pig trotters in madina market

Abstract

Madina market is an important socio-cultural space for interreligious encounters between Muslims, Christians and traditionalists. There are multiple levels on which people with these different religious (and ethnic) backgrounds coexist and negotiate the tangible presence of the religious other. One salient matter of concern are pig trotters, which reach the market through a global network of multinational meat processors and merchants mainly from Europe. While the presence of pork a food ingredient deemed haram by Muslims in Madina market has not deterred Muslims from visiting the market, it has made some Muslim traders and clients to draw boundaries. How is a food ingredient as pig feet negotiated in multi-religious and multi-ethnic Madina? Pig trotter is the culinary term used to refer to the feet of pigs. It is present at the Madina market because of a constant demand for them. Trotters are described as a tasty ingredient for soups and stews. There are several local terms for them, such as nane, prekonkwere, kotodwe, bra chars (Charles) and domido. Pig trotters of about 70 to 90 pieces are packaged in a barrel that weighs 90 kg, with a concentrate of brine as a preservative. Trotter traders display the pig feet on trays, ensuring that it is visible to passers-by. For example, Auntie Abigail, one of my interlocutors, sells trotters at the Madina market. Approaching her stall, pig trotters are displayed on an aluminum tray, placed on an elevated plastic platform to display the trotters to make it more glaring or visible to patrons far and near. Auntie Abigail describes the plastic platform’s support for elevation as: