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Delicious Insects: Seasonal Delicacies in the Diet of Rural Zambians
| Article
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11165 |
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Section : |
CULTURE
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| Issue
Date : |
10 / 1993 |
1,457 Words |
| Author
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Mwizenge S. Tembo
Mwizenge S. Tembo is associate professor of sociology at
Bridgewater College in Virginia. He wishes to comment that, of
course, one should exercise common sense, maintain good
hygiene, and take necessary medical precautions whenever
eating in a foreign country. Fears of contaminated food
and "dirty" water frequently create worries for the average
Western visitor to Zambia. Indeed, visitors may experience
some food-related discomforts. But be assured that in Zambia
most well-cooked foods, especially nshima, are clean, as is
water from faucets, taps, or concrete wells in rural areas. |
In rural Zambia, the most eagerly anticipated period of the year is the rainy season. After six months of cold, dry weather followed by scorching heat, most rural Zambians have depleted half the crops they harvested six months earlier and stored in the nkhokwe (barn). The first torrential rains of November constitute a strong symbolic renewal of life. People plant crops for the new growing season, vegetation grows lush and green, and myriad insects--including several edible varieties--appear.
Edible insects
Insects are a valuable source of protein for Zambia's rural population because meat, from domesticated or wild animals, is scarce. This scarcity results in nkhuli, a craving or incessant desire for animal protein. Edible insects satisfy this need. People with nkhuli are even known to salivate when in the vicinity of hives or insect-rich sites.
A year-round dietary supplement, insects are generally served roasted or pan-fried, accompanied by nshima (a boiled cornmeal staple). Many taboos, beliefs, and customs surround these delicacies. For example, children are warned to eat only green grasshoppers, as other types may cause heart palpitations, even death; flying ants must be eaten in moderation and with nshima or they will cause severe diarrhea.
There are six major types of edible insect: inswa or mphalata (flying ants), mafulufute (a larger flying insect), shongonono (green grasshoppers), masa (bee larvae), nyenje or chenje (cicadas), and finkubala or matondo (caterpillars). Varieties are seasonal, available either during the rainy season (November to April) or the dry season (May to October). Inedible insects are called vidoyo. As there are more than eighteen major indigenous language groups among Zambia's population of eight million, edible insects are known by many regional names. The names given are those most widely used. The insects are cooked only as described.
Inswa. Flying ants breed and establish large colonies in anthills that dot the savanna. Because of their breeding cycle, the inswa fly in massive numbers for several nights after the first rains. The average flying ant is about an eighth of an inch long and weighs less than half an ounce. It has lots of fat and is high in protein.
To catch inswa, people locate "ripe" anthills and check for white worker ants and magenge (soldier ants) at exit points. Men clear one side of the
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