By Laudia Sawer
Tema, March 20, GNA — Ghanaians for generations relied on the use of mortars and pestles to prepare one of their indigenous, well-loved starchy food, fufu.
The rhythmic sound of pestles striking mortars have echoed through Ghanaian homes, symbolising tradition, togetherness, and the labour-intensive art of preparing fufu.
This, however, changed in some homes, starting from the urban and trickling to some rural dwellers as a quiet revolution took over the method of preparing fufu.
In recent years, with the rise of modern technology, fufu machines gradually replaced the age-old pounding method in homes and chop-bars, transforming how this beloved staple was made.
The use of machine and other methods to prepare fufu, started with mostly the busy dwellers of cities who even though do not have time to go through the labour-intensive process of preparing their fufu, yet still cannot do away with its consumption, to even those who have enough time to prepare it but chose faster and convenient fufu preparation to tradition method.
While some embrace the innovation, convenience and efficiency of a machine, fufu comes with no lumps, making it easy to swallow and enjoy without any sweat; others worry about losing a key piece of Ghanaian culinary heritage.
To still have a traditional touch to the machine fufu, some Ghanaians are now reverting to the use of a mini version of the mortars and pestles to smoothen or “dress” the machine-made fufu, refining its texture to achieve the familiar smoothness of traditional pounded fufu.
This new trend shows that some traditions cannot be done away with easily, no matter the advancement of technology. The best that can be done is to have a fusion of modern convenience and traditional technique, highlighting the deep-rooted connection people have with their culinary heritage.
The use of mini mortars and pestles is not only benefiting fufu lovers but also the youth who are cashing in.
Driving along the TDC Traffic Light – Kingdom Books stretch of road in Tema Community One – shows a number of young men lined up on the road shoulder carrying in their hands mini mortars and demonstrating the process of pounding with a mini pestle to attract buyers.
Mr. Reymond Anim, a 19-years-old building and construction graduate of St. Paul’s Technical School at Kukurantumi in the Eastern Region, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that selling mini mortars was lucrative.
Mr. Anim revealed that when the market is good, he can make as much as GHS3,000 a month from selling mini mortars and pestles.
He explained that Tema has a high market for the products, noting that, “during the Christmas period, they buy it more, so we sell most of our wares from December 25 to New Year. A lot of people love to eat fufu in Tema.”
According to him, most of them discovered that there was a market for mortars and pestles in Tema when they used to follow their mothers to the place to sell earthenware bowls.
Mr. Anim said: “We bring them from Kwahu Mpreaso; we mostly come whenever the wood is available, and the quantity we bring depends on how many of us come to town. The three of us brought 90 pieces, which we will sell within four days.”
He said a mini mortar and pestle could be sold between GHS120 and GHS150 depending on the size, disclosing that some can even be sold at GHS50, quickly adding, however, that such a cheaper one could get damaged within a few weeks.
Mr. Anim added that the mini mortar is not only meant for the smoothening of machine-prepared fufu, but also for people residing in story buildings or staying alone who could use it to traditionally prepare their fufu in small quantities.
He encouraged the youth not to wait for companies to employ them but rather to venture into selling such things to make a living while promoting Ghana’s traditions.
Ms. Ama Mensah, a fufu lover, said even though she switched to the use of machine for preparing her fufu, she always felt something was missing in its texture.
She added that before the introduction of the mini mortars, she used an earthenware bowl to dress her fufu after processing the boiled cassava and plantain with machines.
For her, having the mini mortar gives her satisfaction, as she can prepare her fufu easily while having the traditional touch of indigenous Ghanaian food.
The emergence of mini mortars and pestles in Ghana’s fufu preparation reflects a broader cultural shift, embracing modern convenience and preserving cherished traditions.
As technology continues to reshape culinary practices, the mini mortar serves as a bridge between the past and the present, ensuring that the art of fufu-making remains deeply rooted in Ghanaian heritage.
GNA
LS/BM