FAQ

Africa Culture FAQ

Quick, friendly answers to common questions about African music, food and places.

A plate of red-orange jollof rice served with fried plantain slices

Jollof rice with fried plantain: Skarfmacaronne, CC BY-SA 4.0

FAQ

How many countries are in Africa?

54 countries are members of the United Nations, making Africa the continent with the most countries.

What is the difference between afrobeat and afrobeats?

Afrobeat is Fela Kuti's 1970s jazz-funk style; afrobeats is the broader modern West African pop sound.

What is jollof rice?

A West African one-pot rice dish cooked in tomato and pepper sauce. Ghana and Nigeria famously compete over who makes it best.

What is Africa's highest mountain?

Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, 5,895 m.

When is the Great Migration?

All year, in a loop; calving is around February and river crossings around July to October.

How many languages are spoken in Africa?

Estimates commonly run between about 1,500 and over 2,000 languages.

What is kente cloth?

A colourful woven textile from Ghana made from narrow strips sewn together. See our kente page.

What is the national dish of Senegal?

Thieboudienne, fish and rice, listed by UNESCO in 2021.

Which African film festival is the biggest?

FESPACO in Ouagadougou, held every two years.

Is suya spicy?

Usually yes, from chilli in the yaji spice, and it contains peanuts.

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Sources

Facts on this page were checked against these sources (updated Oct 13, 2026). Spot an error? Email hello@fireempireshop.com.

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