"Without Kuon it is no food"

Zur Aktualität des Core-Fringe-Leguminosen-Modells anhand von Veränderung und Stabilität in der Küche der Luo (Kenia)

Abstract

This paper seeks to contribute to a more thorough understanding of the interconnectedness of changes within alimentary systems as structured and structuring parts of specific lived worlds through a discussion and expansion of a well-established model in anthropological research on food: the core-fringe-legume model (CFLM) developed by Sidney Mintz. After discussing the CFLM the fundamental structure of the alimentary system of the Luo of Western Kenya is scrutinised. We show that the current use of the model limits its applicability to a rather superficial comparison of different alimentary systems, thus thwarting insights into specific ones. However, contrary to prior expectations, a closer investigation of the empirical data – both contemporary and historical – indicates that extending the CFLM permits an explanation of both transformative processes of the alimentary system and processes of the creative rejection of global culinary influences. Apart from establishing a more useful tool in analysing culinary practices, this model elucidates the complex interaction between everyday (alimentary) life – cooking, presentation and consumption – and the reproduction of sociocultural orders.