The month of Nsenene!!!! (Grasshoppers)

The Baganda, a cultural group that dominates central Uganda named their months according to seasons, surrounding and events in history some of which include folk tales; for example the month of June is named "Ssebo Aseka". This was because of an interesting story of a man who ate maize and died but the position that he died in seemed as if he was laughing so people thought he had died laughing. This is a story that old people have told and it has been passed on from generation to generation. November is the month when there happen to be many grasshoppers. When i was a little girl i was told that the grasshoppers would hide and then wait for November to come out when they were in excess. Of course I later on grew up and realised it was because of the breeding patterns that this season was recognised as grasshopper season.

Right now as you pass many villages and towns, bright lights are shone onto iron sheets that reflect the light and attract the grasshoppers. These iron sheets are supported by disused oil drums and in areas where people do not have the drums they use sacks and grasshoppers just slide into the sacks and drums after being attracted by the bright lights and sliding off the iron sheets. In the morning you see sacks being transported to the centre of the city in markets, shops and these are really sold depending on the efforts that the people harvesting the grasshoppers used. This is a delicancy in Uganda and you will find many people enjoying them. The wings and legs are stripped off and then they are fried or boiled and sold.

If you are in Uganda in November or any time in March-April, you can try out these delicious insects that make everyone look forward to November. You may find that they will be the reason that you come back to Uganda in November next year.

                                          grasshoppers being fried.