Jun 18, 2023
Veiled chef spotlights the place of Muslim women in the household
Sherifa Yunus Olokodana advanced a love for cooking throughout her pre-teen years in the Eighties while she and her mom may want to watch a famous Nigerian cooking display, Maggi Kitchen, hosted through Aunty Funmi (Princess Deborah Funmilayo Namabiri).
“It changed into Aunty Funmi that made me in reality want to cook dinner. It is first-rate funny that I’m doing something completely distinct from what Aunty Funmi did, she was using Maggi cubes and I certainly do not do this,” she stated.
Transitioning to a Healthier Diet:
When she and her youngsters started out experiencing commonplace health center visits, Sharifa decided to make certain that their food regimen stepped forward.
“I stopped tins, cans, and packaged meals and became to natural seasoning after getting to know approximately MSG [monosodium glutamate] and its many risks,” she stated.
Exploring Natural Spice Alternatives:
Olokodana started searching out healthful alternatives. A lack of herbal spices within the Nigerian marketplace pushed her to learn how to make them by the use of herself, and she or he or he modified into delighted with the results.
Although Olokodana become aware that humans had been used to cooking with bouillon cubes, she emerge as decided to share her experience, so she began online with a platform referred to as Nira Land.
“I went to Nira Land and asked, ‘Do you determined Nigerians would be geared up to consume meals cooked clearly, seasoned glaringly without the use of the ordinary bouillon cubes?’ And a whole lot of them had been making a laugh of me,” she said.
But one first-class remark modified Olokodana’s global all of the time.
“The man stated, ‘Well, you don’t recognize what would possibly become of this. Don’t be aware of the naysayers. Why don’t you try it, and see if it will be artwork? I imply you don’t lose a few elements from trying. See if it simply works.’ And I determined to take that lone voice and work on doing that,” she stated.
Sharing the Journey with Others:
She started with Whatsapp, wherein she created organization sports and free lessons showing people the manner to put together dinners using natural spices and shared recipes.
“I commenced telling them how they will cook dinner clearly, however, humans didn’t accept it as true with that. They took each one of a kind aspect from the class however no longer the natural spice recipes.”
To completely persuade them, Olokodana devised what she may want to name a meet-up kitchen wherein she could invite people to her house to look at what she modified into doing.
“I referred to as See, Taste, and Savour. So I will tell them you may see it when we make it together, you'll flavor it, you'll scent it after which you can take pleasure in it, and those are like, wow, that is real. This is honestly first-rate,” stated the chef.
Cooking with Sherifah: Influencing Change
What helped her convince people to change to her cooking display referred to as Cooking with Sherifah, which she commenced in 2022 and shared on her Instagram web page. Although it became now not her intention, it helped her herbal spice employer, Sherry’s Mama’s Delight.
“I in particular invite influencers and online celebrities to my studio kitchen to cook dinner for them using the natural seasonings, in order that they truly taste the food. Our challenge is to change the area one meal at a time,” she described.
They consist of Rayo Ahenmokhai, a web public decide known as Lagos Housewife, and Chris, the host of the YouTube channel, Authentic Travelling.
Sharing her content material online has attracted a loyal following, collectively with Layo Bankole from Lagos, who has been the usage of Sherry’s Mama’s Delight seasonings for four years.
“There is that this lady I observe online, Lagos Housewife, she does a chunk of cooking. I noticed her point out it in a video so I idea ok allow’s supply it an attempt to I’ve been stuck on it considering that then,” Layo said. “It has become without a doubt awesome, the meals would taste distinct from the ones you’re used to, it has a very natural taste”, she introduced. “For me proper now it's miles very difficult to eat out.”
Isioma Ogunwale is every other patron that came at some point of Sherry’s Mama’s Delight online. Although she bought the seasonings, she stored the used synthetic flavors at times until her physician instructed her that she had high blood stress and had to make modifications.
“It changed into then once I took it absolutely severely and I taught actually all people inside the house a manner to use the SMD [Sherry’s Mama’s Delight] herbal spices,” Isioma stated.
“It has been a terrific enjoyment. I even have skilled unique spices and I turn out to be able to certainly take away synthetic seasonings from my weight loss program,”
Recognizing the Health Benefits:
Amrane Manel, a nutritionist in Biskra, Algeria, explains that even though MSG, additionally referred to as E621, isn't a poisonous food additive, overconsumption can lead to severe health problems.
“It is higher to move to decrease again to bio-primarily based totally merchandise, made with steam, homemade spices and avoid canned meals and preservatives.”
Amrane stated there are strategies in which MSG may have an effect on someone’s health, a few right now and others through the years. “People who consume a number of MSG are likely to have excessive blood strain, excessive itchiness and immoderate sweating, dizziness, and migraines.
“What Sharifa is doing is a notable detail due to the fact first, it creates employment opportunities, mainly for stay-at-home girls, secondly you're eating something home made,” Amrane said.
Olokodana’s biggest challenge became the mistreatment she received due to the fact she wears the niqāb, which covers her face. The abuse ranged from people verbally insulting her to human beings flipping her niqāb off in public.
“It modified into very hard on me, I had extreme and severe anxiety assaults. I stopped going out at that time. I needed to see a clinical doctor,” she said.
She refused to reveal her identity to her enthusiasts for a long time, due to this mistreatment.
“I never did any films, I only did audios, sometimes I featured my husband and my youngsters, however, I in no way confirmed myself,” stated the chef. “I became involved people should prevent buying due to the fact I had customers of a large variety.”
But all of it took a turn in January 2021 while Olokodana subsequently determined to speak in confidence to her followers.
“I determined it became time for me to have the center and audacity to show the face at the back of the brand and inform all and sundry that if you don’t want my logo you could go to the following one.”
Olokodana published a seven-minute video of herself explaining her brand and journey to herbal seasoning.
“I bear in thought I changed into scared. The day I posted it I have become nearly shaking, I should slightly visit social media”, she delivered.
But the response became particularly powerful.
Empowering Women and Changing Perceptions:
“I got a number of exquisite phrases, human beings telling me they had been very proud even non-Muslims,” stated Olokodana. “The growth in my industrial business enterprise from displaying the face at the back of the brand until now has been massive.”
For Olokodana, it’s essential to change the narrative regarding ladies who opt to earn a living from home and be housewives and Muslim ladies who put on the niqāb.
“I wanted to trade the repute quo and say that I can be domestic as a housewife and run a successful commercial enterprise, being domestic does no longer make me useless.”
Recognition and Success:
In early 2023, Olokodana become invited to wait for Business Day, which recognizes and celebrates up-and-coming small and medium-sized businesses. During the event, her organization, Sherry’s Mama’s Delight, became honored as one of each of Nigeria’s hundred quickest-growing SMEs, making her the handiest female in a niqab to get hold of the award that night time. — chicken tale company