The Nation Newspaper

Tag: JOLLOF RICE

  •  $5000 prize for Best Jollof rice cook in Africa

    The winner of the African Jollof Rice Challenge will go home with a $5000 prize, the organisers have announced.

    According to the executive Producer of Brand Television Network, (Btv), Felix King, the argument on which country has the best Jollof rice informed the contest.

    This debate sprang up from a statement by Lai Muhammed, Nigeria’s Minister of Information who said, “Senegalese Jollof Rice is the best and a counter claim by Acting President Yemi Osibajo that, “We all know that Nigerian Jollof Rice is the best anywhere. We beat the Ghanaians and Senegalese hands  down.”

    King said: “There is no official position yet on which country has the best Jollof rice in Africa, hence,theBtv’s desire to unravel the mystery through this contest.

    ‘’None of the perspectives has proved convincing, despite Nigeria’s strong claims to the African cuisine. The different viewpoints on the streets have only generated more controversies and continuous placement of different points to back up individual claims.’’

    An Executive Producer withBtv, Ororo Pattaya Otono, said the challenge would start with an online recipe contest, where the best contestants would be selected for the live screening and then the grand finale. He said the programme would end at the Reward Night that would coincide with the World Jollof Rice Day on August 22.

    Ororo also said: “Jollof rice was born with controversy about its true origin, the best ingredients for cooking it and where the name itself was discovered.”

    To the organisers, African Jollof Rice Challenge is more of an entertainment than a contest. It’s the positive and healthy exploration of the beauty of African entertainment that makes us one big continent.  King describes the grand finale as a celebration of various African music, where African rhythm meets African Jollof Rice.

    For Ororo, Jollof Rice is a unifying factor on the continent that brings us together to share great moments. Despite our differences, we have one major similarity – Jollof Rice. Hence the theme: One Africa, one Jollof rice, and different recipes.

    Beyond entertainment and food values, the African Jollof rice Challenge will promote tourism, cultural exchange among African countries.

  • Jollof rice war continues at CBL, as Eko Kings face Warriors

    Jollof rice war continues at CBL, as Eko Kings face Warriors

    The impression was that Nigeria’s Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo had settled the jollof rice war after the country’s Information Minister Lai Mohammed had stoked the fire by making an unpopular declaration concerning the ‘fight.’

    But the debate for the country with the best jollof rice is continuing with the Continental Basketball League as Senegalese-American, Ndiaye Rawane has said the best jollof rice is prepared and served in Senegal.

    The 6-10 centre who stars for Lagos City Warriors in the CBL May Madness tournament told the media he was not just in Nigeria for the basketball tournament but would also like to use his time in Lagos to correct the “wrong” impression that Nigeria offers the best jollof rice.

    Please permit me to quickly correct something I heard on my arrival here. It’s not Nigeria that has the best jollof rice; we (Senegal) make the best jollof rice and that’s the undisputed fact.

    When challenged on the spot, the centre from North Carolina, USA maintained his stand. He was, however, quick to add his love for Nigeria despite the jollof rice differences.

    “I have a couple of very good Nigerian friends in North Carolina but it makes a whole lot of difference visiting their place of origin. It’s my first time in Nigeria but I know I will surely have a good time here.”

    Apart from those from other continents, there are players from about 11 African countries in the competition. Thomas Doug of the Lagos City Warriors is an American power forward also in Lagos for the pro basketball jams. He also got a taste of the jollof rice war even before he could get a spoon of the cuisine.

    “The jollof rice matter has touched me because of the way it’s been discussed and so I am now really interested. There was so much debate in the bus that conveyed us from the airport to the hotel on arrival. The jollof rice argument got me laughing.”

    Today the players will put aside the cuisine arguments as Eko Kings take on Lagos Warriors from 7pm in the only match of the day at the Teslim Balogun Stadium. The Kings have won their two games, while the Warriors will be looking to get their first win this Pan African tournament set across Lagos, Yaounde and Libreville.

    In the last games played on Sunday, Yaoundé Giants and Eko Kings won their second games to stay one hundred percent. Giants captained by Christian Bayang defeated Lagos City Stars 92-64 in the first of the two matches played on Sunday. The experienced guard shot 11 points as the Cameroonian team won their second straight games. The crowd favourite and Giants point guard Jones Esters led scoring on both sides hitting 27 points. The American shot 87.5 from the free throw line. Prinsloo who shot 24 points led City Stars.

  • Nigerian jollof rice will bring me back sooner – Richard Quest

    Nigerian jollof rice will bring me back sooner – Richard Quest

    Richard Quest, English international journalist and anchor, CNN Money, who was in Nigeria recently, has disclosed that the last time he visited Nigeria was ten years ago, hailing the youths for their undying spirit.

    Speaking to Zain Asher on the CNN Market Place Africa, a weekly programme, Quest who noted that although his last visit, before last month’s, was ten years ago, enthused that it definitely won’t be that long before he visits the most populous black nation for his love for native Jollof rice.

    Quest is based in New York City and anchors Quest Means Business.

