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.

African Proverbs Are To Speech What Salt Is To Food

African proverbs are important because they teach life lessons in short simple sayings. African proverb wisdom is not the wisdom of the schools but of the village, the farm, and the elder. African proverbs do not have meaning for people who understand learning is not based on someone’s race or class.


African proverbs are wisdom of the heart and head.

African proverbs are wisdom of the heart and head.


Essential lessons learned from African proverbs carry heavy weight in world culture. African proverbs are common African sayings used by honored ancestry. The influence of African proverbs over the hearts and lives of people was second only to the words from Spirits.


Lessons learned from African proverbs.


African Proverbs help people to cope with life and death matters by adding traditional common sense to a complex situation. Few people dare to question the African proverb truthfulness and authority. African proverbs enable people not only to win their independence but also to overcome the many trials and disappointments of life.

Through African proverbs as through African folklore, songs, traditions, rhymes, superstitions, and customs, we trace the moral and ethical development of African wisdom and learn the workings of the mind. 

African Proverbs are used to strengthen social and moral statements in debates, lectures and writings. The widespread wisdom of African proverbs has brought important social and moral messages to the people who struggle in life.

African proverbs are important in African and World culture because African proverbs are to speech what salt is to food, irreplaceable.

Proverbs from Africa contain the essence of moral truth and practical lesson drawn from real life, and the fruit of philosophy grafted on the stem of experience. Below feature sixteen African Proverbs people love and to learn from right now.


African Proverbs Are To Speech What Salt Is To Food


Like the tusk and teeth of an elephant, one set for show and another for use.

The gossip causes the downfall of a kingdom.

However strong the grain, it cannot break the cooking pot.

Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it.

If you are filled with pride, then you will have no room for wisdom.

He does a good day’s work who rids himself of a fool.


A snake is never grateful. African proverbs people love.

To wash a donkeys tail is loss of time and soap.

He who loves you loves you with your dirt.

Unstringing the bow does not cure the wound.

The greedy advised to eat with eyes closed before children.

A snake is never grateful.

Born but yesterday and today a giant.

African proverb lesson. Beloved at home, cheap at the market.

The goat has paid with its life, yet its meat is not tasty.

A dog is brave at his own door.

Beloved at home, cheap at the market.

He who has suffered can sympathize with those in pain.


Read short folklore stories from Africa to make you fall in love with myths and legends from the motherland.
  1. Why the bunny rabbit has wiggly slits for a nose
  2. Love Takes No Less Than Everything Marriage Folklore
  3. Hunters Attack Cowards Tell the Story
  4. One Do Wrong All Get Punished
  5. Mighty Little Hedgehog
  6. Blackman and White Snake Folklore Story

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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Why Study the Kingdom of Kongo When It Failed

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A Kingdom Torn Apart: The Forces Behind Kongo’s Collapse. Why study and honor defunct ancient African kingdoms? These kingdoms no longer exist, they were failures; hpwever, they were once thriving societies with remarkable achievements. Before the arrival of Portuguese explorers, the Kingdom of Kongo flourished as a prosperous and powerful African state.  It boasted a sophisticated social structure, strong economic systems, and rich spiritual traditions. The King of Kongo was regarded as a sacred intermediary between the gods and his people, embodying the kingdom's deep reverence for spirituality and governance.  This existence, however, became a battleground as the Portuguese wielded their “divide and conquer” strategy with precision, exploiting internal rivalries and introducing advanced weaponry that disrupted the balance of power, deposing the king. Economic pressures intensified as the Portuguese fueled the transatlantic slave trade, transforming allies into rivals and co...
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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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