22nd August
World Jollof
Rice Day
One pot, a dozen countries, and one long-running, entirely good-natured argument about who does it best.
Celebrated across West Africa & the diasporaAbout the Day
One pot, one date, one running joke
World Jollof Rice Day falls every 22nd of August. It started life in 2015 as a lighthearted social-media campaign born out of the friendly rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana over whose Jollof rice is best, and has since grown into an annual celebration marked by home cooks, restaurants and diaspora communities across the world.
The day isn't really about picking a winner. It's a chance to celebrate a dish that ties together more than a dozen West African nations, each with their own name, their own technique, and their own utterly convinced opinion about how it's properly done.
Read on for the full history of Jollof rice, the story behind the Jollof Wars, and a shortlist of recipes and videos worth cooking your way through this August 22nd.
The Family, Regionally
🇬🇭
Ghana
Basmati or long-grain rice, a slow-reduced tomato-pepper stew, and rice added late so every grain stays separate and holds its bite.
🇳🇬
Nigeria
"Party Jollof": smoky, spicy, often cooked over an open flame for a distinctive char. Nigeria's fiercest rival for the crown, and the other half of the Jollof Wars.
🇸🇳
Senegal
Home of thieboudienne, the 19th-century rice-and-fish dish the whole Jollof family descends from. UNESCO-recognised Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2021.