“Hukama igasva… hunodzadziswa nekudya.”
Shona Proverb
This old Shona proverb speaks to how no relationship is complete without food. I often think back to how hospitable a person my mother is. If a guest came to our house – relative, friend or complete stranger – she always made it a point to give them something to eat. And she never took no for an answer, even if all they ended up doing was nibbling on a few Marie biscuits. I think now to how many relationships are formed over dinner; how many friendships are strengthened by spontaneous late-night Taco Bell runs.
There are so many parts of myself and my life that would not be the same if it had not been for food. I remember how when I was 16 years old, I had gotten into a car accident. And I was an absolute wreck. I remember crying at home, feeling so bad for having “ruined” the car (which was barely scratched). And looking back at it, I remember how much better I felt when my mom asked me to help her make my favorite meal of sadza nespinach. I’ve always been someone who doesn’t really value food as much as my peers, or even my family. But the longer I am away from home, the more I miss the spices and flavors that made up our family dinners.
Being in America has been nothing short of extraordinary. But it has also been extremely stressful. There are so many foods I used to find myself enjoying back home in Zimbabwe that have now suddenly become toxic to me, causing anything from gastrointestinal problems to allergic reactions. I cannot express how excited I am to go home and cook a meal with my family – to visit my grandmother in Murehwa (about two hours from my home) and listen to her tell us stories of hers and my mother’s youth as she cooks something for us over an ever-smoky, ever-warm fire.
