If ever there was a much-maligned fruit, banana was it; if there is a popular, some say over rated, health food banana is it. The truth lies somewhere between these two extremes.
Small nations with agriculture-based economies are labeled Banana Republics: a derogatory term often given to South and Central American States, and lately the newly independent Caribbean mini States. Most banana republics are dependent on the vagaries of the export market, their leaders are often corrupt, they treat their people worse than the former colonists and yet they are like putty in the hands of the multi national corporations.
Unripe or forced ripe bananas have sent many to hospitals with rumbling, aching tummies.
In the Caribbean a precocious boy or girl is referred to as a forced ripe banana.
Well- ripened bananas are called figs. Effeminate men are scornfully referred to as fig men.
To go bananas is the term used to signify oncoming madness or anger.
Banana is a phallic symbol so it is no surprise that in the numbers games, play whe and whe whe, the phallus and banana are represented by the same number, 32.
Recently banana was touted as the most popular fruit on the game show, Jeopardy. The nutritional value-potassium, phosphorus, calcium and vitamin A- reputedly higher than that of an apple, of the tropical fruit has no doubt contributed to its popularity.
Herbalists in the islands have long prescribed ripe bananas, skin and all, as a remedy for hypertension, flatulence and constipation. Grated banana is used as a poultice while banana root steeped in puncheon rum eases toothaches.
No self-respecting cook brews the aphrodisiacs, fish broth and pacro tea, without green bananas. No soup is complete without bananas. Old timers swear that banana flour is ten times more wholesome than wheat flour while youngsters swear that ripe fig punch is a great tonic.
"The Banana boat song" catapulted Harry Bellafonte to fame.