Sadza! This thick mass of ground maize and boiling water has served as a staple food to Zimbabwe and other countries. I don’t know where else, but ndikoko! The only way to my heart as my mom discovered is through Sadza. Actually the only way into any man’s heart is through this dish and I can bet my life that Sadza can actually stop wars. Let me explain.
During Zimbabwe’s war of liberation the guerillas used to feed on one most important item, Sadza. This was one of the most accessible meals because most of the populace already farmed maize and ate Sadza as their staple food. Now, this Sadza was brought to vakomana (another name for the guerillas) by couriers who were known as Mujibha and Chimbwidos. These ‘couriers’ risked life at limb to bring this meal to the guerillas whilst it was still warm. Exhibit A, Sadza is thicker than blood.
Before any woman is married, whether you are from the North or South of Samora, you must first be able to cook an edible pot of Sadza. If she can manage to do this then she was considered very eligible for marriage and her family will know that she will be able to satisfy a husband’s stomach needs. (Dear future wife, read the next sentence slowly and tattoo it in your mind) If my future wife is not capable of this then I will surely look for a ‘cook’ and that ‘cook’ might also end up exhausting my bedroom energy. I digress. Sadza is any integral part of forming a family in my view. That’s just my opinion, Sadza is thicker than blood.
Have you ever gone to a Zimbabwean funeral? One with that drunk uncle who feel like he is the kitchen manager at Meikles Hotel? You will then know this next fact! After the burial people return to house of the deceased or the house of mourning with the expectation of being greeted first by a dish of water for washing hands at the gate, followed by a plate of hot Sadza. Standard right? However, things go sideways when the Sadza runs out whilst that ‘kitchen manager’ hasn’t had his share. All secrets will be made public, vulgar words will be thrown in the mix and family ties will be threatened to be cut. All because of a plate of food. Sadza is thicker than blood!
Do you need any more convincing? Do you still not get why each and every takeaway in Harare sells Sadza? Why every braai stand at Zindoga and Mereki also has a very large pot of Sadza besides the juicy sausages being braaid ? If you are still in doubt, please take a new unused and sanitized pin. Pierce you skin and when the blood comes flowing out, please feel this thickness. When Sadza time comes, take some time whilst rolling that big chuck of the thick porridge, to really think of your reasons for living. You just went through a stupid exercise because you couldn’t agree to the fact that, Sadza is thicker than blood!
Inini
