Egusi

thumb|Egusi seeds without shells
thumb|Egusi seeds with shells
**Egusi**, also spelled **egushi** (Yoruba: Ẹ̀gúṣí), are the protein-rich seeds of certain cucurbitaceous plants (squash, melon, gourd), Kibo ma á kpo k’í dẹ̀ kíkpò kpai ma á kpenyẹ́, k’afa ma kulo kpai dabù am’énú n’okpaka efu West African cuisine. "Ona uché-nwu ujẹwn kì amọnẹ amọ̀ dẹ̀dẹ, ì d’abọ̀ kpai  Yoruba culinary traditions.

Am’íkpélẹ́ ìgògò ì dẹ̀ kpa kpai kí dẹ̀ efufu; ìgbèlè mọ̀-ọ́ ì dẹ̀ bìbí abù efu-ẹ̀nẹ̀, aba kpai efufu n’okpaka che efu ìgògò lẹ..

"Am’onẹ-amọ̀ am’enẹ-nẹ efu odu lẹ, k’afa ma dọ̀ n’o nwu k’i dọ̀ n’okpaka kpai am’íkpélẹ́ colocynth,"Am’íkpélẹ́ n'okpaka kì dẹ̀ kpa kì dẹ́ bìbí dabù  watermelon, abù k'odu lẹ i dọ̀ efu am’íkpélẹ́ am’ujẹwn dẹdẹ kibo ma á lọ̀ n’anẹ  "Am’íkpélẹ́ ìgògò n’okpaka efu am’ujẹwn dẹdẹ, kpai ma dọ̀ kibo ma á n’enene-nẹ nwu kpai pumpkin "am’íkpélẹ́ omiyẹ́. N’okpaka, odu lẹ 'ìgògò' n’ukolo kpai am’ujẹwn mèjèjì lẹ (abù am’ujẹwn dẹdẹ kibo ma á lọ̀ n’anẹ) kibo ma á lọ̀ todun am’íkpélẹ́ nwu, abù k’odu lẹ i dọ̀ efu obo kibo ma á che kpai am’íkpélẹ́ lẹ kì amọnẹ amọ̀ dẹ dẹ efu West Africa.

Abù k’am’íkpélẹ́ ilẹ dẹ kpai ulo nwu che kuanẹ dẹdẹ. Am’anẹ n’okpaka kibo ma á kuko ìgògò n’o nwu che..."

Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Mali, kpaí  Cameroon.

"Am’enẹ-nẹ ujẹwn kibo ma á lọ̀ n’anẹ k’afa ma gba ìgògò gwi efu nwu che *[[Melothria sphaerocarpa]]* (syn. *Cucumeropsis mannii*) kpaí *[[Citrullus lanatus]]*.

## Etymology
The 'ẹ' means 'to', 'gun' means 'pound' or 'grind', and 'ṣi' means 'to open'; this etymology of 'egusi' soup, meaning 'to grind open', reflects the procedure used in its preparation.

Egusi stew is now widely eaten across large portions of West and Central Africa where it is known by various local names, many of which are variants of the word *egusi* itself. Some of the other names egusi goes by across the region include:

* Yoruba : Egusi / Egushi (Ẹ̀gúṣí)
* Hausa : Agusi, Agushi (via Yoruba)
* Twi : Akatowa
* Ga : Agushi, Egushi
* Igbo : Élìlì, Énìnì, Ekeke, Ahụ, Élìlè, Ilolo, Iroro, Éyìyè, Ogili, Nwanru, Ègwúsí (Onitsha Igbo; via Yoruba)
* Edo : Ogi, Ikpogi
* Ibibio, Efik : Íkpán, Ikon
* Fon : Gúsí
* Nupe : Epín, Epíngi, Paragi
* Urhobo : Ikpogri
* Tiv : Icegher
* Kikongo, Lingala : Mbika

## Usage

### Soups and stews
 Egusi seeds are used in making egusi soup; the soup is thickened with the seeds. *Melothria sphaerocarpa*, which egusi seeds are from, grows throughout central to western Africa and is used by different ethnic groups in these regions to prepare the soup. Egusi soup is a very popular soup in West Africa, with considerable local variations.  Besides the seeds, water, and oil, egusi soup typically contains leafy greens, other vegetables, seasonings, and meat. Leafy greens typically used for egusi soup include Efo Tete, scent leaf, okazi/afang (wild spinach), bitterleaf (onugbu), pumpkin leaf (ugu), uziza leaf, celosia and spinach. Other commonly used vegetables include tomatoes, okra and bell peppers. Typical seasonings include chili peppers, onions, salt and locust beans. Also commonly used ingredients are beef, goat, chicken, fish, periwinkle, shrimp or crayfish as sources of protein.

In Nigeria, egusi is common throughout the country, and the seeds are used in making stews and soups. The Igbo refer to it as "egwusi," a borrowed term from the original Yoruba word "egusi."

In Ghana, egusi is also called akatoa, egushi or agushi, and is used for soup and stew, most popularly in palaver sauce.

### Seed oil
Egusi seed oil contains linoleic acid (53%) and oleic acid (19%).

### Processing
In the late 1980s, the Government of Canada funded a project intended to develop a machine to help Cameroonians shell egusi seeds. A machine has also been developed in Nigeria to shell egusi.

## Gallery

Fáílú:A_Plate_of_Pounded_Yam_(Iyan)_served_in_Birmingham_UK.JPG|A plate of pounded yam and egusi soup
Fáílú:Egusi_and_bitter_leaf_soup..jpg|Egusi and bitter leaf soup
Fáílú:Egusi_powder_(lemon).jpg|Egusi powder with powdered lemon


## See also

* Egusi sauce
* Yoruba cuisine
* List of African dishes
* List of melon dishes and foods
* List of stews
* Pumpkin seeds
* Watermelon seed oil

## References