Interviewer(s): I004
Interviewee(s): P480

I004: My mother I would like to know how old are you or in which year were you born?

P480: I was born in 1977.

I004: 1977?

P480: Eeeeh

I004: Mother in the year 1977 when you were born, which activities were taking place by that time?

P480: By the time I was born I found people were cultivating, they were keeping animals, and the ones who were trading were trading.

I004: Are you able to remember the month in which you were born?

P480: I do not know the month.

I004: The year?

P480: 1977.

I004: 1977?

P480: Mmmm.

I004: Okay mother, which village, district or province were you brought up in the time you were born?

P480: I was born in Misima village and grew up in the same village and I was married and come to the village of Kibaya.

I004: Misima in which District?

P480: Handeni District.

I004: Misima is in which Ward?

P480: Misima Ward.

I004: And in which Region?

P480: Tanga Region.

I004: Okay, mother I would like to know the structure of your family by the time you were born. I mean was it a family whereby you were living the children, father and mother without relatives or how were you living?

P480: We were living with the father and mother but the father died by the time I was big girl.

I004: But was your father alive by the time you were still young?

P480: My father was there.

I004: Did you live together with other relatives?

P480: In our home? We were living near them in the same area but everyone was in their homestead.

I004: What do you mean by saying the same area? Does it mean you were living in the same homestead or one house is here and the other one is there?

P480: Some of us were living in the same homestead and others were living in other area.

I004: You were living in the same homestead?

P480: Eeeeh.

I004: Who are of the people you were living with in your homestead?

P480: My grandmother, uncle’s aunty and cousins.

I004: Were you living with them?

P480: Eeeeh,

I004: And after the mother had cooked the food how were you eating that food?

P480: We were eating together in the same house.

I004: You eat in the same house?

P480: Eeeeh.

I004: Okay, what about the responsibilities in the family by the time you were living with your family? how were the roles and duties distributed among yourselves staring with adults in the family what were they doing?

P480: The main responsibility was looking after the cows.

I004: The men were looking after the cows?

P480: They were looking after the cows.

I004: Apart from looking after the animals what else were they doing?

P480: The other activity was farming.

I004: How old were the men who were concerned with looking after the animals and farming?

P480: The men aged twenty five years to thirty those were our brothers.

I004: Apart from the two activities, which other activities were for the big men?

P480: Their work was that one of looking after the cows and farming.

I004: What about on the side of women? What were their activities?

P480: The activities of the girls was helping the household chores and also sometimes going to the farm but in most cases it was the household chores.

I004: Mother, what do you mean when you say household chores?

P480: Fetching water, cutting firewood, cooking, washing utensils.

I004: What about on the side of the mature women? What were their responsibilities?

P480: The mature women were going to the farm, they were fetching water, and they were cutting firewood and cooking for the children.

I004: The girls were not cooking even in a single day?

P480: They were cooking.

I004: What was the difference between the duties of the women and the girls?

P480: There was no any difference, they were all the same. They were helping one another. If she goes to get the firewood the mother was not going, if they go to get water the mother was doing something else or she would relax.

I004: And what about the responsibilities of the father by that time? Which were the responsibilities?

P480: The father's responsibilities were farming and also looking after the cows.

I004: What was the difference between the father's responsibilities and the elder brother's responsibilities?

P480: The difference was seeking money, my father would look for money and if there is no food he would look for food that is the difference.

I004: Okay, I would like to know how many children you were in your family?

P480: We were nine children.

I004: Nine children?

P480: Mmmm.

I004: And how many people were you in the household?

P480: I do not understand that one.

I004: What don’t you understanding?

P480: I do not understand how many people were there in the area we were living?

I004: It is not the area, I mean in your household your family the people you are related to

P480: The people we are related to,

I004: Eeeeh your family and also other people you were living with in that homestead?

P480: Eee , in the same homestead I do not understand.

I004: Okay, and in your family of nine children how many managed to go to school?

P480: In our family we are all educated, we have attended school up to class seven.

I004: Okay, mother can you explain to me your eating system in your family by that time you were young, I would like to know the types of foods were you frequently eating?

