The East African Culture and Food
Food in Eastern African Communities is attached to different beliefs and Norms in the different Cultures.
The cultural role of food in Eastern African Communities
Historically, in different cultures in East Africa, food was attached to different beliefs or norms and people used to relate it to their daily life and important events, as well as celebrating ancestral traditions through food. For this reason, over generations, food has gained a significant value within diverse communities in Africa, and we can find it as an expression of their culture and traditions. For example, food types cooked on distinct celebrations such as weddings have different meanings and purposes in each African culture. Thus, we can find a greater variety of dishes and foods from celebrating newly born babies than those cooked on burials.
As we can find food to express different feelings at specific moments within African cultures, people were not supposed to cook and eat meat on a burial day, but instead only prepare and consume porridge, rice, beans and cassava because it was believed that burials were moments of mourning. In addition, the purpose of food was not only meant to feed, celebrate, and consume but also it has been used as a form of medicine to improve health. Moreover, the importance of a balanced diet relies on its contribution to achieving a physical and mental health state through food.
Therefore, on a cultural level, the concept of nutrition is quite meaningful. For instance, in Buganda, a culture in Uganda, several dishes were prepared, and every meal was supposed to be accompanied by vegetables cooked traditionally. On the other hand, food got a nutritious value in the cultures, hence, children were given specific foods to help them to grow strong, wise and healthy, whilst older people were also given specific foods to strengthen their immune system and enable their sight to stay clear. Thus, pregnant women were also assigned to eat certain foods to help the growing foetus and easy delivery.
Nowadays, these cultural traditions are reminded and practiced just by a few groups of people. As a matter of fact, as humans are subjects of change and evolution, the role of food in the cultures is to continue changing as well. Nevertheless, it is necessary to maintain these traditions, specifically within young people, as they are a great part of the cultural value of a society, and it brings significant knowledge and a sense of belonging to a culture.
Culture creates a sense of belonging in the different communities and through it a strong bond is created amongst people, embracing it is acknowledging who we are. Food and culture are the greatest things that bring us all together for a strong and better community.