By Deborah OmaOjo, Special Correspondent in Lagos
Long before Nigerians and Ghanaians began exchanging culinary insults over who makes the better pot of jollof rice, the Wolof people of Senegal had already laid claim to the dish’s historical beginnings in the ancient Senegambian region, giving the world a culinary treasure whose popularity has travelled far beyond its birthplace. But while the Wolof may have the historical bragging rights, Ghana and Nigeria have turned the business of cooking jollof into an entertaining international rivalry, with Ghanaians confidently insisting that their version is superior to the Nigerian variety. Nigerians, naturally, beg to disagree. And when the conversation turns to party jollof, the smoky, richly seasoned, firewood-kissed delicacy served at weddings, birthdays, naming ceremonies and other grand occasions, the competition becomes even more interesting. After all, party jollof is one of the most sought-after attractions at Nigerian events, sometimes commanding as much attention as the celebrant!
Nigeria has now added another delicious chapter to this simmering West African rivalry, emerging champion of the Africa Jollof Wars 3.0 after defeating traditional competitors Ghana and Senegal in a culinary contest held in Lagos during the 2026 Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND).
The victory has handed Nigeria something it treasures almost as much as a well-prepared pot of jollof: bragging rights!
Nigerian contestant Ladipo Ayodeji carried the country’s culinary flag into the competition and emerged victorious following a blind-tasting exercise and voting. Ghana finished in second place, while Senegal settled for third, leaving Nigeria to savour the sweetest portion of the culinary triumph.
It was a victory made all the more satisfying by the fact that the competition was staged on Nigerian soil. There is, perhaps, no better place to celebrate a jollof victory than Lagos, a city where food, entertainment, celebration and spirited arguments can all comfortably occupy the same table.
A BATTLE OF POTS, PEPPERS AND NATIONAL PRIDE
The Africa Jollof Wars has become an exciting platform for showcasing the different interpretations of one of West Africa’s most beloved dishes. Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal each arrived with their own culinary traditions, cooking techniques and distinctive flavours, hoping to convince the judges that their version deserved the crown.
This time, however, national sentiment was not supposed to determine the outcome. Organisers adopted a blind-tasting format, allowing participants to sample the competing dishes without knowing which country had prepared each serving.
It was a clever arrangement. After all, if Nigerians knew which plate belonged to Ghana, some might have approached it with suspicion, while Ghanaian tasters might have required considerable persuasion before admitting that a Nigerian pot was particularly impressive!
By removing national identities from the tasting exercise, the organisers sought to place the food itself at the centre of the competition. The eventual voting crowned Nigeria the winner.
Once, even Nigeria’s former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, JOINED THE FRAY, took a swipe, honouring Nigeria’s famed jollof rice above Ghana’s.
For Ayodeji, the achievement was an opportunity to represent his country and demonstrate the international appeal of Nigerian cuisine. He expressed appreciation to CANEX for creating the platform and called for greater promotion of Nigerian food and African gastronomy.
His victory will undoubtedly provide fresh ammunition for Nigerian food enthusiasts, who can now enter the next online jollof argument with a competition trophy to support their claims.
GHANA AND NIGERIA: THE NEVER-ENDING JOLLOF LOVE AFFAIR
Few culinary rivalries in Africa are as entertaining as the one between Ghana and Nigeria.
Once, even Nigeria’s former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, took a swipe, honouring Nigeria’s famed jollof rice above Ghana’s.
Both countries have developed fiercely loyal followings for their respective versions of jollof rice, and both are convinced that the other side has yet to discover the true secret of preparing the perfect pot.
Ghanaian jollof enthusiasts are particularly vocal about their culinary superiority. They celebrate their rice preparation, seasoning combinations and distinctive flavour profile with considerable confidence. Nigerians, meanwhile, are equally passionate about their tomato-and-pepper-rich preparation, often insisting that the depth of flavour, colour and seasoning in Nigerian jollof is simply unmatched.
The rivalry has spilled across social media, television programmes, celebrity interviews, food festivals and friendly gatherings. A photograph of a plate of jollof can easily trigger a heated debate, just like both countries’ football rivalry, with national flags, laughing emojis and culinary arguments flying in every direction.
Yet, beneath the banter lies a shared appreciation for a dish that has become one of West Africa’s most recognisable culinary exports.