Aduwa (desert date), scientifically known as Balanites eagyptiaca, has been found to be medicinal. This is a thorny plant found in the drier parts of Africa down to the Arabian Gulf and some parts of Asia. Locally, the Aduwa fruit is eaten as snack, while the seed are used in oil extraction.
According to locals, Aduwa is believed to be the reason why Maiduguri residents don’t record high incidences of cold/flu, fever, and other ailments associated with harmattan and dry/cold weather.
“While serving as a remedy for various illnesses, it’s also used as a culinary delight in our local community and the entire northern part of the country. Traditionally, it’s also known as a potential source of pesticides, edible oil, animal feeds, dewormer and for making soaps and medicine for humans,” says Mohammad Ali, a Maiduguri resident.
This popular fruit has a bitter-sweet taste that hits the palate and stimulates feelings to crave for more.
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The fruit is oval-shaped, brown or pale brown, and looks like a small date with a brittle coating which consumers easily break off to have its unique taste.
Aduwa syrup can substitute sugar – Nutritionist
A nutritionist, Farida Hamisu, said she cannot establish the fact that aduwa can cure many ailments, but traditionally, people use it to deal with some illnesses.
“Aduwa may not directly cure some of the illnesses mentioned, but it has loads of nutrients and vitamins that can boost body immunity to do the magic,” she said.
She cited an example with gruel (Kunun Aduwa), a delicacy prepared traditionally in Maiduguri, which is a remedy for stomach problems. “It gives instant relief for constipation and dysentery.”
Hamisu also suggested that with the high cost of sugar, the pulp of desert date can be squeezed into hot water until it melts, and then produces a thick brown-like liquid, which can be used as a substitute for sugar and honey.
Another nutritionist, Fatima Lawan Bukar, said that aduwa has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that make it effective in treating skin disorders like eczema.
Bukar also said that desert date helps in managing fevers, malaria and gastrointestinal issues. “The seeds, known as Na’u, are rich in proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, serving as a valuable nutritional source, especially in regions with limited food options.
“While aduwa is generally safe, excessive consumption may lead to constipation and diarrhea but there are no specific daily intake recommendations. But caution is advised due to its medicinal properties,” she said.
She noted that it serves as a rich source of minerals, including potassium and sodium, contributing to stable blood pressure and mitigating the risks of heart-related issues.
For many decades, desert date has always been a common sight in Maiduguri, and abundant at Gomboru Market, from where it makes its way into the town for people to enjoy.
According to the aduwa dealers, they mostly source it from Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State, when the harvesting season, typically in late summer, sets in.
However, it’s predominantly found in arid or semi-arid regions like Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina and Borno.
Aduwa as money spinners for Maiduguri youths
Apart from the medicinal value, aduwa has provided economic benefit to thousands of people, especially youths, within the supply and distribution chains in Maiduguri and across Borno State.
The Chairman, Borno State Aduwa Dealers Association, Alhaji Modu Maiduri, told our correspondent that aduwa has become a staple in local households throughout his 15-year tenure.
He said thousands of people, predominantly youths, are benefiting every day from the aduwa business cycle in Maiduguri.
“There’s growing demand, with consumers purchasing multiple bags directly for personal consumption. This underscores aduwa’s role as a culinary delight, a natural health remedy and a source of job creation, underscoring its cultural and health significance.
“It’s efficacious in combating cold and fever, acting as a decongestant and easing constipation and various other illnesses. In the past, elders consume the seeds as snacks believed to cure heart-related ailments,” he said.
I make N200,000 profit monthly
One of the Desert date retailers at Gomboru market, Modu Fantami, said the popularity of aduwa fruit in Maiduguri has tripled his turnover recently.
“I now bring in 40 to 50 bags weekly to Maiduguri. We sell each bag for N7,000 to retailers, resulting in a monthly profit of at least N200,000,” he said.
According to Fantami, “We are the sellers but it’s the consumers who attest to its efficacy in treating colds, diarrhea, piles, and various other ailments,” he said.
N50 Aduwa saves us from N1,000 fever drug
Emphasizing the economic aspect, a consumer, Malama Zara, said in these challenging times, spending N50 on aduwa saves them from purchasing N1,000 worth of drugs from a pharmacy for common cold.
Another consumer, Mallam Murtala Umar, claimed that it has curative properties for diabetes.
“Aduwa, perceived as a medicinal tree from root to fruit, holds a multifaceted significance in our traditional health practices,” he said.
Aduwa vending takes youths off school
However, the vending of this magic fruit is predominantly undertaken by young boys, many of whom are between 14 and 15 years old, with some lacking formal education or having dropped out of school.
One of the vendors, Habibu Mohammed, a school dropout, said he’s spent three years in the business and makes between N3000 and N4000 daily. “I purchase a bag for N7,000, and sell it for N9,000 or even N10,000,” he said.
