Behind the Curtain, a Banana and Skewer Trade Gains Momentum

Grilled bananas and meat skewers, once seen mainly as ordinary street snacks, are becoming fast food in Dar es Salaam’s busiest commercial areas. The trade is drawing workers, businesspeople and travelers who need something quick to eat.

In places such as Posta, Kariakoo and Makumbusho, vendors use carts fitted with stoves and grills. They move from one location to another, bringing food close to offices, shops and other business districts. Customers order, the bananas and skewers are prepared or reheated on the spot, and the meal is ready within a short time.

The growth of the business reflects more than taste. Mwananchi reported that the city’s faster pace, the availability of food near workplaces, affordable prices and vendors’ ability to follow customers are all driving demand.

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Many customers who come here tell us they do not want rice, ugali or chips. They want grilled bananas and skewers because they see them as light food and believe they help with their weight-loss plans.

Edmund Nzala, who sells the food in Makumbusho, said many customers, including both women and men, tell vendors they are cutting down on starchy foods to lose weight or prevent abdominal fat. “Many customers who come here tell us they do not want rice, ugali or chips. They want grilled bananas and skewers because they see them as light food and believe they help with their weight-loss plans,” he said.

Another vendor, Juma Salum, said workers prefer food that can be prepared and eaten quickly because they do not want to spend much time searching for a meal. “People are racing against time. A customer comes, orders bananas and skewers, finds that they have already been grilled, and we only reheat them briefly before the customer leaves,” he said. Asha Mohamed, a vendor in Kariakoo, said the carts have helped sellers reach customers instead of waiting for customers to find them.

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People are racing against time. A customer comes, orders bananas and skewers, finds that they have already been grilled, and we only reheat them briefly before the customer leaves.