AMALA SINCE 1052

 

I was thinking this morning..... I was in Abuja this past week and was taken for lunch by colleagues to a joint at Central Buisiness District (CBD) called 'Àmàlà Central.' I didn’t know what to expect and just hoped it satisfies my dainty appetite.

As we stepped into this makeshift facility, I was surprised to meet a queue of corporately dressed men and women waiting patiently to place their order at the counter. I joined the queue along with my colleagues even as I did a quick scan of what everyone seated was eating.

My attention was drawn to a framed message by the counter titled 'Brief History of Àmàlà.' It says that Àmàlà was first prepared by Aduke Agbedegbeyo of Abule Onipaki of Osun state in the year 1052 in the days when Sango was Alaafin of Oyo. It concluded by saying it was the same year Sango spat fire for the first time. As I looked around again at the men with tie digging into their bowl of Àmàlà, I wondered why the history of Àmàlà was so much tied to Sango.

If you were a first time inductee to Àmàlà  and stumbled on that little history, would you be swayed not to eat it? I don't think so. I do not judge Àmàlà because of it's origin or history, rather I eat it because it is healthier than most 'swallow food'.

While some will say they don't eat Àmàlà because the colour is not appealing, I will say, don't judge a food because of it's colour. Taste it before you judge. Someone once said if you hate Àmàlà because of the colour, then you are a white supremacist.

As I stepped out of Àmàlà Central, I wondered, if we don't judge Àmàlà by its origin and colour, why do we judge fellow Nigerians by their history, state of origin and religion? Why do we give oxygen to tribal and religious bigots in Nigeria?

To a connoisseur of the Àmàlà dish, Àmàlà has been saving lives since 1052. That you don't like how it was made or how it looks is not enough to demonise or denigrate Àmàlà. There are many people who grew up under very difficult circumstances and don't look or speak like you expect, please do not judge them, rather love them like an Ibadan man loves Àmàlà. Mark 12:31 says 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'

Stay hopeful. God's got our back.

Happy Easter!

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey