The Lost Chore of Shelling Melon Seeds (Egusi)
Growing up, weekends often came with a unique family activity—shelling melon seeds, or egusi. My mom would gather us around, place a basket of unshelled melon seeds in front of us, and task us with cracking them open one by one. It was a tedious chore that seemed normal back then, and everyone in the household, especially the younger ones, played their part. Looking back now, it amazes me how we managed to shell enough seeds for a pot of soup, considering the tiny size of each seed and the patience required. The rhythmic cracking and peeling of seeds became part of the cooking ritual, bonding us as a family while teaching us the value of effort in preparing meals.
