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.

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas 20 facts

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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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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