The ubiquitous banana

I feel really good about the fact that the most common fruit here in Rwanda also happens to be one of the most nutritious. It is . . . the banana. I base this statement on an article entitled, "After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again," from World Observer Online, which states that bananas are good for depression, anemia, constipation, heartburn, morning sickness (yes!), and a host of other ills.

Here in Kigali you see fruit stands with bananas everywhere. The regular-size banana is 100Rwf ($0.14) and the small ones are 400-500Rwf ($0.57-$0.71) for a bunch containing 12-15. What a deal!

They also have what are called matoke, which is a different variety of banana called a "cooking banana." These are harvested when green and then cooked and often mashed or pounded into a meal.

Matoke to the market!

OK, so I eat enough bananas to keep the whole industry afloat. It's the fruit that involves the least amount of hassle—pineapples and papayas and mangoes involve surgical procedures that can be rather messy. (But I do eat those also.) With a banana, all you have to do is peel it—and then toss the peel someplace where it will biodegrade and fertilize the abundant flora that is characteristic of this part of the world. And whereas apples, which are imports from South Africa, cost 55 cents apiece (ouch!), bananas are "a dime a dozen." (Well, almost.)

Yes, they have banana bread and cake here, just like in the Western world. Mmm!