First, eating at home is way more affordable than eating out. On top of that, home-cooking just tastes better than anything else. There’s nothing quite like preparing a hearty, flavorful dish for the ones you love—or even for yourself.

 What makes home cooking even better?

When you’re able to bring authentic and traditional African recipes to life.

Why?

Because the flavors, as a rule, are intense and leave a lasting impression. They’re influenced by imported spices. Furthermore, these spices are affordable and can be bought in bulk, lasting for months.

If you want to bring Africa's rich aromas and delicious tastes into your dining room, read on and learn these ten easy-to-make recipes:

Jollof rice is one of many African recipes that has an array of variations.

However, the five must-have ingredients that you’ll find in this dish are as follows:

• Rice
• Tomatoes
• Onions
• Scotch bonnets
• Chili peppers

It’s rare for there to be a Nigerian dish without Jollof rice being an integral component in the recipe. And this delicious offering is best known for being brought out for festive occasions.

Much like how many southern states have a rivalry over BBQ, many West African communities are trying to stake their claim to the best Jollof recipe. 

This West African dish, also known as Chicken Yassa, is beautiful in its simplicity. Here are the three straightforward steps that’ll lead to Senegal-inspired deliciousness:

• Marinate the chicken in lemon juice.
• Broil the chicken.
• Stew it in the boiled-down marinade

The first time you try this splendid dish won’t be the last, because it’s guaranteed to become one of your weeknight-dinner staples.

How does this sound? Take sumptuous Nigerian herbs and spices along with either flavorful goat meat or with fish combined with a light broth that's packed with flavor.

Peppersoup is what cures the soul in West Africa, just as chicken soul does in North America. This splendid soup provides comfort and warmth. It seems to carry healing powers with its rich earthiness if you’re feeling gloomy or under the weather.

Versions of this soup are varying, but for it to be authentically pepper soup, it must possess the traditional seasoning, which includes:

• Ataiko (Alligator pepper)
• Uda
• Gbafilo.

There’s ready-made spice mix available online, but you can also make a variation without Nigerian ingredients.

Mashed peas and potatoes with corn (irio) is a trademark Kenyan dish known both for convenience and excellent flavors.

Not only can irio hold its own as a standalone meal, but it’s also an ideal side with grilled meats. Though, if you’re going meatless and prefer keeping things plant-based in the kitchen, stir a cup of thawed lima beans into the mash.

In the local dialect, irio translates to “food,” speaking to how much of a signature meal this offering can be.

Nothing quite says bright and intense flavors like a chicken braised in broth with dates and raisins.

East African braised chicken stems from the Indian spice trade that introduced potent, aromatic curry dishes to the region. Also, making this traditional African recipe requires a regional braising technique.

The most economical way to go about preparing the chicken is starting with a 3-to-4-pound bird. Then you must remove the bone-in breasts, thighs, and drumsticks.

Pork tenderloin, in and of itself, is an absolutely mouth-watering dish. When you immerse this delectable cut of meat with North African style cuisine, it becomes dynamic and irresistible.

The magic spell of this recipe is bolstered by roasted red bell peppers, cumin, garlic, and coriander.

Now, all you need is yogurt sauce, and you’ll have a ridiculously tasty main dish that fills your belly and feeds your soul.

There does tend to be a story behind most traditional African food, and this refreshing salad is no different. More specifically, mangoes were brought to the eastern region by Persian traders in the 10th century.

Of course, this delightfully fresh dish isn’t enough to stand on its own, and best acts as a complement to a more robust plate. It pairs with stewed or braised meats (like the chicken we just discussed!), adding some bright notes for balance.

If you want to further diversify and brighten the flavors, try adding these delicious spices:

• Coriander
• Cumin
• Cinnamon
• Cloves

Then you can add some peanuts for an added crunch, for a more well-rounded texture. Red jalapenos are usually found in this salad, but if they aren’t available, use twice as many green ones.

One of the world’s most famous Ethiopian chefs, Marcus Samuelsson, has put forth his own magnificent version of this dish. Unlike the chef’s modern version, traditionally, this pasta offering is known for butter and oily richness.

Yes, pasta isn’t necessarily something associated with African cuisine. But a brief Italian occupation during WWII left a European impact in both the cathedrals and the kitchens.

Mafé (otherwise known as maafe) is a dish that originated in Mali, then spread across the West African region. It’s probably best known in Gambia and Senegal, where it was popularized during the colonial period. It was during a time when initiatives were put in place to increase the production of groundnuts.

This Malian dish combines meat with a peanut or peanut butter sauce. It’s then served over rice or couscous.

In Ghana, there are whitish/yellowish local vegetables called garden eggs.

