Aisha!!! Thank you for your support, it is so appreciated. I actually met Hawa through a friend earlier this year. But what an excellent idea to get her on... I shall certainly try. Thanks again.
Hiya Kimmmmmmm! As always love your pieces! So rich and delicious to read about Yemisi and her memoir ( what a beautiful title!!). If you are ever able to, I would suggest interviewing Hawa Hassan (I know I am biased here lol) who is a Somali chef and author just published her second book called ‘Setting a place for us’ focusing on the foods that passed down generations of communities that are surrounded by conflicts from DRC to Liberia to El Salvador and Lebanon. I also believe she is based in New York in case you fancy looking up her work.
I'm glad I stumbled upon this post, it was so enlightening and I have a soft spot for Nigerian cuisine (I suppose you could say). I lived in Bayelsa State for nearly a year (over 20 years ago) and really enjoyed the cuisine. I honestly don't recall eating afang soup, but I think it's similar to egusi soup, which is super popular in the Niger Delta. There was a local soup called kakavia, it was spicy with fish, that's about all I can tell you about it, but it was hard to get even in Bayelsa. Otherwise, I had bitterleaf soup, okro soup, ogbono, and efo-riro.
I went to a Nigerian restaurant in Peckham shortly after I got back from Nigeria but it just wasn't the same (still good, though).
It's a pity Nigerian food is less well known in much of the world. It's highly underrated.
Hi Daniel, you should definitely get Yemisi’s book, especially given your history and interest in the cuisine, you would enjoy her. She is an exquisite writer. Thanks for sharing!
I would love a copy of Yemisi's book! In spite of everyone assuming I'd want beans on toast at every meal during the months I lived in Nigeria because I'm oyinbo, I ate as much actual Nigerian food as I could, learned to make akara, could not get enough fufu and pepper soup! But I haven't been back to Nigeria since having kids, and I now live in a very provincial part of the north of England, so reading her book would be such a welcome way to reconnect and remember.
Hi Kim, well done on this new endeavor! Just letting you know I’ve been around since BBC’s The Comb.
Now, I’ve always loved great writing and good food, but seeing food considered as a subject of writing—especially in such a sensual and humorous manner—is completely new to me.
So, I’d love to be gifted Yemisi’s Longthroat Memoirs—for the love of food, great writing, and new experiences.
A Mfengu woman in diaspora, i am fascinated by African food. I also infulge in creative writing.....not that different from exploring culture through cuisine: one us about understanding our ways through food for the body, which gives vitality to the soul. The other is food for the soul that, like laughter, hives heslth to our bones. The psyche-soma interplay is as much in cuisine as in creative wtiting. Why am i interesyed also in Nigerian food? We, as Africans, have much in common.ABantu were in West Africa in ages past. Coutries are a social construct imposed on us: was it Africans who drew the geographical lines. We exist in the context of all of Africa: " umntu ngumntu ngabantu "
I read Yemisi's book when it was first published and really loved it and recently picked it up as I've been thinking about writing about my experiences with cooking and studying cooking and eating practices in Burkina Faso, another part of West Africa, in many ways different and similiar to Nigeria. I really enjoyed reading this, and loved finding your Substack.
Aisha!!! Thank you for your support, it is so appreciated. I actually met Hawa through a friend earlier this year. But what an excellent idea to get her on... I shall certainly try. Thanks again.
Hiya Kimmmmmmm! As always love your pieces! So rich and delicious to read about Yemisi and her memoir ( what a beautiful title!!). If you are ever able to, I would suggest interviewing Hawa Hassan (I know I am biased here lol) who is a Somali chef and author just published her second book called ‘Setting a place for us’ focusing on the foods that passed down generations of communities that are surrounded by conflicts from DRC to Liberia to El Salvador and Lebanon. I also believe she is based in New York in case you fancy looking up her work.
I'm glad I stumbled upon this post, it was so enlightening and I have a soft spot for Nigerian cuisine (I suppose you could say). I lived in Bayelsa State for nearly a year (over 20 years ago) and really enjoyed the cuisine. I honestly don't recall eating afang soup, but I think it's similar to egusi soup, which is super popular in the Niger Delta. There was a local soup called kakavia, it was spicy with fish, that's about all I can tell you about it, but it was hard to get even in Bayelsa. Otherwise, I had bitterleaf soup, okro soup, ogbono, and efo-riro.
I went to a Nigerian restaurant in Peckham shortly after I got back from Nigeria but it just wasn't the same (still good, though).
It's a pity Nigerian food is less well known in much of the world. It's highly underrated.
Hi Daniel, you should definitely get Yemisi’s book, especially given your history and interest in the cuisine, you would enjoy her. She is an exquisite writer. Thanks for sharing!
I would love a copy of Yemisi's book! In spite of everyone assuming I'd want beans on toast at every meal during the months I lived in Nigeria because I'm oyinbo, I ate as much actual Nigerian food as I could, learned to make akara, could not get enough fufu and pepper soup! But I haven't been back to Nigeria since having kids, and I now live in a very provincial part of the north of England, so reading her book would be such a welcome way to reconnect and remember.
Hi Laura,
Thanks for sharing! Unfortunately I selected the winners last week but there will be more book giveaways coming up!😊
Your work is true lily a master piece and educative
Hi Kim, well done on this new endeavor! Just letting you know I’ve been around since BBC’s The Comb.
Now, I’ve always loved great writing and good food, but seeing food considered as a subject of writing—especially in such a sensual and humorous manner—is completely new to me.
So, I’d love to be gifted Yemisi’s Longthroat Memoirs—for the love of food, great writing, and new experiences.
Thank you so much Dapo!
This was beautiful to read. Coincidentally, I am publishing a fiction book about power and colonialism featuring food characters next month 🙈
I am checking out Yemisi's article right away. The book? I love reading books with joy and food. So yes, I want to win it.
Congratulations on your book Abasiama! Thanks for sharing.
Please forgive typos
NoLoyiso
A Mfengu woman in diaspora, i am fascinated by African food. I also infulge in creative writing.....not that different from exploring culture through cuisine: one us about understanding our ways through food for the body, which gives vitality to the soul. The other is food for the soul that, like laughter, hives heslth to our bones. The psyche-soma interplay is as much in cuisine as in creative wtiting. Why am i interesyed also in Nigerian food? We, as Africans, have much in common.ABantu were in West Africa in ages past. Coutries are a social construct imposed on us: was it Africans who drew the geographical lines. We exist in the context of all of Africa: " umntu ngumntu ngabantu "
My name? NoLoyiso Jolobe (nee Mankazana)
Please may i have a copy of the book?
Thank you very much Noloyiso!
She yemiso and I are of the same tribe yoruba from Nigeria,I can see our okro soup,kudos to her.
Thanks for sharing Sunday😊
I read Yemisi's book when it was first published and really loved it and recently picked it up as I've been thinking about writing about my experiences with cooking and studying cooking and eating practices in Burkina Faso, another part of West Africa, in many ways different and similiar to Nigeria. I really enjoyed reading this, and loved finding your Substack.
Brilliant.