Mama Kande was a widow, well into her forties, who had taken to selling food to sustain herself after her husband’s untimely death. Her cooking, a blend of age-old recipes and unmatched flavor, quickly gained a reputation that stretched far beyond Obudu. People would travel from neighboring villages just to taste her akara, golden and crispy, or her egusi soup, rich and creamy with a hint of spice that lingered on the tongue.