Page 86 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 8

MY AFRIKA

my bias.

So I have promised myself whenev-
er I make a trip to any country in
Afrika outside of my base, I will take
time out to enjoy and appreciate the
diverse cultures, foods, drinks and
most especially the people.
You should do the same.

Welcome to Afrika, the vast land of
Depending on your host, she may multiple cultures.
stop the roasting once the beans are The host decides if the coffee should
a light brown, or she may continue boil till it’s very black or just lightly
until they are slightly blackened and dark. The longer it boils, the darker
coated with essential oils. The next and stronger it gets.
moments are some of the most icon-
ic to the ceremony.

The host will come to each and ev-
ery guest to soak them in the aromas Serving the coffee itself is an art that
the smoke carries, saturating them in is mastered over time. It involves
it. At the same time, incense is also using a lot of sugar to sweeten the
burned to compliment the coffee's very black and bitter coffee. A typi-
already rich fragrance. If the aroma cal Ethiopian Buna is served with a
is unwelcomed, the host will have to lot of sugar and is accompanied with
start the entire process again. the tenaAdam leaves. The host ar-
ranges a tray of very small, ceramic
Next, the roasted beans are ground cups and artfully pours the coffee
into a fine powder in a thick wood- in a single stream from about a foot
en bowl called a mukecha using above the cups, which is far harder
a zenezena, which is a wooden or to do than it may sound. Obviously,
metallic cylinder with a blunt end. a lot of time and art is expended in
Once ground, the coffee is then bringing out the flavor of one of the
poured into the boiling water in the world's most popular coffee drinks
jebena and allowed to boil. and thank God for Ethiopia's mas-
tery of such amazing art.

Afrika is a continent blessed with all
manner of beautiful cultures, tradi-
tions, art and every form of heritage
passed down for generations. I re-
spect every unique culture outside
of Afrika, but I will always give spe-
cial thoughts to the cultures and arts
of my home called Afrika. Forgive

86 | Heal . restore . rebirth . Afrika