Sierra Leone Eating Rituals

The book Wild Flower gives the reader a detailed description of Sierra Leone, and culture in Africa. They have different rituals and customs when it comes to food and eating than we do in the United States.

"The house-girl brought a fork for me before I could extend my hand to wash in the colorful water basin at the center of the table, which would have indicated that I too was going to join the African men in using my hand to eat. My father's eyes traced the ambassador's plate, then mine, showing me how once more I had failed him, acting like 'the white man.' I tried very hard to swallow" (Smart 47).

"It was neither the smell of the food, nor its slimy appearance, but the speed with which those people ate using their hands and licking their fingers that must disgusted me. I went hungry that day, unable to join the rest of the children in their eating ritual" (Smart 61-62).

In many countries, including parts of Africa and India, it is expected to eat with your hands. Nina Smart was (in a way) ignoring the African culture by using a fork, which caused her father to be disappointed in her. 

Rituals

Ebola victim being carried to burial site

In Sierra Leone it is a spiritual procedure of burying the body. This process includes hand washing the body, and mourners laying their hands on the body (Bringing Safer). This process though was causing an increase in Ebola rates in West Africa, causing the government to come in the change the way the deceased were being buried (A Safe Burial). Another ritual performed by those in Sierra Leone is FGM (female genital mutilation). “FGM involves the partial or total removal of the external genitalia and is seen by many families as a gateway to marriage and a way of preserving a girl's purity, with uncut girls ostracized in many communities” (Sierra Leone’s On Track). This practice is performed around West Africa, but has recently been declining in amount of procedures. There are many rituals performed in Sierra Leone and the surrounding countries, but the two mentioned above have been in the popular eye in recent times.

Food

A Cassava Plant

Groundnut Stew

 A Sierra Leonean Market

A Sierra Leonean Rice Field

     
          Sierra Leone is the home of many original dishes, such as cassava bread, groundnut stew (recipe included below), fufu, benny cake, okra stew, yebe, etc. Rice is the most eaten food in Sierra Leone. They typically eat it at least twice a day, and it’s popularity is demonstrated by their common saying: “If I haven’t had my rice, I haven’t eaten today!” Rice is most often prepared in stews and soups. Sierra Leoneans grow many products, including coffee, rice, cocoa, coconut palms, and citrus fruits.

Below is a common Sierra Leonean recipe.

•      Groundnut Stew

•      Koso Weller
Reprinted from the Wisconsin State Journal

•     
1 pound stewing meat
2 large tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup groundnut paste (peanut butter)
1/2 tsp. "Mrs. Dash" seasoning
1 large onion, chopped or sliced
1 large pepper, finely chopped
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper, optional
salt to taste

•      Season meat with Mrs. Dash. Let it absorb for three hours. Brown meat in oil. Add some water and simmer until tender. Remove and set aside. In the same oil, sauté pepper and onions. Add tomatoes and stir briskly. Mix groundnut paste with 1/2 cup water to form a thin paste and add to stew. Stir, add meat, salt to taste and let simmer 15 minutes over low heat. Serve with rice, boiled yam, cassava and green vegetable.

http://www.worldtravelguide.net/sierra-leone/food-and-drink

http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/articles/cuisine-and-etiquette-sierra-leone/

http://www.sierra-leone.org/recipes.html

http://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/Sierra_Leonean_Cuisine

      

Sierra Leone(SLACOV) Food and Music

Welcome!

Welcome to our page where we will tell you all about the the different cultural traditions in Sierra Leone. Particularly, we are going to focus out attention on common rituals, food and the speech the locals have. From their favorite local dishes to their not so likable practices, we are going to cover it all.