Gboma

There is an indigenous African eggplant known commonly in Ghana as “gboma.” Its scientific name is Solanum dasyphyllum, though the French also call it aubergine africaine, the Portuguese berinjela africana, and Swahili names include ngogwe, nyanya, and nyany chungu. The plant prefers humid coastal areas and is found throughout the African continent and parts of the diaspora (notably Surinam and the Caribbean). Though the fruit of this plant is eaten, its (usually young) leaves are an important vegetable enjoyed in soups and stews.