Humanist

Ping, came the notification that I had received a new WhatsApp message. I check and it is from Cynthia Nakato, one of the famous twins believed to have been instrumental in executing the unconventional and hugely successful campaign of Uganda Law Society President, Senior Counsel Isaac Ssemakadde. She who is among the Uganda Generation Z who organically mooted the idea for “Walk to Parliament Peaceful Protests”; albeit, reportedly, their idea was subsequently hijacked by others who then executed it differently.

Anyway, I read the WhatsApp message, an invitation from Cynthia thus:

“I wanted to invite you to “come and jingle all the way to the Iraa Kitchen, plant, cook and feast together as we close the year.” I had the pleasure of attending a writing workshop with them earlier this year and was thrilled to receive an invitation to join them again if my schedule allows. I truly believe that their gathering would be a great fit for you, as it attracts a unique and talented group of creative, artistic individuals who share a passion for writing.”

An impromptu invitation at exactly the right time. I accept. We link up with Cynthia and off we went to the gathering.

Oh my, how spot on Cynthia was about it being the right fit for me. To this day and for the many more years that I have here on earth, I hope, the Iraa gathering is recorded among those that have significant positive impact on me. I found myself in a space with people whom I had never physically met before, and yet I felt at home with them. They are my people.

“This space is one for the intricacies, the memories of who we are and the moments in which we continue to live,” the founder, Anderu Immaculate aka Immy Mali, aptly describes her Iraa – The Granary initiative.

The gathering was indeed an accurate example of “the intricacies, the memories of who we are and the moments we continue to live” and more. It awakened my desire to get back on track to living a good life, one which includes more frequent networking with humans, who appreciate food and who love human contact via face-to-face conversations.

Conversation flowed from one topic to the other. My very favourite was when I discovered among the gatherers another that I can describe as a socialist comrade. My fellow gatherer provoked us to look closely at the neo-liberal capitalist free-market economic system Uganda has adopted wholesale.

Particularly, how free-market capitalism is inherently designed to cause poverty, in order for a few, the one percent, to primitively enrich themselves at the expense of the 99 percent. A system which is dealing a significant blow to the practice of our African Ubuntu, while at the same time promoting negative individualism and greed. Yes, this is my interpretation of the conversation.

Then there was the food we were generously gifted – a three-course meal, all made from scratch. Wow, wow, wow! Resident Chef Tuti teased and confused our taste buds in a good way. We were served a vegan meal which tasted fabulous. And the way the food was artistically plated showed maximum respect for high quality food.

I still cannot believe that the starter was primarily made from obumonde (Irish potatoes)! I hope I get invited to another Iraa gathering in my own right. When it does happen, I will be the first to arrive, so as to experience the entire programme, including learning to cook from the best chef in town.

And there is more, we were given a take home gift of fresh mushrooms, I assume from Iraa gardens. I am in disbelief at this level of generosity. Very unlike free market capitalism and very like African Ubuntu. It gives hope that our African ways will survive the capitalist free-market ethnocidal onslaught on them.

Starting with the gifted mushrooms, our hosts encouraged us to do as Chef Tuti does, and to be innovative, experiment on new ways of cooking and not be stuck in only the ways of our ancestors, without adding our new cuisine experiences. I am game, but for now, I am sun-drying the mushrooms Iraa gifted me and will cook them in the Iteso cuisine.

Preservation of mushrooms in the Iteso ways is a trigger for me. Mushrooms hold a special place in preserving memories of my aunts and papa now rested. As I split the fleshy mushrooms into small strips for drying, I teared up and smiled at the same time. It is a long story for another day, about my Alinga Farms and how Ebaale (mushrooms in Ateso) used to be one of our high-quality products.

For now, let me give thanks to Cynthia for inviting me along and for buying me a precious gift, a jar of Iraa – The Granary Guava Jam. I will savor and treasure each and every bite! Yes, people Iraa has fabulous organically grown and value added foods, including dried pineapples. Highly recommend that you check them out.

To Immy Mali and your entire team of Iraa – The Granary and my fellow gatherers, I say thank you for nurturing my humanity and for inspiring me to get Alinga Farms back on track. You nourished me with a lot of food for thought. I am buoyed in the belief of a promising new year 2025.