PILON/PILÃO

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Os grandes pilões, geralmente para cereais (principalmente milho ou sorgo), podem ser utilizados por várias pessoas ao mesmo tempo, cada uma com um pau que vão batendo os grãos alternadamente, ao som de uma melopeia que dá o ritmo das batidas. Para além de moer o grão, o pilão é também usado para descascar o arroz. Em Cabo Verde, essa técnica é até hoje utilizada para moer sobretudo o milho. O acto de pilar recebe o nome, em crioulo, de “cotchí.

Source: Wikipedia

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The above quote is saying that the Pilon or African style mortar and pestle are used in Cape Verde especially for pounding maize (milho). And that the verb used in Cape Verdean Crioulo for pounding is “cotchi”, which derives from the Mandinga language. Because of modernization (nowadays you can buy maize flower in the supermarket) this tradition is disappearing rapidly. It used to be widespread throughout Cape Verde though until very recently. My grandmother used to have a pilon. My mother remembers she had to help out as well when she was younger. Food preparation being crucial for any people it can be said that this retention was quite fundamental for Cape Verdeans.

According to Quint (2008) cotchi/kotchi is a Mandinga derived word.

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Kotchi

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Photo taken in Santiago, some of the women also wearing Pano de terra.

794px-Pilon

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Picture taken on the island of Fogo, pilon plays a central part during some of their local festivals.

jpg_pilon Fogo