Cooking & Culture: The Banana Plant in Bugis Culture

Date and Time: November 17th, 2024 at 11:00 AM

Location: Vizcaya Village

Description: Join us for an enlightening workshop exploring the cultural, practical, and sacred significance of the banana plant in Bugis traditions. The Bugis people, originating from South Sulawesi, Indonesia, have a rich cultural heritage that includes unique rituals, storytelling, and sustainable practices.

This cultural deep dive shares the various roles bananas play in ceremonies, daily life, and healing practices. Through storytelling, hands-on activities, and a collective ritual, participants will deepen their understanding of the banana as a sacred and versatile plant.

Workshop Highlights:

• Cultural and Sacred Symbolism: Discover the banana’s role as a symbol of prosperity, fertility, and protection within Bugis culture.
• Activity: Learn to prepare a sacred banana leaf offering, a traditional practice for blessing ceremonies.
• Culinary Demonstration: Enjoy a cooking demonstration of a traditional Bugis dish involving bananas or banana leaves.
• Sustainability Discussion: Explore sustainable uses of all parts of the banana plant and share zero-waste practices.

Materials Provided:

• Fresh banana leaves, bananas, rice, flowers for offerings
• Ingredients and tools for preparing a simple banana-based dish
• Plates or trays for holding individual offerings (Feel free to bring your own special plate or tray to personalize your offering!)

What to Bring:

• Comfortable clothing suitable for hands-on activities
• A notebook and pen for taking notes

An Ideal Workshop For:

• Aspiring chefs and food enthusiasts eager to expand their culinary repertoire.
• Anyone intrigued by the fusion of different cultural cuisines.
• Those looking to deepen their understanding of local food practices and easy-to-make recipes.
• Farmers and participants interested in growing or wanting to grow bananas, offering valuable insights into sustainable practices and cultural significance

Secure Your Spot Now: With limited availability, this exclusive workshop is expected to fill up rapidly. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to transform the way you view and use banana plant in everyday cooking.

SNAP & WIC BENFICIARIES| EBT cardholders are entitled a FREE ticket for themselves and 3 guests to this program. You are encouraged to register on Eventbrite to reserve your spot by choosing the "SNAP & WIC Beneficiaries" ticket type. Please present your active card with valid ID at the admissions booth to claim your free tickets.

Explore the Village! Don’t forget, there’s much more to do at Vizcaya Village during your visit, including:

• : Get your shopping done as you take in the rustic charm of the Village. Explore more than 30 local vendors offering organic delights and hand-crafted treasures.
• : every Sunday at 9:30 a.m., you can enjoy a guided yoga, Tai-Chi, HITT or other workout and wellness class for just $5. Check out the schedule to see what’s coming up!
• : If you’re curious about Vizcaya Village and the role it plays within the greater Vizcaya estate, sign up for a guided tour for just $5.

Make the most of your visit with a day filled with culinary delights, wellness activities, and educational experiences. We can't wait to see you there!

LOCATION | This activity takes place exclusively at Vizcaya Village, the estate’s historic farm village, and does not include access to the east side of the property where the Main House and gardens are located.

To promote inclusion for all, Vizcaya ensures that all community programs, after-hour and weekend events for locals, feature activities that are physically accessible to all visitors. While not all areas of the estate are wheelchair accessible, community programs are purposefully located in areas without stairs or that can be accessed via a ramp.

ABOUT THE FACILITATORS

About Ria Anjelita Ibrahim (she/her), Farm-to-Table Director at Soul Fire Farm and founder of Rumah Kitchen, brings a deep-rooted passion for food shaped by her ancestral heritage from the Indigenous Bugis people of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Raised by a family of farmers, fishermen, and chefs, Ria’s culinary traditions are interwoven with her Indonesian homeland, where she learned to cook alongside her mother and family from an early age. She also co-founded KOMBES Makassar, Indonesia. an anti-littering and trash management organization dedicated to urban agriculture and community-driven recycling solutions. With a focus on reducing food waste and reconnecting to local, ancestral food practices, Ria is committed to fostering sustainable, nature-aligned solutions that address climate change.

About Finca Morada, est. 2019, in North Miami, Tequesta land, is an LGBTQIA+ & BIPOC centered cooperative of artists, activists, farmers, & nature stewards living within a half acre urban agroecological food forest garden sanctuary. We nurture over 150 diverse varieties of edible, medicinal, support, & native species and practice a unique and effective method of responsible and reciprocal land stewardship that combines Agroecology, Syntropic Agroforestry, Permaculture, & Afro-Indigenous techniques. Our work aims to increase climate resilience, food security, cultural preservation, community interdependence, and diversity & regeneration within wildlife ecosystems, through responsible land stewardship and grassroots community engagement. We practice living in reciprocity with nature; host free & sliding scale community events & educational workshops; provide affordable housing; & host artist residency & internship programs. And through our project, Grow Roots Miami, we build free productive edible gardens & food forests for low income families, schools, & communities.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Vizcaya Village Garage, 3250 S Miami Ave, Miami, United States