Eating and Drinking in Southern Africa

Abstract

The Republic of South Africa has for many years been one of the economic powers on the African continent and has always played a major role in relations with its neighboring countries. It is therefore natural that cross-border exchanges would take place on all levels of cuisine development. This chapter offers an introductory insight into the environmental and agricultural business of South Africa within the larger Southern African and African continent context. An introductory summary of the cuisine of the four demographic groups of South Africa is discussed, with reference to similarities found in countries sharing South Africa’s borders. The chapter ends with the unfortunate obesity and overweight situation of the region, possibly as a result of increased dietary changes that come with advanced lifestyle and challenges modern Southern African people have to compete with.