Orou Yerima Baudouin Euloge (COURTESY PHOTO)

Orou Yerima Baudouin Euloge

Owner of an African restaurant in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province

Food culture in Africa has many different influences. In remote antiquity, Africans ate what they could find and forage in the wild, such as animals and various fruits. African cuisine began to evolve after Columbus discovered the New World in the 15th century when Africa was involved in international trade. Different cultures from Spain, Portugal, and Holland produced an indelible effect on African cuisine. Leaders in Africa brought in several kinds of vegetables and fruits from other countries, and also asked their foreign friends to bring vegetable seeds from their countries. Dishes that were popular with black slaves in the United States were also brought back to Africa after their emancipation in 1863.

Some other cultural influences, such as Muslim food, have had an impact on African food culture as well. In modern times, African students and tourists abroad also bring in some new dishes and food trends. In short, because of the increasingly close connections with the international community, African food changes constantly and becomes a global cuisine. 

Africans' food preference is closely related to the geographical environment. They love cornmeal and cassava - staples that are widely produced in Africa's tropical climate - and they also like carrots, tomatoes and onions. People who live in the coastal area like seafood, and those who live inland like meat.

When eating, Africans do not use tableware, and instead use their hands, as they are regarded as one of the most important parts of the body. For example, if a man wants to marry a woman, he would say: "I need your hands." Additionally, shaking hands is important in African culture to show a good relationship between two people. The two hands are for different uses - the right one is for "clean work," such as shaking hands, educating children and eating, while the left hand is used to clean. In order to stay hygienic, people wash their hands before dinner. In the old days, people washed their hands with the sap of leaves, and today they use soap. 

In the eyes of Africans, dinner time is the most important and sacred time of the day, because they believe deceased ancestors are eating with the whole family, and it is a time when the family can communicate and children can learn from elders. Some table rules are very important; for example, young children are not allowed to eat some food, such as the head of fish, without the elder's permission.

Africans also emphasize the health benefits of different foods. Ginger is used to sterilize, and onions and garlics are employed to reduce internal heat - they are essential for people living in tropical areas.

In the past, Africans did not place importance on dishes' presentation. However, under the influence of other cultures, combined with the desire to have the rest of the world appreciate African cuisine, Africans have started to make great efforts to improve both the flavor and the appearance of their cuisine.

Men do not cook in African culture, but I fell in love with cooking because of the influence of Chinese food culture. Now, I want to spread African food culture around the whole world. The 2005 Aichi Expo and the 2010 Shanghai World Expo have already been two major venues for attracting public attention, and I am now studying in China to have an even better presentation in the 2015 Milan Expo.