Banku & Fufu: Boil, smash, pound, pound, pound…  Enjoy!

Yes, it was understood I was there to give back and share my expertise with the local women of Global Mamas but what stuck the most in my mind?

Watching my Host Family make dinner, specifically the process of making Banku and Fufu. Our uncle, mom, brother and sister would already be hard at work pounding and moistening the root for Fufu or maize & cassava for Banku when I walked back from Women In Progress’s office. The pounding would sometimes go on after the sun went down.

The rhythmic sounds of the pounding and stretching would sooth me as I sat in silence with the family. Saying very little, just enjoying each other’s company. Inside we’d put the final touches to the meal on our plates; dinner was delicious and the process was rewarding.

Sure, I had intentions to share my experiences with them to enrich their lives, but it is they who enriched my life with such intimate and rich memories…

Nothing can replace the experience.

Interested in learning more about volunteering with a Fair Trade Organization? Interested in learning more about Fair Trade?

Visit Global Mamas

or the Fair Trade Federation Website

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