Africana

A culinary expedition celebrating cooking from across the African continent

Africana travels the continent showcasing its vibrant and varied cuisines that are rich in flavour, diverse in culture and steeped in tradition.

Combining recipes passed down the generations with her own modern and inventive style, food writer and cook Lerato shares her own stories of Africa with a delectable sense of adventure.

Discover iconic dishes from Nigeria to Madagascar, Morocco to South Africa. There are over 100 recipes to delight and inspire, Spice Island Coconut Fish Curry, Harissa Leg of Lamb with Hibiscus, Senegalese Yassa, Tunisian Tagine, South African Malva Pudding, and the secret to the perfect Jollof.

Bursting with flavour and offering a sense of wanderlust, Africana will bring the magic of the continent to your kitchen.

‘Outstanding new book that will wake up your taste buds.’ delicious. magazine

‘No plantain will go to waste with this book nearby.’ BBC Good Food Magazine

‘Leaf through Africana and you’ll be sticking Post-it notes everywhere … There isn’t a dish I don’t want to cook.’ Diana Henry, the Saturday Telegraph

Reviews

‘It is a glorious book: an education and an invitation. There is such life in its pages, and such food!’ Nigella Lawson

‘Outstanding new book that will wake up your taste buds.’ delicious. magazine

‘No plantain will go to waste with this book nearby.’ BBC Good Food Magazine

‘Leaf through Africana and you’ll be sticking Post-it notes everywhere … There isn’t a dish I don’t want to cook.’ Diana Henry, the Saturday Telegraph

About the author

Lerato Umah-Shaylor is a food writer, presenter and leading voice in African cuisine, and she is the founder of Lerato Foods & Naturals. Inspired by her love of Africa and the glorious foods of the continent, she set up popular, immersive supper clubs and cooking classes in London, and across the UK. She also writes a newsletter known as Cook with Lerato where cooks can travel with her one dish at a time. Growing up in both West Africa and the UK, while extensively travelling around the continent, Lerato’s unique perspective can be seen in her approach to cooking. She uses her personal experiences from Lagos, London, and beyond as well as rich African traditions to create contemporary yet nostalgic recipes.

She lives on the English Sussex coast where she loves to cook with local produce.