VEGANISM’S ANCIENT AFRICAN ROOTS

The continent is a treasure trove of traditional dishes authentically made from plant- based goodness

HUMMUS, injera and tahini, like many other African dishes, have erupted in popularity owing to the rise of veganism. But, unbeknown to the millennial vegan, their “EarthBowl” actually comprises food items that are dietary staples in various African countries.

And, with throngs of celebrities fiercely promoting the diet, it seems Hollywood invented veganism; however, a quick stroll through history will reveal that it has had an unequivocal presence throughout Africa and Asia from as early as the 8th century BC.

The origins of veganism

Plant-based diets, and the philosophy they’re founded on, have been in existence long before the term “vegan” was ever coined. In the

East, Hindus, Buddhists and Jains promoted plant-based diets for reasons that extended beyond health and necessity – they encompassed ethics, too.

But when did the term “veganism” come about?

In August 1944, members of the Vegetarian Society, a group founded in Britain in the 19th century by people who actively promoted and followed meat-free diets, asked that a section of its newsletter be devoted to non-dairy vegetarianism. By November, a quarterly newsletter was dedicated to this purpose. It was named “The Vegan News”. Donald Watson, secretary of one of the branches, chose the word vegan himself, based on “the first three and last two letters of ‘vegetarian’” because it marked, in Watson’s words, “the beginning and end of vegetarian”. The new Vegan Society held its first meeting in November that year. Today, World Vegan Day is held annually on November 1 to mark the founding of the society.

Since then veganism has experienced a major boom, with celebrities and “woke” millennials adopting the diet, and in some instances the lifestyle, too.

The reason? Social media.

Apps and websites like Instagram and Twitter break down the barrier between plebs and celebs – and, in an instant, we can see what Beyonce had for dinner or recreate Jamie Oliver’s recipe for lentil tabbouleh.

According to Google trends, searches for “veganism” have been rising steadily in a similar course to Instagram since 2012 (the year the app took off). With more than

800 million users to date, it’s possible that it could be responsible for veganism’s surge in popularity.

Instagram has an incredibly active vegan community who post visually stunning pictures of fresh, healthy and vibrant meals – with recipes often attached. The option to add captions also enables Instagrammers to share nuggets of information regarding the benefits of veganism on not only one’s health, but that of animals and the environment, too.

Celebrate veganism the way

Africa would with these hearty vegan recipes.