P480: We were eating ugali, porridge, kande, these were the foods.

I004: Which other foods were you frequently eating?

P480: There were no other types of foods apart from rice which we were not eating frequently.

I004: Apart from hardly eating rice, which other type of food were you eating rarely?

P480: There was no any other food apart from ugali.

I004: And which types of foods were eaten by special people? I mean probably the expectant mothers or only the women or were eaten only by the children?

P480: We do not have those foods, people eat all together because there were no bananas here they are scarce and are rarely found because they are brought in the markets once in a week but we do not have plenty probably one boils the bananas and takes with tea but they are not very many. You cannot depend on them for food.

I004: And how was your family get money to buy foodstuff and other needs in your household?

P480: My father was not involved in business and during the drought he could sell a cow and also selling milk.

I004: So you earn money after selling cows and milk?

P480: Yes selling cows and milk.

I004: What about farming?

P480: We would sell the cows and use the money for farming.

I004: And which food crops were you growing?

P480: We mostly planted maize,

I004: Apart from maize, which other crop were you growing?

P480: Only cassava and potatoes.

I004: And which types of foods were you buying?

P480: We could buy the foods if the season of maize was over. We could buy the maize and if you do not have you buy from your friend.

I004: What about the issue of rice? You told me people were rarely eating the rice?

P480: Eeeeh, people buy rice from the shops and markets, we do not grow in our place.

I004: And what about vegetables? How were you getting vegetables for use at home?

P480: We were buying vegetables at the shops, sardines, beans you will also get them at the market and probably you buy meat.

I004: And what about food from the forest? I mean the vegetables from the forests. Which vegetables and wild fruits were you using from the forest?

P480: There is the bitter lettuce, sweet potatoes leaves and another one called kungujuru those are the ones from the forest.

I004: Mother, by the time you were young who was concerned with decision making in your family, I mean decision such as you have cultivated and decide that you use that farm produce at home or you sell that farm produce so that you can get money, who was making such decision?

P480: My father.

I004: And who was coming up with the final decision?

P480: My father and mother.

I004: Who was making the final decision that this should happen?

P480: My father.

I004: And who was more concerned with buying of food at home?

P480: My father and if he did not buy he will give my mother money to buy food for the family.

I004: And what about on your side as children? Were you consulted in decision making?

P480: No.

I004: Mother, Let us continue with our conversation. I would like to know by that time you were young, what was the main indicator that a person either a girl or a boy has matured?

P480: You have said things like?

I004: Things that indicates that a person is fully grown or he graduate from being a boy to a man or a girl to a lady?

P480: They were seen that they have become big.

I004: How did you know?

P480: If it was the woman you could see that her breast has become big and she has now become a mature person and for the boy you will see changes in his body structure.

I004: What about the cultural activities such as the ceremonies? Was this one of the ways of showing that one has become mature person?

P480: They were danced the traditional dances.

I004: At what age was she danced for or what was indicating that she should be danced for?

P480: You will see her breast has become big and also when she starts having her menstruation period.

I004: What about men?

P480: For the men it you will see that he has become big and he has changed.

I004: What about you how was it when you knew that you were a grown up?

P480: By the time you grow and start your menstruation period the elders will decide how your initiation will be according to your traditions others stay indoors for seven or eight days or even two weeks and others are danced for.

I004: How was it on your side?

P480: I stayed indoors for seven days then danced for and released.

I004: And how was it after you were released?

P480: We just stayed because there was no much in education after completing standard seven.

I004: Okay, You told me you were living in Misima before you came to Kibaya isn’t it? So when was it?

P480: I came here in the year ninety (1990).

I004: What made you to come to Kibaya?

P480: I got married.

I004: You are married?

P480: eeee

I004: And who do you live with in your household?

P480: I live with Matumbo in my household.

I004: Whom do you live with?

P480: Matumbo.

I004: Matumbo?

P480: Eeeeh.

I004: Who is Matumbo?

P480: It is the father of my children.

I004: Who is he? Is he your husband?

P480: He is my husband.

I004: And don't you live with someone else probably he is your relative a child of your cousin?

P480: No.

I004: How many children do you have?

P480: I have nine children.

