i Parkia biglobosa - School of Forest Resources & Environmental ...

used as flour to make into porridge. The seeds are laid out to dry in the sun for a day.
They can be used immediately or stored for future use.
The seeds are now selected for use in dawadawa preparation. The first step
requires sorting the seeds and removing small stones or small unusable seeds. The seeds
are then placed in a large aluminum pot with sufficient water for boiling. Plenty of wood
is gathered or purchased to keep the fire burning for twelve to fourteen hours (Figure 14).
Exclusively, women produce dawadawa. Local beliefs prohibit women who are having
their monthly menses to engage in this three-day process. The belief is that the
menstruating women may impart some essence that may somehow foul or spoil the
product. This holds true for other lengthy processes done by women in Kandiga. The
Figure 14 – Chopping wood for fire in dawadawa preparation
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