African Food and Art

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Hail to Thee Land of Our Forefathers

Togo in Pictures

Togo officially the Togolese Republic

Among the smallest countries in Africa, Togo's name is derived from the Ewe people words "to" water and "go" shore to give the sense of "by the water". Togo's National anthem, adopted 1960, restored 1992 is "Salut a toi, pays de nos aieux" Hail to Thee, Land of Our Forefathers.

Lomé is the capital and largest city of Togo.
Lomé is the capital and largest city of Togo.

One of the largest buildings of Togo is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Trinity, the parish of Atakpame.
One of the largest buildings of Togo is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Trinity, the parish of Atakpame. 


Beautiful mother and child in Lome Togo.
Beautiful mother and child in Lome Togo.


Togo has 37 African tribes; the largest are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre.
Togo has 37 African tribes; the largest are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre.


The town of Aného Togo was as a slave port.
The town of Aného Togo was as a slave port.


Weighing cotton at the cotton market in Togo. Cotton is one of Togo's main cash crops.
Weighing cotton at the cotton market in Togo. Cotton is one of Togo's main cash crops.  


Elementary school children in Togo Africa playing games and eating snacks. 
Hail to Thee Land of Our ForefathersElementary school children in Togo Africa playing games and eating snacks. 


Togo Five Facts

From its 32-mile (51-km) coastline on the Gulf of Guinea, Togo extends northward for about 320 miles (515 km) between Ghana to the west and Benin to the east to its boundary with Burkina Faso in the north. French Togoland became Togo in 1960.
The same family has been in power for five decades in Togo. Gnassingbé Eyadéma born Étienne Eyadéma, was the President of Togo for 38 years from 1967 until his death in 2005. At the time of his death, Eyadéma was the longest-serving head of state in Africa.
On Sunday in February 2005, Parliament ratified Gnassingbe's ascension to his father’s presidency by changing the constitution to allow him to serve out his father's term, which was to have ended in 2008. Eyadéma son, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, has been the President of Togo since 2005. In June 2017, Gnassingbe was named the new chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The current population of Togo is 7.7 million people made up of about Togo has 37 African tribes; the largest are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre.
Cocoa, coffee, phosphate and cotton generate about 40 percent of export earnings with cotton being the most important cash crop.



Land of our forefathers national anthem of the African Country of Togo

Land of our forefathers national anthem of the African Country of Togo


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Berbere Spice Popcorn Topping Recipe

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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 ...
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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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Krampus Favorite Dessert is Black Forest Cake

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With a sinister horned head, shaggy black and gray frightening features, of course Krampus favorite dessert is rich dark Black Forest Cake with red jam.  The Krampus is a somewhat playfully sinister traditional holiday mythical creature in German folklore. It serves as a moral lesson for children, emphasizing good behavior just as many African folktales do. The Krampus is a horned, shaggy black and gray figure with a sinister appearance of raggedy chains, teeth, long fangs, claws, and giant goat horns. With all of these outlandish features, of course Krampus favorite dessert is rich dark Black Forest Cake.  Krampus  is a counterpart to Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus. While Saint Nicholas rewards good children with gifts, or a lump of coal, the Krampus punishes naughty children by carrying sacks to take them away. Namibia is a former German colony that retains many German cultural traditions, including the Krampus holiday custom.   Krampusnacht or Krampus Night occurs ...
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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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