A Black History Month Presentation Culture and Cuisine of West Africa

Map

Cultural OverviewFamily, Food, Clothing, Music, Art,

Religion

• Family-Very Family Oriented

• Food – Cooked with Lots of Spices

Clothing- African Attire Especially

during Special Events

• Music – Drums, guitar,

• Art -Wood Carvings, Brass Art, Clay, Fiber

• Dominant Religion- Christian and Muslim

Family Pictures- Usually Wear Same Outfit

FOOD- HISTORY

• Arab Influence brought spices- cinnamon,

• Explorers brought peanuts from South America

• Some Staples like corn and cassava brought in from Brazil

• European ships brought in Chili pepper and

Tomatoes

Eating Habits.

• Heavy on starchy foods usually tubers which are bland and prepared in a variety of ways.

• Lots of vegetables in their diets.

• Meat is bought daily for family consumption

• They prefer fresh meat or smoked meat/fish

• Sauces are prepared with lots of herbs and spices.

• Palm oil preferred cooking oil

• Open fire cooking is believed to produce tastier dishes.

• They elderly are served before the rest of the household.

These are staples –Tubers. They are usually Paired with a Sauce at meal

Time.

Similarities and History with African Cooking

• Black eye peas and okra brought by slaves from West Africa

• Cajun or creole cooking has tomatoes, onions

and peppers as bases for their sauces very similar to west African sauces.

A very unique flavor in their Sauces-Smoked Fish

Food- Sample Buffet Table. Always Over estimate for your guest because it is a sign you are well prepared and there is

always a take home pack by guests.

FashionsContemporary African Clothing

Traditional African ClothingNW Province- Cameroon

Dyeing Fabrics with Natural products

• African Traditional clothing s are usually hand made and dyed with natural products.

• Watch the dyeing of these fabric s from Start to Finish.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG1zd3b7q34

Hand Made Jewelry

• Africans love to make their own that go very well with their traditional outfits

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icDiE_Xjpxs

Customs and Culture

• Cola nut significant in verbal agreements

• Palm wine also significant in verbal agreement

and family rituals

• Water used in liberation and is usually the first thing offered to a guest.

Their Voices, their Stories .

• How much do you know about West Africans

• Take a listen and watch this video.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfJn8HCKO8g

Music, Drums

Musical Instruments- Piano

Talking Drums

Arts and Crafts – From West Africa

A hand Made Chair

Leather at it’s Finest

Arts of West Africa

Music

• Watch Video

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paDINb3Rksw

Thank you

• Contacts:

• www.patienceawazi.com

• https://www.facebook.com/AfricaAtlanticcuisi

• neshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/myahrn

• www.theiwaa.com