The Importance of Making Soup

Two young girls who are cousins

Tandi’s mother

Samira’s mother

It could be your mother or grandmother. Your sister or aunt. Every day our families depend on the wisdom of the women in our lives in order to meet our basic needs. We depend on these women not just for daily survival, but also to maintain our way of life. Yet so much of what women do and teach in our communities is taken for granted.

The following drama is called ‘Women’s Wisdom’. From it we learn that the traditional teachings of our mothers and grandmothers are truly valuable – even when they are about something as simple as making a pot of soup.

SOUND EFFECTS(hands clapping in rhythmn):

…great-grandmother’s recipes.

The opening scene is the yard just outside Ella’s home. Two girls are playing a rhyming game (use a childhood rhyme or chant that will be familiar to your listeners)

Hands clapping in rhythm.

(in unison) Pat-a-cake. Pat-a-cake. Baker’s man. Bake me a cake as fast as you can. Roll it and pat it and mark it with a ‘T’ and put it in the oven for…

(calling out)Tandi? Samira? Time to come in now.

(ignoring Tandi’s mother, the girls start the rhyme again) Pat-a-cake. Pat-a-cake. Baker’s man…

Tandi! Samira! Did you hear me? It’s time to get to work.

Oh Mum. Can’t we just stay out a little longer?

No, young lady. I need you in the kitchen. Now! Don’t make me have to come out after you. If you really want to learn how to make cake you need to come inside. You too, Samira.

(to Samira) We should go. If she gets mad she won’t let us play later on.

SOUND EFFECTS:Sound of girls’ footsteps.
SOUND EFFECTS: Bowls and pots clattering.

All right, girls. We’re going to make our special soup, the Nri Oka. And some bread to go with it. Wash your hands in that pan over there, and let’s get started. Tandi, you knead this bread dough.

Yes, Mumma.

And Samira, you start getting the ingredients together to make the Nri Oka.

What ingredients will I use, Auntie?

Don’t waste time asking foolish questions child. Hurry up! We are running behind already.

I’m sorry, Auntie Ella. I’m not sure what you use to make the Nri Oka.

You mean your mother hasn’t already taught you? She has not shown you which of these plants and herbs to use? This is one of our most prized traditional dishes! We serve it at all our ceremonies. It’s also a healthy food. We give it to pregnant women because it is so nutritious. Your cousin Tandi here already knows how to make this dish by herself. Are you sure your mother didn’t teach you?

I’m sure, Auntie. She did not teach me.

Well, when your mother returns from market I will ask her why not. But in the meantime, let me show you. You start with some of these greens...(voice fades)

SOUND EFFECTS: Crossfade voice with brief musical break then bring up kitchen sounds of rattling pots again.

(calling from a distance as if from another room or outside the house)Hello?

Ah, there is your mother now, Samira. Now we’ll see what she has to say.(Calling out)We’re here Nelly! In the kitchen.

Hello everyone! I can see you have been working hard. I can smell it too. It smells so good in here.

Here, taste this, Mumma. Try the Nri Oka.

All right, bring me a spoon. (Pause for tasting)Why Ella! You have really outdone yourself this time. This Nri Oka is delicious. It will be perfect for the special dinner tonight.

Why, thank you sister. I am glad you are enjoyed it. You should also thank your daughter.

And why is that?

She helped me to prepare the Nri Oka.

Is that so, Samira?

Yes, Mumma! Auntie Ella has shown me how it is made.

But tell me something, sister. What I don’t understand is why the child had no idea how to make this dish before today?! Why haven’t you been teaching her?

Well, you know I want Samira to stay in school as long as possible. If she can get her diploma she might be a nurse or a teacher some day. I don’t want the child distracted with kitchen duties.

What are you saying woman? Because Samira is learning to read and write she cannot learn how to make our most important traditional dish?! You can’t be serious!

I want Samira to concentrate on her studies so she can do well in school.

Watch out where you put down that pan Tandi! It is hot. And check the bread in the oven.

Yes, Mumma.

Nelly, it is good that Samira is able to continue with her studies. I am just as proud that my Tandi is also staying in school. But that doesn’t mean that I won’t teach her important things about our culture. Some of these things are never taught in school.

A lot of these things are just not so important these days.

I can’t believe what I am hearing! What would our own mother say if she heard you!

She would be proud that I want the best for my daughter. Samira does not need to cook these dishes. Someday she will have someone to cook for her.

You’re living in some sort of fantasy land! And even if that were true, even with all of the cooks in the world, I would want to know how to prepare Nri Oka for myself. It is a very special dish. Not only does it taste good, but it is also very good for your health.

If it is so important, why is it not taught at school? Why is it not in Samira’s home economics text book?

There aren’t enough books in the world to contain all of the wisdom that has been handed down to us over the years. Our mother and her mother before her knew everything important that there is to know.

Oh, come on. The world is changing Ella. Get with it.

Indeed it is, but that does not mean we must turn our backs on those teachings and traditions that have helped our people live and survive. Our great-grandmothers’ grandmothers perfected this recipe for Nri Oka until they knew just the right amount of herbs and vegetables to make this a very nutritious soup. That’s why it is such a good soup for expectant mothers. This is a part of our heritage, Nelly. Not something to be discarded like rotten fruit. And if we do not teach our daughters, then who will? You surprise me!

Mumma?

Yes, dear?

Can Samira and I go outside to play while you and Auntie talk?

Umm, I don’t know…

(in unison): Please?

Well, you have been good little helpers today. Go on with you.

SOUND EFFECTS:Door opening and closing as girls run outside.

(calling out after them)But don’t go too far. Later on I want to show you another one of your great-grandmother’s recipes.