Keep Calm and Cook On

“Do you have maize where you come from, Mutinta?”

As I am asked what I eat in America, I come to realize that it is a foreign concept to have a myriad of food options at every meal. In Zambia, the staple food is nsima. Nsima consists of ground up maize (corn) into a substance called ‘mealy meal.’ Nsima is made by boiling a pot of water and slowly adding mealy meal until it becomes a thick porridge type substance. In the village the pot is often gigantic in order to feed many family members. On my family’s compound there are often over 16 people at one time eating the same meal. The few times I have tried to ‘stir’ the substance I have found it to even be a bit of an arm workout ;) After the nsima is cooked, it is then scooped into medium sized oval shapes and covered with a plate while the relish; also known as ‘side’ of the meal is cooked. A very common relish cooked in the village is called, “chisu chabuntele.” Chisu chabontele consists of pounded groundnuts mixed with a vegetable such as pumpkin leaves, rape (leafy greens), cabbage or any other vegetable accessible. For most families in the village, meat is a rarity and eaten only on special occasion. Meat is expensive and families tend to save their cattle for work. Some families have chickens but these are small in number. From observation is seems as though people intend to conserve some of their food stock resources in case of intense desperation and hunger season. 

Step 1: Prepare fire using firewood or charcoal 

Step 2: Gather mealy-meal (pounded maize) to mix with boiling water

Step 3: Mix mealy-meal with boiling water

Step 4: Form small ball of nsima in right hand

Step 5: Use nsima to scoop the relish

Step 6: Bring to mouth and ENJOY!

Most rural Zambians are subsistence, small scale farmers with their main crop being maize. The next most prevalent food source grown is groundnuts, beans, and vegetables such as cabbage, pumpkin leaves and a leafy green called rape. Hot season occurs August-October where preparing and planning for farming take place. When the second heavy rain falls Zambians begin to plant their maize and various crops and continue working in the field until April. If there is hunger in the village setting this typically occurs during the rainy season because a family was perhaps unable to store enough maize, vegetables, and sources of proteins for the entire season. This can be common when the rain happens later than expected. The final season takes place from April-July during the cold season when the harvest is ready.

The Pecking Order

When eating takes place, men, women and children are separated accordingly. Within my family it is usual that my Ba taata; or host father, has his own table and is served first. The next people to eat are the boys of all ages in the family. They typically use stools to sit while eating. The last to eat are the women and girls. The women and girls sit on the ground in a circle with the large bowls of nsima and relish in the middle. When eating, people will simply share the pots and bowls, dipping their hands in the nsima bowl, forming a small ball in their hand and then using this ball to scoop the relish from the other bowl.

I have been in many situations where the men have been served something viewed as special and the women must wait many minutes and are often given a different food. For example, this past week I visited my host family’s extended family and was bombarded by this food pecking order. After socializing for many minutes, the men were served nsima and chicken. Because I am a foreigner and white (yes, I think the color of my skin matters here and there is no denying this fact) I am typically served with the men. It is a strange feeling to be served while I watch my host mothers simply watch knowing very well that on our walk to this place one mother was mentioning how hungry she was. At times it makes me feel guilty. After about 40 minutes we were then brought a large bowl of a commonly eaten main dish called, ‘msoya.’ Msoya is cooked maize kernels that is rather chewy. At this point the women and the men can eat this together in the same area; the women sharing one bowl using their individual spoons and the men having their own individual bowl and spoon.

Host father eating with individual 'table'

Girls and women circled around nsima and relish ready to eat

If you're looking for a Zambian afternoon snack: Try nswa-insects packed with protein that tastes like popcorn when baked ;) 

Cultural Fun Fact

In Zambian culture it is considered rude to refuse food. The proper response is to try at least a bit of whatever is being offered.