Bambara Groundnut

The Bambara groundnut (or Bambarra groundnut) is a member of the family Fabaceae. According to some authors it is Voandzeia subterranea, but others place it in Vigna. The plant originated in West Africa. The bambara groundnut ripens its pods underground, much like the peanut (also called a groundnut). They can be eaten fresh or boiled after drying.

The original local name for Bambara nut is cokon (Bamanankan). Bambara groundnuts are also known as jugo beans or in Swahili, njugumawe. In the Republic of Zambia, bambara groundnuts are known as either ntoyo (ciBemba),katoyo (kiKaonde), or mbwiila (chiTonga). In Shangaan they are known as tindluwa. In Malagasy they are known as voanjobory. In Hausa language it is variously referred to as "Gurjiya" or "Kwaruru". In Goemai language of Plateau State of Northern Nigeria it is known as "Kwam", and Kanuri people refer to it as "Ngamgala". In Indonesia it is called "kacang bogor", which literally means "Bogor peanut", because this plant is widely cultured in Bogor, West Java. In the Shona language of Zimbabwe it is known as "Nyimo", and "indlubu" in the ndebele language. In the Ibo language in eastern Nigeria, it is commonly known as "Okpa". In the Northern part of Yoruba, it is commonly known as "Epa-kuta", and in the Gha Language, spoken by the people in Greater Accra, Ghana, the Bambara Bean is called "Akwei".