CANDID TALK: Of ‘outside catering’ services and tummy ‘acrobatics’

Anyway, as I said earlier outside catering services have been the culinary mainstays in Uswaz. As soon as the local Muezzin calls for prayers in the local mosque, Mama Mwakilambo is seen fanning reluctant fire to prepare kaimatis, and chapattis, tears freely flowing down her cheeks from acrid smoke. While at it, a car buzzes by, blowing a cloud of dust that settles on the food to be eaten a few hours later. This is not as bad. Sample this; Maimuna has been unsuccessfully warding off reluctant flies from heaps of deep-fried fish. As Uswahilinites pass by, they “feel” fish by touching one heap, then another. By the end of the day, the fish will have been touched by hundreds of people – a true recipe for diarrhoea. Since ‘machines’ inside us have been accustomed to ‘grinding’ almost anything that comes in their way, we somehow survive the ordeals.