African Culture - North Africa

North Africa The countries of Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt are considered to be included in the “North Africa” grouping. A Moroccan proverb says: Mâ kainsh el-kalâm cala ettacâm, \"Where there is food, there is no talking.\" Indeed, as a sign of respect for the food that God has provided and the host or hostess has served. North Africans consider it impolite to converse freely while eating. The food itself, however, does not remain silent. The meals convey messages to the people of North Africa. Perhaps more than anything else in North African cultural practices, food habits constitute a rich language through which the region's history unfolds, social distinctions are expressed, religious feasts are celebrated, and seasonal changes along with transformations in the life cycle are marked. Culinary traditions of North Africa are also heavily determined by religion. While most of the region identifies as Muslim, there is also a Jewish presence in this region of the world.