Ghana and Nigeria jollof; the never-ending food war
The ongoing debate between Ghana and Nigeria over the best Jollof rice has been a source of passionate rivalry and banter, captivating the hearts and taste buds of West Africans and beyond.
The feud, often depicted through memes, music videos, and social media posts, reflects the deep cultural significance of this iconic dish.
Notable personalities from Ghana and Nigeria have boasted on international platforms that their respective country has the best Jollof.
Famous Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie has been known to welcome his international friends to his home with home-cooked Ghanaian jollof to help settle the debate on the country with the best Jollof.
The Ghanaian star has not only used his voice to settle this debate but has also used his culinary skills to tilt the conversation in favour of Ghana.
Nigeria’s Hilda Baci, the recently dethroned Guinness World Record holder for the longest cooking marathon said in an interview that Nigerian jollof tastes better than Ghanaian jollof.
The former cookathon champion claimed that the recipe Nigerians used in cooking their jollof rice pips that of their Ghanaian counterparts.
Baci being a popular chef, her rationalisation of the age-old debate might hold much more weight than that of the average Nigerian.
However, popular Afrobeats artist Wizkid when asked this question claimed to enjoy the jollof rice from both nations. His answer was perhaps a bit diplomatic because the singer is a Nigerian and spends some of his days when he is not performing out on the stage in Ghana.
In recent times, Ghanaians and Nigerians have engaged in taste challenges on social media involving other nationals. Since both countries claim to have the best jollof, neutrals have weighed in on the debate.
The Jollof feud is one with cultural significance and events like the Jollof Festival which brings people together to taste and judge the best Jollof dishes from different countries continue to bring people together to celebrate the famous West African dish.
Despite the lighthearted nature of the debate between the two nations, the recent UNESCO declaration, settling the jollof war and recognising Senegal's Ceebu Jen as the origin of Jollof rice has added a new chapter to this ongoing debate. This raises the question; Does Senegal have the best Jollof?
