Embracing My Nigerian Culture 101

Growing up I was raised in the American culture. My mother’s side of the family was raised in the North but comes from Southern roots. Since birth I have been immersed in Christianity, having big Sunday dinners, and everything else American.

Now my father on the other hand is Nigerian. My dad and I didn’t really have much time together growing up so there is a whole other side of myself that I have no idea about. Now over the years I did get to sample some of the cuisine, hear the language (Yorba), and wear the clothes. But something keeps telling me that there is so much more I have not learned.

I know being Nigerian isn’t something that can be taught but I am willing to learn more about it. So I started my quest with trying to learn by cooking. My mother and I have cooked together for years. I know my way around the kitchen so well because of her. The most common way to immerse yourself completely in any culture is by eating the food. It just opens the door to other discoveries.

So where do people go when they want to learn how to cook something? Youtube!

I remember as a kid when I use to visit my dad, my stepmother, one of the sweetest ladies in the world would make stew, spinach, fu fu, and rice. I love her spinach. It is the best ever. I went on Youtube and found a channel that makes Nigerian food. Youtube: Helping one lost individual at a time! The cook who runs the channel had an authentic recipe for Nigerian Chicken and Beef Stew. I was beyond excited. I was also surprised by how few ingredients I needed to make it.

I could have sworn by the smells from the kitchen as a child it took her all day to make that. Then again your sense of time as a child seemed like forever. Now as adult it seems like the time flies.

Now that I had my recipe I checked my cabinets and fridge to only find that had most of the ingredients. NAILED IT! I only needed two more ingredients to complete the meal.

I asked my husband to take me to the store so I could taste the wonderful food of my heritage. We gathered all the items and drove back home. I took my ipod and went to my Pandora app to put on the sounds of African jazz so I could cook my meal.

As I cooked I could smell some of the memories of my stepmom. I remember her making lots of red rice and then throwing it into a foil lined cooler box. This rice was spicy and full of flavor. I was calling it red rice but after further research it is called Jollof rice. That rice is actually prepared in that same tomato base I made for the stew.

Me and Jay danced to the African Jazz while my tomatoes and onions fried in oil. The frying process was long for me. For a dish so simple and with so few ingredients you need patience because all the smells makes you impatient. In total it took about 40 mins to complete the meal.

Now after cooking this meal I felt more connected to a part of myself that has always been a dark area. This was an enlightening experience and I am glad I got to share it with someone I love. I swear food is the bridge between any gap.

xoxo

Mother Bared