A Deep Dive into the Origins of Jollof Rice

Have you ever wondered about the true origins of Nigerian Jollof rice and its cultural significance? Get ready for a flavorful journey as I, Anthonia Oluwawabunmi Uddin, take you back to the roots of this beloved dish in our 13th episode of the Discussion Den Podcast. Promising a taste of history, we trace the origins of Jollof from the Wolof people of Senegal and explore how colonial trade and interactions brought this delightful recipe to Nigeria. Through personal anecdotes from my childhood in Lagos, I share the pivotal role Togolese and Cotonou Women played in perfecting the smoky, savoury Jollof rice that Nigerians adore today, along with other traditional dishes like Ewa Agoyin.

Join us as we unravel the fascinating stories behind these culinary traditions and celebrate the expertise of the incredible Women who shaped Nigerian Cuisine. Whether you're a passionate foodie or curious about West African Culture, this episode promises to enrich your understanding of why Jollof rice holds a special place in the hearts of many. Prepare to discover mouth-watering details, regional variations, and much more. Don't forget to subscribe to the Discussion Den Podcast to stay updated on all future episodes!

Transcript

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 0:00

Hola como estas, soy Anthonia Uddin. Guten Morgen, mein Name ist Anthonia Uddin. Bonjour tout le monde. Mon nom est Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin et bienvenue chez le Discussion Den Podcast. Hello Everyone, Welcome. My name is Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin, and today's episode is Episode 13. Welcome to The Discussion Den Podcast. Welcome to the Discussion Den Podcast. Our last episode was Episode 12. And the topic was "ransforming sexual encounters with honest communication. If you haven't listened to my last podcast episode, please go to the YouTube podcast, Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music or any podcasting platform and search for Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin "The Discussion Den podcast, and there you have it. You can listen to all of my previous episodes and subscribe so that you will be the first to be notified about any future episode.

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 1:06

On today's episode, we will talk about the Nigerian Jollof Rice period. So what is Nigerian Jollof? Nigerian Jollof Rice has a rich and storied history that reflects the Country's diverse culture and culinary influences. Here is an overview of its background. Now We will start with the Origins. Nigerian Jollof rice originated from West African roots. The origins of Jollof Rice can be traced back to the Wolof people of Senegal, who are credited with creating a dish called

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 1:56

When cooked in a tomato paste base and is course, throughout various the West African countries and is enjoyed throughout various African countries. Colonial influence During this colonial neighbourhood, trade and migration, allowed for the exchange of culinary traditions among different regions. This helped to popularize jollof rice across West live Africa, particularly in Nigeria, west Tokunboh, particularly in Nigeria. Omididun I S H h C Do you The C a W J R the W Alase and Awon C made Cotonou about a to The

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 2:31

Now I would Country let you guys that when Jollof Rice growing up in the 80s of course I Jollof remember 80s, 90s and the use of long-grain I my parents or any elder in the neighborhood wanted to have parties in Lagos Island, in Lagos, they had to go to certain streets"Adogon For example, if you lived in Lagos Island, you know Tokumbo Street, you know Omididu Street, you know Okekupu Street there we had, and so use many other streets in Nigerian Lagos Jollof Rice, Adogon had, and Big also Pot Itafaji, there we had the Togolese women and the women from Kotonu who know how to Party Jollof, smoky Nigerian jollof rice. You Party think Jollof you Rice like can cook jollof rice day a No, you need to try by these Togolese women, by these Seme till today Kotonu women, by these semi women, by these kotonu women. Bene? Republicans, they know how to make the best, the best jollof rice that we call nigerian jollof today. We we nigerians or we lagosians would pay them any amount of money to get them to come cook. You know, we used to call them something in yoruba. In yoruba language they call women. They refer to these women as Anwa Alase, anwo Lopo. You know, they, those Alase women, those Olopo women, were specifically women from Togo, togolese women and Kutonu women. They were also the originators of the Ewa Agoyin. That's why you call it Ewa Agoyin. You know that, overly cooked beans that is like mashed potatoes, but it's beans and then with that special palm oil sauce, peppered sauce with crayfish and onions. Oh la la, yes, this same cuisine. Ewa Agoyin came from the same Agoyin women, the Kutonu women, the Benin Republican women, the Togolese women. They also introduced and taught the majority of Nigerians how to make the best smoky pate jollof rice. I said what I said. If you're a Gen Z, you need to ask your parents or your aunties or your uncles this information and they will verify, especially Lagosians. They will tell you that this is fact 100. So let's go back. Evolution, regional variations.

