Fufu. Digital image. Wikipedia.org. MediaWiki. Web. 30 May 2016.
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FoodFufu is a traditional African dish, typically made with cassava flour and served with groundnut soup. Starches such as yams and plantains can also take the place of cassava flour in alternative versions of the traditional recipe. With its dough-like consistency, fufu is torn into small pieces and dipped into a soup or sauce to eat. Fufu is also a national dish of Nigeria, making it a meal staple throughout the country.
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Insight |
The names of various Nigerian dishes, including fufu, are used throughout Purple Hibiscus. For example, at the start of the book, Kambili describes her lunch on the day Jaja refused communion as consisting of fufu and onugbu soup (11). While food does not directly impact the storyline of the book, it plays an important role in Nigerian culture as a whole. Thus, by learning about traditional foods such as fufu, readers can better understand and appreciate the culture of Nigeria as it relates to the story of Purple Hibiscus.
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Placement |
Food is placed early on in the order of artifacts, as traditional Nigerian dishes are introduced at the start of the book and continue to be referenced throughout the story. Background knowledge regarding Nigerian food is thus necessary for readers to fully understand the many cultural references in Adichie's writing. Because these small details and descriptions contribute greatly to the overall appeal of the story, placing this artifact early on in the order allows for the reader to absorb as much as possible out of Purple Hibiscus.
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