ARTS & CULTURE
IDENTIEATS By Akosua Dufie Adasi
BLACK CANADIAN FOOD & CULTURE Sauce Modern Caribbean Cuisine
Black Canadian culinary traditions and histories have been forged through decades of African and Afro-Caribbean immigrants, as well as formerly enslaved Black people who escaped American slavery. Food is central to culture and identity and is how Black Canadians maintain their communal relationships and connect with their heritage. Edmonton is home to numerous and diverse Black communities hailing from all around the world, which has influenced the local landscape and infused culinary traditions rich with foods from African and Caribbean cultures. We have a wide array of restaurants and grocery stores that provide experiences of Black Canadian eats, from Kenkey to jerk. Here’s only a sample of what you can find. 30
1. KENKEY Kenkey is a staple dish from the Ga and Fanteinhabited regions of Ghana and other regions of West Africa. It is usually served with a pepper sauce and fried fish, soup, or stew. Made from corn flour, this West African delicacy has become part of Black Canadian food traditions via the immigration of Ghanaian and West African peoples to Canada. It is a tradition in my Ghanaian-Canadian family to eat Kenkey as a communal meal. It is a great way to connect as a family and with our Ghanaian heritage in Canada. To indulge in this delicious tradition yourself, head over to Kasoa Tropical Food Market, where they have several prepared foods (9320–118 Ave. or 9062-51 Ave.). If you want to try your hand at making it at home, ingredients can be found at Agape Foods (12981–50 St.). Pair it with a chilled glass of iced hibiscus tea and go to flavour town!
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