Mboga za Watu wa Pwani: Kilifi Utamaduni Conservation Group

Vegetables of the Coast People of Kenya
No region in Kenya boasts of a greater variety of vegetables than the coastal area. Over 100 species are used
by the nine linguistically-related groups living here, the Mijikenda. Just as rich is the knowledge associated
with these vegetables as seen in the variety of mixtures that may be formed in a single preparation and the
delicate art of balancing the quantities of each.
This book makes available information on this rich vegetable culture. It provides local names of the vegetables
in the different dialects (Mijikenda groups), scientific names, ecological and production information,
method of preparation and mixtures involved. Eight plates with over 100 photographs as well as over 60
illustrations are provided for easy identification of the species.
This book will be valuable for people interested in Mijikenda vegetables and traditions, scientists,
development workers as well as extension agents working in the field of agriculture, anthropology, food and
nutrition and ethnobotany, among several others.
Maelezo
Mboga za Watu wa Pwani
Hamna sehemu ya Kenya inayojivunia aina nyingi za mboga kuliko Pwani. Zaidi ya aina mia moja
hutumiwa na wakaaji wa sehemu hii waitwao WaMijikenda. Vile kuna wingi wa aina za mboga, ndivyo pia
kuna wingi wa ujuzi unaoambatana na hizi mboga. Huu ujuzi tunaushuhudia wakati mboga aina tofauti
zinapochangnywa kwa umakini na kupikwa pamoja.
Kitabu hiki kinasimulia utamaduni wa kipekee wa mboga za Wamijikenda. Kinaelezea maumbile ya hizi
mboga, majina ya mboga kwa lugha za waMijikenda na ya kisayanzi, mazingira ambamo mboga inamea,
ukuzaji, utayarishaji na ‘visanganyo’ vinavyotumiwa. Kwa jumla, zimo kurasa nane zilio na zaidi ya picha mia
moja na pia kuna zaidi ya michoro sitini, ili kumsaidia msomaji kuzitambua hizi mboga kwa urahisi.
Hiki kitabu kitakuwa cha manufaa kwa wale wanaotaka kufahamu utamaduni wa waMijikenda kuhusu
mboga, na pia kwa wanasayanzi na wanaoendeleza miradi vijijini hasa katika nyanja za kilimo, mila na
desturi, lishe bora pamoja na wanaosoma manufaa ya mimea kwa binadamu na wengine.