Main content

Africa's forgotten foods

Why are indigenous ingredients and dishes no longer popular?

The African continent is seeing one of the fastest rates of urbanisation in the world.

As people move to cities, and lifestyles change, so do diets. Many indigenous ingredients and dishes become hard to source and prepare. Others become associated with rural or village ways of life and are no longer seen as sufficiently aspirational.

In this programme, Michael Kaloki finds out about traditional dishes at risk of being forgotten. He cooks with his Aunty Naomi to learn about dishes from his own Kamba tribe in Kenya. He also visits Dr Kathleen Anangwe, Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Social Work and African Women Studies at the University of Nairobi, as she prepares a traditional dish from her own tribe, the Luhya in Western Kenya. He speaks to chef Selassie Atadika, who is showcasing indigenous ingredients and methods of cooking in her pop-up nomadic dinners in Accra, Ghana.

If you'd like to contact the programme email - thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk

Presented by Michael Kaloki.

Produced by Beatrice Pickup.

(Image: women transporting millet in baskets on their head. Credit: Getty Images/大象传媒)

Available now

32 minutes

Last on

Thu 20 Jul 2023 22:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 20 Jul 2023 03:32GMT
  • Thu 20 Jul 2023 10:32GMT
  • Thu 20 Jul 2023 17:32GMT
  • Thu 20 Jul 2023 21:32GMT
  • Thu 20 Jul 2023 22:32GMT

Food Chain highlights

Tea, coffee, spices, chillies ... snack on a selection of programme highlights

Podcast