FURA DA NONO

Fura da nono is a popular African cold gruel produced and consumed mostly in the northern part of Nigeria. The meaning of Fura da nunu in English is simply milk and millet gruel. Fura da Nono is a very healthy and satisfying food. Nono (or Nunu) is a local yogurt with thick lumps produced from the fermentation of cow milk. Nono is obtained from fermented cow milk after the separation of the milk from its lipid component known as man shanu (cow oil).

The art of nono production is one of the many unique traditions the Fulanis have preserved for centuries. During the day, it is common to see young Fulani ladies hawking this special drink from place to place in local wooden bowls which they carry on their heads.

Below is an explanation of the preparation of fura da nono.

INGREDIENTS
•Cup millet or Guinea corn meal
•Soya bean meal
•Dried pepper (ground)
•Cloves (ground)
•Dried ginger root (ground)
•Corn flour
•2 litres water (For boiling)
•1 litres Fresh cow milk yogurt “No-no” or Normal yogurt
•Granulated sugar to taste

PROCEDURE
•Mix the dry flour ingredients and spices together in a bowl.
•Make a well in the centre and add a little water just enough to act as a binding agent for the dry ingredients.
•Mould into medium sized balls.
•Heat the water for about 7mins and when it starts to boil, drop the moulded balls into the water and leave to boil for about 20 minutes.
•Transfer the boiled balls from the pot into a mortar and pound thoroughly.
•Re-mould once more into small balls and sprinkle with corn flour to keep the balls moist
•To serve, pour the nono into a bowl.
•Add the balls (mashed) and sugar to taste.

Some Health Benefits of Fura da Nono
1. Millet can help reduce the effects of migraines and heart attacks due to the presence of magnesium.
2. Millet helps in fat metabolism, repair of body tissue and creating energy in the body due to the presence of phosphorus in the crop.
3. Millet helps in the lowering of cholesterol in the body (Vitamin B3).
4. Millet helps reduce the risk of having type 2 diabetes.
5. Millets helps to protect against breast cancer and also protect against childhood asthma.
6. Nunu Yogurt contains power-boosting protein and bone-building calcium.
7. Yogurt such as nono can give you flat abs. according to research conducted by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
8. The Alkaline nature of Fura de nunu helps to promote digestion and prevents constipation.
9. Nono Yogurt is an excellent probiotic which helps do away with harmful microorganisms that can cause intestinal infections
10. It produces serotonin which helps to calm and soothe our moods.

Why don’t you try to produce this drink at home and give your family a wonderful time savouring it?

Ten Fulbe Proverbs You Should Know

The Fulbe (Fulani, as they are more commonly known in Nigeria) live in an area that stretches from Ouadaï, a city east of Lake Chad, to Senegal’s Atlantic shore. There are groups of Fulbe as far east as the border of Ethiopia.

The Fulbe speak a language known as Fulfulde. Pulaar, Fula or Peul are other names by which this language is known. The language belongs to the Niger-Congo group. There are many variations and dialects of Fulfulde, but it is believed that most of them are mutually intelligible to a great degree.

Fulfulde was originally written in the Arabic script, but now it is generally written in the Roman script.

The Fulbe are mostly cattle herders. The cow holds an important position in their lives as can be seen in the reference to the cow in many of their proverbs.

Above: _Wodaabe Fulani men in traditional attires.

Above: _A Nigerian lady rocking a modern Fulani dress

Below are some interesting Fulbe proverbs in Fulfulde and English;

1. Pooli wo kawritan de iida.

_Unless birds🐦 come together, a flapping sound is not heard.

2. Bangaado e mo fowru naangi nganaa bojji gooti

_ a bride and a hyena victim do not shed the same tears

3. Juude didi lootundurta de laaba.

_ Two hands wash eachother clean.

4. Lobbe rimata lobbal.

_ A good cow bears a good calf.

5. Heba cofel heba ngoo foondi walaa.

_You can’t have both a chick and a calf.

6. Bernde feewa teppeere feewa kaa walaa.

_You can’t have both a cool heart and a cool heel.

7. Alla andinaay gujjo de bangi munaafiki.

_ God didn’t tell the thief he was marrying a gossip.

8. Si neddo fiyii howru banndum fuu, nyoofa howru mum.

_He who hits his neighbour’s knee curls up his own legs.

9. Si mawdo wi’ii modan jammbere ni nannganaa dum leggal.

_If a man says he will swallow an axe, hold the handle for him.

10. Duroowo paabi, kam anndi layooru.

_ The shepherd of frogs recognises the limping ones (a layman thinks they are all limping).

Do you know any Fulbe proverbs?

References

https://www.encyclopedia.com

http://jalaloadedshuks.blogspot.com

Fulfulde; The Language of The Fulbe

Fulfulde is spoken by the Fulbe (Fulani) people of Nigeria. It has many dialects with the Adamawa dialect being considered the standard.

A Fulani lady in traditional garb

Greetings

The Fulbe hold greetings in high esteem and as in any other language, the greetings vary depending on the time of day.

5am – 11 am – jam waali?

11am – 2pm – jam weeti?

