May 25 is “Africa Day”, a day to celebrate the anniversary of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). Formerly known as African Freedom Day and African Liberation Day, the holiday also symbolizes Africa's unity, commitment to peace, democracy, and economic development.

"Africa ooh oh Africa oh ma gnon gon yé ban Africa Africa Africa Africa hé."

These were the familiar lyrics to the infamous song entitled “Africa” by the Malian singer-songwriter Salif Keita - the “Golden Voice of Africa.” Though this song, along with TOTO’s “Africa," were the commonly known songs entitled with the name of the continent, Zimbabwe did not ever run out of songs to play at its different celebrations.

I remember, as a young girl looking forward to the 2010 Africa Day celebration to be held at my primary school - Dominican Convent Primary School. This was the year that the World Cup was held in South Africa. Shakira's song, “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa),” was on replay around that time even though the World Cup games hadn’t actually started.

If you haven’t heard any of these songs, have a listen on your Alexa!

On the Monday before the public holiday, the entire school dressed in their respective African attire, and during break time, we danced freely in the quad to that song played by the teachers on the school speakers. Every child swayed, jumped, and screamed at the top of their lungs with their friends because it was simply too lovely of a day to not do so. Besides, the next day meant NO SCHOOL = NO HOMEWORK - the closest to Christmas and every reason to celebrate!

Traditional Zimbabwean peanut butter porridge

So, though this differed from family to family, Africa Day was graced with some of the best meals I miss now that I am in the United States. My day started off with porridge, or as I know it, Bota. This nutritious breakfast was a combination of cornmeal, butter/margarine, some salt and sugar for seasoning, and peanut butter - the crucial ingredient that tied it all together. This porridge was so delicious that my sister and I would fight for who would eat straight from the pot because that meant that person could eat the "Makoko" - the layer that formed as the porridge cooked at the bottom of the pot. For lunch, we had either a braai or our typical lunch, which could include "Mangayi" or "Mutakura." Again, these differed from house to house, but the bases of the meals were a mixture of boiled Chibage (maize), Nzungu (peanuts) for Mangayi, and for Mutakura, Nyimo (round nuts) and peanuts. Lastly, for dinner, it was the classic rice/ peanut butter rice, chicken in a red sauce, and coleslaw salad - YUMMY! As you can see, peanuts are and continue to be an integral part of our diet. However, when you were tired of it, you could turn to the Zimbabwean fruits, which included Masawu, Nzimbe (sugar cane), Tsubvu, Nyii, Mazhanje or the African non-alcoholic beer known as Maheu.

I’d encourage you to try the following traditional Zimbabwean recipes as a way to feel and be closer to the work you support at Kuda Vana; these are things the children of Zimbabwe love to eat!

Mutakura Recipe - Peanut and Beans Dish from Zimbabwe (thespruceeats.com)

Zimbabwe Peanut Butter Rice Recipe - African Food Network (afrifoodnetwork.com)

Cornmeal Porridge with Peanut Butter Recipe (Bota Une Dovi) (thespruceeats.com)

I am proud of my heritage as a Zimbabwean, and look forward to sharing more of my beautiful country’s culture, traditions, and special attributes with you!

Vongai Chokuda, Kuda Vana Communications and Development Intern

Music and Food: A Celebration of Zimbabwe and Africa!