Black magic and Yam are amongst the many things Ghana is famous for. “Juju”as it is called locally, is still practiced till date, and I have heard such strange stories, sometimes, I doubt if there are even real. But I know people who swear by them, and say they have witnessed such things. One really funny yet true incident was that a woman witch doctor, would shake hands with men in the market place, and suddenly the man she shook hands with would look down to find his penis would be gone ! Yup totally disappeared !!! Hahaha … I know you don’t believe it, but its true, it does disappear, and only she can bring it back, for ofcourse a reasonable amount of money !

It is also believed that couple of years ago in the Ashanti and Volta region humans were turned into yams. There was this magician who during a yam festival, was turning things like paper into money, stone to houses, so a man asked him whether he could turn  a monkey or a human into a yam? The juju man did it, turned a monkey into a yam. Later he turned a man into a yam. Now the chief of this village came to hear of this magician, but doubted what the man did, so he asked his son to go and see whether it was true, and the magician turned him into a yam too. The chief now needed to see this with his own eyes, and so called the magician  and asked him if he could turn him the chief into a yam, and the magician said, “Yes your highness,” and turned him into a yam too. Unfortunately for all of them, the magician (could not or probably chose not to as he was doubted) could not bring them back to life. So the royal highness – the Chief , his son and the other common man, were they remained in the palace for 3 days, hoping they would change back but they did not. And so it became an example for the rest of the community that they should not challenge a magician !

So the next time you are buying your yam from your African store/market , you never know who it might me, maybe a chief  king or a cheating wife, or maybe a yam thief who was turned into a yam himself !! Think twice :)

Yams are, other than being remains of a king :p … a good source of dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin C, manganese and vitamin B6. It is a large tuber with rough external skin with a tree like bark and a hard pale white interior. They are creamy or sometimes firm when cooked. Yams have an earthy, hardy taste and usually a minimal amount of sweetness. Taste good boiled, pounded, fried or grilled. The simple taste allows this tuber to be accompanied with just about anything, specially spicy stews. Its also a perfect potato substitute. If you see my earlier post on Pepe and Yam, you can find another way to cook this beautiful yet simple vegetable. And the recipe for pepe, which is the perfect accompaniment for this  balls.

Peel and cut the yam into cubes. Cover in pot with water and season with salt. Boil till soft and then drain out the water. Now mask or pound the yam together with the milk,butter and garlic powder, adding salt if necessary. Roll into balls and dip into the cornflour mixture. Now spread the breadcrumbs on a plate and roll the balls on it, coating it evenly. Deep fry till golden brown. Serve hot with some pepe.

And there’s one more thing I’d like to share with all you wonderful readers . I’ve been interviewed by Bizymom’s for the Ethnic Cuisines.  Click on the button on the right or the link above to read all about it .