I004: Okay mother, which activity do you carry out in your household so that you can earn a living? Which activity do you depend on?

P480: We mostly depend on the cows and my husband has his own business in Misima.

I004: Which type of business does your husband have?

P480: He has his own machines.

I004: What are the machines used for?

P480: They are used for Milling and then looking after the animals. That is what he mainly depends on.

I004: Mother you have told me that what you depend on now is mainly the animal.

P480: Eee,

I004: And the father's business .This is what you depend on so that you can earn a living?

P480: Eeeeeh, in the past the cows were many and we depended on them by milking and selling the milk and this helped us and my husband did his own business. But in these days the cows have really died because of hunger. There are no cows they have migrated so we now depend on my husband business.

I004: What about the issue of growing crops?

P480: We grow crops, and we have harvested food.

I004: So this is not a main activity which you depend on?

P480: Yes, we were not depending on it. We were growing food for consumption but not food for business.

I004: Mother, if you compare the way you were living in the past and nowadays do you see any difference?

P480: There are changes because I now have my own family but in the past I was a child so I depend on my parents but nowadays I have my family who depend on me.

I004: And what about the changes in the way of life I mean the activities which you currently carry out so that you can earn a living? Is there any difference in the family you were living in the past and the family you are now living?

P480: All the duties are the same. There are extra duties because I do not trade, its only working in the farm during the planting season.

I004: What about the fact that in these days you mainly depend on keeping animals and business and in the past you depend on animal rearing and farming so what attract all these changes?

P480: Eeeeh, The way of life has changed.

I004: How has it changed?

P480: Because we used to sell cows and use the money to buy seeds and also to pay labour when it is planting and weeding seasons we also use the money to pay school fees and whatever children need in school and it was enough but these days there are no cows.

I004: You mean when you were in your father’s house or?

P480: No when I am already married.

I004: What?

P480: The cows were many and they were selling the cows and children were going to school, and were fully educated but in these days the cows have reduced in numbers.

I004: What about in your father's homes How was it?

P480: My father's life was a bit better but there are no cows now they have died and everyone has remained with a few cows.

I004: So I would like you to differentiate your father's way of life and how you live now with your husband.

P480: This one is a bit better it is not like the one in the past.

I004: Why are you saying its good?

P480: It is good because in the past people were depending on hard jobs so that they can get money but in these days if you have money you can employ people to dig and plant at the farm by use of the tractors and not hands nowadays they no longer go to the farm to plant we only go to weed and if you have money you can as well employ people and pay them.

I004: And how has this new way of life affected you and your family?

P480: For now I have seen this way of life is good and also children are not suffering.

I004: And nowadays what are the responsibilities of men and women in your household?

P480: For now they are there.

I004: And what are men's responsibilities and duties in your household?

P480: Is to work and earn some money if the child is going to school he is able to cater for that and, if we want our farm to be weeded he is also responsible for that.

I004: What about the responsibilities a woman?

P480: We just sit. We do not have any responsibility.

I004: What do you do?

P480: We do the household chores

I004: Which are these duties?

P480: It is just waking up in the morning, sweeping, washing utensils, cooking for the children who are going to school and the other activities we do if there is work in farm we go and do it and if you get someone to help you cook for him and staying with the children. My husband is the one who is responsible for the school fees and also to provide food for the family.

I004: What about the responsibilities of boys and girls in your household?

P480: They are helping their father to look after the cows and also help in the business and others are in school.

I004: What about the girls?

P480: The young girls are in school and when they come back home they help the mother in household chores.

I004: Is there any difference in the duties of boys and girls of nowadays as compared to those days when you were growing together with your siblings?

P480: There are differences.

I004: What are they?

P480: Nowadays children are going to school and after school they find you have already bought firewood and water even if he does not go to school he does not go to fetch firewood, that is the difference of today's life and in the past.

I004: Do you think there are some challenges which are affecting the children in the changes which have taken place?

P480: There isn't.

I004: There isn't? What about benefits?

P480: There are benefits. If he has not gone for water he will do another work. He will clean the house, and also she will prepare food for the family.