2pm – 6 pm – jam nyalli?

6 pm – 11 pm – jam hiiri?

The response to all of the above is jam tan or jam ni (peace only).

Jam waali (did you pass the night in peace?)

_jam tan

Jam wuro waali (did your household pass the night in peace?)

_ jam ni

A daaneke (did you sleep?)

_jam tan

Noy korreji maa? (How is your family?)

_ jam ni

Kori baasi fuu walaa (I hope there are no problems?)

– jam tan, baasi fuu walaa.

Ada selli, naa? (Are you in good health?)

_ jam ni

Noy abba maa (how is your father?)

_ jam tan. Alhamdulillah

Noy wuro maa? (How is your household?)

Noy sukaabe maa? (How is your wife?)

Other Common Fulfulde Phrases

Mi yidi ndiyam – I want water

Hokkaram ndiyam mi yara – Give me some water to drink.

Noy innde maa? – What is your name?

Innde am Makki – My name is Makki

Useni – Please

Useko – Thank you

Jabbama – You’re welcome

Sey yeeso– See you later

Sey jango – See you tomorrow

A don wolwa Fulfulde naa? – Do you speak Fulfulde?

Mi nanataa Anglais – I do not understand English.

Hakkilo!- Watch out! Be careful!

Achu! – stop!

Gujjo! – thief

Bandu am don nawa – I’m ill (lit. My body hurts)

Mi yidi dofta – I need a doctor

O don sartina mako? – Are you courting her?

Fulani People of Nigeria

Jam na?

This is how a Fulani asks how are you and the reply is simply Jam.

The Fula or Fulbe (Fulani in Hausa) are an ethnic group of people spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa. The Fulanis can be found living in Senegal, Mauritania, Nigeria, Guinea, The Gambia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Cameroon, Côte d’ivoire, Niger, Togo, The Central African Republic, Ghana, Liberia and up to Sudan in East Africa. In Nigeria they make up the fourth largest ethnic group and have a very strong political presence.

Fulfulde is the language of the Fulbe. It is a melodious language which belongs to the Niger-Congo family in the West Atlantic branch.

The Fulani are predominantly Muslim and are said to be the first West African group to adopt the Islamic religion. They model their lifestyle according to the teachings of Islam although a few remain animists. The Fulanis were missionaries of Islam and played a major role in the spread of Islam across much of West Africa and Nigeria.

A notable Fulani figure was Shehu Usman Dan Fodio (Usuman Dan Fodiye) who was a Fulani Muslim scholar of note in precolonial Hausa states. He wrote many scholarly works and preached against the injustice of many Hausa kings. A fall out with the Hausa kings who overtaxed their subjects led to his exile resulting in a subsequent Jihad and conquest of the Hausa states. The aftermath of this conquest led to the emergence of the Sokoto Caliphate which stretched from Gobir (present-day Sokoto state) to as far south as present-day Kogi state. It was the largest African state of its time.

There are generally three different types of Fulani based on their settlement patterns. They are the Mbororo or Nomadic/Pastoral Fulani, the Semi-Nomadic and the settled or Town Fulani. The Mbororo move about with their cattle throughout the year never staying in one place for more than 2-4 months.

Young girl carrying decorated bowl

The settled Fulani live in villages, towns and cities. They are Fulanis that have given up the nomadic lifestyle in preference for an urban one.

The origin of the Fulbe is quite unclear. West African Fulanis are believed to have their roots in and around the valley of the Senegal River. Migration, usually in search of greener pastures for their cattle has seen the Fulani living side by side along many different ethnic groups of West Africa. Fulani towns were a direct result of nomadic heritage, and were often founded by individuals who had decided to settle in a given area instead of migrating on.

A lady in Fulani attire

Fulanis are popular for their beautiful decorations on wooden utensils. Alsi every one who has tasted Fura da nono long for more.

Fulanis are usually light skinned, slender and lanky with curly hair. It is said that their lankiness is due to their feeding habits. They are found in the following states of Nigeria – Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe, Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi, Katsina and often intermarry with neighbouring tribes.

Desert encroachment in recent times which has pushed the Fulani nomads down south in search of food for their cattle has led to numerous clashes between Fulani nomads and farmers usually caused by trespass of cattle on farmlands. This has led to much bloodshed and unrest in the country especially in states like Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa. Many people have called for the nomadic Fulani to live a settled life and take up ranching as an alternative to pastoralism.

Popular Fulani figures in Nigeria are the Emir of Kano, the Sultan of Sokoto, former vice president Atiku Abubakar etc. The present president of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari, is a Fulani man.

CHIBBEL-LIBBEL
That is the word for the very top (apex) of a tree, the point that’s always growing upwards.
When any Fulani is ‘testing’ you on your Fulfulde, they will invariably say ‘Ada anndi Chibbel-libbel, naa?’ (Do you know what Chibbel-libbel means), and if you point to the top of a tree, they follow up with ‘Eeeeeeee, a hanti Fulfulde’ – you have mastered Fulfulde!

Alla hollu en nji’iden en jam (May God make us see eachother again in peace)