The word “okra” may have come from a corruption of the West African name for the plant : nkruma. In Swahili, it’s called “gumbo”, and the people of the Mediterranean call it “Bamyia”.
What is the African name for okra?
ki ngombo
In several West African languages, the word for okra is ki ngombo, or, in its shortened form, gombo.” Early on, the word was frequently used alongside “okra” by English writers.
Is okra from West Africa?
Where does okra (okro) come from? The okro plant itself is native to West Africa, though sometimes the origin is attributed to Ethiopia.
Where is okra found in Africa?
Okra apparently originated in what the geobotanists call the Abyssinian center of origin of cultivated plants, an area that includes present-day Ethiopia, the mountainous or plateau portion of Eritrea, and the eastern, higher part of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.
Is okra grown in Africa?
Description. A semi-perennial, disease resistant, heat-loving okra. Grown in coastal nations of West Africa for centuries, it is most commonly grown in low elevations up to 1000 m. Grows well in hot, humid conditions with plenty of water.
What is the Bantu word for okra?
The people who lived here used many words that were of Bantu origin. For example, they called baby chicks “biddies”—from the Bantu word “bidibidi”, which means small, yellow bird. They called okra and tomatoes “gumbo”—which is derived from a Bantu word for okra.
Is Lady Finger same as okra?
Okra indeed is known as lady fingers in other parts of the world.
What is okra in Yoruba?
Nigeria. In Nigeria, okra soup is a delicacy and is popular amongst Yorubas, Igbos, Efiks, Hausas, and other Nigerian ethnic groups. In Yoruba, it is referred to as obe lla .
Do Africans eat okra?
In Swahili, it’s called “gumbo”, and the people of the Mediterranean call it “Bamyia”. Since okra is a native African food, it’s believed by many to have come to America with the African slaves.
What vegetables are native to West Africa?
They grow also maize, yams, sweet potato, arum, gourds, squash, pumpkin, okra, beans, tomato, ground-nuts, eschalots, cayenne pepper.
Which countries call okra lady fingers?
There is only one slight difference between okra and lady finger. Both are names for the same plant bearing the two scientific names. “Okra” is used in the United States and the Philippines while “lady finger” is used as an English name outside those mentioned countries.
Does okra grow in Nigeria?
Okra production in Nigeria is widely accepted because of its profitability and affordability. Okra farm is easy to set up, cultivate, it requires less technicality compare to other vegetables, okra is not prone to pest and diseases. Okra originated from West Africa, with the scientific name Abelmoschus esculentus.
What is the difference between okra and okro?
What is the difference between Okro and Okra? Okra is referred to as okro in some West African countries but they are basically the same thing.
What is okra English name?
Okra or Okro (US: /ˈoʊkrə/, UK: /ˈɒkrə/), Abelmoschus esculentus, known in many English-speaking countries as ladies’ fingers or ochro, is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It has edible green seed pods.
Is okra an Igbo word?
Okra is a tall, green plant whose pods are eaten as a vegetable. It is often used in soups and similar dishes. The original word was okuru, from the Igbo language of Nigeria.
What is okra Tsonga?
Mandhandhi is a Xitsonga word meaning “Okra” in English.
What vegetable is most similar to okra?
Although the taste and texture of okra is unique, some folks think its mild flavor resembles that of green beans or eggplant. Those two vegetables may be substituted for okra in many soups and stews.
What is another name for lady fingers?
okra
Lady’s fingers is an alternative English name for okra, the mucilaginous seed pods of a plant of the hollyhock family.
Is okra the same as green beans?
Significant differences between Green bean and Okra
Green bean has more Vitamin K, and Iron, however Okra is richer in Manganese, Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, Magnesium, Folate, and Vitamin B6. Okra covers your daily Manganese needs 25% more than Green bean. Okra has 2 times less Iron than Green bean.
What is okra in Kenya?
Okra is a green seed pod vegetable that is also known as ladyfingers. It can be consumed in its raw green nature as a vegetable or used as a spice in salads, soups etc. It is mainly grown in semi-arid areas in Kenya. It is still a new crop that has not been embraced by many farmers in the country.
What is okra Ogbono?
Ogbono Okra soup is a popular Nigerian soup made with African Mango seeds (Ogbono). Ogbono Okra soup is simply Ogbono soup with Okra incorporated. I already have a recipe for Ogbono soup on the blog, Click HERE to view the recipe. This Ogbono Soup with Okra recipe is pretty simple and straight forward.