Sep 18 2012 The African Macondo: the sand-eating

• arena

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  "In the market for selling on sand 25 MZN (70 cents). They also soap and soup ". "And do you prefer the chicken or fish soup?”, asked wryly. "That's very expensive, I have no money "

Excerpt from the book "One Hundred Years of Solitude" (magical realism)

"Nothing caught his eye, music except watches, every half hour with ojos looked scared, as if he expected to find somewhere in the air. Not able to eat for several days. No one understood how he had died of hunger until the Indians, they realized all through the house because her feet incessantly stealthy, Rebekah discovered that only liked to eat the damp earth of the courtyard and lime cakes tore the walls with nails. It was obvious that their parents, or whoever had raised, he had been reprimanded by the habit, because he practiced in secret and guilty conscience, trying to transpose eating rations when anyone seeing ".

Mozambique, Vilanculos, September 2012

The wooden gate opens palm leaf stealthy. A group of three women drained their bodies for a small crack and advances in the rush to this place, yesterday would be the place from which I come. Slowly and with heads bent toward the ground up the hill that leads to the kill, where sand is the color of blood. They carry in their hands a small cube. Crouch, collect clay hands inserted into your bucket and go through the same gate. There is some secrecy in their steps and their eyes, moments are bodies that could float.

Crouch, collect clay hands inserted into your bucket and go through the same gate

What do?, ask missed. "Cogen red earth carrying a pregnant woman who is on the other lodge. He likes to eat dirt ", I have Beni and Claudio, two waiters of Villas do Indico. ¿Eat arena? "Here they do many women and some men. I had to forbid my wife. One evening he came home and saw that it was in his capulana (fabric with Mozambican women as a skirt dress high) arena. I asked and he said it was to eat. I explained that it was very bad and she has stopped doing. Clear, I do not know when I'm home I do not know if she's back to eating when I'm working ", I explained Beni.

The next morning, speak with Ana, a worker from our lodge. You ate? Land during your pregnancy?, asked. Start laughing sheepishly, not answer. "Come, tell me if you did ", I insist. “Sí, ate itself ", I said between laughs. Why? "Because I liked. It is very good ", I explained. It leads me to where I removed the sand, claystone area that melts in your hands. Scratch on the rock, sand falls into their hands that gets in her mouth. "Do not do, not good ", I explain. "The same thing in the hospital say doctors, but I really like ", responds. Come over and then tells me: "In the market for selling on sand 25 MZN (70 cents). They also soap and soup ". "And do you prefer the chicken or fish soup?”, asked wryly. "That's very expensive, I have no money ", literally laughing and concludes with some sand in the corner of the lips.

Scratch on the rock, sand falls into their hands that gets in her mouth

The cooking system is simple. The sand should be red and somewhat compact. The sometimes cut with a knife and placed in the mouth tender chunks. In separate mouth with his tongue and saliva all small hard stones, left to one side and then spit. The rest is swallowed as a delicacy. · ”There are also many stores in Maputo (la avanzada capital) selling red soil in bags for consumption ", I explain. It is also used as a pacifier for newborns and is considered a way to attract good spirits to protect the child.

All this behavior, also occurs in various parts of the world, is a mental disorder and food generically called "pica", which is to ingest nutritious substances in the diverse nature. In the case of earth-eating and is known as geophagy is a widespread practice among pregnant women and children. Some Mozambican land eat during pregnancy because it helps with pregnancy nausea and diarrhea and they believe it has nutrients beneficial giving land for baby. But, "Pica may cause effects on the baby because the fact of eating inedible substances during pregnancy can prevent the body from absorbing the minerals and nutrients it needs for its development. Following the lack of these minerals and nutrients, the baby does not get adequate food and cause birth complications, eg, the child is born with underweight, or even that the child was born dead ".

In the case of earth-eating and is known as geophagy is a widespread practice among pregnant women and children

Somehow, the land becomes an impulse like eating chocolate that many women have in the West. I look at the top of our lodge. He stared at the red dirt that accumulates as a cake cream on the side. I look at the gate. Gone are the sand-eating. Then, back to reread "One Hundred Years of Solitude" and I remember that phrase that says García Márquez: "What in Europe called magical realism here call it habit". In Africa also.