In an era where culinary preferences seem to have shifted dramatically, a recent TikTok video featuring a young girl's hilarious reaction to chicken feet has gone viral.
The clip, shared by the mother, showcases her daughter's response as she is presented with a traditional South African delicacy that has long held a special place in the hearts, and stomachs, of many.
Known colloquially as maotwana, amanqina or walkie-talkies, chicken feet may not be everyone's dish of choice but they are celebrated in Mzansi's culinary culture.
Packed full of collagen, these affordable morsels are often prepared in a myriad of ways - stewed, braised or curried - to highlight their unique texture and flavour.
Despite their reputation as a budget-friendly delicacy, today's youngsters have been increasingly vocal about their strong distaste for offal and lesser-known animal parts.
Many children nowadays refuse to partake in dishes that previous generations might have consumed without question.
Enter the TikTok clip from @mandyyndlangisa, where the mother approaches her daughter in the kitchen and asks if she would like to try some chicken feet.
The little girl’s reaction is priceless; she runs away from her mother, exclaiming, “Is that handprints?”
@mandyyndlangisa The way she ran
♬ original sound - Amanda Ndlangisa
The humorous misunderstanding struck a chord on social media, prompting a flood of reactions as others shared their own experiences with chicken feet.
One user wrote: “My niece said she doesn't eat dragon legs (laughing face emoji)”, while another remarked: “Lol. They are too modern for this.”
One commenter echoed the sentiment, declaring, “I totally understand her, because you can never make me eat them, and I am a man in my 30s (laughing face emojis)”.
A mother even reminisced: “My daughter used to say inyama yesandla (hand meat).”
This isn’t the first time children have brought a fresh perspective to the table. In 2022, another TikTok sensation featured a young girl who dubbed chicken feet “creepy hands” when presented with a bowl of pap and the notorious dish for dinner.
Accepting the meal, she first said “thank you" then went on to say she didn't want sticky hands, before calling the chicken feet, "creepy hands".