Favourite African (Igbo) Cuisine.

Allow me to Re-introduce myself.

I am Chimnaza, from Eastern part of Nigeria who loves food(#foodie).

Being African is  something I am so proud of  especially being Igbo. You don’t really need to stay very long with me before you realize I am Igbo.

I so love my tribe that I don’t feel awkward speaking my language anytime I can and even get excited when I find another cute Igbo person around me. Like for me, it’s a license to be free and not act different.

Igbo tribe is one beautiful tribe with rich culture and very very very tasty cuisine. I feel they should convert every other tribe to Igbo and maybe “subtribe” them into errrm Igbo1, Igbo2 or something just because we are the best like that (argue with yourself why you aren’t Igbo).

My few favorite Igbo dishes are

• Breadfruit (Ukwa)
• Nkwobi ( I don’t know what it’s called in English, meanwhile giving it an English name might reduce the taste or even the joy that comes with the name)
• African Salad (Abacha and Ugba)
• Bole

And I am happy to say, I had a taste of them during my last visit home, thanks to family and friends.

Breadfruit

Breadfruit is one dish I have loads of stories to tell including the story of how I closed from work tired, instead of going home, changed destination when a friend called saying “Naza, let’s go eat ukwa” in one eatery like that. Funny enough it was raining and that did not deter me from honoring the invitation.

Seriously, who does that? Eeerm me of course but the outing was worth it, it’s one of the coolest places I have been to because of food, will continue to eat Ukwa whenever I am around there and I have girl friend to thank for introducing me to such a place.

Nkwobi

No matter the number of times I have eaten this, I never get satisfied. I always feel cheated with the mortar it’s always served in and someday I might have to ask the waiter to please use plate and not mortar.

I remember one hangout  incident with my cousin, as usual I got woken up from sleep.

Nne, do you want Nkwobi hangout? Yours truly got dressed in a minute and we left… ordered for Nkwobi and when mine got finished I didn’t know for I was still dipping my fingers looking for the meat.

Felt like crying, well sharply turned to eat that of my cousin.

Even my last holiday, same similar story just that this time around I started with Bolee first then Nkwobi and still ended with bolee…. shout out to cousin of life and friend .

Not sure, I might form filled up next time, might even go with takeaway that will last for 2 days, taken as doctors prescription BDS.

Bolé

Bolee o Bolee. Started my search for this food even before it was summer, it was on my “to-eat” list for last summer holiday.

Finally got to eat to my satisfaction after trekking long distance from work place to a joint they said, it’s always sold (it wasn’t ready ) when my cousin took me out. 

Oh, that hangout was heavenly and was honestly needed.  I literally forgot about microbes, possible diseases and all my hygiene class till after some hours when I had diarrhoea.

African Salad (Ugba)

Ugba especially, is one side dish prepared for every Occasion in my village.  It’s never counted as food, it’s sometimes considered an appetizer.

Maybe because it’s common there and quite affordable. I learnt the tree used to be found in every compound back in the days.

Ugba can be prepared solely with lots of blockages + egg plant or alongside Abacha which are tiny sliced cassava flakes. 

These combo is lit, it goes down well with palm wine or red wine if you are team bougie. 

I had a lot of it with wine just because I couldn’t access palm wine although I think I am team bougie.

African cuisine made my 2018 summer and I have no regrets. I don’t mind having it again and again.

If you still haven’t found an Igbo friend,  intensify your search for it comes with lots of food benefits.

Nigeria my country!

Igbo my tribe!!

Our Igbo dishes, the best!!!

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