My love of fermented food is always a talking point on this blog:I’ve always shared my top tips for introducing Sauekraut (one of my fermented faves) but today the focus is on another fermented dish: West African Banku. Did you know that each country has their own fermented dish in their traditional diet? (Which for me demonstrates just how crucial fermenting is to our health)
Fermented Banku
Ingredients
Instructions
As part of Oxfam’s Story of Hope. Oxfam are sharing lots of heartwarming stories of hope this winter; and I wanted to get involved by sharing a food story with a bit of a difference. While I will definitely be giving Banku a try, I was also really touched to hear about how this fermented food literally changed the life of a refugee that Oxfam has worked with…
Spotlight on Yahya
In 2013, 16 year old Yahya was rescued from a boat off the coast of Italy. He had left his family behind in Gambia, and arrived scared, alone, and fearful for his future. Yet, now Yahya’s story is full of promise and hope. He works at a successful Sicilian restaurant and has bought this dish from his culture with him- adding an Italian twist along the way.
Growing up in rural Gambia, Yahya spent most of his time looking after cattle. When his mother passed away, his father became violent. Looking for a better future, Yahya decided to leave. His journey took years and led him through many countries. Yahya made the treacherous journey across the Mediterranean sea to Italy in an inflatable boat. Rescued by the Italian coastguard, Yahya’s luck was about to change. He was introduced to human rights activist Barbara Sidoti. With the help of funding from Oxfam and its partners, Sidoti set up Restaurant 11ELEVEN – the first Afro-Sicilian restaurant in Europe: fusing the food of his culture and the food of his new home. The restaurant provides employment opportunities for migrants and disadvantaged young people, just like Yahya. Since working at Restaurant 11Eleven, Yahya has learned new skills that have helped him to contribute to his community and build a new life. If that doesn’t show the power of food then I’m not sure what will!
How Can I Get Involved?
As it’s the time of year for giving, Oxfam is hoping that these stories of hope will encourage more people to get involved in supporting refugees. For example, just a small amount of £2.50 can provide 25 water treatment sachets to a family in an emergency. This is enough to make around 500 litres of water safe; enough to last a family of four for a month. It seems mad that we’re always going on about the benefits of drinking more fluids but for some, this is something that is a luxury. If you wish to make a donation of any size please head to the Oxfam site and Make a donation
I hope sharing this recipe and story of hope has inspired you in some way. Behind every dish there is often a story and in this case Banku is more than just about benefits to gut health, but about changing someone’s life.
*This is a collaborative post with Oxfam*
