Dawadawa

Dawadawa is a condiment made from fermented locust bean seeds, it is common throughout West Africa. Also known by names including "nététou" (The Gambia), "iru" by Yorubas, "ogiri" by Igbos, and "iru" or "eware" among the Edo people of Nigeria.

Dawadawa has an intense flavour and smell. It is added to soups and stews during cooking. Making dawadawa is very labour intensive. It involves harvesting the locust seeds, washing and boiling them several times, then fermenting them for around three days. Finally, the dawadawa is moulded into shapes or sold in powdered form.

Our friend Jareh Das bought us the powdered nététou from The Gambia; we bought the fresh dawadawa balls from Nyame Bekyere, 17 Electric Lane, Brixton, London SW9 8LA.