I004: Okay, Mother when were here February this year we saw that most of the people in this community, change the way they prepare food, and they have stopped eating the traditional food they are now eating foreign foods which they emulate from other people for example Maasai community are now eating fish, meat, chicken and other foods such as chips enriched with eggs.

P480: Yes they now eat the food you mentioned.

I004: And in the past they did not use to eat?

P480: They were taking porridge and milk.

I004: And the preparation of food has changed. Are the people frying or boiling?

P480: They are frying food.

I004: They are now frying? My question is what are the changes you have seen as a result of the way people eat nowadays which is caused by the type of food they eat and also how the food is prepared?

P480: Changes are nowadays you can buy bananas and fry them and it becomes a full meal unlike in the past where you boil bananas and eat them together with porridge or tea as breakfast.

I004: Another change?

P480: The other change is nowadays when vegetables and other food is prepared; she fry them and eat unlike in the past where they used to boil and add salt and eat

I004: What do you mean by frying, If you say fry, how does she fry?

P480: She puts oil in a pan then she fry onions and tomatoes and other ingredient together with vegetables and salt but in the past they used to boil and add salt only.

I004: Which type of oil do you use?

P480: Korie but we changed and started buying kimbo.

I004: Okay .What about men way of eating? How has it changed?

P480: The food which we cook here is just the same.

I004: In Kibaya community? How was the men's way of eating?

P480: In Kibaya, The father eats the same food as children.

I004: I would like to know what brought these changes?.

P480: I do not know whether it is the education that makes people to change.

I004: Apart from education, what else has made people change what they eat?

P480: I do not know, because in the past people were suffering and in these days they are progressing well, you will now find that people have changed the way they used to prepare food and do another way or prepare food which is not common in this village.

I004: What else has made the new way come into the village? That is what I would like to know.

P480: I do not know. Maybe it is the people who have been educated.

I004: Earlier you told me about development? What do you mean by development?

P480: It is the people understanding what to do.

I004: How did this understanding come to people?

P480: I do not know may be changes in the way of life. In the past people were eating ugali but in these days a person would buy his rice and cook.

I004: What about interacting with other tribes? Other tribes have come to live here isn’t the reasons?

P480: It is true that it has changed. The visitors have now changed our behaviour.

I004: How have they changed your behaviour?

P480: Because we have imitated our visitors’ behaviours.

I004: If you say that you have imitated their behaviour, which behaviour have you imitated from them?

P480: May be changing the food because we did not know that the bananas can be eaten as a full meal in the past but nowadays we know so these are new things to us.

I004: And what about the issue of the children going to school? Do you think this is a reason of change in the way of eating in your community?

P480: When a child goes to school he come across so many things so if he find something new of course he/she will brings them at home and try to explain how they were prepared, that is why I said being educated changes life to be good.

I004: Okay mother. What about the availability of food?

P480: I do not know whether it is changing because when the children go they come back when they have already changed their way of life from the past. They come with what they have seen there. So when they bring it you find that you have changed.

I004: And what about the availability of food? Do you think this is one of the reasons that contribute to the changes of the food people eat?

P480: It is also the cause if there is no food at home it means you will go and buy food in the shop or market the food that is available.

I004: And what about the issue of food discrimination? Like Kididio (porridge prepared as relish). If one takes kididio is termed to be poor. Do you think this is one of the reasons?

P480: Okay. It can be the reason.

I004: How?

P480: Because a person can buy food which is available at the shop and prepare for the children to eat but it is not what she/he wishes her family to have but it is because that is what is available and also that is what he/she can afford.

I004: Mother, we were talking about food discrimination such that if a person is seen eating a particular type of food is laughed at. Do you think this is a reason which has made the people to change the way of eating?

P480: Yes, it also contributes, you can eat that food because you say that these types of foods should not be eaten by that time and after you see that it is bad you change and prepare another food.

I004: What makes you know that this one is bad? Why does this situation come across and which types of foods don't you use?

P480: For example, others take the fermented porridge nowadays most of the people have stopped taking it.

I004: What do you mean by saying fermented porridge?

P480: In the past people were using a mortar and pestle (kinu na mchi) to grind, so we used pound a little bit then you soak for some days then you grind again until it becomes a flour so you us that floor to cook porridge with, you can even use the flour to cook ugali.

