My site may not be in the North, but this weekend I got the opportunity to pound maize. Mark bought a couple bags of unpounded maize (technical term) while he was in Rundu. While I visited him this weekend, we pounded it.

Pounding is a long, tedious process. It took us  amateurs (with the help of an Owambo neighbor) about 4 hours to finish just one bag. Imagine if every meal you prepared took you that much time and effort. You wouldn’t waste food, now would you.

Pounding away. I’m not very good, but note the concentration and attentiveness of my partner.

The next step it to take the pounded maize out of the wooden thingie. Again. Technical term.

Next you sort the kernels from the shaved off pieces of corn. It’s a delicate process that neither I nor…

…Mark mastered