The debate between Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal about whose jollof tastes better seems to have no end in sight as legendary Ivorian musician, Freddy Meiway has tipped Senegal to be the best makers of the rice dish.
Freddy who was on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Friday as part of the African Union Day celebrations said although he has not tasted the Ghanaian jollof, the Senegalese version of the dish is the best.
“I can’t come here [Ghana] to eat jollof because when you talk about jollof, you talk about Senegalese people,” he said much to the amazement of all studio guests, including the sit-in host Ekow Mensah.
The reddish dish is prepared with rice and tomato sauce with alternative ingredients that slightly vary country by country.
This variation in recipes is perhaps the root cause of this age-old debate, which becomes a popular topic not only social media but also street conversations.
The Zoblazo hit-maker said anytime he is in Ghana, all he wants to eat is kenkey with hot pepper.
“When I come here, I come to eat, dorkunu [kenkey], mashed kenkey, garden eggs stew, kontomire stew, fufu and soup and okro sauce.”
This does not settle the debate, but it’ll make Ghanaians proud because if they can’t claim jollof rice as theirs, they can at least boast about their kenkey.
Freddy Meiwey is in Ghana for the African Unity Walk celebrations. He will be performing at a concert later today at the Oxford Street in Osu with Amandzeba, saxophonist Steve Bedi, Tagoe Sisters, Pat Thomas, Akosua Agyepong and many others.
When will Africans start seeing the health benefits of vegetables and start including and advertising them in their foods? Is that rocket science to us or what? What about this food is appealing to anyone but Africans?Perhaps it’s that tenderly deep-fried touch in the chicken, n the redness of the rice, but what do you really gain in nutrients? Probably a high number of calories.
How about shifting our focus from the proverbial all chicken – n – carb vibe to some healthy greens? I bet that’ll attract an extra number of fans to our culinary pride.
Africans, we’re in a global world now which is developing astronomically since the turn of the millenium, with mind boggling developments in all fields of life. Please come out of the dark corner you’re still cowering in, with your scientists, doctors, lawyers, environmentalists, and journalists too. The world is watching and listening, you know, and the worst thing about this is that I’m constantly being judged by your seeming idiocy.