Rain danced tirelessly in Gamuga village for seven days, leaving its inhabitants weary with daily activities hampered. On the eve of the eighth day, we gathered together at the village square and whispered fervent prayers to Mother Nature, pleading for a break in the rain. The next day, the sun, like a benevolent deity, painted the sky with hues of gold.
Ijele, my brother, brimming with excitement, implored our mother to let him venture to the outskirts of the village by the riverside. He sought to capture images of the lush greenery for his school project. Yielding to his enthusiasm, our parents granted him permission, and off he went, accompanied by Ukachi, his project partner.
A few minutes later, he sprinted back towards us, like someone pursued by a wild creature. Fearing for his safety, I quickly emerged from the house, flinging the gates open to facilitate his entrance and shield him from whatever ominous force might be at his heels.
"Did you happen to catch sight of any wild animals?" I queried, glancing back along the path he had taken.
Ijele, still panting, unclenched his fist. In his palm rested a shiny stone that sparkled at the slightest touch. My eyes widened as I beheld it. We exchanged glances, and without uttering a word, we retreated into the house, securing the door behind us. We presented the gleaming stone to our father. His face wore the same expressions I had when I saw the stone.
"Is anyone else aware of this stone?" he inquired, still examining it. "
"Only Ukachi and me. Ukachi hesitated to follow because when I picked it up, the ground shook, and he deemed it cursed," Ijele explained.
My father carefully stowed away the stone and left the room. After several hours, he returned, assembling us in the sitting room. With a serious demeanor, he explained that the stone was a long-lost possession of extraterrestrial beings. Its retrieval by Ijele triggered an intergalactic alarm, signaling imminent danger as the aliens would soon arrive to reclaim what rightfully belonged to them.
Ijele broke into tears. With his nose releasing a flow of water, he kneeled down before my father and wrapped his arms around his legs.
"Now is not the time for tears. We must prevent this catastrophic war because the alien ships will descend soon and no life will be spared. However, there is a solution.".
I stood with folded arms and listened as my father talked about the unique "uziza tree" at the heart of the village. Its leaves, with their unique scent, possess the ability to soften alien hearts. The solution was to cook a soup using those leaves before the imminent arrival of the aliens.
With no second thought, I bolted out of the house, my legs moving so fast that they seemed to touch the back of my head. The news of the impending danger had spread like wildfire across the village, leading to a flurry of packing and preparations to leave. Arriving at the heart of the village, the uziza trees stood before me. I reached out and plucked the needed quantity for the special dish, then hurried back to the house.
"They're here! They're here!" echoed a scream from outside. In an instant, the air was filled with shouts of cries and panic.
I was nearly finished with the soup; I had only to slice the uziza leaves. As I deftly sliced them and added them to the pot, the distinctive scent infused the air, giving the soup a unique aroma. The fragrance filled the surroundings, catching the attention of the alien leader. He raised his hand, signaling for his army to halt. I approached cautiously, carrying the offering alongside fellow villagers. The alien leader extended his hand, fanning the aroma toward his nose. After a contemplative sniff, he turned to his armies, who nodded in agreement. Taking a spoon, he scooped a portion into his mouth, closing his eyes to savor the taste.
One by one, the alien armies approached, each taking a spoonful of the soup. After they had finished, they made the decision to spare Earth, revealing that the stone held immense sentimental value for them. Taking the stone from my father, they retreated back into their ships, bringing resolution to the impending threat.
The air buzzed with excitement as the village women erupted into dance and song.
"What soup did you make?" Ijeoma, my best friend, inquired.
"I prepared Ofe Nsala, 'white soup.' When my father mentioned uziza leaves as the solution, Ofe Nsala immediately came to mind due to its simplicity and quick preparation." I replied.
"You'll have to teach me all the details later!" she shouted amidst the jubilant cheers of young men from the village as they lifted me up, tossing me into the air while chanting words of praise.
Ofe Nsala
Ofe Nsala, commonly referred to as white soup, stands out as a distinctive delicacy from the eastern region of Nigeria. Its name is derived from the fact that it is oil-free, with none of its ingredients generating oil during the cooking process. Despite being a go-to dish for special events, it's also quick and easy to prepare at home for gatherings with friends and family.
The Ingredients
Ingredients for the recipe include protein options like goat, chicken, or fresh fish, along with stock fish, pomo (cow skin, which is optional), fresh pepper, yam for thickening, special nsala spices, Uziza leaves, Ogiri (native Maggi), crayfish, seasoning cubes, and salt.
Preparation
Wash the protein, stock fish, and pomo before placing them in a cooking pot. Add ground crayfish and seasonings for flavor. Add a modest amount of water before placing it on heat. Simultaneously, dice the yam into small portions and include it in the pot for simultaneous cooking. Once the yam is tender, extract it, then blend or pound it, then set it aside.
Simmer the meat until tender, then introduce the grounded fresh pepper and a touch more crayfish. Gradually introduce the pounded yam until it reaches your desired consistency. Let it boil and dissolve, then add Nsala spices and ogiri, allowing a brief boil. Sprinkle sliced Uziza leaves for enhanced taste and aroma, considering it's not a vegetable soup. Season with cubes and salt to taste, then let the mixture boil for the next five minutes. Your soup is now ready.
Ofe Nsala can be taken alone or eaten with semovita, wheat, and pounded yam.
Last image is mine