Malaria and Kenkey, Kenkey, Kenkey

Before Waakye, there was kenkey.

From when I was a toddler through my early twenties, my favorite thing to eat — without question — was kenkey with fried eggs, fish, and a generous dose of red pepper. I’d smack that down like it owed me money.

There’s one moment I’ll never forget. I had just come home from the hospital and couldn’t eat. Or so I thought. My mum, in full mum-mode, asked my aunt to surprise me with kenkey — just to get me to take my meds. She got it. I don’t know how, but I managed to eat the whole thing.

You know Popeye — the guy who eats spinach and suddenly gets superhuman strength? That’s exactly what kenkey did for me that day.

Right now, as I write this, it feels like malaria is creeping back — and there’s no kenkey in sight.

No superpowers today.