As I sit in this restaurant, which seems bent on dampening my mood with its dim lighting in the name of aesthetics, my mouth moves, taking in the masa and yaji I ordered.
The rich, nutty taste of the kulikuli mixed with spice should have been a warm embrace, except something is off. The heat spreads to my cheeks, not from the expected layered, smoky warmth of yaji, but from something far more aggressive.
In annoyance, I slam my hand on the table and yell,
Pepper is NOT Yaji!
Now, I get it. Mistakes happen. Maybe the person serving the food is new to the business. Maybe they ran out of yaji and thought,
“Oh, no big deal, just throw in some ground pepper.” but "It Is a big deal!"
Because replacing yaji with plain pepper is like swapping well-seasoned jollof rice for a pot of plain, red-colored rice with no taste. It’s an insult to the rich, layered heritage of Northern Nigerian cuisine.
What is Yaji, Really?
For those who don’t know (or for those guilty of this food crime), yaji, also called suya spice, is a beloved condiment in Northern Nigeria. It’s made by grinding kulikuli (groundnut cake) and mixing it with pepper, ginger, and seasoning cubes, creating a balanced, nutty, spicy, and savory blend that takes dishes like suya, masa, and gurasa to another level.
Pepper, on the other hand, is just pepper. Whether it’s dry-ground cayenne, atarugu, or paprika, it’s a one-dimensional heat source. It lacks the complexity, depth, and richness of yaji. Giving someone plain pepper when they expect yaji is like serving someone ewa agoyin without palm oil, a culinary tragedy!
Disrespecting Food is Disrespecting Culture!
Food is culture. It tells stories, carries memories, and holds generations of tradition within every bite. When people dismiss or mishandle cultural foods, it’s not just about taste, it’s about respect. Would you serve ketchup to someone who asked for pepper sauce? Would you replace a carefully aged ogiri in ofe nsala with plain salt?
Exactly.
So why do some food vendors think it’s acceptable to throw ground pepper into a bag and call it yaji? If it’s ignorance, fine. But if it’s laziness or disregard for tradition, then we have a serious problem.
Let’s Do Better!
If you’re a vendor reading this, please, I’m begging you, respect the art of food preparation.
Yaji is not just a spice, it is a cultural emblem, a signature of Northern cuisine that deserves to be made right. And if you ever find yourself on the receiving end of this food injustice, I urge you to take a stand. Politely, but firmly, ask for what is right. And if all else fails, just show them this article.
Thank you.
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