Google Doodle Celebrating Nigeria and West Africa’s Jollof Rice

On Nov 4, 2022, Google Doodle celebratesd “ jollof rice, a quintessential West African dish simmered in reduced tomatoes, onions, peppers and regional spices. On this day each year, rice farmers plant and reap a bountiful harvest — as cooks across West Africa prepare to make fresh jollof. Nigeria-based guest artist Haneefah Adam created the artwork and Senegalese jazz musician Hervé Samb composed the music.”

Joff rice is – “a mixture of long-grained rice with simmered tomatoes, onions, peppers and regional spices — is often served with fish as the evening meal, although it’s also enjoyed at other times of the day, with fish being substituted by chicken, beef or goat. Friday’s animated Doodle shows the popular one-pot meal being prepared, one ingredient at a time, along with the desired central meat.

The dish’s name and origins stretch back to the 14th century, when the Jollof Empire ruled parts of modern-day Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania. It’s also known as benachin in Gambia and Senegal.

Each nation has its own variant of the dish, with each country vying to be known as home to the best jollof in a friendly rivalry among nations known as the Jollof Wars. The competition is particularly sticky and steamy between Nigerians and Ghanaians, which have distinct cooking styles, creating a cultural phenomenon that’s spawned many viral music videos, songs and cookoffs.”