Mali family and their lifestyle

Hi!

In my “food and culture” class, I learned about the family and food culture of Mali from the book "Hungry Planet." So I want to share what I’ve learned here. 

I will introduce you to the Natomos family. 

• The father/husband: Soumana (46)

• Two co-wives and mothers: Fatoumata (33) and Pama (35)

• Fatoumata and Soumana’s kids: Tena (4 months/girl), Fourou (12/girl), Kansy (4/boy), Mama (8/boy), Fatoumata (10/girl)

• Pama and Soumana’s kids: Mamadou (10/boy), Mama (13/boy), Kantie (16/boy), Pai (18/girl)

One week’s food in January

Food Expenditure for one week: 17,670 francs/$26.39

Notable points: 

- Dried corn, millet, smoked rice

- Fish, tomato paste: only when they can afford 

- Tamarind, Sumbala for seasoning

- Homemade food: Ngome

Different food: 

One of the dishes from Mali is called “Ngome” (breakfast cakes) which is a thick pancake made from finely pounded corn or millet flour, oil, and salt. 

To make vegetable porridge, they mix flour, well water, dried okra, and fresh tomatoes if they are available. 

There is also Jollof Rice which is a famous rice dish that has various regional variations in its ingredients. This dish is prepared with long-grain rice, onions, tomatoes, vegetables, meat, and spices. All these ingredients are cooked together in a single pot. 

More information about Mali:

• The husband is allowed to have up to 4 wives if they can support and treat them equally. 

• Population: 11,956,788

• Life expectancy, male/female: 44/46 years

• Population living on less than $2 a day: 91%

• eat most meals with their hands

• No food was served to the guests who came to the traditional ceremony when getting married

• No convenience stores or fast food 

→ McDonald’s restaurants: 0

Q. What are the differences and similarities between Mali and Japan?

Differences: 

• Families in Mali use wood fire to cook food, while Japan uses a gas stove or IH stove 

• They slaughtered cow rolls on a cart and were selling them at the nearby Saturday market. So since the town has no electricity and refrigeration, the family will sell the cow meat by sunset of the same day that the cow was slaughtered

• In Mali, after being informed of the marriage, the girl hides away which is a custom but in Japan, the bride doesn’t hideaway. 

Similarities: 

• eats rice 

• have markets where people can sell local vegetables or knitted goods. 

My thoughts:

While I was searching about Mali, I found out that the World Food Programme provides school meals in Mali to boost the local economy and children. Many parents are grateful that the school takes care of their children’s food and nutritional needs by providing quality meals, including mutton. I thought what the WFP is doing is great because school meals help households who can only afford to feed their children a single meal a day. And since the food is produced locally, it reflects local customs and helps give back to the community.

“My income increased thanks to school feeding,” says Mahamadou.

What I found most interesting was that there are no convenience stores or fast food in Mali, meaning there is no McDonald's. Since I’m reading a book about fast food and learned the scene of making fast food, I think people in Mali are so much healthier compared to people who eat fast food.