I004: And what is the reason that made them stop doing that?

P480: May be because of development so nowadays they now take maize to posho mill to be milled so they no longer grind by use of the hands.

I004: For example if a person cooks the fermented porridge, how will you perceive that person?

P480: We will see that he has done something of the past.

I004: What about the other community members how will they take it?

P480: They will eat.

I004: What will they say if they see that person?

P480: Of course they will comment on that because the issue of fermenting porridge is outdated that is why you cannot see the people fermenting and grounding by use mortar and pestle has reduced.

I004: What about the easiness of cooking food don’t you think it is a reason that makes you eat what you eat meaning if you want to cook kande, it uses a lot of firewood so you decide to change probably to cook ugali or porridge do you think this could be a reason which is making you to change what you eat?

P480: Yes it is a reason, you can say that you should cook kande and you will end up cooking ugali and sardines even if there is a little firewood.

I004: Which other reason do you think can cause that?

P480: The other reason is when you are cooking kande you need to be there to add some water so it keeps you in one place so you do not do other works.

I004: Okay, mother you have mentioned very many reasons which contribute to changes in the way of eating, you said availability of food, children going to school, interaction of tribes, education, the simplicity and easiness of cooking food and also availability of the firewood, in all these reasons, which one do you think is the major reason for the changes in the food system?

P480: I think it is the availability of food because most of the time you are expected to eat ugali and you don’t flour in the house so you will go to the shop and buy rice cook and eat with your children.

I004: Apart from the availability of the food, what is the second reason between education, interaction of the tribes, children going to school, the simplicity and easiness of coking food and availability of firewood?

P480: I only see it is development has made the people change.

I004: Development?

P480: Mmmm.

I004: What do you mean by saying development?

P480: I mean those who are educated they have developed and somehow they no longer suffer and if they suffer it is because they do not have money.

I004: Which is the third reason? We are talking about the tribe's interaction, children going to school, easiness of cooking the food and availability of firewood? Which one do you think is the third reason?

P480: The reason?

I004: It is important and it has caused the changes to occur?

P480: Interaction with tribes.

I004: Why are you saying interaction of tribes?

P480: Because other tribes have come and they have changed our behaviour some of us did not know if bananas can be prepared and consumed as full meal so other tribes which came here had enlighten us cause we were asking ourselves why are they buying many bananas every day and we were concerned where they were taking them so we discover they were cooking them because it is a good food so even us we are now buying and cooking because it is food and when the children eat bananas they are satisfied .

I004: Which one do you think is the fourth reason which has caused the changes between the children going to school, easiness in cooking the food together with the usage of the firewood?

P480: Now availability and usage of the firewood is contributing. We used to get firewood in a short while but in these days there is no firewood in fact the supply of firewood is limited so you now change to cook simple food which you can use few firewood.

I004: And which is the last reason which has caused the changes in the way of eating, between children going to school and easiness of cooking that food which one do you think is the final and least cause of the change in what people eat?

P480: I think children going to school because when they come back from school they come with the new way of preparing food so they teach us also

I004: Okay. I am thankful for your good answers. We will continue with our conversation. Mother you have mentioned very many things which are causing changes in the food we eat, I would like to know if these changes have affected you and your family in general?

P480: The changes have not badly affected us.

I004: So what have you gained from these changes?

P480: We have gained a lot for example now we know how to prepare bananas and take with tea or porridge and when they eat that for breakfast they are satisfied so they will eat again the evening unlike before we had to prepare breakfast lunch and dinner so it is even cheaper

I004: Thank you, mother I would like us to talk about the issue of milk.

P480: Okay.

I004: What is the importance of milk to you and to your family?

P480: Milk is food and also business because you can sell milk and earn money.

I004: If you say that milk is food. How does it help?

P480: If you prepare tea with milk in the morning it is heavy and if the children come from school they take it and they are satisfied until in the evening and also if you boil milk and give them they will not be hungry for some time.

I004: What is the major importance of milk?

P480: Milk helps in the body.

I004: What does it help in the body?

