A lot of people are inherently shallow. They buy into the latest fad with utmost ease, spending freely and acting as if the newest craze is the best discovery in the history of man. Of course, issues of suitability, cost, consequences, etc. are rarely considered. We see evidence of this mostly in fashion (clothes, hairstyles, make up, beauty products) but it also extends to foods, diets, exercise and entertainment choices. Something that is particularly noticeable now is the manner in which the “new craze” phenomenon has successfully cut across the exercise/food/diet sectors. From quinoa and Brazilian drink to Zumba and the Atkins diet, people have embraced what corporations and clever marketing gimmicks have sold them.
Barbadians are enthusiastic about any new fad that emerges whether it is a diet, an exercise programme, a hairstyle or a fashion. What is ironic is that Barbadians are generally conservative when it comes to change and are resistant to anything outside of their comfort zone. It is almost as if they reject anything different unless it is superficial, dangerous or ridiculous. One therefore finds that weaves, fake eyelashes, fake nails, ugly chemical laden make up, processed foods, fast foods, hairstyles like the Mohawk, unhealthy diet fads and SUVS and other large vehicles are all embraced. Last year I popped into a popular beauty product store with my wife who had been told that a specific natural hair product was sold there. I saw half of an aisle filled with skin lightening creams. Unsurprisingly, the store is owned by non-blacks, in this case Arabs. I would not be in the least bit surprised if the skin lightening self-hate trend catches on here very soon. It is after all very popular in Jamaica and Jamaican dancehall music is a favourite of a large section of the Barbadian populace.
Which brings me to Moringa. Moringa is the new craze in Barbados. Almost everyone you speak to is touting the health benefits of the Moringa. People are spending large sums of money to purchase different parts of the Moringa tree, Moringa products and on seedlings to grow. The demand for Moringa has even led to the increasing problem of theft of Moringa plants!
The Moringa or Hikta nee Heeng as we called it when we were growing up was not well known in Barbados. There were 2-3 trees and the Gujaratis would take the pods to cook and eat. I therefore grew up eating Moringa. I remember Barbadians would scorn us and many would say that the Indians did “baku” or obeah with the Moringa. So it is rather ironic that this same tree is now touted as a savior because some American or European has said so. I actually find it annoying when people who I know are the type that would have turned their noses up at us for eating Moringa now come sermonising about the tree as if we know nothing about it.
I guess one can argue as one of my sister’s Hanifa does, that the best thing about this latest trend to be adopted by Bajans is that there will soon be an abundance of Moringa plants around the place that no one wants and which we can take advantage of.
Barbadians are enthusiastic about any new fad that emerges whether it is a diet, an exercise programme, a hairstyle or a fashion. What is ironic is that Barbadians are generally conservative when it comes to change and are resistant to anything outside of their comfort zone. It is almost as if they reject anything different unless it is superficial, dangerous or ridiculous. One therefore finds that weaves, fake eyelashes, fake nails, ugly chemical laden make up, processed foods, fast foods, hairstyles like the Mohawk, unhealthy diet fads and SUVS and other large vehicles are all embraced. Last year I popped into a popular beauty product store with my wife who had been told that a specific natural hair product was sold there. I saw half of an aisle filled with skin lightening creams. Unsurprisingly, the store is owned by non-blacks, in this case Arabs. I would not be in the least bit surprised if the skin lightening self-hate trend catches on here very soon. It is after all very popular in Jamaica and Jamaican dancehall music is a favourite of a large section of the Barbadian populace.
Which brings me to Moringa. Moringa is the new craze in Barbados. Almost everyone you speak to is touting the health benefits of the Moringa. People are spending large sums of money to purchase different parts of the Moringa tree, Moringa products and on seedlings to grow. The demand for Moringa has even led to the increasing problem of theft of Moringa plants!
The Moringa or Hikta nee Heeng as we called it when we were growing up was not well known in Barbados. There were 2-3 trees and the Gujaratis would take the pods to cook and eat. I therefore grew up eating Moringa. I remember Barbadians would scorn us and many would say that the Indians did “baku” or obeah with the Moringa. So it is rather ironic that this same tree is now touted as a savior because some American or European has said so. I actually find it annoying when people who I know are the type that would have turned their noses up at us for eating Moringa now come sermonising about the tree as if we know nothing about it.
I guess one can argue as one of my sister’s Hanifa does, that the best thing about this latest trend to be adopted by Bajans is that there will soon be an abundance of Moringa plants around the place that no one wants and which we can take advantage of.
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