Instructions

1. Use dishes made of natural materials. Wood, clay, potter, beads and leather are all used in African table settings. The Table Settings with Pictures website suggests wooden napkin rings with brightly colored, African-print fabric napkins. African place settings often include woven plate holders, which are are great for dressing up your regular dishes. Wooden plates and silverware also aids in creating an African-inspired table.

2. Create a centerpiece for the table. Our House Crafts suggests table runners printed with African animals, tribal patterns or banana leaves. Incorporate real banana leaves as runners or place mats. Set a handcrafted wooden bowl in the center of the table and fill with sachets of African spices; let some of the spices spill into the bowl and even onto the table. Use nutmeg, cardamom, turmeric, cumin, peppers and ginger to create a rich aroma. Fill the space between the sachets with tropical fruits, painted beads and flowers. Impala lilies and leopard orchids are African flowers that you can purchase at a floral shop and use to create a striking centerpiece.

3. Set the table with plates and glasses facing down. Lay the napkin on top of the overturned plate. According to "The African Cookbook," this is traditional and allows each guest to turn over his or her plate when desired. All dishes are eaten from one plate, so there is no need for saladware. Soup bowls are stacked and placed beside the soup tureen.

4. Use colorful dishes to present the food; arrange them along the table artfully. In a traditional African meal, all the dishes are set on the table at once so guests can help themselves. This way, the host does not have to leave the table once seated. Do not worry about clearing dishes during the meal; the guests will have only one plate each, and the serving platters can wait.