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Economy Palaver: Hosts Now Serve Garri, Fish At Owambes, Appetisers Disappear

Published

3 years ago

February 20, 2023

Editor

… Ewa-agoyin takes prime position

Some options chosen by Nigerians in their lifestyle, due to increases in prices of goods and services, have continued to bewilder many.

These lifestyle alternatives have also found their way into Owambe’s (a nickname for parties, especially those with plenty of food and drinks).

In Nigeria, hosts at Owambes usually see to satisfying their guests with varieties of food like semo, beans, plantain, rice, Amala, among others.

But the continuous increase in the prices of goods and services has depleted this tradition, as hosts now serve garri and fried fish at parties.

Garri (cassava flakes) were meals not present at Owambes, but is converted to eba, which is consumed with ewedu and sauce, or vegetable or egusi soups at Owambes, where the majority of the guests are from the Western part of the country.

However, eba has long left the queues of meals served at Owambes.

Garri and fish take over at Owambes

Mrs Kehinde Salami, a businesswoman, told Economy and Lifestyle that such food had to be added to the menu because of the economic situation.

She identified other foods, apart from rice, which was recently added to food menu in parties and projected further changes in Owambe menus.

“Garri and fish will be served in parties in such perilous times. Even the garri, which was once consumed by poor people, is now cherished by the rich. The price of one paint rubber of white garri is now N900, compared to N200 it was sold years back.

“Even served with groundnut, guests will eat it. Some people do come to parties for food.

“The economy is not friendly to anyone and not all persons that come to a party dressed up are well-to-do.”

Partygoers embrace delicacy

Mr. Rotimi Hassan, a chef said: “It was a funny view when I followed a friend to such a party and saw people drinking garri and fried fish.

“Some were served jollof rice. This was a naming ceremony.

“The thing is that many people are now dropping these fancy meals and opting for local meals which are affordable in parties.

“Those days when meals are used as criteria to define a well-planned Owambe are gone.

“We are in the period of managing resources, including money, else when you cook varieties of food in parties, hoping that some persons will support you with gifts of money (such as spraying money on the celebrant on the dance floor during the party) you might be disappointed.”

Appetisers disappear from menu

Mrs Medeyomi Mautin, a cook, said that even those small chops and chinchin used as appetisers in parties has also disappeared due to the high costs of flour.

She noted that Owambe meal menus, which usually consists of six to 10 dishes, now barely holds four and that some Owambes don’t even see the need for menus.

“I have been cooking in parties for long. Some of the meals are prepared on the spot at the parties. Such meals are amala (yam flour) and appetizers such as puff-puff, spring rolls, chinchin, and small chops, among others. While some, such as asun (fried meat and pomo (cow skin) smudged with pepper), pepper soup, and others are prepared outside the party venue.

“But the costs of flour, meat, and other ingredients had made most clients opt for one or abandon all.

“Owambe food menus are not also left out. These menus contain up to 10 varieties of food. But barely contain four now.

“Some hosts even choose rice and salad, some just semo and vegetable soup, others chicken pie or meat pie and the latest is garri and fried fish.

“Despite all these changes, guests consume these foods with love and try to enjoy themselves to the fullest.”

Ewa-agoyin takes prime position

Mrs. Grace Akintayo, a plastic ware seller, said she has served ewa agoyin (mashed beans with palm oil sauce) and garri at her father’s burial in Badagry.

“When I did my father’s funeral at Badagry in January, ewa agoyin and garri was among the foods served.

“I thought people won’t like it because a friend of mine who has eaten garri and fish in a recent party prescribed the meal when I complained about the cost of preparing semo, tuwo and soup, and jollof rice.

“To my surprise, many guest ate it because they preferred it to rice.

“It also helped me save the cost of cooking tuwo and semo with soups which was one of my father’s people favourite delicacy.”

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FG Summons S. African Envoy Over Rising Xenophobic Attacks On Nigerians

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

The Federal Government has summoned the Acting High Commissioner of South Africa in Abuja over renewed concerns about xenophobic attacks and protests targeting foreign nationals, including Nigerians, living in that country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the envoy is expected at its headquarters on Monday, May 4, 2026, for a high-level engagement aimed at addressing the growing tension and safeguarding bilateral relations between both countries.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the spokesperson for the Ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said Nigeria would formally express its “profound concern” over recent developments in South Africa, particularly reports of harassment, violence, and destruction of property belonging to foreign nationals.

According to the ministry, the meeting will focus on ongoing demonstrations by various groups in South Africa and documented cases of attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in parts of the country.

“The objective of this engagement is to formally convey the Nigerian Government’s profound concern regarding recent events that have the potential to impact the established cordial relations between Nigeria and South Africa,” the statement read.

