Mozambique: Food and Culture

Is it the food or the love that makes a meal taste the best and heals a person who is sick? When someone is cooking a meal maybe it’s both. If they love the person there cooking for then it’s just not the ingredients that are tangible and recognizable that gives it taste, It’s what’s not seen that really comes through.

The time it took to prepare, the effort in getting the recipe right, the pains staking plans to take the meal to the person. And if the person is sick it’s important. Here in Mozambique meals prepared by women are very important and a cultural pleasure to eat. There is an amount of serving that takes place when anyone prepares a meal.

But a Mozambique woman really takes extreme pleasure and love and in doing something for someone who is ill. I think that’s the case in most cultures, maybe that tradition in the African-American culture comes from Africa and I am seeing the origin. And I am sure other women in other cultures take pleasure in preparing meals. And yes, there are great male chefs and cooks, etc. But I am talking about Mozambique and what I’ve seen.

My friend Anthony was sick and had a meal prepared for him by my other friend Kim, who is Mozambiquen. Of course the meal was amazing consisting of pasta and chicken, but with a Mozambique spice that makes the sauce amazingly good. She also prepared papaya, bananas, apples, bread, soup, and other assortments of foods to complement the main dish. And she made enough to last over the three days of his illness recovery.

Now Anthony in a joking manner had mentioned at the end of his illness that Kim was trying to make him fat while he was sick. Kim was completely offended due to the fact she had put more than the ingredients in while preparing the meal. See Anthony had malaria, a very serious disease here in Mozambique if not treated fast. Of course Anthony came through with flying colors and was really helped by the amount of love and care that was put into the meal, how it was brought to him, laid out and prepared for him to eat and take part in. His one comment really sent Kim into depression and quite frankly made her a little angry. Not that we look for rewards and praise from people, but Mozambique people are a very happy people who love to do things for others. It could be the last meal they could cook for a week, but they will make it for you and present it in the most beautiful fashion to you, a guest, or someone who is sick.

What’s important is the love that goes into it. So Anthony apologized to Kim for offending her. She eventually accepted his apology and forgave him but warned him about cultures and how he needs to understand that it may not be important to him but Mozambique’s take it very seriously when it comes to taking care of someone who is sick. I witnessed this and quite frankly I was shocked that she was really upset. But after she explained her culture, the care and love it took, the time she spent preparing everything so it would last and stay fresh over a three day period…then I understood where she was coming from. I wasn't even the one who made the joke but I felt bad as one of the Americans who enjoyed the food and laughed at his getting fat joke.

We need more cultural understanding of a lot of different nationalities since so many exist in the United States. And then when we travel we sometimes don’t put our best foot forward, we just are unaware. But how long would it take to really get to know a culture and adapt to it. Or even better, learn to observe first, act second, and choose our words carefully with grace and kindness and not American humor, which trust me can easily be misinterpreted.

And let’s face it, Sometimes as Americans we think were the most important country on the planet. There are other cultures and traditions that we can learn from to put our own TLC (tender loving care) into the things we do to become a true servant. Yet another lesson learned in Africa, many more to come. However, Anthony and my time is almost up as I prepare to journey back to the states. Pray the Lord will help us both to adjust to returning to our own gumbo of a culture. This one is so much fun and we both have learned so much.

"Eat well, Love Always, and be Appreciative of your Blessings"
-Marvin 07' AFRICA