Chapter+5

    Chapter 5 Book page #s- pgs. 36-45    Culinary Customs/Yams Carly Weist

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">Hospitality has much importance while eating <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">It consists of rituals of handwashing, clapping and the offering of food. Even if one is not hungry, to refuse would he an insult <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">Children also must follow strict rules while eating <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">handwashing and clapping of the hands must always precede a meal  <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">must be silent while adults eat  <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">must never beg for food  <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">The majority of rural Africans customarily eat one main meal a day and this is usually the evening meal  <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">Men come first before women at meals but no one eats alone  <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">If a new food is introduced than the food must be appealing to the men, for if refused by them no one else will touch it  <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">Food growing and harvesting is done by the men and collecting fire-wood and water and for food preparation is done by the women  <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> Young children perform play ceremonies enacting their parts as men and women of the household- this is called mahumbwe  <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">Yams are important for survival reasons <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">They <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">can be stored up to six months without refrigeration, which makes them a valuable resource for the period of food scarcity <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">Can grow up to 2.5 meters in length and weigh up to 70 kg (150 pounds) <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">After being harvested they are blessed by the chief (main crop) <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">Offer yams to gods and ancestors first before distributing them to the villagers (their way of giving thanks to the spirits) <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">Yams are completely different than sweet potatoes <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">The food of Africa uses a combination of locally available fruits, grains, vegetables, milk, and meat products <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> ·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">Traditional green vegetables occupy an important role in household nutrition <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">the main source of vitamins <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal"> <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">provide variety to meals <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'">http://www.africaguide.com/cooking.htm Here is a fun link that explores the different types of cooking in Africa, as well as, the recipes to make their traditional African foods.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Yams and Culinary Customs **

media type="youtube" key="oo_isrMtRMM" width="425" height="350" This is a short clip showing how the people of Africa prepare their yams, in this case the yams are eaten pounded.