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About the Author

A Legacy Resource, Recognized Worldwide

For 19 years, The African Gourmet has preserved Africa's stories through food, history, and folklore. Selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives, the world's premier guardian of cultural heritage, ensuring our digital timeline endures for generations.

Trusted by: Wikipedia • Emory University African Studies • University of Kansas • University of KwaZulu-Natal • MDPI Scholarly Journals.
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From political insights through food to traditional wisdom and modern solutions - explore Africa's depth.

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas 20 facts

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📁 Wildlife of Africa

20 facts about the African hippopotamus for kids


18. Hippopotamus are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa and are around 6 feet tall weighing upwards of 8,000 pounds
Hippos resting in the sand

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas only a hippopotamus will do.

20 facts about the African hippopotamus for kids


1. Hippos spend up to 16 hours a day submerged in rivers and lakes to keep their massive bodies cool.


2. A baby hippo is called a calf and weighs nearly 100 pounds at birth.


3. A female hippopotamus is called a cow.


4. A group of hippos in known as a school.


5. A male hippopotamus is called a bull.


6. Hippos eyes and nostrils are located high on their heads, which allows them to see and breathe while mostly submerged.


7. Hippos can easily outrun a human running up to speeds on 20 miles per hour.


8. Hippos secrete an oily red substance, which gave rise to the myth that they sweat blood.

Hippos teeth can grow up to 3 feet in length.
Hippos teeth can grow up to 3 feet in length
9. Hippopotamuses give birth in water.


10. Female hippos have only one calf every two years.


11. Hippopotamuses spend a large amount of time in water such as rivers, lakes and swamps.


12. Hippos are threatened by habitat loss and poachers who hunt them for their meat and teeth.


13. Hippos are herbivores grassing on nearly 80 pounds of grass per day.


14. Hippos typically live for around 40 years.


15. The closest relations of the hippopotamus are whales and dolphins.


16. Hippos teeth can grow up to 3 feet in length.


17. Hippopotamuses love water, which is why the Greeks named them the river horse.


18. Hippopotamus are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa and are around 6 feet tall weighing upwards of 8,000 pounds.


19. Hippos are responsible for more human deaths than almost any other creature in Africa. Hippos live only in eastern central and southern sub-Saharan Africa.


20. Hippos travel at night up to 6 miles to find food.

Hippopotamus are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa
Hippopotamus are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa 


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Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=
The African Gourmet explores how African food, history, and science intertwine. Here, a plant is a healer, a story is a map, and the kitchen is a laboratory. I’m Ivy — a writer raised by historians, now sharing Africa’s wisdom from the U.S. through cookbooks, cultural research, and storytelling. If you’re curious about where flavor meets memory, you belong here.

Recipes Explain Politics

When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations."

The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe.

The Deeper Recipe

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

Read the Rice Riots Analysis → Try Liberian Rice Bread Recipe
Understanding Africa through the stories our food tells • Since 2006

Africa Worldwide: Top Reads

Africa × World: Editor's Picks

Cross-continental food, science, history, and cultural exchanges from the archive

African Gourmet FAQ

Archive Inquiries

Why "The African Gourmet" if you're an archive?

The name reflects our origin in 2006 as a culinary anthropology project. Over 18 years, we've evolved into a comprehensive digital archive preserving Africa's cultural narratives. "Gourmet" now signifies our curated approach to cultural preservation—each entry carefully selected and contextualized.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 18 years of continuous cultural documentation—a living timeline of African expression. Unlike static repositories, our archive connects historical traditions with contemporary developments, showing cultural evolution in real time.

How is content selected for the archive?

Our curation follows archival principles: significance, context, and enduring value. We preserve both foundational cultural elements and timely analyses, ensuring future generations understand Africa's complex cultural landscape.

What geographic scope does the archive cover?

The archive spans all 54 African nations, with particular attention to preserving underrepresented cultural narratives. Our mission is comprehensive cultural preservation across the entire continent.

Can researchers access the full archive?

Yes. As a digital archive, we're committed to accessibility. Our 18-year collection is fully searchable and organized for both public education and academic research.

How does this archive ensure cultural preservation?

Through consistent documentation since 2006, we've created an irreplaceable cultural record. Each entry is contextualized within broader African cultural frameworks, preserving not just content but meaning.