(CHRONOLOGY: Garri: also known as gari, garry, gali, or tapioca) is a popular West African food made from cassava tubers. The spelling 'garri' is mainly used in Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Benin, Togo and 'gari' in Ghana. Either spelling is used in Nigeria).

Here is a short, lovely and funny poem about the 'greatness' of garri originally composed by Adekunle Abiola


Garri! Garri! Garri!

The noble daughter of cassava land

Garri!

The comforter of the African man

Garri! Garri!

The arewa of every student hostel

Who dare speaks ill of you?

Many you have cured from hangovers

Many you give hope of tomorrow

Garri!

Was it not you who united my people before amalgamation?

Garri! Who dare denies your sweet solemn song

when you dance through their throat

Where you not the one time mistress of Obasanjo

Legends have it that you inspired Wole's Nobel price

Why would Odewale not whistle home from the farm when he knows you await his arrival

Who dare question Iya Oloja why she sings your praise

Or is it not you that booms her store even without adverts?

Garri o! Garri I throw salute

Let Agbani come swear by Ogun

If she has never heard of you.

Your motherly love to the mother less, is beyond mathematical expression

Do you know Odetola Johnson

the son of my father's brother who just came back from overseas

He was graced and sewed a garment of laughter and mockery when he denied your existence

Garri!! Idi mi re!

Is it not you that goes beneath the water

and still identify yourself at the surface

Garri, is it not you that Amope calls on when Ajani is angry?

your well shaped curves accompanied with ewedu

Show me an angry man who doesn't smile

Garri! I take a bow

Or is it not you that keeps Ebuka going after the heavy lifting and all?

Garri, may your reign never end.

May you live long for my son's son to know you

May you continue to bring peace to our community

May your sons and daughters - garri lebu, garri ifo, garri ibo, garri ijebu, garri oni koko

Never cease to bless our homes

Ase!!!

Written by Adekunle Abiola.

https://alexloba./2015/11/13/an-encomium-of-garri