Curried minced meat, sweetened with dried fruit and topped with a golden egg custard: bobotie is one of South Africa's most famous dishes, and its flavours tell a story of the Indian Ocean.
On 16 June 1976, thousands of schoolchildren in Soweto marched against being taught in Afrikaans. Police opened fire. Today, South Africa marks the day as Youth Day.
Born in the port city of Oran, raï gave a voice to desire, frustration and freedom. It made stars of Cheikha Rimitti and Cheb Khaled, and its singers paid a price for speaking out.
Processional crosses of bronze and silver, hand crosses carried by priests, tiny pendants on blue cords: Ethiopia's crosses are among the most intricate religious art in the world.
Hundreds of figures in flowing white robes and wide-brimmed hats parade through Lagos Island, honouring a departed king or chief. Here is the story of the Eyo festival.
This weekend, Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha. In Senegal and much of West Africa, it is called Tabaski, and a beautiful ram is the centre of every household.
From its capital at Gao on the Niger River, Songhai ruled a vast empire in the 15th and 16th centuries, until a Moroccan army with firearms crossed the Sahara in 1591.
Written in the ancient Ge'ez script and spoken by tens of millions, Amharic is Ethiopia's working language, with a literary tradition famous for poetry that hides a second meaning.
For centuries, the Oromo of Ethiopia and Kenya have governed themselves through Gadaa, a system of rotating leadership with eight-year terms, assemblies under sacred trees and checks on power.
Rice, lentils, macaroni, chickpeas, spicy tomato sauce, garlic vinegar and crispy onions, all in one bowl. Koshari is Egypt's favourite street food, and its history crosses oceans.
Yesterday, Africans around the world marked Africa Day, the anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity in Addis Ababa. Here is the story behind it.
Talking drums, shimmering guitars, a pedal steel and praise songs that last for hours: jùjú is one of Nigeria's great popular musics, and King Sunny Adé took it worldwide.
