The very first
time I traveled out of Nigeria I was married with a child, long before that I
had traveled to several places, though not physically but I traveled to other lands
nevertheless. Actually my first journey physically leaving the shores of
Nigeria was when I crossed into Cotonou to buy my first car, but I digress
again. I want to tell you the story of travelling through the cooking of my
mum. Her kitchen was our airport, the dishes she churned out was the landing
port in whichever country we went.
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| Liberia Road Accra Ghana with Total House in the background |
She opened up
our palates at an early age to varying dishes, as long as it was called food
and eaten by people and she learnt it, we ate it when she cooked it. Grew up
drinking kunu long before I knew which part of Nigeria it came from, yes I
finally knew it was from the northern part of my dear country. So soothing when
the sun is high up blazing hot and the ground seeks water to quench its thirst.
Kunu did magic, refreshing and filling. Koko was a bit difficult for me to
adapt to but plenty sugar did the trick, please no questions I told you I have
a son already! She took us on a flight to Ghana, banku with groundnut soup was
the flight we boarded, Saturday morning was specifically earmarked for Banku,
my people the bottom pot was the sweetest! That burnt part that is crispy!! Oh!
Wait have you tasted banku with a little of fufu mixed into it? Kai the
smoothness, add a little okro to the groundnut soup, heavenly. Donkunu is one
food I do not understand why they eat it with such peppery stew, no one
answered that question, then I discovered groundnut soup was a col
accompaniment for it and the puzzle was unraveled for me, none of that pepper
that makes you whistle continuously and seek cold water to appease it while it
takes up the room in your stomach meant for the Donkunu.
I traveled far
and wide through my mum’s cooking, she made me realize that we are interwoven
and there is no reason to look down on anyone irrespective of his or her tribe,
tongue or race. She thought me, we have something to learn from each other. God
bless Mojirade Theresa omo (daughter of) Adeyemi aya (wife of) Oyedeji.
