The Oil Palm in Africa

This chapter introduces the African oil palm, Elaeis guineensis, describing its physical characteristics and its historic distribution across African landscapes. Methods for producing palm oil, palm wine, and other products made from oil palms are discussed along with the varying roles of these products in material culture in Africa. The chapter reviews myths and religious traditions about the oil palm. Finally, the chapter reviews evidence about the distribution of oil palms and palm oil from archaeology and history and refutes claims that palm oil was a widely-used commodity in ancient Egypt.