BENI TONKA is a writer and creative director of events and film who lives in Cologne, Germany, but half of his roots are in Moruga.
He has written for German-based magazines, collaborated with filmmakers on independent films and worked on advertisements for brands such as Lamy of Germany, whichis nearly a century-old company known for its pens.
Though he spent most of his life unaware of his TT roots, the moment he discovered them, he researched until he could embark on an adventure of more discovery. He wanted to learn more about his bloodline and saw no better way than to visit the country.
Tonka’s introduction to TT’s landscape, people and culture inspired Good Lime. It’s a book of stories and recipes that embodies everything TT represents to him – much of which may go unnoticed by people living in TT because of its familiarity.
Tonka said, “Caribbean people know the meaning of ‘good lime.’ When you’re in one, you know it. When you’re in a good lime, you’re not thinking about life in any way outside of that gathering. The expression and essence of those moments, appreciating the moments during a lime that are full of connectedness, stories and laughter – it’s something that runs throughout the Caribbean.”
Tonka said food is a major part of limes, which influenced the concept of the book – sharing stories and food. The recipes are based on how he saw them made by family members like his father, his aunts Cynthia, Eileen and other people from Moruga.
[caption id="attachment_972556" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Good Lime - Image courtesy Beni Tonka[/caption]
The stories and the interwoven recipes from TT cuisine begin on Carnival Monday in 2013, when he first set foot in the homeland of his biological father, whom at that point, he hadn’t met in person.
He told Newsday his parents met while his father was stationed in Germany as a US soldier. “They met at a nightclub near Frankfurt. He told me he was impressed by (Tonka’s mother’s) wit and they connected because they had similar interests. I can’t speak to the nature of the relationship, but they were close for about a year.” The stories go back to when his mother first told him the man he now knows to be his stepfather was not his biological father.
“That thrust me into a search.”
Tonka’s father, Kirk Louison, is a retired activist and writer from Moruga, who Tonka says has a passion for life and music.
“I eventually found a number for my paternal grandmother, who was living in New York, and she made all the connections.”
Until then, his grandmother had no knowledge of her only grandchild’s existence.
Tonka made plans and visited TT six months later, landing during Carnival.
“I landed in Tobago. It was my first time in the region – ever – and it was a great introduction. I entered to see revellers and blue devils, music louder than I’ve heard in my life – and I’ve been to festivals. In the middle of all that I see my father, whom I had never met before, a
