Africans miss home and native food in Qatar
Not able to relish food items from their home countries due to their non-availability here, many African expatriates say life isn’t the same for them as for those from Asia and Europe who have easy access to native food.
Many Africans this reporter spoke to said, albeit in a lighter vein, they envy Asians and Europeans who can enjoy their cuisines “while we can’t”. “Like every other community we also wish we could buy our favourite foodstuff in Qatar,” said Mercy Silas, a Nigerian woman.
Enquiries with some leading hypermarkets and food outlets confirm that most of popular African food items such as red palm oil, Gari, Cassava, Egushie (melon seed), Yam, Podo (powdered Yam), Banga, (Palm Kanea) and Ogbolor, to name a few, are not available in Qatar.
Though these items are consumed by most in the West African communities, they are more popular among Nigerians, Ghanaians, Ugandans and several other African communities whose population in Qatar could roughly be 20,000 or a little more.
“Things aren’t the same for us here in many respect compared to the lifestyle enjoyed by members of other communities from Asia and Europe. I believe they feel more homely in Qatar than many of us,” laments Silas
Based here for over nine years, Silas said it’s not only about food and beverages. “There are many things we miss being here, for instance, our culture, arts, education and entertainment.”
But, maybe, a taste of African cuisine could have meant some solace.
About her lifestyle in Qatar, she humoured: “My life in Qatar is confined to work, children, sleep, rice and potato.
An export-import manager at a popular food centre, said: “We don’t import any food items directly from Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda, but at the same time I cannot say there is any formal ban on food imports from these countries.”
Photo Credit - @Shecrownlita
Dear African friends,out of the many items specified as unavailable here, one item Casava is available in almost all hypermarkets here but more popularly known as tapioca,if you ask for tapioca may be they will give you the Casava you look for.