Food
I had stopped in
to see a Kenyan friend
I had just eaten lunch
I was not hungry
“Please don’t cook
I have just eaten,”
I pleaded.
But I heard her
telling the maid something
in the kitchen.
Just as I was about to leave
The maid entered with meat
rice
greens
In Africa
food is always prepared
for a visitor
I was overwhelmed
and really not hungry
“But you must eat
I have not seen you
For such a long time!”
You should prepare food for a person even though
the person pretends not to be hungry.
Kenyan Proverb
Eating
“There is always enough food,” he said
as we were preparing to leave
We had stopped in for a brief visit
after the Sunday service
So we stayed
for ugali and cabbage stew
The simple diet
in many African homes
provides ample food
for numerous unexpected guests
Several other people stopped by
and stayed for lunch
unexpected
yet welcome
“You see,” he said
“there is always plenty of food”
Relationship is in eating together
Ugandan Proverb
From Sharing Boundaries: Learning the Wisdom of Africa
By Annetta Miller
Paulines Publications Africa
Nairobi, Kenya
2003
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Proverbs and Recipes
Hunger is housed in the body, satisfaction in the soul.
North African proverb
Chicken with olives
Morocco
4-6 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
olive oil
4 boneless chicken breasts
2 onions, finely chopped
¼ tsp ground ginger
pinch of saffron (optional)
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp tumeric
1 stick cinnamon bark
1 tsp ground coriander
salt, to taste
1 cup green olives (without pimento)
Mix garlic, black pepper, and some oil.
Rub into chicken and let stand for a few hours.
Heat oil in a heavy pan or tajine (Moroccan earthenware pot).
Fry chicken till brown and remove pan.
Fry onions till golden; add spices and fry ½ minute.
Add chicken and mix well.
Add salt.
Add a little water and simmer on low heat till done (approximately 1 hour).
Add olives.
Serve with couscous or rice.
Reconciliation is strengthened by eating together.
Sudanese proverb
Fava beans (fuul)
Sudan
4 cups fava beans (broad beans), well cooked (the mature, brown variety must be used, as opposed to green, young beans)
2 onions, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 tsp cumin
chili powder, to taste
salt, to taste
some lemon juice
½ cup feta cheese
some sesame oil (or olive oil)
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. (Alternatively, feta chesse and/or oil can be kept aside and liberally sprinkled on top before serving.)
Mash with a potato masher, adding water or oil if necesary until it is the consistency of a dip such as guacamole or hummus.
Season according to taste (additional raw vegetables such as cubed carrots and cucumbers can also be added).
Heat till warm.
Serve with pita bread.
Note: Fuul is a breakfast, lunch, and dinner staple in urban Sudan and is often eaten communally around a single bowl, with bread as the utensil.
From African Flavors: Recipes with Proverbs
By Annetta Miller
2013