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Jollof Rice, a West African dish and a cultural staple that’s become well known outside of West Africa. Folks from all the West African countries make their own type, including people from  Burkina-Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Conakry, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Jollof Rice has become so popular globally, all the different West African countries constantly fight on who makes the best dish. On any given day, you can find a Jollof rice hashtag where Ghanians, Nigerians, and Senegalians are throwing shade and salt at each other in #jollofwars. Ghanaians and Nigerians never need much reasons to scramble for the West African crown. Jollof rice is just one more reason. Personally, I believe the best Jollof rice comes from Senegalese cooks. I have two valid reasons for why I’m sticking to this. 

  1. I’ve tasted a few Jollof dishes from Senegalese cooks and, MY GOD.
  2. Based on it’s name, we can all assume the dish originated from Senegal and neighboring countries adopted it. The name Jollof derives from the Wolof people of Senegambia.

Ghanaians and Nigerians fighting over who makes the best Jollof dish without acknowledging Senegal’s originality, and better taste, is like New Yorkers claiming to make a better Philly Cheese Steak than Philadelphia. I’m a New Yorker, and we make a helluva cheese steak called the “Chop Cheese”.  Even with my love for the New York Chop Cheese, I’m sure a Philly cheese steak from Philly is probably better. Better? Maybe. But give me my chop cheese over a philly any day. I’m one who has grown to stay away from processed foods, but I lose all diet sense for a Chop Cheese from Highbridge, the Bronx neighborhood I was raised in.

 

In my family Jollof rice is made on holidays and special occasions. And when it’s not a holiday or special occasion, the Jollof made the day special. My Ghanian sister Safiya S. Abdul, wants to give you a free online Jollof Rice Cooking Class on Friday July 10th 6:00pm EST. The class will take place live on Instagram on our page @bridgingafricansblackamericans. Follow the page before the event, so you’re notified. For Safiya’s Ghanian Jollof recipe and step-by-step instructions, email us with subject line "recipe". 

This free Jollof class is part of a series of free events and activities from Bridging Africans & Black Americans Inc (BABA Inc), a non profit creating free programs that allow for black ethinc groups in America, (Africans, African-Americans & Caribbeans), to learn, work, and play together. The free bridging events BABA Inc provides include, educational programs, socio-cultural programs, civic engagement programs, and economical opportunities. If you would like to host a free bridging program of your making, please email us at the contact below.

 

Email: bridgeafricansblackamericans@gmail.com

IG: @bridgingafricansblackamericans

Phone: 9172382644

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