Uri Buru Ọka

By

Obododimma Oha

It is not a crime for a culture to be associated with a type of food. It could even be such that they may know all the arts and science of that food and are in a position to teach others. But the neighborhood may use it instead to make a jest of that culture. It depends on what that culture thinks. So, for me, as an Uri person, the jest on "Uri bụrụ ọka ekwe ekele" (If an Uri person is carrying maize, that person won't answer to your greeting (due to the thinking that you may be asking for some cobs indirectly)) can be turned on its head and made to say good things about the carrier.

There may be many expressions of insult, actually njakịrị asking if the target could fire back, that neighbors have for neighbors. As the Igbo say in a proverb: "Ọọkwa onye nọ eze nso na-anụ isisi ya?" ( Is it not the one near the teeth that can perceive its smell?). It is important to know that this expression is just an njakịrị that may be far from reality and treat it as such, instead of feeling very bad when it is uttered.

But some communities are just so unlucky in this. If you hear their own, you will run, not to talk of accepting kolanut of welcome from them. They may be painted in terrible colours that even the devil himself may shiver if he thinks about them. Their citizens would be crying within if we focus on theirs. If we only look in their direction while discussing this, they could melt or die. They are actually begging us with their eyes to stop. Anyway, it is all njakịrị, a playful criticism, and should not lead to a court of law. 

" Uri buru ọka ekwe ekele." What an interesting exaggeration! But, at least, there is an acknowledgement in it. Uri is carrying food. Are you carrying AK-47? Let us be serious now. Can one kidnap or kill another with a cob of maize? Don't mind that fellow, Uri. Keep carrying your cobs of maize. Moreover, be careful: they may approach you with pretence, pretending to be "greeting" you. They actually want your maize! "Ọọkwa aka àjà na-ebute ọnụ mmanụ̀ mmanụ?" (Is it not soiled hands that bring oiled hands?). Now, they keep long finger nails and have the mouth to say "Uri bụrụ ọka...."

It could even be outpouring of envy. Maybe the utterer is envious of Uri popularity with maize but does not want to show it. In that case, is the person not even making Uri very popular through this saying? Is it not interesting that what we think we are discouraging is what we are actually promoting without knowing it? Is it not surprising that what we should be proud of is what we are ashamed of? 

By the way, how can an Uri person carry cobs of maize and still respond to your "greeting"? Is the Uri person sure that you are not planning something? Imagine taking the big risk of cultivating and getting the maize without being raped or killed and someone is here on the road "greeting"! Uri bụrụ ọka indeed. Keep going. Don't answer any "greeting" yet.

I like the way that Uri faces the science of mass production. Imagine Mbekwu the tortoise marrying a whole princess just with a grain of maize! And now, with just a grain of maize, Uri has got several cobs. That's a feat. There are several farms of maize  stretching from end-of-town to end-of-town. With these, the tortoise can even marry millions of princesses! Mbe bụ ajọ dike! Truly Mbe the tortoise is a stalwart! 

It appears to be a given that Ndị Uri get involved in the mass production of their staple food, ọka, which has many technologies, not just in form of grains. In that case, who are you to teach Ndị Uri about ọka? A child whose mother makes the ogiri spice should know the one-eyed house-fly.

My mother could boil the grains overnight, to make them soft. This could be mixed later with beans, to take you through the day and give you raw energy. The grains could also be boiled with leaves and eaten as porridge. There was the almighty ịkpa, made in many ways. Ịkpa even tried to dominate ọka as a food culture but had competitors like ụtara ọka (also called nri ọka), which some call agidi. Ọka could be eaten in many ways and does not have the history of giving stomach troubles. Also, it can be eaten many times in a day. No monotony. 

Ọka is, therefore, excellent as staple food. Who would carry it and respond to "greetings"? It is better than carrying gold in Dubai. One carrying it is carrying energy, carrying life. How can such a person have time for a "greeting"? 

I am carrying my maize now and you are making fun of me, instead of praising me. If I were from China and is recommending the flour for your breakfast and supper, won't you start courting me, even to get loans? If I were from any part of Asia and could proclaim that the maize leaves are best herbal tea, won't you endorse it right away? A mischievous Asian or European could then cut all the grass on his lawn, package the grass, and ship it to you as health-giving tea. Won't you in your naivety pay a lot of dollars to buy the imported tea? Now,  you are saying "Uri buru ọka...." and giggling, hiding your own idiocy. 

Don't mind them, Ndị Uri. Celebrate your ọka. Love it. Roast it. Boil it. Chorus with it. Yes, don't respond to any "greeting."

At least, Ndị Uri have something to contribute to life. They know all the ọka technology. They do need or want your "greeting." 

But Uri people have a wonderful opportunity to perform more experiments with their ọka, both in its cultivation and consumption. What new ọkas can be produced? What new and interesting ways can ọka be eaten or produced for the market? Indeed, it is a good thing to be able to carry ọka at this time.