The eggplants are commonly and successfully used as the primary ingredient in a stew. They're combined with okra, meat, and continually smoking palm oil. Together, this mishmash of flavorful goodness creates an unbelievably decadent dish.

Throughout Ghana, aubergine stew is regularly served with a soured maize meal starch known as banku. We also suggest serving it on a bed of couscous.

You Won’t Need to Search for “African Food Near Me?” With These Recipes

When we're all told to stay home, it's good to have the added motivation of these delicious African recipes to help us remain put.

While you're making these awesome recipes at-home, take a look at our "50 Shows and Movies to Stream Right Now". 

Dating back a few centuries, women began wearing suits. These women were pioneers in making this style mainstream for the modern woman. They dressed up in suits knowing that it would ruin their reputations and surround them in controversy.

In the 1910s when women were campaigning for equal rights, one of which was the right to vote, the Suffragette suit emerged as a go-to look for innovative women. This led to Coco Chanel designing her first suit in 1914. However, the suit was less known for being a stylish, essential piece and more as a women’s emancipation outfit.

That suit evolved to fashion brands branching out and creating a pantsuit for women. These brands – like us, recognized that women wanted to wear suits to feel powerful. Our Nubia Blazer and Safina Pants in the Turquoise Orange Swirls are a great suit for women that we hope empowers our customers as much as suits did for women in the 1900s.

The powerful feeling that comes with wearing a women’s suit stems from its beginnings as an outfit for the Women’s Suffrage Movement. The clothing is steeped in history that gives women the ability to feel influential and just as strong as a male counterpart. Our Nubia Blazer and Safina Pants in the Marroon Grey Chevron print gives women the confidence they need to stand tall and own any room they enter.

Our bold and vibrant prints add an extra layer of might with allowing women of color to stand out from the crowd. Wear a suit proudly knowing that it was once synonymous with the women who wanted equal rights. Take our Oana Blazer and matching Safina Pants in the Blue Pyramid print. The print empowers women to feel confident and self-assured.

Suits evoke a powerful feeling, whether it’s worn by a man or woman. Modern women know this and use it to let their clothes do the talking for them. When a woman walks into a room dressed in a powerful suit, she is sending a clear message to all around her – she’s the boss.

As we begin our celebrations of Black History Month, we at spfraidersoccercamp would like to kick-off the month of February by discussing the origins of kente cloth. Kente today is seen as a staple cloth in African print fashion and used to express one’s roots. We have many clothes offered on our site that utilize kente print in a way that is meant to be empowering while fashionable.

Kente cloth is native to the Akan ethnic group from Ghana. This vibrant cloth rose in popularity when the Asante Empire decided that only royals could wear kente. The use of the print was limited to social and special occasions. The word kente means “basket” in the Akan language. It is produced from a technique called strip weaving, which has existed in West Africa since the 11th century.

A legend told by the Asante people is that two men learned the art of weaving from a spider. They observed a spider named Ananse, weave unique designs. For a few favors, the spider taught the men how to weave designs with a single thread. They used this technique to create kente cloth.

In our Black History Month Collection, we have several pieces that include kente print. Each color in kente print has a special meaning to it. The meanings of the colors are what sets the kente apart from regular clothing and give it a deeper purpose.

For women, we have a Nyah Skirt and a Bahati Dress that are fabricated with gold and red kente. Gold is the symbol of royalty, wealth and spiritual purity, and red symbolizes the blood of our ancestors. These two powerful colors are telling an incredible story. 

 

We also offer a Bomani Long Sleeve Shirt with a gold and red kente color block. This fashionable shirt for men is the perfect way to express pride for your heritage and history while looking dope. Let your clothes do the talking for Black History Month by incorporating some kente looks into your wardrobe.

Today, the cloth has entered modern African print fashion and instills a feeling of empowerment in all who wear it. We will continue to produce clothing that includes kente print and we will always remember the history behind this bold and vibrant cloth.

Check out our African Kente Prints and more in the spfraidersoccercamp Black History Month Collection!

Men

Women

Dashikis have gained popularity on the fashion scene and among celebrities in the past couple of years. While the print shown above is an Angelina print, this print has been so closely linked to Dashikis that many people have started to refer to this particular print as a Dashiki. The Angelina print was created by a Viisco textile designer named Toon van de Manakker and is based upon the 19th century Ethiopian noblewoman's tunic. This particular style of print is extremely popular in West Africa, particularly in countries such as Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, and Togo.  

Nowadays, you can see this colorful African design on anyone from your friends to Beyoncé. So where exactly does this traditional African clothing staple originate from and what made it so popular? Below we highlight the cultural roots and timeline of the dashiki.

