Roasted baby pigeon on high demand in Kano

Yan Shila was initially a royal delicacy that only the privileged few used to get the opportunity to taste. The meat is widely described as more delicious than that of a chicken or a grown pigeon.Recent findings show that the bulk supply of ‘Yan Shila’ come from domesticated pigeons, as confirmed by one of the […]

Yan Shila was initially a royal delicacy that only the privileged few used to get the opportunity to taste. The meat is widely described as more delicious than that of a chicken or a grown pigeon.
Recent findings show that the bulk supply of ‘Yan Shila’ come from domesticated pigeons, as confirmed by one of the roasted pigeon seller along Sabo Bakin Zuwa Road in Kano, Malam Abbashe Wada.
According to him, the practice of domesticating pigeon may have come from the Middle East, adding that historically, squabs or pigeons have been consumed in mostly Arab speaking nations.
Malam Wada said with the early contact with the Arab’s business travelers by the Hausa business community, it became the Hausa community began to copy a lot of things from the Arabs.
“Due to the early contact of the Arabians and the Hausa business community, a lot have been copied from the Arabs which include the consumption of baby pigeon. It is generally regarded as exotic, not as a contemporary staple food. There are more records of it prepared for the monarch and wealthy than for the poor.”
Another dealer in the Yan Shila business along Kano Golf Club, Abdu Bala Tsamiya, stated that most of the baby pigeons are being supplied domestically, adding that they used to travel to different markets in and outside the state metropolis to buy.
He said that baby pigeons quickly go out of supply due to the high demand of the roasted meant, adding: “At most times these baby pigeons usually run out of supply because of high demand for their meat. Baby pigeons are raised until they are roughly a month old, when they reach adult size, but have not yet started flying, before they are slaughtered.
And most of these pigeons are being supplied domestically, we had to go to various places making collections from different suppliers,” he stated.
It was also gathered that a stick of roasted baby pigeon is sold for N600 while that of a whole chicken goes for N800 to N1000.
According to one of Tsamiya’s customer, Salisu Salasa, who usually patronises the baby pigeon spot, the meat is usually considered a delicacy, as it is tender, moist and richer in taste than many commonly consumed poultry meats. He.
“The meat is very lean, easily digestible, and I was told it is rich in proteins, minerals, and vitamins, it has silky texture, as it is very tender and fine-grained. It has a milder taste than other poultry meat, though I have not noticed that, but most people believe it has a mild berry flavour.  
The meat of baby pigeon regarded as a hot and moist food, whereas the meat of older pigeons was regarded as hot, dry, and barely edible.
A visit to one of the baby pigeons spot in Kano revealed brisk sale on daily basis and demand for the meat seems to be in increase. Baby pigeon’s meat is dark and fatty, like that of duck.
Today, roasted baby pigeon is part of the cuisine of many households in the state and new baby pigeon spots are springing daily as pigeons easily reared and not susceptible to disease.
But the issue here is that, can the supply match the demand of the meat, since most of it is being supplied domestically? Only time will tell. Although, most people spoken to expressed their skepticism, saying that with the increase in the consumption of the meat, it will be difficult to satisfy its demand.