Food is an art that conveys a range of cultural meanings. There are certain traditional undertones that resonate in cultural food preparation and consumption. How people eat is tied to their identity. When we borrow and eat the food of another ethnic group, we are essentially identifying with them and their culture.
Nigeria is a country with a rich cultural heritage. With over 300 ethnic groups, Nigeria has quite an interesting collection of cultural foods each of which reflect the culture of the people. Swallow is one of such food. Swallow is a general term for all the different byproducts of staple foods like yam, cassava, plantain, rice, that are cooked then mashed or pounded into a mold or thick paste to accompany the variety of soups enjoyed by Nigerians. Most ethnic groups in Nigeria have swallow that is peculiar to them. This food is traditionally eaten by cutting a small morsel with your hand, dipping it into the soup and putting it in your mouth. In fact, the name “swallow” is derived from the fact that little or no mastication is done before this food is swallowed.
Eating swallow with cutlery is one of the trends that came with civilization. I learnt how to do this in boarding school. However, since graduation, I rarely eat swallow the ajebo way. I enjoy using my hands. It’s the Nigerian way. Besides, I no dey belleful when I chop am with cutleries. Most times, when I eat swallow in restaurants, I catch people throwing funny glances at me. Why? Because I usually ignore the cutleries. I either use the sink or I ask the waiter for a bowl of water to wash my hands after which I enjoy my food the native way. Why shouldn’t I? The food is mine. Whether I paid for it or someone else did doesn’t change the fact that it is mine; I decide how best to eat it.
Now, I’m not trying to crucify those who eat swallow with cutleries oh! I know some people who habitually eat it with cutleries. They enjoy that style and that’s all that matters. Me sef dey use cutleries for my swallow when I have false nails on. Those nails can trap bacteria sha. To avoid food poisoning, I consider it best to eat with cutleries for as long as my nails last.
I also have a couple of friends who use hand for their swallow at home but use cutleries in restaurants. It’s their choice. However, our choices as individuals should not in any way negate the authenticity of the traditional mode of eating prescribed for certain foods. Besides, it is hypocritical, especially for those who use hand at home, to be disdainful of people who eat swallow the native way in public places.
Finally, if we can eat Chinese meals with their chopsticks, I don’t see why we can’t proudly eat our swallow with our hands or what do you think?
References
Anne Murcott, “The Cultural Significance of Food,” Proceedings from the Nutrition Society, 41, 1982.
Wonderopolis
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