Sumbala or soumbala is a fermented seed
condiment used widely across
West Africa. It is usually prepared by women over the course of several days, traditionally from ''néré'' (''
Parkia biglobosa'')
seeds. It can be made from other kinds of seeds, such as those of ''
Prosopis africana
''Prosopis africana'' is a flowering plant species in the genus Fabaceae. It is found in Africa. Its common names include African mesquite, iron tree, ''gele'' (Malinke) (traditional djembe wood) or ''somb'' tree.
In the Serer creation myth, i ...
'', and the use of
soybeans for this purpose is increasing due mainly to inadequate supply of néré seeds. It is comparable to
miso paste.
The fabrication process involves boiling, cleaning and then packing away to ferment - the fermentation process giving it a pungent smell. Salt can be added to the finished product to facilitate storage life.
This condiment is traditionally sold in balls or patties that can be kept for several months at a time in the case of the best quality. It is a traditional ingredient used across West Africa.
The traditional production now faces strong competition from low-quality
stock cubes. Sumbala is rich in
proteins and a variety of
dietary mineral
In the context of nutrition, a mineral is a chemical element required as an essential nutrient by organisms to perform functions necessary for life. However, the four major structural elements in the human body by weight (oxygen, hydrogen, carbon ...
s, which are completely absent from these ''bouillon cubes''. In recent years, however, good quality commercial production has allowed the product to make a comeback into everyday
cuisine
A cuisine is a style of cooking characterized by distinctive ingredients, techniques and dishes, and usually associated with a specific culture or geographic region. Regional food preparation techniques, customs, and ingredients combine to ...
.
Names and variants in several different languages of the region include:
*
Manding languages: , , , ''Sumbala'' (or in French transcription ) is a loan from
Manding Manding may refer to:
* Manding languages, a language-dialect continuum in West Africa
* Mandinka (disambiguation)
** Mandinka language, one of the Manding languages
** Mandinka people, a West African ethnic group
* The Mandé peoples who speak Man ...
.
*
Hausa: ,
*
Pulaar/
Pular:
*
Yoruba
The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...
:
*
Serer,
Saafi,
Wolof
Wolof or Wollof may refer to:
* Wolof people, an ethnic group found in Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania
* Wolof language, a language spoken in Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania
* The Wolof or Jolof Empire, a medieval West African successor of the Mal ...
:
*
Krio:
*
Susu:
*
Zarma:
*
Dagbanli: Kpalgu
*
Mooré
The Mossi language (Mooré) is a Gur language of the Oti–Volta branch and one of two official regional languages of Burkina Faso. It is the language of the Mossi people, spoken by approximately 8 million people in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Cote d ...
: Colgo
*
Likpakpaln, i.e. Konkomba language
Konkomba is a Gurma language spoken in Ghana, Togo
Geography
Konkomba is spoken in Ghana ( Northern Region, Volta Region, Brong Ahafo Region, Eastern Region and Accra), and Togo ( Savanes Region, Kara Region and Plateaux Region).
Dialec ...
: ,
References
External links
Netetou - a typical African condiment Food and Nutrition Library, United Nations University and the Humanity Libraries Project (1993)
Sciences Ouest, 1993, No. 93.
{{portal bar, Food
African cuisine
Condiments
Fermented foods
Yoruba cuisine
Hausa cuisine