African-Vegan is NOT an oxymoron!

It is no doubt that we are seeing a "foodie movement" from the West that recognises veganism as a current trend that seeks to unearth new eating habits. However it is my view (and a fact) that vegans have always existed in Africa. Pre-colonial Africans did, in fact, rely predominantly on a plant-based diet. In South Africa and I'm sure this applies to the rest of the African continent as well - the concept of veganism is gaining momentum with a distorted view that it is a nook industry that requires contribution and education from the Western

world.

This view supports the notion that only the "well-off" can be vegan because it is an expensive lifestyle.This is simply not true because our continent is rich with nutritious, vegan, inexpensive super-foods, such as grains, legumes, nuts and leafy greens, fruits that our grandparents and ancestors consumed on a daily basis and we all know they were not "well-off". The high costs of veganism can be squarely attributed to the unfounded need to consume highly processed (often unhealthy) and imported vegan food options that we quite frankly, do not need. Africa is vegan paradise if you are able to source the right foods.

Let me stop with my rant because I'm hungry but before I stop, I want to reassure you that being vegan in Africa is not as difficult or expensive as you you have been led to believe.

There are plenty of vegan African food to be found in the continent’s traditional cuisines.

In fact, many African dishes are naturally vegan anyway, we just don't use the word "vegan" to describe them. I've been eating pap all my life - it is very vegan, but I've never had the itch to call it vegan pap.

Following this post, I will be sharing traditional African dishes that are 100% vegan and very inexpensive, that you can whip up in no time. Please do comment with thoughts, suggestions and recipes to your delicious African dishes:)