Bakweri Traditional Spices

Although the official dish of the Bakweri is Kwakoko and Mosaka (Palm nut) soup, the Bakweri have a number of other tradtional dishes that they have made their own by cooking or spicing them up with the leaves, seeds and other elements from the lush vegetation of the Mount Fako region. Here is a list of some of those spices: Manjuweli: The leaf of a small plant of the same family as "Mbongo" and "Indoko ja mokpe":(alligator pepper). Used mostly in Mosaka especilly in those days when the mosaka was generally cooked with "ekosel'a ngoa"(young pig) the leaf is haversted and washed, and wrapped around the pieces of meat or fish to be used in the "Mosaka".

Eseke-seke: it is obtained from a tree in the forest(not sure how to describe the tree)fresh, and then dried before consumption. The quantitiy to use is a matter of individual taste. It is used mostly in pepper soup, kwalala, mosaka, and Ngonya wembe.

Jowe(Black Pepper): Also obtained from a forest tree.(little green and red seeds) that turn black after the drying process. Used in pepper soup, kwalala, ngonya wembe and for spicing of roasted meats and fish.

Njangasanga: Also obtained from a very huge forest tree. the tree bears pods that contain the njangasanga seeds. The pods are harvested whe mature, and cracked open to extract the seeds which are than sun-dreid. Does well in warm climates. Most of it comes from Muyuka, and Manyu division, but it is also said that there is one huge tree somewhere in Bonankanda. Used in pepper soup, Kwalala, Ngonya wembe, spicing of meats and fish for roasting.(also in left over mosaka to be eaten with wolanga.) It is also used together with jowe and ngaikai in a dish called "Liphele".(Fish spiced and wrapped in plantain leaves and cooked over hot coals)

Ngai-kai: Also harvested from a forest tree. It almost looks like what we called "cashew" back home. It is cracked open and the seed inside is the Ngaikai, which is either sun dried or smoke-dried before consumption. The following are not used as spices by the Bakweri , they are used by the Bakweri for different ailments.

Masephu: A simple plant found in most peoples yards. the leaves are washed and the juice squeezed out of them using water. It is used for simple stomach aches. Also included in the concoction of other leaves, plants and barks of trees that are steamed and used for "li-tumba"(a person suffering from malaria is sat infront of this steaming pot underneath a cover ) and allowed to sweat off the fever . when the water cools down in it then used as an enema as well. It is also said that having this plant in the compound drives away evil spirits.

Mbongo: Seeds obtained from a plant of the same species as alligator pepper.The bakweri will ground or even chew it, and mix it in "manyanga"(palm kernel oil). it is the applied all over the body of a child with a high fever to prevent convulsions. It is also the main spice in "mbongo-chobi" dish of the Bassa of Cameroon.

Comments

[art]

I like this website so far. It is very insiteful. I feel like i am learning so much.

[Liefeka Kulu]

i am soo proud of you

[Nalendey JOSEPH NGOLLO]

Hello everyone,
I infact was very much excited when i came across this particular website not ,being a Bakweri native i was just overwhelm. There were many things i did came to know though as native of bakweri now living in europe.All i can say at this juncture is that as a Bakwerian i am very proud and lucky to belong to such a hospitable and brelliant society of people.
Hope, faith and love
to all those who belong in to this small community.

[Bwema Lucas]

You made me to remember my days in Bonakanda village when my Grand-mum normally perform her chemistry with the above mentioned spices

[Wana Njie Litumbe Jr.]

Thank you so much. Makes me hungry for some of those traditional delicacies.

[Tom Bibum]

I would love to congratulate the initiators of this wepsite and all who have helped to keep it alive and make it what it is.

I would be very grateful if someone could say something with regards to cultural space and gender. We know that in some parts of Cameroon, women occupy the back part of the house; what is the traditional practice in the bakweri culture? Is there equal space or...

[Titi Enanga Manyanye]

thank you for this article.