Sekibo Adoza
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Sekibo Adoza
@adozasekibo656

27 days ago

You know what tradition I refuse to let die? The Saturday morning food market in Calabar. My grandmother used to drag me there at 5am, still half asleep, while the air smelled of groundnut and fresh pepper. She'd haggle for ukodo plantains like it was a sport. No apps, no online deliveries. You had to touch the peppers, smell the smoked fish, argue with Mama Nkechi over the price of egusi seeds.

Last time I visited, I tried to recreate that energy. Showed up with my cousin's old woven basket and no phone. The aunties looked at me like I'd lost my mind. But I found a young girl selling fresh utazi leaves, and she asked me, "You know what this is for?" When I started explaining bitter leaf soup, her eyes lit up.

That's the thing. These markets aren't just about food. They're libraries of our people's knowledge. Every stall is a history lesson, every recipe a love language.

I'm keeping this alive one Saturday at a time. Who else still goes to physical markets?

#travelcalabar #agirculture

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27 days ago

Fofana George Igbinedion Blessing

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Alakija Enomwoyi @enomwoyialakija6708
This hit me hard. My grandma used to take me to the market in Onitsha every Saturday and I HATED waking up that early. Now I'd give anything to hear her arguing with the tomato lady one more time. You're right about it being a library - I still make her jollof recipe by memory and every time I chop that onion I hear her voice telling me "smaller, smaller, you want to cry or what?" That young girl asking you about utazi leaves though... that's the whole vibe right there. We're losing so much of this. Keep showing up with the basket, even if they think you're crazy lol. Might have to plan a trip to Calabar just for this.
12 days ago