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 4:50

Each West African country Brothers developed Sisters own version of Salah notably distinguished by without that Smoky, Jollof vibrant Rice spices and my Christian Brothers flavor achieved Sisters by Hallelujah, they make flame or in Smoky a Jollof covered Rice during pot. Yes, we Parties use adogon. That big, huge pot is called adogon. That's what we use. We used to make, um, uh, what do you call it? We used to make the nigerian jollof rice adogon with that big pot. We use firewood as well. That is the only way you can make the best patty jollof. If you want to make patty jollof rice back in the days, uh, you have to use the firewood, the smoky, you know. It gives you that smoky taste, even till today.

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 5:42

I love my Muslim brothers and sisters. Salaam Birthday, Parties they make, Nija Jollof is a must. If until today. They cannot. salad know that Nigerians is never complete if they do not make that smoky jollof rice. parties, they smoky jollof during Christmas and Easter parties. Lagos Island f m p f i people are s o v

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 6:03

Yes, and if you want Nigeria to have your birthday parties, my sister, if you're a streets, Go check nigerians are the party at, and they are centres friendly If they are having parties, like parties to are an. They don't pay Back in the days. They don't pay for special halls Smoky Nigerian Jollof Rice is when Lgosians the streets Street Parties canopies proper parties tents, so Festive anybody Seasons is allowed Salah sit down Christmas and eat. Easter, Burials, Naming Ceremonies, etc. will serve you. a seat, need to know you in lagos don't need to know you. f f a d R on

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 6:30

So if you are visiting nigeria State and the first time, try to go out to the streets and see, check out where their parties, some event centers as well. Some of them don't require you State have a invitation ever, but you ? the sure bets for you to eat smoky nigerian smoky jollof when they are having street parties, like parties proper, during festive seasons, like salah, like christmas, like easter. Yes, just grab it. See, they don't need to know you, just grab. And even if they Adeniji Adele you are, Market you are Omididun Street a visitor or Street you at these places guest, they will still Best Street. Party You Smoky Jollof Rice best smoky nigerian patty jollof fries. Don't forget, if you visit nigeria, make sure, make sure you you attend any of these parties on on the streets generally, maybe burial naming ceremony, name it, especially lagos island.

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 7:19

If you let's address The have Rivalry been to Popularity Lagos and you have not been to Jollof Rice, have you been to Lagos? You are We've joking. If you to Nigeria have not Country been to Lagos at the have of even been to Nigeria. You are Countries. And if you have been to Lagos, The Jollof stop which was Lagos Island is big. Nigeria have Ghana go to Lagos Island. Your visit Senegalese never complete Gambian Jollof going to Lagos State Countries were also Lagos Island and visiting get the best street party smoky, jollof rice.

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 7:57

Okay, now rivalry Jollof popularity. Remember, guys, we Jollof the jollof Nija rivalry Jollof ongoing, but you know we've settled Jollof. And, uh, you know, Jollof they've Rice they the country that is the Jollof or the best. They Cotonou the Benin countries already Have you tried the the Benin defeat Republic You Togolese, Jollof yes, the friendly rivalry their Jollof between nigeria and ghana. And then the Togolese we also Benin the Jollof and the gambians jollof as well. Those ones too are Nigerian Jollof Togo this Benin So, regarding this jollof as Nigerian those Jollof ones are also We rivalry

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 8:35

So, regarding Traveler this makes an best Baby you know? Is it Niger jollof that is the best, or is it Ghana jollof, or is it the jollof rice? Best Or Jollof is Rice it the Gambian jollof? Or is it the Kotonu and Bener Republic? Or, you know, bener republic and togolese jollof? Because you guys are not. You guys are overlooking. You guys are sleeping on togolese and bene? Republican jollof. I'm telling you that is the number one origin for niger jollofo togo and bene? Republic. That is where our own nigerian jollof really evolved from. Like we actually follow the receipts the original receipts of making nigerian jollof rice actually is it's like it came from togo and benedict republic. But you guys are sleeping. You guys just believe oh, it's niger jollof, is the niger jollof. The war is between niger jollof and gana jollof.

