History of African Transkei

African Transkei stands apart as one of the few Psilocybe cubensis strains ever documented on the African continent. Discovered in the coastal grasslands of South Africa’s Eastern Cape, near the Transkei region, it quickly gained recognition for its unique place in mycological records.

Africa is home to a long tradition of entheogenic use, yet the continent’s fungal diversity has received only minimal scientific attention compared to regions like Mesoamerica or Southeast Asia. The discovery of Transkei sparked fresh curiosity, how widespread might cubensis be across Africa’s vast range of climates, and what unique adaptations could they hold?

For researchers and collectors, Transkei embodies both rarity and possibility. It represents not just a strain, but a glimpse into a largely untold story of fungi on a continent rich in cultural and ecological depth. Its presence raises questions about migration, dispersal, and how mushrooms weave into the human and natural history of Africa.