  • Osinbajo scores Nigerian ‘Jollof rice’ high

    Osinbajo scores Nigerian ‘Jollof rice’ high

    Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s Vice-President on Monday described Nigerian-cooked jollof rice as “the best in the world”.

    The New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that recently, while responding to a question by Richard Quest, CNN International business editor, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, was quoted to have said that the Senegalese make the best jollof rice on the continent.

    Although Quest made attempt to defend the minister, saying the minister did not hear his answer correctly, the incident sparked off unpleasant reactions on social media among a cross-section of Nigerians.

    The Vice-President gave the score card while speaking at “The Platform Nigeria,” a Global Media live broadcast LIVE on Channels TV and online convened by Poju Oyemade, Senior Pastor of the Covenant Christian Centre, in Lagos.

    He said:“And by the way, we all know that Nigerian jollof rice is the best, we beat the Ghanaians and the Senegalese hands down.”

    “We have everything, and our people are doing incredibly innovative things.

    “Our music and entertainment industry is the fastest growing in the world,and of course, nobody is as funny as Nigerians, whether professional or amateur,” he noted.

    The VP also extolled Nigerians innovative feats in various fields,especially in recent times.

    “Last year Oluyinka Olutoye, a Nigerian surgeon successfully took out a baby from her mother’s womb, operated on the womb, and put the baby back in.

    “The baby was carried full term and was born naturally – a feat previously unheard of.

    “Only last year, a Nigerian girl Morolake Akinosun won a gold medal at the Olympics.

    “Last Saturday, a Nigerian boxer Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua won the WBA, becoming the boxing champion of the world.”

    Jollof rice is a staple meal among Africans, however over the years, Nigerians, Ghanaians, Senegalese and other African countries have claimed to make the best of the meal.

  • Nigeria’s jollof rice best in the world – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday described Nigeria’s jollof rice as “the best in the world.”

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, had while responding to a question by CNN International Business Editor, Richard Quest, said Senegal makes the best jollof rice on the continent.

    Although Quest tried to defend the minister, saying he did not hear his question correctly, the incidence triggered reactions from cross-section of Nigerians on social media.

    The vice president spoke during his appearance at “The Platform Nigeria,” a Global Media programme broadcast live on Channels TV.

    It was convened by the Senior Pastor of the Covenant Christian Centre, Lagos, Poju Oyemade.

    Osinbajo said: “And by the way, we all know that Nigerian jollof rice is the best, we beat the Ghanaians and the Senegalese hands down.”

    “We have everything, and our people are doing incredibly innovative things.

    “Our music and entertainment industry is the fastest growing in the world, and of course, nobody is as funny as Nigerians, whether professional or amateur.”

    The vice president also extolled Nigerians innovative feats in various activities.

    “Last year Oluyinka Olutoye, a Nigerian surgeon successfully took out a baby from her mother’s womb, operated on the womb, and put the baby back in.

    “The baby was carried full term and was born naturally — a feat previously unheard of.

    “Only last year, a Nigerian girl, Morolake Akinosun, won a gold medal at the Olympics.

    “Last Saturday, a Nigerian boxer Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua won the WBA, becoming the boxing champion of the world.”

    NAN

     

  • World Jollof rice day: basic facts about jollof rice

    World Jollof rice day: basic facts about jollof rice

    Sijuwola Ayibiowu

    Jollof rice has been a major delicacy at every events ranging from wedding ceremony, burial, naming, coronation and other activities that requires dishing of foods especially among youths and and people of the younger generation.

    When you go to the parties, what do we always look out for? .What’s that special food, we always look for, every Sunday and when we visit our relatives? Yes, it’s our favorite JOLLOF RICE.

    The 22nd of August of every year is regarded as the World Jollof Rice Day. It’s a day that is set aside to celebrate this very wonderful cuisine. But do we really understand where, when and how this favorite food came about.

    Jollof rice is a dominant name amongst African dishes. Any country can prepare their own kind of jollof rice using ingredients best known to their environment, but the Nigerian jollof rice is one unique dish that is always talked of by anyone from any part of the world, who happens to have ate it.

    Here are ten (10) things, we didn’t know about Jollof Rice;

    • The rice cuisine that is now called jollof rice is originally from the Wolof tribe that’s cuts across the Gambia and Senegal.
    • The rice cuisine is originally a fish-based recipe. But now, its normal to find jollof rice as chicken garnished.
    • The Wolof rice which is now called jollof rice is not a morning meal. It’s an evening meal.
    • The major ingredients for the meal are the tomato sauce. It gives rice to its redness.
    • Many of us don’t know that palm oil and tea-bush leaves are also part of the ingredients used for the preparation of jollof rice.
    • There is a dance that is done in honour of the cuisine.
    • The bottom of the jollof rice pot is more delicious compared to the top.
    • Homemade jollof is not as delicious as the party made jollof rice because it is over spiced with lots of condiments.
    • Jollof rice is better eaten when hot, I mean steaming hot.
    • Take note, Nothing can rival Jollof rice not even EBA (some people’s favourite).