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THE CONCEPT OF RICE AND CHICKEN FOR CHRISTMAS

 


THE CONCEPT OF RICE AND CHICKEN FOR CHRISTMAS

In this part of the world, the meal you prepare for Christmas could determine your social class. It is an indicator of how wealthy or poor you are. While there are a variety of meals to have on Christmas day, one has been standing out for years; Rice and Chicken. Even as the price of rice keeps escalating year after year, it is the go-to meal for Christmas, especially for the common man.

In the year 1999, a bag of rice was sold for N2,500. In 2014 it went as high as N10,000 and in 2020 it is competing with the minimum wage; N30,000. According to @EuginhoCortez “at this trajectory, a bag of rice will cost N250,000 in 2035.” We are going higher, yes we are!

As a little girl of 6 years old, I recall eating rice (especially Jollof/red rice) and the wings or toes of a slaughtered chicken every Christmas day. The taste of the rice was different from your everyday rice and the chicken, very crunchy. It was and still is a tradition. Those who had neighbours would show love by sharing the rice with other neighbours and friends in the hood. If you did not share yours there were two things involved; either you were a Muslim, or you were not buoyant enough to afford rice and chicken. Some households would pretend to be in church watching the nativity story just to avoid the rice sharing culture. But those who had enough in their pockets would even top it up with cold drinks. The bottom line - rice and chicken eating and sharing was never a dull moment.

In the 60s, the said meal was common among the wealthy who could afford it on Sundays and every other festive period. The common man waited till Christmas. Who brought about this concept is an ongoing research. If we tackle the question from the economic angle, can we say that the price of rice or chicken led to its adoption as the Christmas meal? I do not think so. If we consider the cultural aspect would we conclude that rice and chicken are friends to all tribes and regions that’s why? Well yes. Many states or tribes in Nigeria have one way or the other tasted, cultivated, sold or even exported rice in their lifetime. Whether it is in the form of Fried, Jollof, Tuwo Shinkafa, Waakey, etc. we rep rice! 

With states like Kebbi, Benue, Ekiti, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Ogun Niger, Cross Rivers, etc. producing rice, it is convenient to say that these producers are capable enough to supply the entire country and even foreign lands the staple meal called Rice. If we consider health factors, are they the healthiest? Not in the least, however, there is no struggle for carbohydrate or protein where these siblings are involved. We are a carbo-consuming-nation!

Wherever you may be, comment your go-to Christmas meal below even if it is beans and crayfish, what’s important is the health factor and the happiness this contributes to the season. From this side, we say Merry Christmas. Wahala no go dey for who no chop rice and chicken this Christmas…

Don’t Forget to Be Honest!


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