I am a professional photographer and spent many years shooting art and lifestyle photography ( www.f

I met Affi of the delightfully named food and photography blog “My Belle Don Full”, where else? Online! I love how this blog has introduced me to some deeply talented and intelligent people in the culinary world. I was immediately drawn to the lovely colors soul tape 2 download and photographs from her site, as well as her culinary mission in exploring Nigerian food. I also enjoy the fact that she attempts (and succeeds) in taking her camera out of the kitchen to explore other spaces and countries around her.
If she sounds familiar, I have featured her briefly on the blog before when I showcased her marketplace photography series. In this interview, we discuss food, how love brought her to Nigeria, and how that change has affected how she cooks and shoots.
Hello my name is Affiong Osuchukwu (aka Madam Chef) and curator of My BélléDon soul tape 2 download Full - a Nigerian food photography blog. I currently live in Lagos Nigeria. Now in terms of where I’m from, for me that is sort of a trick question. A number of places. I’m British, American and Nigerian. Yes. I’m soul tape 2 download all three and I claim all three. My family hails from Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria soul tape 2 download and I’m happily soul tape 2 download married to an Ibo man from Imo State Nigeria.
Well most people view me as a very serious corporate type with a type-A personality. So I wanted to name my blog something that was 180-degrees opposite to what anyone would normally expect of me. I also wanted something that expressed my fun and playful soul tape 2 download side. Aside from that, I wanted anyone who ate my cooking or who oogled at the images on my blog to feel full, totally satisfied and completely and pleasantly stuffed. My Béllé Don Full is a Nigerian Pidgin English term that expresses just that, although the English translation doesn’t do it justice, but ask any Nigerian and they’ll tell you what it means to them.
Moving back home all depends on why you move back. For me, I got engaged, the love of my life had moved to Nigeria, so that is where I packed my bags to be. But I’m glad to be here to be honest, and at this very moment I do not know where else I’d like to live. Moving back to anywhere in Africa from the West (or East for that matter) is an adjustment, soul tape 2 download just like it would be for the reverse. It took some time and acceptance to make Nigeria work for me. I do miss my old gym in Chicago, weekend bike rides in the park and leisurely strolls down streets filled with restaurants and cafes, but Lagos has a lot going on and it’s soul tape 2 download exciting to be part of it.  As for what’s changed foodwise? Not much. I am exploring local cuisine, learning to cook local dishes like my mum and aunties used to when I was young, and creating soul tape 2 download my own recipes. I actually think I’m much more adventurous now with food than when I was in the States.
I am a professional photographer and spent many years shooting art and lifestyle photography ( www.fotograffi.com ), as well as a bit of photojournalism. When I moved to Nigeria however, I found that I couldn’t just pick up my gear and roam the streets freely to shoot whatever caught my fancy. After getting harassed a number of times and getting really stressed soul tape 2 download out I gave up photography all together for a few months. It was frustrating for me as this was sucking the passion for the art out of me. Then one day I just decided to find ways to shoot without the hassle. That happened to be in my kitchen and as for food, I’ve been baking since I was about three-years old, my mother was a professional caterer, markets and grocery stores excite me and I have an obsession for purchasing kitchen appliances and hardware. It seemed like a perfect fit. I’m still exploring, learning and testing, so my preferences and skills are developing on a daily basis. It’s an endless process of culinary discovery soul tape 2 download and this blog is forcing me to be much more creative. When you have loyal blog fans you have to deliver! Besides, I also now have some dietary restrictions to take into account and so that is more motivation for creativity in the kitchen. Ekpang Nkwukwo: a cocoyam delicacy
My steward, the market women, and a really good friend who is a fellow photographer and naturalista. I have a day job so my steward, with my guidance prepares meals during the week. This is wonderful as cooking for me is never a chore. It’s fun and I indulge in it at my leisure. A small luxury for moving back!  We discuss ingredients and he reminds me of things I’ve forgotten from my childhood that my mum would have used to cook our meals. soul tape 2 download The market women at the local fruit & vegetable market are great. I’m their “customer” they explain where produce comes from, what’s in season and give me ideas on what and how to cook. They are also very proactive soul tape 2 download in telling me what’s in season so I can plan my meals accordingly. Their little snippets of information are invaluable. Then I have this wonde