Yoruba Culture

The dashiki can trace its roots back to Yoruba language and culture. In fact, the word dashiki comes from the Yoruba word “danshiki” meaning a short sleeved work shirt typically worn by men in West Africa.

So how far back does the dashiki design date back? Tunics similar in design to the modern dashiki were uncovered in Mali burial mounds dating back to the 12th - 13th century.

Also in the Yoruba culture, certain colors of dashikis were made to represent different emotions and events. For example, traditionally white dashikis were worn by grooms on their wedding day. Sometimes couples, opt to wear purple instead for their wedding day since purple is the color of African royalty. Blue is known as the color of love, peace, and harmony, so sometimes blue dashikis are worn for weddings as well.

Western Market in the 1960’s

The dashiki emerged in the US market during the late 1960s as a symbolism for Black American Afrocentric identity. As this fashion blogs point out, the dashiki found its place in the 1960’s among the black pride and white countercultural movement.

Following a surge of cultural pride in 1964 with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the dashiki found it’s place celebrating Afrocentric clothing.

Worn as a sign of black pride, the dashiki showed unity among the black community. Also, the dashiki was worn among Hippies who supported the movement.

Present Day

Fast forward to today, where both men and women can be seen all over the world, draped in various forms of the dashiki print. There has even been a transfer of representation because it migrated from mostly men rocking the print, to women being at the forefront of pioneering the dashiki presence.

Everyone is familiar with seeing the smock-type version of the dashiki, but now the word refers to more than just a garment; it is also a print style, meaning there are now more ways than ever to show pride in your African culture.

The dashiki is sold in its original loose fitting shirt forms still to this day. However, now there are many different types of dashiki styles so that you can find the perfect dashiki to fit your fashion sense.

For example, at spfraidersoccercamp we offer African fashion ranging from traditional Dashiki shirts for adults and kids to gorgeous skirts, dresses, tops, and much more. We offer a Dashiki t-shirt collection and a Dashiki sweatshirt collection which are a fresh and modern twist on the traditional Dashiki shirt for the entire family. Ladies along with little girls can also make a statement in our bold printed dashiki skirts. Or if you are looking for a more subtle addition of African print, we offer beautiful infinity scarves.

As you can see, the Dashiki has evolved so much from its Yoruba male working shirt roots, from a cultural statement to a fashionable celebration of African roots for both men and women. 

Akesha viewed the spfraidersoccercamp Talent Challenge as a great opportunity to share her gift with the world—singing. Inspired by her love for God and singing since she was 3 years old, Akesha beautifully sang her favorite hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness". She can SANG!

For the challenge, Akesha rocked our Blue and Pink Dashiki Maxi Skirt. When asked what inspired her to shop at spfraidersoccercamp, Akesha proclaimed "I LOVE wearing skirts, but the bold ethnic prints of the Mommy and Me sets inspired me the most!" 

We thought it fitting to mention her daughter, A'Marie Kathryn, who also was among the talented entrants who made this a fun challenge!  A'Marie, showed off her tap dancing skills and captivated us with her dazzling smile during her dance routine. She wore the Blue and Pink Abina Skirt for little girls which wonderfully matched her mom’s maxi skirt. 

Growing up in the American school system, I was taught American history which conveniently neglected black Americans. Aside from the “honorable” mention of blacks during slavery, American history did not include the contributions of black Americans who helped shape the America we all know today. If it were not for Black History month, the achievements of black leaders, writes, artists, and inventors would be overlooked. We may not have known of the gifted literary writer Langston Hughes, the great educator Booker T Washington, the brave humanitarian, Harriet Tubman, the brilliant orator and statesman Frederick Douglass, the self-made millionaire entrepreneur Madam C.J Walker, the first traffic light inventor, Garrett Morgan, and many others.

Paying tribute to these great black figures is an important aspect of black history month as well. We must never forget or take for granted the incredible role these leaders played so we may enjoy the opportunities currently available to us today. These opportunities include the freedom to vote, attend any college, purchase a home, run for political office, open a business, and ultimately partake in the American dream. Granted, there are still improvements to be made, but we can acknowledge the progress already achieved.

Celebrating our heritage while reconnecting to our African roots is another key part of Black History month. We should take the time to learn more about our roots and culture so we have a better sense of identity. One of the ways we can celebrate is by expressing ourselves through clothing. The spfraidersoccercamp clothing line was born out of the desire to create modern African inspired fashion that could be worn daily for those seeking to express themselves in a unique way.

In spite of Stacy Dash’s ignorant comment, Black History month should NOT be canceled- clearly! We will continue celebrating and acknowledging our amazing leaders that paved the way for us. To these men and women and many more whose name may never get public applause, we say thank you!

What are your thoughts? Leave your comment below and share this on Facebook and Twitter if you agree that Black History Month is important!