African Wildlife & Environment Issue 84 2023

FAUNA, FLORA & WILDLIFE

Where the sesame grew in great big patches on the farm, the easy to reach areas are where the locals would gather small handfuls of sesame seeds, saving them in a dark cool vessel by placing them into a hole of a hollowed out dried calabash pods which they would plug shut with a piece of carved acacia wood. These small calabashes were the perfect vessel to hold small seeds to carry back home with them which were then sprinkled over sorghum or mielie porridge. If the young

the ground where they would germinate with seasonal rains into the cycle of new sesame plants, these seedlings would be eaten by field mice and Guinea fowl. For the rest of us, one would be lucky to find the seedlings to pick for the pot. The season for sesame always a four month cycle of seed to harvest, approximately 130 days rain dependant. This cycle of events always made me think about how deliciously nutritious the whole

shoots or seedlings were harvested, then they were dried and added to the marogo. When roots were harvested from the sesame, they were made into a brew of tea as a remedy for cough, asthma, dizziness, anemia and as a general tonic. These roots were often hung up in bunches to dry for when they were needed. Young mothers would eat the seeds for milk production which aided in their own vitality and in the mother’s, milk was this sustenance for their growing babies’ bones, teeth and hair. While sesame is a valuable ancient crop, more research on sesame has been done to find that it is also taken to avoid cravings. Today a delicious seed snack bar is made with sesame and honey or sugar as it is an ideal energy booster perfect for those sweet (or smokers’) cravings with all the health benefits. For centuries it has grown wildly throughout Africa, the seed dispersed naturally from wind, birds and animals. We grow sesame at the Margaret Roberts Herbal Centre in De Wildt and supply organic seeds to those who love sesame as we do. I have used the ground seeds as a 'flour

sesame plant is to humans and no wonder sesame was an ancient grown crop for its nutrient quotient. Just a very small daily handful of sesame is quite astounding in its value. High in calcium which aids in building bone, high in fiber- it is an excellent digestive and aids in constipation but also excellent for stimulating blood circulation, soothing, and calming to the nervous system, detoxifying an overloaded liver, aiding in strengthening the heart, cleansing the kidneys, a remedy for respiratory ailments. It is a quickly digestible protein that would restore the body with strength and vitality, not to mention the oil content which stimulates healthy hair growth, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti oxidant. For birds, sesame holds the highest concentration of microminerals, also omega-3 and 6 which aids in healthy feathers, healthy bones, and healthy organs. It even reduces egg binding in female birds because of the manganese in the sesame. Have you ever wondered why wild sesame is ready to harvest just before birds mating season? The cycle in nature is truly magnificent.

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