P480: It helps on the side of the blood and also it has vitamins and also it a source of income because if milk is a lot and you are able to sell you will gain some money and use the money to buy flour, soap and also clothes so milk helps

I004: And how is the milk important in your community, or in your culture or in your tribes? How is the milk important?

P480: In our family milk is consumed as relish, milk is business and milk helps cause it is a source of income.

I004: If you say milk is a relish, how do you prepare it for usage?

P480: We ferment milk and use it with ugali as relish and if you do not like fermented milk you can as well boil milk is called fresh milk and consume it with ugali as relish.

I004: Okay, mother I would also like to know your views concerning the milk, do you think milk is very, average or less important if you compare those days and nowadays

P480: Okay. I think it is very important.

I004: It is very important?

P480: Eeee.

I004: If you compare these days and in the past?

P480: Eeee.

I004: Why do you say that?

P480: I say that because I have seen that milk is a good business because you milk in the morning and sell and also milk in the evening and sell and the children do not have any problem.

I004: What about in the past?

P480: There was a lot of milk but it was not a good business like in these days.

I004: What do you think made milk to be a business?

P480: For now I do not know.

I004: And why is it that people buy too much milk?

P480: Eeeee.

I004: Why is it that people buy too much milk?

P480: I do not know may be it nourishes the body or I do not think whether it is because of drinking, I do not understand.

I004: Mother when we were here last we heard that most of the community members say that milk availability has changed.

P480: Eeeee.

I004: Even the price has changed.

P480: Eeee.

I004: I would like to know the main reasons of making the price and availability of milk to change for now?

P480: It has changed because of drought. There are no places to graze the cows so they do not get satisfied, visitors came and bought very big chunk of land so there are no places to graze anymore and that is why the milk has reduced. If you have cows, where will you graze them? There are no grazing lands because every land is used for farming.

I004: In the issue of drought, you have said this is also a reason, why is it that the drought has caused the milk to reduce for now?

P480: The drought has persisted there no pastures for cows to feed on everywhere is dry that is why milk production has reduced.

I004: Which other reason has contributed to the changes in production of milk apart from drought and unavailability of grazing lands?

P480: Cows have died because of drought that is why milk is scarce nowadays.

I004: What has made the cows to die nowadays?

P480: It is because of hunger.

I004: Which other reason has contributed to lack of milk for now?

P480: There is no any other reason. The reason is that cows are not satisfied and there was drought for a long time so there is no pasture everything is dry that is why cows are dying.

I004: According to what you have mentioned drought, lack of grazing areas and you have also mentioned for me that the cows have reduced because most of them died, I would like to know the main reason which causes reduction of milk production and also the price of milk?

P480: There is no grazing land.

I004: That is the first reason?

P480: mmm

I004: The second reason which you think of?

P480: In the previous year the cows were affected and they died.

I004: In between the past scorching sun and the unavailability of grazing areas, which one do you think is the main reason that caused the milk to reduce?

P480: There are no grazing areas because the cows were many and there are no grazing areas.

I004: And in between the scorching sun and death of the cows, which one do you think is the second reason causing lack of milk?

P480: It is the death of the cows.

I004: In between the scorching sun and death of the cows, which one do you think is the second reason?

P480: The second reason is death of the cows. The first one is that there is no grazing land then the hunger and the cows were affected by the hunger that is why they were dying last year.

I004: Okay.

P480: Mmmm.

I004: Mother, I am grateful because of your good answers. I would also want us to briefly talk about buying of foods.

P480: Okay.

I004: Who buys food in your household?

P480: It is the father, my husband

I004: Who goes to the market to buy food?

P480: It is me.

I004: And which foods do you buy in the markets or in other places?

P480: We buy Maize.

I004: And apart from maize, which other food do you buy?

P480: Probably rice, bananas.

I004: Who decides on the amount of money to be used to buy food at home?

P480: It is the father my husband.

I004: The father is the one who makes the decision?

P480: Yes.

I004: And who else is involved in making these decisions?

P480: It is me.

I004: What about children?

P480: It is father and mother.

I004: Are the children involved in decision making or they are not involved?

P480: Decision making such as food and the minor ones they are not involved.

