Wugali

Wugali is the main staple food for the Ya*o. It is cooked with maize meal flour and water to make a thick porridge. I believe it is the main staple food for most of East Africa although it may have varied names and spellings.

Last week in the village this is what I ate everyday for lunch and dinner. One day I was actually fed rice but we also had to have wugali otherwise we would not have eaten. If you ask any person in this area what their favorite food is, whether from city or village, you will get an answer of wugali. Unfortunately wugali contains little nutrition.

Usually accompanying wugali is a side dish referred to as a relish or mboga. This could be something like a tomoto & onion sauce, greens, cabbage, fish, eggs, or chicken.
To eat you grab a hand full of wugali, form it into a ball with your hand, create a divot with your thumb, scoop up some relish and bon appetite.