Digital Library

This library currently lists 240+ books and collections, referenced in The Jemima Code and more, from 1828 to the present day.

(I try to update it as I find info, at least monthly)

They live on virtual shelves on The Internet Archive (to read, click ‘borrow’ and you’ll see options. You might need to register), HathiTrust, The National Academies of Science, Engineering, Medicine and a few more.

African, African-American and African-Inspired knowledge are not often acknowledged in culinary practice. For years, I’ve been collecting Nigerian and West African cookbooks, many of which are out-of-print. The Jemima Code (2015) by Toni Tipton-Martin widened knowledge of the wealth of resources documenting the culinary excellence of West Africans and African-Americans.

I want people to know this and see that West African culinary excellence exists because it’s hard to know who you are without knowing your history.

As Chinua Achebe, the great Nigerian writer said ‘Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.’

Now, this history is complicated because for the longest time, West Africans were not allowed to document their history. Some of it was done, not for them, but about them. That record is history. History is a record.

There are a number of books in this library that I’ve asterisked* because they are horrible and controversial in their depiction of West African and African-American culinary history. These books have provided useful frameworks for me in my desire to unearth, document and share impact. They have not only helped me unravel many instances of racism, of language, they have help me establish through lines, figure out why certain attitudes and behaviours exist. Like the 1910 book, Practical West African cookery gave me insight into the use of meat as a British status symbol - I’m writing about that soon and how that was used to terrorise, discriminate and present a false narrative of Nigerians. It’s also highlighted that many of these attitudes linger and continue to and without reference, without having documented evidence, will continue to. My next step with the library is working on summaries for each book that provide additional context.