An object that ties me back to my Ghanaian background is the black earthenware, known as “asanka” in Twi or Fante; it is a kitchen tool used to grind ingredients to prepare sauces or soups. This object is used with a “tapoli,” a wooden pestle. The earthenware is made from natural clay with a ridged interior that helps with the mashing process of ingredients when preparing meals. The earthenware is also a bowl used to serve various cultural dishes. My family and I use the earthenware to make a delicious spicy sauce consisting of tomato, hot peppers, and sardines, called “mako”, that can be eaten with rice, banku, dokun, and other dishes.
– Emmanuella Bentil
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