In West Africa, few dishes inspire as much pride and provoke as many discussions as jollof rice.
This beloved dish has tested friendships and ignited heated debates on social media, especially concerning which nation prepares it best.
To address this longstanding culinary rivalry, Oakland’s Jollof Festival will take place on July 12, bringing together skilled cooks from various West African countries for a flavorful showdown.
Founded in 2017, the Jollof Festival celebrates the rich culinary traditions of West African cuisine, with jollof rice taking center stage.
The highlight of the festival, known as The Jollof Wars, features chefs representing countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, each preparing their unique versions of this iconic dish.
The concept for the festival originated from a spirited Twitter debate in 2016, where members of African communities passionately argued over which iteration of jollof rice was superior.
Ishmael Osekre, the founder and producer of the festival, noted, “The Jollof Wars was trending on Twitter a lot, especially at that time, and it was just merciless.
The best way to settle this is to taste it rather than talk about it.
Let’s actually get everyone together, get everyone to taste the food, get everyone to vote, and then accept the winner.”
Observing the divisive nature of the topic, Osekre developed the festival format, facilitating the first edition in Washington D.C.
The event’s popularity quickly spread nationwide, thanks to social media, as more people reached out to Osekre, requesting Jollof Festivals in new cities.
Now, the Jollof Festival is proudly hosted in over 16 cities across the United States and the United Kingdom.
Jollof rice is a one-pot dish, simmered in a rich tomato-based stew infused with spices, proteins, and peppers.
What differentiates each country’s recipe, according to Osekre, is the type of rice grain, mix-ins, and proteins used.
For traditional Nigerian jollof, par-boiled rice is essential, as its firmer texture prevents the grains from clumping together.
Meanwhile, Ghanaians favor Jasmine rice for its softness, stickiness, and fragrance.
In Liberia, cooks often enhance their jollof with fish, chicken, beef, and vegetables that are typically not found in other regional variations, such as carrots.
Quiana Webster, co-producer of the event, expressed her enthusiasm for learning about these distinct culinary practices and their cultural significance.
She stated, “I particularly love the Jollof Festival.
For me, learning about West African culture has been an amazing experience, and I love being able to bring something to my Black community that just links us together and helps us understand this culture.”
At the festival, participants will be able to taste the different jollof rice versions through a blind taste test and vote for their favorites.
Additionally, a panel of judges chosen from audience volunteers will also submit their votes.
Once the voting concludes, the results will be tallied, and the winner announced.
Local Oakland food businesses, including Kojo Kojo Fusion, Jollof Food Truck, and Sovula’s Kitchen, are among those participating in the event.
In addition to the cooking competition, the festival will feature cultural performances, fashion shows, influencer meet-ups, dance lessons, music, and a kids zone with activities such as painting.
Samantha Akewi, a collaborator and co-producer of the festival, hopes these shared experiences will foster unity and celebration among attendees.
“I think this is an opportunity to build bridges locally,” Akewi noted.
“Especially in these times when we’re so divided as a society, it’s an opportunity to bring people together and celebrate and feel good.”
For those interested in attending, tickets for the Jollof Festival start at $31.72, while children under 10 can enter for free.
The event will take place at 1255 7th Street, Oakland, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For more details about the festival, visit the official Jollof Festival website.
image source from：berkeleyside
