African Jollof War – Who Prepares The Best Jollof Rice?
Jollof rice in West Africa is the equivalent of paella in Spain, risotto in Italy, biriyani in India, and fried rice in China. Rice, tomato stew, and spices are combined to create the spicy rice dish that is a delicacy in most West African nations like Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Gambia and others.
It is frequently consumed as a major dish and is a standard meal at get-togethers, weddings and funerals. It’s made of stewed rice that has been combined with tomatoes, onions, vegetable or olive oil, habanero (or scotch bonnet) pepper, tomato puree (or canned tomatoes), stock cubes, thyme, curry powder, ginger, and garlic.
UNESCO has resolved a long-running controversy over the origin of Jollof rice between Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal. The institution has formally recognised Senegal as the true origin of the West African delicacy. However, many have argued that the flavour of the food is what matters most, not where it comes from.
This is because the steps involved in cooking Jollof are complex, and the sequence in which one adds the ingredients affects how it turns out.
Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cameroon are the main contenders for who makes the best Jollof rice. Since the dish originates from Senegal, they are relatively relaxed and rarely get involved in the debate. The Jollof dispute between Ghana and Nigeria, on the other hand, is possibly the most heated argument on the continent and in the diaspora.

Africans regularly participate in Jollof competitions
These two heavy-weight nations believe their Jollof rice is the best, despising others. Both nations take pleasure in this friendly taunting, viewing it as a contest of wits where each tries to verbally exhaust the other. It is a language of affection between the two nations and resembles the dynamics of siblings making fun of one another.
The Jollof Festival held at Ohio University on Friday, November 18, 2022, saw Ghana emerging as the winner of the Jollof contest, triumphing over Nigeria, Gambia, Senegal and Jamaica.
In the same year, Nigeria won the stiff Jollof competition organised by the renowned spice business Onga. There have been several Jollof competitions that have been held over the years, most of which have been won either by Ghana or Nigeria.
From all indications, it seems there is no end in sight to the ever-waging food war.
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