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 9:29

I'm a traveler and I'm a and I'm a 80s know, I it born. Togolese and Benin Republic Togo make the best jollof rice. They make the best food Nigeria like one of the best cuisines you have not visited Ghana, go there. Visit The Gambia and Senegal I'm not even capping, I'm serious Countries guys. about from . all the

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 9:49

Most Benin Republic, migrated I advise Nigeria. , you should go there. If you have not visited nigeria, you should go there. where If you're Women not gonna listen, you need to visit these countries and taste their food before can now sit down like me today to say, okay, we want to do, we want to settle this rivalry once and for all. Who makes the best jollof rice? Visit these countries and eat from. You know, eat their food, okay. And if you don't visit, at least visit nigeria. When you come to nigeria, you would be sure to eat the authentic nigerian jollof rice made by the togolese women and made by the uh benin republicans, because they are.

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 10:30

They are also the most of them migrated to nigeria. They are, they're married, they are married. Most of them migrated to Nigeria. They are there married. They are married to Nigerians. They live the Gambia there. There are certain streets Senegal Lagos Island that Gambian based and they cook Senegalese their food. They cook Nigerian food in their own way. the .

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 10:45

Yes, so you can also go Gambians . You can go Accra you can go to Senegalese. theirs because to. are Ghana my Do second home. Gambia not been to Senegal and I've not the Gambia been to senegal, but I I have senegalese Google. I love you, the People of Gambia and Senegal speak Wollof and majority of their food Jollof I can Senegal you their , rice is. a

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 11:14

But there is a difference. The Jollof gambians Rice when prepare their jollof rice Nigeria, Ghana they Cotonou are brothers Togo do you know gambia is situated in senegal Gambia Senegal Senegal,, you to know, small grain rice, look, look it up on google. wall of the wall Jollof of people they speak wall of in senegal, our Jollof, the spices used of us. Well, in gambia, the wall of people they believe that the jollof originated okro from senegal. It's facts, actually it's all in facts. I'm not, I'm not even gonna God on that, it's facts. N J.

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 11:51

But the way they prepare Gambians their jollof Senegalese plating method of Jollof, Rice no, no, we from nigeria, on ghana, kotonu and togo, we prefer to use that parboiled rice, and senegal they to Do you use small sticky rice mean?

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 12:11

When , Nigerian Fried Rice their joolof, is different from Nigerian the Fried way Rice we prepare ajolof. The spices, and diced before then again, vegetables they Fried. Rice while cooking it Gambia in, Senegal I'm always like, oh, my god, them is not how we make ajolof, right? So you see, the methodology of of the jollof making in gambia and senegal different from how we make our jollof, but the end fantastic. s o g m i

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 12:41

Now, don't forget the gambians and senegalese. When Travelling they serve you a is Key. There's of jollof Rice Nigerian Jollof Rice in mONTREAL Montreal, Canada. www. bunmiskitchen. t P v their Website wait for

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 12:47

rice, you can see whole carrots in your plate. You can see whole cabbage leaves. You can see, you know, the veggies are like big. You know what I mean like big when we, when we make our fried rice, nigerian fried rice we have vegetables in our nigerian fried rice, but our vegetables are chopped before we add it to the, to the fried rice. While cooking, our vegetables are chopped and diced, but in gambia and senegal they don't chop their vegetables, they throw it in. So when you, when they serve you rice, their jollof rice, you see whole carrots. You see all that whole humongous vegetables on your plate. You know, and they put you know a piece of fish or meat, or you know, or their chep, you know, which is fantastic. So, yes, you need to try.

Anthonia Oluwabunmi Uddin: 13:33

Go outside of your comfort zone and travel. Traveling is knowledge, knowledge. There's a lot of knowledge in traveling. So if you want to be knowledgeable about various cultures and traditions and cuisine and you want to be a top judge in comparing the various jollof rice across West Africa, then you start. You need to start trying out different foods and traveling, much more so. In conclusion, nigerian jollof is not just a dish. It's a cultural icon that embodies the warmth of Nigerian hospitality and tradition. Whether enjoyed at a family reunion or a festive gathering, it remains a symbol of togetherness and the vibrant culinary heritage of Nigeria. And if you want to try, go to Bumi's Kitchen. Bumi's Kitchen is our sponsor for today, so salute to Bumi's Kitchen. Bumi's Kitchen is an online or virtual restaurant. Go on their website, wwwboomiskitchenca, and click on their menu section and order your food. They sell food and drinks. Okay, order your food online and their website will give you an estimated time of when you pick up or you want it delivered. Thank you for listening. God bless you. I love you.