenya and Africa agricultural future well-being. It is widely cultivated in many parts of the country due to its high demand and profitability. In Kenya, the yellow passion fruit is used for both local consumption and export. The fruit is commonly used to make juice, jams, and desserts. It is also eaten raw, with the seeds and pulp being scooped out with a spoon. Kenya has favorable climatic conditions for the cultivation of passion fruit, and the government has been promoting its production as part of its efforts to diversify the country's agricultural sector. Farmers are trained on best practices, and the government provides subsidies for inputs such as seedlings and fertilizers. Agriculture is the backbone of the Kenyan economy, contributing one-third of GDP. Approximately 75 pe...