Chikanda

Chikanda is a Zambian dish made from the boiled root tubers of terrestrial orchids also called chikanda. The dish is often called "African polony" because it has a texture that resembles bologna. Chikanda can be eaten as a snack, dessert, or an accompaniment to nshima, a maize flour porridge. Chikanda has been eaten for hundreds of years by people in parts of Zambia, northern Malawi, and southwestern Tanzania. The dish is traditionally associated with the Bemba tribe in northeast Zambia, although it is eaten throughout Zambia today. For the Bemba, it is an integral part of the culture and is served at special occasions such as weddings. Originally a food in the setting of rural scarcity, it has now shifted to an urban trend. Now, chikanda can be found being sold by street vendors, supermarkets, and large restaurants as the urban population has an increased demand for this rural tradition. In Malawi, it is thought that eating the dish will protect against sickness.

Source: Wikipedia