Sadza

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A thick, stiff porridge made from maize meal and water, eaten as a staple food in countries such as Zimbabwe and Zambia
2. A firm cornmeal porridge that forms a basic daily dish across much of southern Africa, often served with relish or stew
3. A dense maize-flour porridge, cooked until it sets firm, and commonly eaten by hand as a staple in southern African cooking

Etymology: Sadza is a thick porridge made from maize meal, and it is a staple across much of southern Africa. The name comes from Shona, the language of the Shona people of Zimbabwe, where "sadza" is the everyday word for this dish. English borrowed it directly from Shona, so the word has travelled from a single regional food tradition into the vocabulary of English speakers who encounter it through travel, cookery, and writing about Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries.

Synonyms: ugali, nshima, posho