Kuumba.org.uk

We are never going to be able to cover all of Africa's and the Caribbean's vibrant history in such a short overview. That's the whole point of the Kuumba African Arts and Community Resource Centre in Bristol. It is a window on the world that is Africa and Caribbean, a glimpse at the history of our continent and the ability to delve further.

Below you will find a short encapsulation of African culture, very short. We take a glimpse at African cuisine, clothing styles and music and in time we will grow our archive of information so you can come back and learn even more about your parent's history, which is also yours too!

The African Cuisine From Rainbow To Vegetarian

The African continent is no different to Europe and Asia when it comes to customary dishes and local cuisines. It varies from area to area, from Central Africa to the Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa to West and Southern Africa.

Food is usually associated with the available supplies on a local level, in which case central Africa would rely on staple foods like cassava roots served with meat and sauces. Yet arrive in the Rift Valley and you will find next to no meat products on the menu. Grains and vegetables are the primary diet of people in these lands.

South Africa due to the immigration levels over the years supports a wide variety of imported recipes in national dishes. Fish, meats, seafood and exotic fruits all feature in this part of the country making for a very colourful menu indeed with some intriguing tastes.

African Music That the World Dances To

You can't sit there and tell me you haven't ever heard African or Caribbean music before... Ska? Jazz... Reggae? all have a basis in African and Caribbean history. However most notable forms of the traditional music can be found in Senegal, Cameroon and Angola with Mbalax, Makossa and Kizomba.

African Clothing For Humid Months And Colours To Tempt

The most noticeable thing about African clothing is the colouring. From Ghana to Northern Africa, these vibrant decorative clothes are passed down through the years and are representative of tribal dress.

From Ethiopian habesha kemis to Ashanti Kente cloth in Ghana, dressing up every day is a celebratory affair. Also due to the climate most materials are light and airy. Most of the dresses are customary but even today women who emigrate and men too, wear them in their new nations. especially on religious dates.