Walk into almost any Ghanaian kitchen and you'll find one tool that doesn't show up in a standard Western cookware set: the fufu stick, also called a banku stick. It's the long wooden paddle used to stir and fold banku, fufu, and kenkey as they cook — and if you've ever tried to make these dishes with a regular spoon, you already know why the real tool matters.
What Is a Fufu Stick, Exactly?
A fufu/banku stick is a long, sturdy wooden paddle, flattened at one end, designed to stir and turn thick, sticky doughs like banku and fufu as they cook over heat. Ordinary spoons and spatulas bend or snap under the weight and stickiness of these doughs — a proper fufu stick is built for exactly this job, giving you the leverage to fold the dough over itself until it reaches the right smooth, stretchy consistency.
Fufu Stick vs. Mortar and Pestle
The fufu stick is often confused with pounding fufu in a mortar and pestle, but they're used differently. Pounding fufu uses a mortar (wooden bowl) and pestle to physically pound boiled cassava, yam, or plantain into a smooth dough. A fufu/banku stick, by contrast, is for stirring dough that's cooking directly in the pot — the method used for banku and for instant/flour-based fufu, where hot water is gradually mixed with flour and stirred continuously until it comes together.
Making Fufu the Easy Way — With Flour
Pounding fufu from scratch takes time and physical effort. Most Ghanaians and West Africans in the US use pre-made fufu flour instead — just add hot water and stir with a fufu stick until smooth. African Delights carries both cocoyam fufu flour and plantain fufu flour, giving you the same texture and taste as pounded fufu without needing a mortar and pestle.
Using a Fufu Stick for Banku and Kenkey Too
The same stick works for banku, which is made by cooking fermented corn and cassava dough while stirring continuously until it thickens. For the full breakdown of banku, kenkey, and how they compare, see our banku vs. kenkey vs. ugali comparison and our complete guide to kenkey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fufu stick used for?
A fufu stick (also called a banku stick) is used to stir and fold thick doughs like banku, fufu, and kenkey while they cook, giving the leverage and reach that a regular spoon can't provide.
Do I need a fufu stick if I'm using fufu flour instead of pounding?
Yes — even with pre-made fufu flour, you still stir the flour into hot water continuously until it thickens into dough, and a fufu stick makes that much easier than a standard spoon.
What's the difference between a fufu stick and a mortar and pestle?
A mortar and pestle is used to physically pound boiled starches into fufu, while a fufu/banku stick is used to stir dough that's cooking in a pot, such as banku or flour-based fufu.
