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.

Never Lend Money to a Friend African Folktale

Never Lend Money to a Friend African Folktale teaches friendships true wisdom instructs the soul that you should never lend money to a friend to that you cannot afford to lose.

 
Never Lend Money to a Friend African Folktale


Never Lend Money to a Friend African Folktale
 
As the elders say, once there was a great famine in the land, and the tortoise sat down to think of some sneaky scheme to help him in his destitute state.
 
Because of his planning, he went to his friends: the worm, chicken, wildcat, leopard, and hunter, and from each of them borrowed seven bags of seed. 

These he promised to pay on different days at the end of the season, telling the worm to come first for his money, the chicken next, and so on; the hunter being last.
 
When the time agreed upon came, the worm went to him for payment. But, the tortoise told him to wait, saying he had to go to fetch the money. So, the worm waited; and the next day the tortoise came back, followed by the chicken, whose payment was now due. 

Seeing the worm, the chicken swallowed him up, and then told the tortoise the object of his visit.
 
However, the tortoise told the chicken likewise to wait while he got the money; and when he returned, the wild cat came with him and devoured the chicken.
 
When he then asked for his money, he was told to wait, while the tortoise went out for it. This time the leopard came back with the tortoise, and he, seeing the wild cat, fell upon him and killed him, after which he explained the reason for his coming; and he, as the others had been, was told to wait, which he did in ignorance of the scheme he was so soon to fall prey.
 
Shortly the tortoise came back, and with him the hunter, who fired at the leopard, though he failed to kill him. Therefore, the leopard attacked him, and they fought until they both were dead.
 
Wicked tortoise laughed at the foolishness of his victims and chuckled, “you should not lend money to anyone, as they would try to get rid of you in order not to pay you back!”


Week’s Best African Culture Posts

African Men Shaped Canada’s History

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Mathieu Da Costa: Canada’s First Recorded Black Person Mathieu Da Costa holds a unique place in Canadian history as the first recorded Black person to set foot in what is now Canada. Mathieu Da Costa's linguistic abilities mediated fur trade prices and trading routes between Europeans and Africans using intellect, tact and cunning. A Linguistic Bridge Across Cultures Da Costa’s carefully honed multilingual skills included European languages such as French, Dutch, Portuguese, and Indigenous languages. These abilities made him an invaluable asset to explorers and merchants conducting trade and diplomacy across continents.  His fluency allowed him to have the freedom to travel, forge relationships and communicate effectively across cultural divides, ensuring the success of expeditions led by figures like Samuel de Champlain and Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons. Mathieu Da Costa worked with prominent figures of early Canadian exploration, including Samuel de Champlain and Pierre Dugua, Sieu...
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Greek Obsession with Ethiopia

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Ethiopia: How Ancient Greece Imagined a Distant Land. The ancient Greeks were fascinated by Ethiopia , placing it at the edge of the known world. Drawn by dreams of wealth and the pursuit of mathematical knowledge and scientific marvels, the Greeks also sought riches such as gold, ivory, ebony, and exotic animals. These goods were highly prized in the Greek world , promising great wealth and peril to those who dared to venture to this distant land. Distance and Travel to Ethiopia. Sea travel was the primary means of long-distance travel for the ancient Greeks . A sea voyage along the African coast to the regions they considered Ethiopia would have taken several weeks to a few months. Sea voyages were fraught with dangers. Ships were vulnerable to storms, which could capsize or drive them off course.  Pirates posed a constant threat, targeting both seafaring vessels and coastal settlements. Navigation was challenging, relying on knowledge of stars, coastlines, and rudimentary instru...
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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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