Mr. Ubon was resting on his couch as he watched CNN news on television. The phone rang and he peered into it. It was a strange number, and he could not fathom who the call was from. He picked up the TV remote control and turned down the volume before answering the call. No one said anything on the other line, and he decided not to say anything too, for fear of the unknown. He was about to end the call, when a female voice came through finally, after long seconds of annoying silence. “Hello. Please am I speaking with…
This soup is in another class of soup recipes cutting across geographical boundaries and ethnic barriers. It could be cooked by any person or group of people depending on their culinary relish. Atama tree is usually grown in the tropical area and wet soil. Its scented leaves are plucked from it and used in preparing this world-class soup. Even the undiluted scent is appetising. It is rich in vitamins and minerals, which help to fight diseases and boost the immune system of the body. According to herbal product manufacturers, atama is a natural elixir to some undisclosed ailments. To prepare…
Atama tree is commonly found in compounds, bush and forest. Its leaves have strong scent, making some people to wash it or to allow such to remain. The tree is grown mostly in the tropical regions and rain belt areas. The Southern part of country is more homely to the tree. Abak atama is a special soup prepared with an admixture of atama leaves and pounded oil palm fruits. Rich in vitamin C, atama leaf contains calcium, protein and vital amino acids. To cook the soup, you have to gather the ingredients. These are atama leaves, oil palm fruits, meat,…
EPISODE TEN While we were still in the storage room planning our next move, the door of the storage room creaked and opened. We were all alarmed. An elderly woman came inside. She did not notice us as she closed the door. She was holding a mop and a pail, and I guessed that she was one of the hotel’s cleaners. When she turned around and saw us, her eyes grew wide in shock as she held her mouth to avoid screaming. We begged her to keep her voice low that we were not thieves nor kidnappers, that we were…
Afang Etike is another soup recipe simply prepared using afang and okro which is known as etike in Akwa Ibom dialect. The soup is highly nutritious, rich in protein, calcium and iodine. The ingredients are afang, Okro, periwinkles, meat (any choice), stock fish or its head, pepper, onions, crayfish, salt and seasoning. To prepare the soup, you have to thoroughly wash the meat, stock fish, dried fish and season them with salt, onion and pepper. Cook until it becomes tender. Pick, wash, cut and grind or pound the afang. Wash and cut the okro into tiny bits. You can pound…
EPISODE EIGHT “May people do to your sisters and your unborn female children what you are planning to do to us,” Thelma cursed, spitting toward the door. “We are finished o. God please help us,” Magdalene, our other colleague lamented with her hands on her head. “Why did I accept this job offer in the first place? Shebi, my friend warned me about this job, but I failed to listen to her. Now see where I am now.” Mary cried out, sitting at one corner of the room. “Now, that witch has locked us up here, and there is no…
EPISODE SIX The next day, while we were still in our hotel room, awaiting further instructions from Lady T, we were paid a surprise visit by Miss Bella. We were all excited to see a familiar face and we felt comfortable. But, she looked different this time, instead of her usual smile; she wore a business kind of look. “You have visitors, ladies.” Bella announced to us. We all looked at each other, wondering who knew us in Abuja, to want to come and visit us, when we should be going back to Lagos instead. Bella went out of the…
Afang is traditionally grown in the tropical area. It is a rich recipe commonly eaten by many families and in restaurants. Afang abak is another form of soup making. Unlike ukwoho afang that waterleaf is a major soup recipe; afang abak is garnished with palm fruits. Afang abak has rich nutritional value and serves as a good source of protein, carbohydrates and iron. The basic ingredients of the soup include afang, palm fruits, cow or goat meat, dried fish, stock fish or its head and tanned cow skin (kpomo). Others are dried fish, crayfish, periwinkle, pepper and salt. To prepare…
EPISODE FIVE The next day was really busy for us. It started with us taking our baths, eating breakfasts and making ourselves up to look good. By the time we were done, there was a taxi cab waiting at the entrance of the hotel to pick all of us. Seven of us all had to squeeze into the cab and lap ourselves, which was very embarrassing. The cab took us to Aso Rock estate, where the Presidential banquet was going to hold at the villa. After much scrutiny and checkpoints, the cab was finally allowed to enter the estate. It…
EPISODE THREE The event was held on Friday of the following week. So, on Tuesday, by 4:20 a.m. exactly, we left Ojulegba, Lagos on a luxury bus for Abuja. By 11p.m. the night of that same day, we were in Abuja. Our escort took the seven of us to a not-too- big, but comfortable hotel at Wuse to lodge for the few days we were to remain in the Federal capital. A large room was given to us (the ladies), and a smaller room for the two guys. Too tired from the long-distant journey, we all lay on our beds…
