Are You Cooking Ponmo? On Creating Value

Ponmo no dey give anything for body, so why not cook fish or shrimps?

This afternoon, I went to buy Amala at the junction of my street. As I got there, the woman said she had just ponmo and fish, no meat. Now ponmo is 50 naira and fish is 150 naira. When she told me I wasn't sad or anything because I no too dey buy meat before.

I bought one wrap of Amala, told her to add 2 ponmo and then as she was about closing my plate I told her to add one more. After all, it is just 50 naira.

When I got home and opened my plate, a funny thought crossed my mind- you just spent 150 naira on nothing.

When I was a small child, my mum would jest in Igbo that ponmo adds nothing to the body. Most times sef, it was right when she was about putting in her soup that she would mention this.

Don't get me wrong, Ponmo has its own value- the taste. And boy, does it taste good! (Especially when it is soaked in pepper stew. Whew.)

Where am I going with this?

(oh, you thought it was just going to be ponmo slander from start to finish abi?)

Many times in my creative life, I have found myself cooking ponmo. Stuff that looks good and feels good but doesn't actually give the level of value that I know I can offer.

See, if it is up to me ba, I just want to create something fun. (and yes, fun in itself is valuable because we can't kill ourselves and other stories) However, giving actual value never goes out of style.

How do we make sure that we aren't cooking just ponmo?

(Once in a while, try to cook fish, beef or even shrimps)

• What is your goal? (Writers, I am talking to us because we no too like this part.)

• What impact do you want your work to have? (Ponmo no fit stand where shrimps dey)

• Who is the work for? (Una wey dey selfish, line up here)

• Who will tell you the truth? (If you create finish, shey your friends go talk true give you?)

Fun Stuff

This ad made me happy. Why? Maybe it's because a bunch of people are singing “Somebody to Love” by Queen and it is one of my favourite songs.

Heaven met my ears when I listened to Anika Noni Rose read a section from The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison.

This podcast is the most hilarious thing you will listen to this weekend. Trust me.

Generally, I have been trying to live a life full of babygirl-ery. Taking care of my skin, eating well, moisturising my hair, drinking my water…and minding my business.(na lie, I am an amebo for life biko).

Till next time.

Ya gurl,

Ifeoma.