Kenyans in Maryland Cultivate African Vegetables, Bringing a Taste of Home to America
“You can take someone out of the village, but you can’t take the village out of them”—this famous saying perfectly describes Charles and Truphena Choti, a Kenyan couple now living in Poolesville, Maryland, in the United States.
The couple has found a way to stay connected to their roots by growing traditional African vegetables and sharing a piece of home with fellow Africans living abroad.
The Chotis run AfriThrive Cultural Farm, a unique agricultural venture that produces a wide selection of beloved African vegetables. These include managu (African nightshade), mrenda (jute mallow), kunde (cowpea leaves), terere (amaranth), sagaa (spider plant), and misheveve (pumpkin leaves).
These vegetables are staples in many Kenyan households and are appreciated not just for their flavor but also for their health benefits and medicinal value.
The farm has grown into more than just a source of food—it has become a cultural center for Africans living in the diaspora. AfriThrive is a place where people from across the continent come together to reconnect with their culture, traditions, and the tastes they miss from home.
Thousands have visited the farm, eager to enjoy these indigenous vegetables and rekindle fond memories of life in Africa.
Prof. Charles Choti, a respected academic, and his wife Truphena have turned farmland in Maryland into a thriving symbol of African heritage. Their efforts recently caught the attention of former Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who is currently touring the U.S. He paid a special visit to the farm and was deeply impressed by what he saw.
Gachagua praised the Chotis for their hard work and commitment to preserving African culture abroad. He highlighted how their success reflects the strong Kenyan spirit of resilience and adaptability, noting that Kenyans have a remarkable ability to succeed and hold on to their traditions, no matter where in the world they are.
“I’m incredibly proud of how Kenyans are thriving globally, while still upholding our rich culture and traditions. It was a refreshing experience to revisit the memory of black jack—bidens pilosa—a plant many think is just a wild weed, but in fact, it’s a tasty and medicinal vegetable,” Gachagua said.
He urged Kenyans and other Africans living in the U.S. to support the Chotis by buying and enjoying the traditional vegetables grown on their farm. “My fellow Kenyans in America, please take full advantage of what this farm offers.
Eat the kunde, murenda, managu, terere, okra, and even the black jack grown with care right here by Prof. Choti and his wife,” he encouraged.
The Chotis’ inspiring story is a shining example of how immigrants contribute not only to the economy but also to the cultural vibrancy of their new homes. Their farm stands as a living legacy of African food, culture, and identity—beautifully rooted in American soil.
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