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Close up of the jollof rice bought from the Fork in Nigeria food truck, October 29, 2025, by Precious Inyi.
The Orange War: Jollof Rice on the Frontlines of Culture and Society
The Orange War: Jollof Rice on the Frontlines of Culture and Society
by Precious Inyi
The plate of rice sitting in front of me is an explosion of orange, the scent of aromatic herbs rising with every wave of warm water vapor. The fried plantain and sauteed vegetables on top gleam with a sheen of oil, yet the plantain flesh is tender upon first bite; the vegetables crunch with a freshness that satisfies the molars. I can see why digital wars are fought over such a simple but flavorful dish: jollof rice.
Few aspects of my culture have been as consistent throughout my life as jollof rice. As a Nigerian-born African American with limited physical and linguistic connections to my country and its culture, it is a safe home to me. Jollof is one pathway through which I can build my Nigerian identity, forming memories over every shared bowl at functions or even just teaching classmates about Nigerian cuisine over a packed lunchbox at lunch.
A selfie of me with the jollof rice I bought, pre-meal, October 29, 2025, by Precious Inyi.
The Fork in Nigeria food truck where I bought the jollof rice, October 29, 2025, by Precious Inyi.
In the realm of West African cuisine, jollof rice is the reigning monarch—a king in its own right, flaunting its orange banner and herbal coat of arms over the battlefield of countries vying for rights to its cultural equity and ownership. At the forefront of this battle are Nigeria and Ghana, two major African nations that began what is now known as the “jollof wars” back in the 2010s (Martin and McKenna). The fight is based on differences in taste and preparation that make this dish “better” in the eyes of each country’s inhabitants. We Nigerians swear by a permeating smoky flavor that is enhanced by rich spices, while Ghanaians tend to favor a deeper, simpler tomato flavor (Alagidede). In the midst of this, however, the true originators of jollof rice lie silent, content with watching the chaos unfold in social media posts, diss tracks, and extensive email chains (Quist-Arcton).
Further West, the roots of jollof rice are truly planted in the Senegambia region of West Africa, where what we know as jollof today is actually called thieboudienne, or ceebu jën in the tongue of the Wolof people of Senegal and Gambia (Alagidede). While modern jollof rice mainly features tomatoes, meats, and various other toppings, ceebu jën was and is a dish primarily consisting of rice and fish, often mixed with vegetables and only sometimes tomato (Niang). Jollof’s creation is also deeply connected to colonization, when French colonists introduced broken rice and other ingredients they favored, forcing natives to adapt to primarily using those ingredients (Niang). “The success of the rice promotion strategy resulted in the entrenchment of an economy that became increasingly dependent on crops preferred by the colonisers” (Niang). Over the years, this dish evolved into modern day jollof, according to the Ghanaian Journal of Economics. “The introduction of tomatoes, chili peppers, and other ingredients through trade networks enriched the dish’s flavour profile and adaptability. Regional variations began to emerge, shaped by local ingredients and preferences” (Alagidede). This was a significant cultural development in Africa and beyond, with influences like the slave trade leading to the creation of similar variations of the rice in the Americas, such as southern Jambalaya, Charleston red rice, and Brazilian galinhada (Sim).
In the more recent era of jollof rice, it serves as a staple food for me and many other Africans who have practically grown up with a rice spoon in hand. It is a food that defines my culture, following me through all of life’s seasons, celebrations, and quiet moments. I think back on the jollof rice served for weddings, services of songs, birthdays, Sunday afternoon meals, graduation parties, and school lunches: on the moments when I got tired of eating this rice; the moments where I devoured mountainous plates of it, craving it to satisfy my hunger in all the right ways; on the moment when I defrosted a bag of it in my dorm and savored my first bowl of authentic jollof rice since arriving in Michigan.
While I am a loyal advocate for the superiority of Nigerian jollof rice, I can capitulate to the varying opinions of others, no matter which side of the war they are on. Ultimately, jollof rice is a symbol of unity, bringing together West Africans globally in a cultural mixing pot of flavors and culinary experiences. Food writer Jen Sim puts it beautifully: “I, a descendant of African culture, stand on the shoulders of jollof rice’s rich history, able to share and celebrate it.”. I too share in this sentiment, celebrating this dish so loved by my ancestors and hoping to be a catalyst for future generations to continue loving it as I do.
Works Cited
Alagidede, Yegandi. “Jollof Rice: A West African Culinary and Cultural Icon” Ghanaian Journal of Economics, vol. 12, no. 1, 1 Dec. 2024, pp. 1–11, journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/ejc-ghajecon_v12_n1_a4. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Inyi, Precious. Close up of the jollof rice bought from the Fork in Nigeria food truck. 29 Oct. 2025. Author’s Personal Collection.
Inyi, Precious. A selfie of me with the jollof rice, pre-meal. 29 Oct. 2025. Author’s Personal Collection.
Inyi, Precious. The Fork in Nigeria food truck where I bought the jollof rice. 29 Oct. 2025. Author’s Personal Collection.
Martin, Roland, and Amy McKenna. “Jollof Rice.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Sept. 2024, www.britannica.com/topic/jollof-rice. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
Niang, Fatima Fall. “Who Invented Jollof Rice? Senegal Beats Ghana and Nigeria to the Title.” The Conversation, 18 Jan. 2023, theconversation.com/who-invented-jollof-rice-senegal-beats-ghana-and-nigeria-to-the-title-197352. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
Quist-Arcton, Ofeibea. “Jollof Rice: West Africans Dish It up with a Hefty Serving of Smack Talk.” The Salt, NPR, 30 Aug. 2016, www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/08/30/491380208/jollof-rice-west-africans-dish-it-up-with-a-hefty-serving-of-smack-talk. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Sim, Jen. “Celebrating Jollof Rice and Its Journey across the Atlantic.” Simply Recipes, 13 Feb. 2023, www.simplyrecipes.com/celebrating-jollof-rice-journey-across-the-atlantic-7108697. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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