deliciousmagazine.co.uk 75originating from the Nigerian
Yoruba tradition. Acarajé is still
culturally significant in Yoruba
culture today: it is cooked and eaten
40 days after the death or burial of
a loved one – a custom we observed
in honour of my dad.
The highlights of my trip centred
around food and my dad’s family.
The Alakijas are a big family who
live in two adjacent apartments. My
Aunty Geonalda lives in one with
her family, and her mother, 95 years
of age and as sharp as a razor, lives
next door. Their lovingly made,
warm-hearted welcome feast
included okra stew; spiced shrimp;
fried plantain; acarajé; black-eyed
beans in palm oil; and chicken
stew. I knew the names of all these
typical Bahian dishes and I was
stunned at how similar they were
to the Nigerian food I was used to.
I also met members of the
Bamgbose family, including my
distant cousin Susana who is the
great, great, great, granddaughter of
Bamboxê Obitiko, once a leading
figure in the Candomblé tradition.
Spending time with distant
relatives was a dream come true.
I know my dad would have loved
every aspect of the trip, particularly
the food. I can’t wait to visit my
distant relatives again and enjoy
a little taste of Nigeria in Brazil.
food memories.
Turn the page for Kemi’s jollof beans recipe →FROM TOP Old Town,
Salvador, Brazil; acarajé
and the Baianas who sell it;
Kemi with Aunty Geonalda
and her aunty’s mum;
typical Afro-Brazilian food
OPPOSITE Kemi with her dadg
g