The school holidays have begun. After two busy weeks with graduation as well as writing and marking exams, we have a week off. I will be spending the week on campus along with Zelva, the school secretary, Madam Peace, one of the dorm matrons and Sister Fraisca. Today, Madam Peace taught me how to make matoke. Matoke is the signature dish of Bukoba and it is made from (unsweetened) bananas. Although not my favorite food, I felt that I could not live in Tanzania, and particularly in Bukoba, without learning to make matoke. It became the topic of much discussion among the teachers who remained on campus. Zelva and Sister Fraisca smiled and laughed declaring that once I knew how to peel Bukoba bananas I would be a real "mama". Albogast declared that it was so easy and he couldn't believe I didn't know how to do it.
I discovered it is quite an easy dish to make. Peeling the bananas, which was declared the most difficult part, is done just as you would peel a cucumber. Add some cooked ground beef, onions and tomatoes, water and oil and leave to simmer until the bananas fall apart and look (and taste) a bit like mashed potatoes. Voila! I am now officially a Bukoba mama...
Although the amount that Madam Peace helped me make was supposed to be for my lunch (a very large serving), Zelva, Madam Peace, Sister Fraisca, myself and others set the table on my front porch, opened sodas, cut some watermelon, and ate sambusas (samosa's) and matoke for our lunch. All declared that my matoke was "tamu sana" or delicious.
