Nigerian scientists are eagerly awaiting the return of Egusi melon seeds from the International Space Station (ISS), in what is being hailed as the first time a West African native food has been sent to space.
The seeds, launched aboard a SpaceX flight last week under NASA’s partnership with private firms, are expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean on Saturday.
The project, led by Lagos-based Space in Africa founder Temidayo Oniosun, aims to study how exposure to space conditions and zero gravity affects the seeds’ DNA, germination, and growth.
Researchers from the University of Florida in the United States and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan, Nigeria, will conduct the experiments.
Oniosun told AFP that the mission is about more than science, it is about representation. “When we talk about humans colonising other planets, this is not just an American mission or a European mission, this is a global mission,” he said, adding that future African astronauts could enjoy a taste of home in space.
High in protein and commonly used in soups and stews across West and Central Africa, Egusi is a staple dish often served with pounded yam. Its inclusion in space research has generated more public excitement in Nigeria than many previous satellite launches.
“The launch of Egusi melon seeds into space is more than a symbolic gesture,” Oniosun said. “The future of humanity among the stars must reflect the diversity and richness of life on Earth.” Whether pounded yam will eventually join Egusi soup in space, however, remains an open question.
Written By Rodney Mbua
