Jums African Market sells African food and ingredients in Springfield

Alissa Zhu | Springfield News-Leader

Andrew Jansen/News-Leader

Jums African Market and Delivery Store is now open on Kearney Street.

Within the small market's bright orange walls is a trove of spices, snacks and ingredients not sold anywhere else in town.

Shelves feature plantain and cassava flour, which can be mixed with water to create fufu, which serves as a staple dish for some countries in Africa, dried crayfish used to imbue a unique flavor to many dishes, and a suya spice mix that is key to making a type of popular spicy meat skewer.

The store is owned by husband and wife Fola and Jummy Sodade, who are originally from Nigeria.

Fola Sodade said when he moved to Springfield about three and a half years ago, it was hard to find the kind of food that he craves.

"We traveled to Dallas, to Houston. We had to wait for someone to travel to Africa to get our usual food," he said.

Andrew Jansen/News-Leader

His family wasn't alone. Other Africans he talked to in Springfield faced the same challenge.

Fola Sodade said his father, who was a businessman, taught him to be a problem solver. So, he came up with a solution.

Jums African Market officially opened in September at 1410 E. Kearney St., a couple of doors down from the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Springfield's African church.

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Fola Sodade said it's Springfield's first grocery store of its type, and his business has been getting a lot of "love" from the local African community.

He estimates that there are "well over 300" people from Africa — mostly with roots in Kenya, Cameroon, Nigeria and Ghana — who live in town.

Fola Sodade said since he moved to Springfield, he's seen the African population grow and change. It used to be mostly students, he said. Now there are more doctors and medical professionals moving into town with their families.

Andrew Jansen/News-Leader

Fola Sodade himself works as a clinical research coordinator in Joplin during the workweek and drives back to Springfield to be with his family during the weekends.

When he first announced his decision to open an African grocery store earlier this year, he received "a lot of encouragement."

"We want people to feel at home while they're here," Fola Sodade said. "We want to save people the stress of traveling miles to get what they like."

Fola Sodade pointed to a package of cookies. He said when he was growing up, that's what he would get as a birthday present every year. The taste brings back memories.

"It reminds you of where you're from," Fola Sodade said. "So you don't forget where you came from."

Fola Sodade emphasized the market is for all Africans. He hopes to offer food representing every country on the continent.

Andrew Jansen/News-Leader

"We call people to talk to them. What do you want in Springfield from your country?" he said.

Jummy Sodade took a News-Leader reporter on a short stroll down one aisle in the store. She pointed to containers of Cameroon pepper, which looked like coarsely ground peppercorns.

"The Cameroonians can't do without this pepper," she said.

Just a few steps over are jars full of dark red paste labeled "Shito pepper."

"Ghanaians eat it with everything," Jummy Sodade said.

In addition to Africans, his customer base includes missionaries who have lived in Africa before and "foodies" who want to try something new, Fola Sodade said.

Andrew Jansen/News-Leader

Fola Sodade is planning a grand opening event for October, in hopes of introducing the wider public to African cuisine.

He plans to have samples of different dishes available so people can see and taste how the ingredients at the market can come together.

There will also be television screens showing cooking tutorials, Fola Sodade said.

Fola Sodade also hopes to have a cook-off between Ghanaian and Nigerian jollof rice, a spiced rice dish which can include vegetables and meat. It's a point of contention between different African countries whose jollof rice recipe is the best, he said.

But in Fola Sodade's mind, there's no competition.

"My wife makes the best jollof rice as far as this place is concerned," he said.

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Jums African Market sells more than just food.

Near the cash register is a small collection of beauty supplies, including African black soap. Hair extensions are pinned up along one wall. Toward the back of the store is a garment rack full of colorful dyed cloths and traditional garments for adults and children.

Fola Sodade hopes that his market can facilitate cross-cultural exploration.

"We're not just here to make a profit. It's to show our culture. It's to show the people of Springfield there are Africans here," Fola Sodade said. "...We want to make sure we can integrate into society."

He said Springfield "has come of age" in terms of cultural diversity.

"It's about time that people came together."

Want to go?

Jums African Market is located at 1410 E. Kearney St.

More information can be found at Facebook.com/JUMSAFROMART/.

Andrew Jansen/News-Leader

Porridge yams recipe

Jummy Sodade provided a copy of a recipe she uses for porridge yams. The store sells at least two varieties of whole yams. The recipe will make six servings.

Ingredients

1.5 to 2.5 pounds of chicken, cut into chunks

1/4 cup or more of canola or vegetable oil

3 fresh tomatoes

1/2 medium onion

3 garlic cloves

Creole seasoning spice

1/2 teaspoon white pepper

1 tablespoon smoked paprika (optional)

2 to 3 pounds yam

1 habanero pepper or scotch bonnet pepper (optional)

3 to 4 cups fresh leafy greens

1/4 cup ground crayfish (optional)

2 tablespoons palm oil (optional)

1/2 tablespoon or more of chicken bouillon powder

Instructions