Annemarie:
It’s a BIG day on the baking front: the opening of the bakery that has inspired me to focus on community bakeries and cafés as we travel through Africa.
The scent of the dough wafts out of the tiny bakery as we drive into the lodge site at Maili Saba; there is no mistaking we are in the right place. As if on cue, a curly haired bundle of boy-energy runs across the grass – that’s Lucas, I recognize him from the photos on Madeleine’s blog site eyebakekenya and chasing fast behind him is Ben, the baker from E5 Bakehouse in North London who is supporting the set up and training the local team. We’re welcomed with open arms and – excitingly - a piece of sourdough toast with avocado and egg, by Brian. He’s now going to be the brains behind the development of the business as well as a master baker. Behind him Justin begins to don his baker’s white jacket, and as a nod to today’s importance, a baker’s hat.
Ujima bakery was the brainchild of Madeleine and Andrew Bastawrous. It’s a social enterprise providing skills development, employment and of course healthy high quality bread. The big plus is that part of its profits help fund eye operations in the nearby St Mary’s hospital. (As well as baking entrepreneurs, Madeleine and Andrew are both doctors and Andrew has developed the innovative eye health diagnostic tool using a mobile phone (PEEK) and trials for this system explain why they were in Kenya in the first place - and why eye operations are part of the picture.)
As we watch Brian and Justin knead and shape the dough that will soon be the loaves for the opening feast, Madeleine arrives with her new baby, Elena, on her hip. It’s very exciting to hear more of the story behind the bakery from the woman who began the baking bug here. I hand over my banana cake gift, this time I cheated and cooked it in a real over so it is edible. Lucas approves, so does Ben, thank goodness.
Amid a flurry of exclamations of delight, more guests arrive and we melt into the background a little: Rosalinde, an ophthalmic nurse and a true force of nature gives massive ‘clap’ handshakes to everyone and hugs to Madeleine; Redempta, the director of the bakery bustles in in organising mode – she’s a problem solver extraordinaire and is the one who has made the day happen. Swiftly the area fills up with more guests and now the film crew from Mazda are here, capturing the event for their website in recognition of a grant made to PEEK and the bakery. It’s a very jolly affair, then the dignitaries roll up in swish cars, we all stare a bit, we’re amazed they made it down the bumpy track.
Things happen in quick succession now: ribbons are arranged; bread comes out of the oven; flour is swept up; more guests are welcomed; extra film crew line up. Finally Lucas hands over the big scissors to the dignitary and snip, Ujima Bakery is declared open. Ben hands out some bread and we all pause as the ‘Big Man’ tastes it...Hooray, he likes it and we all get a taste too. It’s heaven, two types of sourdough made with wild yeasts from the Maili Saba area. Oh, I am SO happy to be part of this big day.