Kuin and Kadang

Kadang and kuin

The most commonly eaten meal here is composed of two elements: a stiff porridge, called "kuin" in Dinka, and a sauce or "kadang." The porridge is usually made with sorghum or maize flour. The kadang is made with various combinations of two or three main ingredients. Some of the basic ones are fresh or powdered okra, peanut paste, sesame paste, tomato paste, onions, macaroni, chunks of meat, chunks of dried fish, spinach or similar kinds of greens, or leaves of certain plants.

The person eating breaks off pieces of kuin and dips them into the kadang, as you will see in the video below. You will notice that the sauce is rather slimy because it has okra in it. The Dinka really like this slimy texture, but I must admit I still haven't developed a taste for it. If I ever do, you'll know I've really become "Dinka-ized"!