During this period of excruciating hunger in the land, people no longer talk about the quality, but the quantity of food needed to fill the stomach. But in situations when one finds quality mixed with quantity, it becomes a blessing. Such is a situation where one finds certain foods like” Okpa, normally found in the South East “.
Okpa is a special delicacy prepared by mainly the Igbo people with a type of beans known as Bambara nuts. It is very common in Enugu and other Eastern States and classified as a traditional delicacy. It is best prepared using a few ingredients because the beans have its own peculiar taste, depending on preference. One can make Okpa with fresh pepper and uziza leaf. It can be eaten alone as snack food or with any other thing because it has an unusual but delicious taste and crunchy texture. The Bambara nut which is shaped like peanuts but larger comes with many health benefits.
Okpa is a native word for Bambara nut in Ibo land and Guriya or Kwaruru in Hausa language. Okpa which is believed to have originated in Ibo land has found its way to other parts of Nigeria.
According to nutritionist, Okpa has approximately 16.29 percent protein, 4.93 percent fat, 26.62 percent carbohydrate and 216.28 calories energy value; thus making it one of the most balanced staples in this part of the world.
Okpa is said to contain Valine, an amino acid that helps not only in the healthy growth of children, but also in the normal regulation of the immune system and the body nitrogen. Valine which is contained in Okpa also aids in the management of stress, repairs the tissues of the muscles and increases their metabolism.
Also, its protein is said to have bioactive properties that can help prevent or treat chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart diseases and even cancer
Other health benefits, according to nutritionists, include boosting blood level; prevent bone diseases, boosts immune system and contains antioxidants that help to prevent cancer. Like all protein foods, it is thermogenic and helps in weight loss.
Lovers of the food say that it is not difficult to prepare. What is required is; just grind and sieve the Okpa flour in to a large bowl, add warm palm fruit extracts bit by bit, mixing and blending it till there are no bumps. Ensure that is thoroughly mixed ,then add salt, pepper to make sure that it is okay. Also add onions, grind crayfish, uziza seeds and mix thoroughly until it is ready for serve.
It is necessary to note that Okpa is indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa where it is widely cultivated in Northern Cameroon in West Africa. It is also grown to a lesser extent in some Asian countries such as India , Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand.
The rate at which many people are embracing Okpa in Asaba, the capital of Delta State is increasingly interesting. There is no junction that you will not see one or more ladies hawking or selling Okpa, mostly in the morning on a daily basis and even on Sunday mornings.
It was in the light of such discovery that Lifestyle took time to go to different joints –Traffic light, popular Koka Filling station at the Onitsha -Asaba Express way, Ogbeogonogo Modern Market, Konwea Shopping Plaza, Summit Junction, Federal Medical Center (FMC) Gate, Akpu Junction by Okpanam road, Nwawolo Market, Midwifery and Anioma Markets, Okpanam, Maryam Babangida Way and even along the popular Nnebisi Road, some public school junctions and other areas to mention a few; and they have many customers who patronize them.
When contacted, some of them said that the business is booming and that they hardly stay till afternoon to sell off their Okpa
One Mrs. Nkeonyere Ogorchukwu, one of the Okpa sellers said that the business is good and that it rakes in money because it is cash and carry basis, but added that it is energy sapping, “you need to have enough strength to be cooking on daily basis because it requires enough strength before Okpa becomes food.
Mrs. Ogorchukwu, who hails from Nkanu in Enugu State, said that she has been in the business for more than four years now, noting that she is not regretting going into the business because she uses it for support her husband and children.
Also Mrs. Doris Nnadozie , one of the sellers of the delicacy and a mother of three children, said that she moves from street to street, school to school in Asaba to sell Okpa, adding and that before 12 noon, she had sold off her package because there is ready market for it. She thanked God for giving her the strength to do the business, adding that although, “there is profit in the business, but noted that it requires some level of strength “.It is not for lazy people, she stressed”
Mr Edozie Kalu, a trader in Asaba, who happens to be one of those that patronizes Okpa sellers, said that he likes eating Okpa because it is a good meal, noting that no two days s without eating Okpa ; even as he claimed that he has phone numbers of the sellers in case he needs them to bring it to him. He said that his wife and children are also in love with Okpa. So most times, we buy plenty of it and use it for breakfast, lunch with pap or tea or soak garri.”
“Okpa is good food and I have introduced it to the whole family and they now prefer it to Noodles which is very light. Okpa is heavy. It can stay in the body for a long time when taken without being hungry “.
Mrs. Rebecca Chukwuka, also said that when one takes two raps of Okpa at N200 each in the morning with water, it can sustain you for a while, adding that it is better than buying small loaf of bread for N400 to take with water. She said in her area at Okpanam, few metres away from Asaba , most Okada and keke riders also patronize Okpa vendors because they had noticed the rich content of Okpa taken with “zobo drink “which they said is a perfect meal that may take them for a whole day in this harsh economy.
With the above in mind, the Okpa meal needs to be given a trial. Would you try it for breakfast, lunch or dinner? Try and let us know how and what you feel about the rich delicacy. One could see that since the introduction of Okpa patronage of”Mama Put “has reduced considerably.
