Africa is home to a rich variety of incredible indigenous crops and foods – from nutrient-dense grains and legumes to unique fruits and leafy greens. Despite their value, many of these foods are often overlooked, under-celebrated, and under-consumed in favour of imported or commercial alternatives.
Over the years, we’ve published several articles that shine a light on these traditional foods.
In this piece, we highlight some of those stories, celebrating the power and promise of Africa’s indigenous foods.
Special sorghum
Modern food systems often harm both health and the environment. These systems promote cheap, processed foods that contribute to poor nutrition and disease. At the heart of the food system’s problems is a lack of diversity. Power is consolidated in the hands of a few mega-corporations and the world relies on four main staple crops – wheat, rice, maize and soybean – to meet most food needs.
In South Africa, for instance, healthy diets remain unaffordable for many, and traditional crops like sorghum have declined.
Scientist Laura Pereira revealed how, once central to diets and culture, sorghum is nutritious, drought-resistant and climate-resilient. Yet, it suffers from negative stereotypes and limited market appeal.
Read more: Amazing ting: South Africa must reinvigorate sorghum as a key food before it’s lost
Bugs, bugs, bugs
For thousands of years, people from all over the world have eaten insects. Today about 2.5 billion people – many of whom live in Africa – eat insects. To date, 470 African edible insects have been scientifically recorded. Grasshoppers and termites are among some of the favourites.
Researchers Martin Potgieter and Bronwyn Egan have shared insights into the various ways they’re eaten across the continent. Recipes vary by region and include snacks, stews and even stuffed dates.
Read more: Fried, steamed or toasted: here are the best ways to cook insects
Powerful pulses
Many of Africa’s local pulses – such as beans, lentils and cowpeas – are highly nutritious, affordable and climate-resilient foods. As researcher Nokuthula Vilakazi explained, they can play a vital role in addressing malnutrition and food insecurity in Africa.
Rich in protein, fibre, and essential vitamins and minerals, pulses are especially valuable for tackling both chronic hunger and hidden hunger caused by poor diets.
Read more: Why the African food basket should be full of beans and other pulses
Championing teff
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Teff, an ancient grain from Ethiopia and Eritrea, is gaining global popularity due to its health benefits, especially being gluten-free.
Crop expert HyeJin Lee explained that, despite teff’s resilience and importance to millions, inefficient practices and weak value chains hinder growth.
Read more: Ethiopia needs to improve production of its “golden crop” Teff. Here’s how
Kenya’s positive push
Once viewed as outdated or poor people’s food, traditional vegetables and local foods in Kenya are now experiencing a resurgence.
This is because traditional vegetables – like spider plant, leaf amaranth and cassava leaves – have proven to be more nutritious than commonly eaten exotics, like cabbage.
The leaves of cassava, a major vegetable in central African nations, are rich in proteins. A single serving, or 100 grams of the leaves, can provide up to three times the recommended daily intake of vitamin A in children and adults.
The fruit pulp of the baobab can supply as much as 10 times the amount of vitamin C as an orange, by weight.
Botanist Patrick Maundu explained how a nationwide effort has promoted the nutritional and cultural value of indigenous foods since the mid-1990s. This initiative improved seed availability, linked farmers to markets, and helped restore pride in local food culture.
Read more: Kenya’s push to promote traditional food is good for nutrition and cultural heritage
Kagure Gacheche, Commissioning Editor, East Africa
Moina Spooner, Assistant Editor
This article is republished from The Conversation Africa under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
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Monrovia — The head of Liberia’s Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC), Bodger Scott Johnson, says the imposition of harsh conditions by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) when offering loans to developing countries is largely responsible for the worsening economic instability in Africa.
Mr. Johnson emphasized that these conditionalities are creating long-term dependency with potential consequences on sustainable development and increasing hardship for the poor in Africa and other developing countries. He cited the wage harmonization program in Liberia as a classic example of the negative effects associated with such conditions.
According to him, the IMF imposes different conditionalities for Asian and African countries. While Asian countries are typically asked to increase taxes and cut spending, African countries are required to harmonize wages — a policy he believes exacerbates economic hardship in the region.
Drawing from his experience with Liberia’s Public Procurement Reform Agenda, Mr. Johnson also highlighted ongoing efforts to modernize public procurement in the country as a way of addressing corruption and improving the delivery of basic services.
He explained that Liberia has configured, tested, and rolled out the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) System to six public sector institutions and is in the process of deploying the system to an additional 50 institutions with support from the World Bank.
The e-GP System is an innovative public procurement platform designed to enhance transparency, increase efficiency and effectiveness, and restore public confidence in procurement processes — with the ultimate goal of ensuring value for public money.
Mr. Johnson made these assertions during a presentation at a high-level seminar organized by the IMF Legal Department and IMF AFRITAC 2 in Accra, Ghana, from April 8-10, 2025.
The seminar aimed to support continued progress in improving governance and the rule of law, promote constructive engagement, and foster the development of well-governed institutions capable of effectively addressing corruption vulnerabilities and rule of law deficiencies.
Delegates at this year’s IMF seminar — drawn from various countries and sectors — shared their experiences and success stories from the region while discussing practical approaches to deepening analytical skills and combating corruption.
Read the original article on Liberian Investigator.
AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.
AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa – aggregating, producing and distributing 500 news and information items daily from over 110 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC.
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By Masauso Mkwayaya

The European Union -EU- has called for an enhanced framework to promote more collaboration between the European private sector and Zambia’s public and private sectors.

EU Commission Managing Director for Sub Saharan Africa, European External Action Service, RITA LARANJINHA, says the shift from traditional diplomacy to a strategic economic partnership calls for reviewing conditions for European private investors to increase their participation in the Zambian economy.

Speaking when she led a delegation of EU Ambassadors who paid a courtesy call on President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA at State House today, Ms. LARANJINHA said this will help boost value addition and participation of local communities.

And European Commission Directorate General for International Partnerships Adviser HENRIK HOLOLEI, HORS CLASSE said the bloc has reached a common understanding on the rehabilitation of the Zambia Railways infrastructure.

And President HICHILEMA said the changes in the global geopolitical environment provide an opportunity for Zambia and the European Union to deepen economic cooperation focused on trade and investment.

President HICHILEMA said this should be focused more on areas of critical minerals.

He also urged the bloc to prioritise investment in energy and infrastructure to support growth of other sectors.

The President also commended the EU for its interest in working with Zambia in rehabilitating the Zambia Railways.

The post EU Seeks Enhanced Zambia Business Ties appeared first on ZNBC-Just for you.

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