There is an attachment an average Nigerian has towards our staple food; be it Fufu, Pounded Yam, Garri with variety of soups made with Water, Thickener, Fish, Meat, Vegetable etc. In the Northern part of Nigeria we call it “tuwo” dough made from grains like Maize, Millet or even Rice served with Mia Kuka Soup. In the Western part we call it “amala” or “iyan” prepared from Yam, Cassava or Plantain flour eaten with ewedu/gbegiri soup while in the East it is known as “akpu” or “eba” made from Cassava swallowed with Ofe Ugu (Vegetable Soup) Ofe oha, Ogbono soup. Globalization is exposing local foods to international fans who by reason of marriage or tourism are beginning to taste some of these traditional foods. Hear how a British woman described our staple food. “Nigerian foods consist of a big mound of “swallow”- a carb-based substance, made of either grains or pounded tubers, and a “soup” which is more like a dipping sauce with chunks of meat or bone.”
Nigerians who travel or relocate outside the country will never cease to tell you how they miss swallow. Those relocating these days carry bags of our staple food ingredients to last a while and have even perfected ways of getting them via waybills. Recently, a Nigerian that relocated to Canada shared her encounter with her landlord who gave her quit notice citing the aroma of the soup she cooks for swallow as “disturbing.” A prize she considered not too much to pay for her beloved delicacy. Little wonder Hilda Baci the world cook-a-thon record holder. Had to add over six types of soups used to take swallow in her menu.
Another thing to note about this meal is that while Britons eat their favorite meals with cutlery, Chinese use chopstick we use our fingers. Although, there are attempts to introduce cutlery but is just not blending because when connoisseurs judge your culinary performance the texture of your fufu or pounded yam mounds must be felt with finger to confirm there are no lumps. Above all beyond tongue taste, your soup must be “finger licking” in our parlance to win award.
When you visit home, no matter what you eat so long as you did take swallow and soup it will be considered that you did not eat, psychologically you will feel empty until you take swallow. In the olden days ability to cook good soups is prerequisite for a Lady to marry. Why do we call it swallow when in the actual sense other foods ends up being swallowed. It is called swallow because you need not chew before swallowing it. As celebrated as Nigerian jollof is, it can never be a match for a well-prepared soup garnished with assorted meats with well pounded yam mound beside it. The sight is alluring, the taste is satisfying and the feeling nostalgic.
Traveller G what is your staple food in your locality ?
@AdamGT have you tasted any Nigeria meal ?
@Zino what is you favorite swallow ?
@SholaIB You have west African perspective to swallow