I004: And who makes the final decision on the certain amount of money to be used to buy food?

P480: It is the father.

I004: I would like to know the strategy you were using to buy food for you family both in the past when you were young and nowadays when you have your own family may be were you involved in any way?

P480: We were not involved, may be you will be told to take maize to the posho mill but going to buy maize we were not involved.

I004: What kind of food were you buying when you were young?

P480: Maize only.

I004: Any other food?

P480: No, perhaps seasonal food such us cassava you buy from your neighbour and rice we used to buy at the shop.

I004: If you compare distance between your current place to the market and in the past when you were in your fathers place to the market which one do you far?

P480: In the past people used to live where the farms were and it is very far to the market because markets are in the village so it depends where one lives.

I004: Mother, we have talk about maize and cassava what about vegetables.

P480: Vegetables are there in plenty and a bunch is Tsh 200. in the past it was Tsh 50. And most of the people grow vegetables may be if it is foodstuff which you can buy at the shop.

I004: Like which foodstuff?

P480: Like beans, sardines, African eggplant and tomatoes.

I004: How much were these food in the past as compared with nowadays?

P480: In the past it was cheaper with 100 shillings you will get enough vegetable for the family but nowadays is from 200 to 500 and above.

I004: What about buying of oil if you compare in the past and nowadays?

P480: In the past it was cheaper a portion that used to be 5 shillings now we buy at 200 shillings.

I004: What about availability of food?

P480: Food was available both in the past and nowadays you can buy at the market or shops.

I004: What types of foods that is available in your market nowadays as compared to those days when you were young?

P480: It is still the same food we used to have in the past. Bananas was there but people did not know if can be consumed as a full meal.

I004: And what about food that was available in the past but nowadays is not available?

P480: Mhh it is still the same.

I004: Mother I would like to know what makes you cook the food you cook?

P480: I may decide today I will cook ugali and may be beans or bitter lettuce then I will prepare for them.

I004: So what make you prepare that particular food or makes prepare today beans tomorrow bitter lettuce?

P480: Because the food is available at home, but if we do not have then and there we will ask my husband to buy for us food.

I004: Apart from availability of food what else do you consider?

P480: I may decide to prepare for them a certain food like cassava mixed with beans so basically is it my decision or I may decide to cook once a day or twice it all depend on me

I004: What is the other reason?

P480: May be I do not have maize flour so I may decide to prepare cassava and beans instead of ugali.

I004: What else?

P480: May be I feel like eating a particular food so I will prepare it.

I004: What is the other reason?

P480: So you can cook because you feel like eating that food or availability.

I004: Mother, you mentioned some of the reasons of eating the food you eat, one is availability of food, two is the easiness and simplicity of its preparation three is appetite so which among these is the main reason of cooking the food you cook?

P480: Easiness and simplicity of cooking that particular food.

I004: And what is the second reason?

P480: May be I feel like eating a particular food.

I004: Mother why availability of food is your last reason?

P480: Sometimes you have food in the house but you feel like eating another food or you cook a particular food because it is simple to prepare.

I004: Mother, I would like to know when you were young and nowadays you have your own family did you ever experience or heard of hunger and what did you do to overcome it?

P480: It was there.

I004: Mhhh when was it? Which year?

P480: I do not remember the year but it happened.

I004: What kind of food which was not available when there was hunger?

P480: Our main food is ugali so there was no maize.

I004: What about nowadays did you experience hunger?

P480: Yes, last year there was drought so people did not harvest.

I004: For how long did hunger last?

P480: Almost one year, there are some people who harvested one sack of maize, some half sack, some did not harvest anything.

I004: What were the reasons for hunger when you were young?

P480: I do not know the reasons.

I004: And what about now?

P480: It was because of persistent dry season from April there were no rain.

I004: What measures did you use to overcome hunger when you were young living in your father’s house.

P480: I do not know because my father was responsible for that.

I004: And what about last year how did you overcome it?

P480: Last year my husband was providing food for us I know it was tough for him because we could not manage to sell cows.

I004: How were children and also adult feeding and how many times in a day when there was hunger?

