My Swahili teacher, Alice, held class in our kitchen this morning. She showed us how to make ugali (all in Swahili, of course), and the process is fascinating! The ugali puffs up while it is cooking, and you have to use a special stirring stick and strong muscles to make the ugali come out just right. Ugali (oo-gaw-lee) is a little like cornbread without any leavening, and you eat it with your stew. The consistancy of the ugali is like play-dough, and you break off a piece, mold it into a little scoop, and use the ugali almost like a spoon to eat the stew. I have really enjoyed learning Swahili with such a patient and kind instructor! Hard to believe that my Swahili evaluation is next Friday.
2 comments:
Looks like you are going to be having lots of fun with the food in the islands! You are so talented to be able to learn a new language, Joanna! Is it a hard language to learn?
Ugali... That brings back memories! I learned to make ugali from a Kenyan med student during our time at Tenwek! Lenna was 5 months old then, but we still have an Ugali stirring stick in our kitchen! Our apartment at Tenwek didn't come with an "ugali stirring stick" so "Tom" sent me to get one from the kitchen in the student guest house, he sent me 3 times before I got the "right stick:)" Sweet memories! Thanks for sharing, hope you enjoyed eating it! We love ugali.
Blessings,
Gayly for the Conard Crew
Post a Comment