WHO IS MADIGA? WHAT IS MADIGA?: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE EDIBLE LOCAL FAST FOOD CALLED MADIGA MA-DI

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WHO IS MADIGA? WHAT IS MADIGA?: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE EDIBLE LOCAL FAST FOOD CALLED MADIGA

MA-DI-GA which was coined from the first two letters of the three names of its founder and first producer: MAtthew, DInafemowei GAnagana, is an edible local fast food (cake) predominantly consumed in the southern parts of Nigeria.
Matthew Dina Ganagana hails from Enekorogha Federated community in the present Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. Born into the families of late Pa Warefade Ganagana and late Ma Akpolakoro Ganagana from Enekorogha and Esanma in Burutu and Bomadi local government areas of Delta State, MADIGA was an intelligent, smart and influential person. After his early education, he worked with the defunct Nigerian Sugar company at Bachita in Kwara state. He had trainings at Jamaica and the carabians up to Diploma level.
When the sugar company was eventually handed over to Nigerians officially by the British, due to marginalization and oppressions from the indigenous Yorubas who despite their lower ranks wanted to take over sensitive positions, though, as a supervisor then in the company, he voluntarily retired and returned home, with the technical knowledge gained from his several trainings in the carabian island and started the edible short cake bread (MADIGA), a kind and the only and first local fast food at that time, which he named after his three names: Matthew DInafemowei GAnagana.

MADIGA as he was popularly called, was a very influential person in the whole of the defunct Bendel and Rivers states and in particular, Burutu and Bomadi local government areas respectively.

As a Frontline politician in the late 70s and early 80s, MADIGA was one of those people who sponsored the late Prof. Ambrose Alli, the then Governor of the defunct Bendel State under the UPN.
He was one of the first to play host to the campaign train of late Prof. Ambrose Alli (who slept at his country home Enekorogha till dawn).
During the tenure of late Chief Gold Elayelagha, MADIGA was a super supervisory councillor in Burutu Local government area before General Muhammadu Buhari overthrew the then civilian Government, led at the Federal level by Alhaji Shehu Shagari from 1979-1983 under the NPN.

Matthew DInafemowei GAnagana, was involved in both community and party politics and was well respected and consulted by individuals. He was a two-time community chairman. Chairman of several standing and adhoc committees in his community and Burutu Local government area. A one time adviser to the then very respected chairman of Burutu Local government area, Chief Braduce Angozi. State representative to Nigerian sugarcane farmers association, etc.

Late MADIGA was reckoned for his love for education and was a role model to others in his desire to see all his children get educated up to the university level. As a man thinks, so he is". MADIGAs dream has come to fruition as almost all his children, 23 of them a university graduates and are promoting his name everywhere in the country and beyond.

It was late MADIGA who made the name GANAGANA very popular hence, anywhere you mention this Ganagana, people will link your origin to Enekorogha.

A foremost farmer, a community planner, adviser, role model, father of all, socio-educational consultant, late Edlder M. D. Ganagana passed in the year death in 2015.
Due to his philanthropy and community leadership roles, he was the first person to be officially designated as Elder in the community.

One thing his sure, though MADIGA: Elder M. D. Ganagana is dead, but as long as people will continue to produce and consume MADIGA, he will live forever and never die.

Today, one of his sons Senior Comrade Francis Enewareseimokumor Ganagana has taken over from him and his MADIGA is distinctive from others, even as there are numerous companies producing MADIGA in the country today, with the name MADIGA still retained.
May his soul rest in peace!

Written by: Engr Ganagana David, aka king davoskey,
Son to Elder Matthew Dinafemowei Ganagana
Email: ganaganadavid 58@gmail.com

To be updated later

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