If humans ever set up camp on Mars, Nigerian Egusi soup might be on the menu. Temidayo Oniosun, founder of Lagos-based Space in Africa, has sent Egusi melon seeds to the International Space Station (ISS) — the first West African native food to make the trip.
The seeds splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Saturday after their return journey aboard a SpaceX mission, ready for experiments that could shape the future of space farming.
Why Egusi matters in space exploration
Oniosun says this project isn’t just about farming in zero gravity — it’s about representation.
“When we talk about humans colonising other planets, this is not just an American mission or a European mission — this is a global mission,” he told AFP.
Egusi, rich in protein and widely used in soups across West and Central Africa, could give future African astronauts a taste of home millions of kilometres away.
What happens next
Scientists at the University of Florida and Nigeria’s International Institute of Tropical Agriculture will study the seeds to see how space exposure affects their DNA, germination, and growth. The aim is to determine whether they can thrive beyond Earth — a key factor for long-term missions where resupply isn’t an option.
Cultural pride meets scientific progress
Oniosun notes that the launch of Egusi seeds generated far more buzz in Nigeria than previous satellite missions.
“The moment that we’re sending food that they love… everybody starts getting interested,” he said.
For him, this is about more than agriculture — it’s about ensuring that the future of humanity among the stars reflects Earth’s cultural richness.
Whether pounded yam, Egusi’s traditional companion, will join the journey remains a question for another mission.
