The Best Jollof Rice Ever is a fun and funny picture book for 4–8 year olds, but delicious enough for adults to enjoy too. It’s all about friendship, healthy competition, little tricks, and how yummy food always brings us together.
I was inspired by the famous ‘Jollof Wars’, which involve West African countries—specifically Nigeria and Ghana—and their diaspora arguing about who cooks the best jollof rice, a spicy, tomatoey ricey kind of dish. In similar fashion, in the story, Kwame and Kamsi, two young boys—one from Ghana and one from Nigeria—begin to argue about whose mum cooks the best Jollof rice.
As a result, they decide to have a cooking competition to see who can cook “The Best Jollof Rice Ever!” Their cooking doesn’t just involve lots of fresh vegetables, but also some colourful insects and random items found in the garden—they seem to be particularly fond of caterpillars!
As expected, their bug-infested jollof rice dishes are not the most delicious tasting. However, their mums save the day by inviting them into the kitchen to help cook Jollof rice all together.
The Best Jollof Rice Ever! is all about identity, cultural pride, friendship, and cooperation. The book celebrates African food in a really accessible, playful, and familiar way for all children, shining a light on how important it is to place cultural food within the everyday.
Through laughter, some creepy crawlies, and authentic representation, The Best Jollof Rice Ever invites us to connect with each other through food and reminds us that the best meals are the ones we enjoy together.