It added that discussions would also address ongoing demonstrations by various groups within South Africa and documented instances of mistreatment of Nigerian citizens and attacks on their businesses.

The ministry acknowledged growing anger among Nigerians over reports of xenophobic violence but urged restraint, stressing that diplomatic engagement remained the preferred channel for resolution.

It assured Nigerians that the Federal Government was actively engaging South African authorities to ensure the protection of its citizens abroad.

“The Ministry is aware of the growing discontent among Nigerians concerning the treatment of their nationals in South Africa. Nevertheless, it implores the Nigerian public to remain calm and reiterates the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of Nigerian citizens residing in South Africa,” the statement added.

The latest diplomatic move comes amid renewed reports of xenophobic tensions in parts of South Africa, where foreign-owned businesses have occasionally been targeted during protests linked to unemployment and economic hardship.

South Africa has a history of xenophobic violence dating back to 2008, with subsequent flare-ups in 2015 and 2019, when mobs attacked migrants, looted shops, and displaced thousands of foreign nationals across several provinces.

In past incidents, Nigerians and other African nationals were among those affected, prompting strong diplomatic reactions from Abuja and calls for stronger protection of foreign communities.

While South African authorities have repeatedly condemned such attacks and deployed security forces to restore order during outbreaks of violence, concerns have persisted over recurring hostility in some communities.

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Mississippi Man ‘Kills Mother, Flushes Her Remains Down Toilet’

Published

4 days ago

May 2, 2026

Editor

A 29-year-old Mississippi man, Zachary Lavel Jackson Jr., has been charged with multiple offences, including first-degree murder, over the death of his mother, Lana Brown Bradley, after deputies responded to her Natchez home on April 4 following a missing person report from relatives.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called to Bradley’s residence after her oldest son was unable to reach her the previous day.

Jackson was initially identified as a family member before investigators confirmed he was her son.

Sheriff Travis Patten described the case as deeply disturbing.“This is by far the most heinous crime that I’ve ever witnessed in my entire life. We weren’t out there that day; this was one of those things when we walked up.

“This was one of those cases that you will never, ever forget in your life. This is the type of case that follows you home,” Patten told WJTV.

According to the sheriff, deputies noticed signs of a recent cleanup when they arrived at the home.

“As soon as they walked in the house, they could just see where somebody had been cleaning up, and they could smell chemicals all throughout the house.

“Floor was extremely slippery. And the older son said that this is just unusual for the youngest son to be cleaning up the house like that,” Patten explained.

Jackson, the youngest son, was found in a bathroom, where deputies allegedly made a discovery that became central to the investigation.

“I can say what was in the toilet, and it was her flesh. He chopped her up in pieces and dismembered her in a way that whoever came looking for her would have to do their due diligence to find her, and that’s just what we did,” the sheriff said.

Authorities said Jackson allegedly placed parts of his mother’s body in a suitcase and attempted to dispose of other remains.

Jackson faces charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, mayhem and tampering with evidence.

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Iran Says War With US May Resume As Trump Rejects Proposal

Published

4 days ago

May 2, 2026

Editor

Iran’s military has warned that the war with the United States and Israel could resume, declaring that it is fully prepared for any renewed confrontation as tensions between the sides continue to deepen.

In a statement reported by Iranian state-affiliated media, senior military officials said a return to hostilities is “likely”, citing what they described as Washington’s lack of commitment to previous agreements and negotiations.

The warning comes after US President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Iran’s latest peace proposal, saying the terms presented by Tehran included demands he “can’t agree to”.

According to officials in Tehran, Iran believes it showed flexibility during earlier negotiations, including talks held in Islamabad and during the ceasefire period. However, authorities argue that the United States has instead taken a tougher stance, widening the gap between both sides.

Iranian officials insist that key issues such as sanctions relief and the status of the Strait of Hormuz must be resolved before any broader agreement, including discussions around its nuclear programme, can progress. They also reject what they describe as US demands amounting to “surrender”.

The growing diplomatic deadlock has raised fears that another round of fighting may be imminent, with Iranian authorities indicating that preparations are already underway.

Meanwhile, the prolonged conflict continues to have far-reaching consequences within Iran. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks reports that the country has entered its 64th day of near-total internet disruption, effectively isolating it from global online networks.

The shutdown, which began after renewed anti-government protests earlier in the year and intensified following the outbreak of the war, has significantly disrupted businesses and livelihoods across the country.

Beyond Iran, the conflict is also reshaping global dynamics. Rising oil prices linked to the war have placed pressure on international markets, while geopolitical tensions have strained alliances, including between the United States and European partners.

As both sides remain far apart on key issues, analysts warn that without a breakthrough in negotiations, the fragile pause in fighting could collapse, paving the way for renewed military escalation in the region.