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.

Examples of Cooking in Africa

Photos from recent cooking escapades in Africa making homemade African food recipes for family and friends.
 
African cooking in Rwanda camp for internally displaced people

Examples of cooking good food in Africa

You do not have to be a classically trained chef to make delicious food.


Banku or Akple is fermented corn or cassava dough mixed proportionally and cooked in hot water into a smooth whitish consistent paste. Served with soup, stew or a pepper sauce with fish.

Making Banku in Ghana

Making Banku in Ghana

Beatrice Ananga cooking a mix of Gnetum (okok) and Peanuts in the village of Minwoho, Lekié, Center Region, Cameroon.

Cooking Gnetum in Cameroon

Cooking Gnetum in Cameroon

Women cooking vegetable porridge in the village of Maderia, in Gemechis, a district of Oromia Region in Ethiopia.

Making lunch for the family in Ethiopia

Making lunch for the family in Ethiopia

Carrying shea to the cooking area. The nuts are crushed, roasted then pounded and ground into a fine paste. The paste is mixed with water to separate the fat, which is then manually churned into creamy butter, Burkina Faso.

Shea nut processing

Carrying shea to the cooking area in Burkina Faso.

Jeanne Mwakembe and Bernardette Maselé at the Moutuka Nunene market in Lukolela, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Women at the market in DRC

Women at the market in DRC

Kids collecting vegetables, Yangambi, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Armful of greens

Kids collecting vegetables, Yangambi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Cooking a meal of vegetable soup made from locally available products in the village of Maderia, in Gemechis, a woreda district of Oromia Region Ethiopia.

Prep for vegetable soup

Cooking a meal of vegetable soup in Ethiopia

Using a pestle and mortar to prepare a rice meal in Atsimo-Atsinanana the Republic of Madagascar.  

Using a pestle and mortar to prepare a rice meal in Atsimo-Atsinanana the Republic of Madagascar.

Throughout the island of Madagascar, recipes typically consists of rice and vegetables


An African bird called the greater honeyguide is famous for leading honey hunters to Mozambique precious honey.

Part of the honey harvest from a wild bees' nest in the Niassa National Reserve, Mozambique.


An African bird called the greater honeyguide is famous for leading honey hunters to Mozambique precious honey.

Ghana Fish Stew

Woman cooking fish in Ghana.

Woman cooking fish in Ghana

Recipe for Fresh Ghanaian Fish Stew

Ingredients
2 mackerel fillets
2 tsp tomato purée
3 small pieces young fresh root ginger finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 medium onions, chopped
1 scotch bonnet, finely chopped
2 whole cloves
1 tsp smoked paprika 
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp coriander seeds
3 medium diced tomatoes
1 sprig thyme
1 Irish potato, diced
2 cups frozen okra
1 tsp oil

Directions
Heat the oil in a large pot, fry ginger, garlic, onion and scotch bonnet until light golden-brown and softened. Add cloves, paprika, fennel and coriander. Stir in the remaining tomato puree; add tomatoes, thyme and potatoes. Simmer 10 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft.
Gnetum (Gnetum africanum and G. buchholzianum), is a climbing vine in the tropical rainforest of West and Central Africa. The leaves are highly valued as a nutritious green vegetable.

Cooking in small village Cameroon Africa

Preparing the Gnetum for making okok in the village of Minwoho, Lekié, Center Region, Cameroon.

Week’s Best African Culture Posts

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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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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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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