Home of the kuku (chicken)!
I was given the pleasure of visiting at the home of one of my teachers from Makoko Language School. Her name is Mwalimu (teacher) Magdalena. She is the only woman teacher employed at the school. I had requested a lesson on how to cook some traditional foods so Mwalimu Magdalena was more than happy to accommodate me. She lives very close to the language school. We walked across the street to Epheta Centre one Saturday morning to purchase a chicken for our meal. One of the Capuchin friars took us into the chicken coop so we could choose a chicken. We chose it, he caught it and Mwalimu Magdalena carried it home. When we arrived at her home, two of her grandchildren took the chicken, removed the head, pulled feathers and prepared a bucket of water for plucking the pin feathers. Mwalimu Magdalena's granddaughter was such a big help and she's only nine years old! She is named after her grandmother, so she is called Magdalena mtoto (child). Interesting, yes? Both Magdalenas and I plucked the pin feathers.
After Mwalimu Magdalena cut the chicken into pieces, Magdalena mtoto took over with the preparations and cooking of the chicken. She was amazing! She prepared the charcoal stove and when the charcoal had reached the right temperature, she put a pot on the stove and began washing the chicken and putting it into the pot.
After the chicken had cooked for about a half an hour, Magdalena mtoto began to add tomatoes to make a nice sauce. When she grabbed the pot to stir, she often didn't even use a pot holder! She is a pretty tough little girl! I've heard that most women end up getting nerve damage in their fingers from holding hot pots. When you don't have the necessary supplies for the job, you do whatever is necessary to get the job done!
While waiting for the chicken to cook, Magdalena mtoto started a fire outside so Mwalimu Magdalena could start cooking the rice. The rocks in the fire pit are positioned just right so the kettle sets at the correct distance from the fire.
After washing the rice, and cleaning all the little rocks and sand out of it, it was time to boil the water for the rice. The rice was added after the water boiled.
Once the rice was cooked, Mwalimu Magdalena removed the hot coals from the fire pit under the pot and placed them on top of the lid of the pot so the rice wouldn't cook any longer, but would remain warm. Ingenious!
After the chicken had cooked for about a half an hour, Magdalena mtoto began to add tomatoes to make a nice sauce. When she grabbed the pot to stir, she often didn't even use a pot holder! She is a pretty tough little girl! I've heard that most women end up getting nerve damage in their fingers from holding hot pots. When you don't have the necessary supplies for the job, you do whatever is necessary to get the job done!While waiting for the chicken to cook, Magdalena mtoto started a fire outside so Mwalimu Magdalena could start cooking the rice. The rocks in the fire pit are positioned just right so the kettle sets at the correct distance from the fire. After washing the rice, and cleaning all the little rocks and sand out of it, it was time to boil the water for the rice. The rice was added after the water boiled.
We cooked ugali (corn meal and water) on the gas stove in the kitchen and green vegetables, as well. The meal was a success! After visiting outside for awhile, Mwalimu Magdalena's daughter, Mariana came for a visit with her children. We took a few family pictures. It was a very nice day!
Mwalimu Magdalena, Magdalena mtoto & William
Magdalena & William w/Mariana & grandchildren
Wow! What a neat experience with lovely people!
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