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.

Definition of the African Diaspora

Definition of the African Diaspora
African Diaspora ▎ Bloodline ▎ Heritage ▎ Migration ▎ Inclusiveness

Music of the people of the African Diaspora
Music of the people of the African Diaspora 

Definition of the African Diaspora


In the early part of April 2005, the African Union Commission held a two-day meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to create a definition of the African Diaspora. The consensus of the meeting defined the African Diaspora as "Peoples of African origin living outside the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality and who are willing to contribute to the development of the continent and the building of the African Union." 

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The following factors shaped the globally recognized definition of the African Diaspora by Africans


Bloodline and Heritage.
The African Diaspora should consist of people living outside the continent whose ancestral roots or heritage is in Africa. The peoples of African origin whose ancestors within historical memory came from Africa, but who are currently domiciled in other countries outside the continent and claim citizenship of those countries. The Africans who, for various reasons, have settled outside the continent, whether or not they have kept the citizenship of an African country.


Migration.
The African Diaspora should be composed of people of African heritage, who migrated from or are living outside the continent. In this context, three trends of migration were identified—pre-slave trade, slave trade, and post-slave trade or modern migration.


Inclusiveness.
The definition must embrace both ancient and modern African Diaspora; and the commitment to the African course. The African Diaspora should be people who are willing to be part of the continent or the African family.

African Diasporans


The African Union Commission also felt the definition of the African Diaspora should not be limited by time or history. Globally, Africans in the diaspora are spread out across the continents. In North America, there are 39 million from the African Diaspora; 113 million in Latin America; 13.6 million in the Caribbean; and 3.5 million in Europe.

The three D’s about Africa, death, despair and disease still prevail in the minds of many people in the world, the definition of African Diaspora, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality and who are willing to contribute to the development of the continent and the building of Africa.

No matter how they arrived in their adopted country, African Diasporans bring a distinct perspective because they have on foot rooted in Africa and one foot planted in the current world, they live. African Diasporans serve as a bridge in fostering greater understanding between the African continent and their adopted country.

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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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Camel Caravans Created the Internet

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Thanks to camel caravans facilitating trade and cultural exchange across Northern Africa, they laid the foundation for global connectivity, which eventually evolved into the internet driven world we know today.  Raising camels When business partners in Northern Africa started using camels, it changed how goods were traded. Before the domestication of camels, it was hard to cross much less carry things across the hot, dry desert. Camels could travel long distances without needing much water, so they made it easier to move valuable items like gold, salt, and cloth from one end of the African deserts to the other. Camel caravans helped people get things they could not find in their own neighborhoods and allowed them to trade to more people. Camels were kind of like how the internet and technology connect us today. Why were camels chosen for caravans across Africa?  Camels were less prone to diseases common in tropical regions, increasing their longevity and utility. Horses and do...
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Disaster That Shook Mayotte to Its Core

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Category 4 hurricane, 136 MPH Cyclone Chido destroyed the French Island of Mayotte. The island of Mayotte is a tiny, 144 square mile  French territory in the Indian Ocean reeling from a direct hit from Cyclone Chido, the strongest storm to hit the island in 90 years. Entire neighborhoods have disappeared, along with entire families. Mayotte is rhe poorest overseas territory of France, many accusations point to the debate that it is a forgotten holding place for undocumented refugees. Half the residence live in makeshift houses out of discarded pieces of wood cardboard, and anything else residents can get their hands on. With winds exceeding 136 mph, equivalent to a category four hurricane, on Sunday December 15, 2024, Cyclone Chido caused major destruction causing upwards of 1,000 deaths leaving 80% of the population homeless.  Nearly 84% of residents were already living under the poverty level before Cyclone Chido hit the small island. The infrastructure was very weak on the ...
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Explaining Bones and Stones of Africa

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Why Africa is Connected to Bones and Stones Have you ever wondered why bones and stones seem so important in African spirituality? Bones and stones hold the power for many African people as a connection to the spiritual world for protection in the natural world and eternal universe. The Power of Bones Bones are like the keys to a family’s history reminding people of the ancestors, those who lived before us and passed down wisdom, traditions, and strength. When people think about bones, they don’t just see the physical, they believe the spirits of their ancestors might still be connected to the bones, offering advice and protection. In numerous African culture traditions, spiritual leaders use bones to tell what’s coming. They throw animal bones or shells and look at how they land. Each position tells a story or gives a clue about health, family, or life decisions. Bones hold up the body, right? Because of this, they are often seen as a symbol of strength and support, reminding people...
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