P480: We were eating in the morning and in the evening.

I004: And what about last year?

P480: It was bad we were feeding once a day.

I004: And what type of food were you eating?

P480: Porridge or ugali or bananas if you are lucky.

I004: And how was your portion like was it big portion or small portion?

P480: Small portion.

I004: Is it in the past or last year?

P480: Last year.

I004: What about in the past when you were living with your parents?

P480: Those days you were given food so I was not aware that it was small or not

I004: And who was the victim of hunger then?

P480: I think my father was the victim of hunger because he was the one providing for us.

I004: What about last year who was the victim of hunger?

P480: Still man of the house is a major victim of hunger because he is the one providing food for the family, the mother is just that she will be hungry the whole day until evening when the husband comes with food then she will prepare food for the family.

I004: How has hunger affected you and your family?

P480: People have been affected because they were not eating enough food for their body children were really affected because they were not having enough food.

I004: Who were the major victim of hunger between parents and children?

P480: both of them were affected but children are at home waiting for the father to provide food and father is busy trying to work hard to provide for the family.

I004: What measures did you use to overcome hunger when you were young living in your father’s house and also last year?

P480: I really do not know how they overcome it I was young I didn’t know what is happening.

I004: Okay mother, I am grateful because of your cooperation. We are almost coming to the end of our conversation but I would like us to add few questions before we conclude. I would like to know, how people in this community get to know about the issues of food and nutrition so that they can be healthy.

P480: Mhh we do not get that education may be if you go clinic

I004: Mother, have you ever received this kind of education about health, food and nutrition, healthy eating?

P480: Yes through clinic sometimes they advise you to eat this and that kind of food or to give your baby healthy food.

I004: How has this knowledge helped you?

P480: It made me change how I prepare food for my baby example nowadays I add oil in my baby’s porridge and I give my children varieties of food and also fruits something which I did not do before.

I004: Do you think the education you have received is important to you?

P480: It is important because I have changed what I used to give my children no I give them what I was advised like to give them fruit prepare variety of food and also to add oil in the porridge.

I004: Have you ever practice what you have been advised?

P480: Yes,

I004: And what was the outcome?

P480: My children are well fed and they are looking healthy their skin colour is also good.

I004: How is the skin colour of a child who is not well fed look like?

P480: They look different their skin are rough and the colour is not appealing so you will know there something their missing.

I004: What is it that their missing?

P480: We were told to give them eggs and also boil for them milk and also rice.

I004: And when they eat those foods what do they get?

P480: Vitamin.

I004: Which type of vitamin do they get?

P480: I heard people say vitamin A, B so I do not know which is which.

I004: do you think the information about food and nutrition and healthy lifestyle is important and beneficial to you and your community.

P480: I think if you follow them you will benefit.

I004: Mother, and what do you think this education about food and nutrition should be brought to you and your community?

P480: You are the one who knows. All what we want is the knowledge.

I004: So how should we bring it to you and the whole community?

P480: May be you just come and teach us like the way you are doing now.

I004: So you want us to come to your individual houses or churches or schools or health centers or Mosques or in your groups?

P480: I think in our groups all what you need is to notify us people will come and I am sure they will benefit.

I004: What about schools, do you think if we teach your children in school the will make changes to you household?

P480: Ohh yes, because they will teach us so all of us will benefit.

I004: And what about broadcasting through radio or television or through videos do you think it will reach you?

P480: Yes if you have it you will get information.

I004: What about Mosque’s and churches do you think it will reach more people?

P480: Yes.

I004: Who do you suggest should be used to distribute the information?

P480: May be Village chairman.

I004: Okay, what about health centre?

P480: It is okay as long as people will be taught.

I004: Among the ones you have mentioned which methods do you think is reliable and convenient to most people in Kibaya village?

P480: I think health centre is good and as long as they will put sign posts so people will read.

I004: What about people who cannot read?

P480: There are people who can explain to them from health centre.

I004: What do you think is the reliable method which can reach most if not all people in Kibaya village?

P480: I think health centre and through Village chairman.

I004: Okay mother, thank you of your good answers, we have come to the end of our conversation, Thank you very much.

P480: You are welcome.