The long-standing Jollof rice rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria took a flavorful turn when the media platform Cruise invited ten "patriotic Nigerians" to their studio in Lagos for a taste test of Ghanaian Jollof — marking the first time many of them had ever tried it. The segment aimed to discover whether this experience would alter their perceptions or merely "fuel even more banter". Many participants admitted they had already engaged in online arguments about Jollof without ever having tasted the Ghanaian version. The tasting panel, which included a technical writer, a professional dancer, a creative director, a journalist, and an entrepreneur, largely entered the experience prepared for "War".
Before tasting, participants revealed strong preconceived notions, often associating Ghana Jollof with the use of "egg". Some stated their intention to "drag Ghana for no reason, because it's fun", though most swore to give an "honest, unbiased opinion". The dish was prepared by a Ghanaian chef, Frederick, who runs Binar Lagos, a restaurant serving Ghanaian meals in Lagos. Frederick noted that Nigerian Jollof is often a "simple vibe," while the Ghanaian style includes "a lot of garnishing" and is often eaten with sauce. He expressed his expectation for fairness, acknowledging that Nigerians "love saying their mind".
'Related article - Uphorial Radio
Upon presentation, the appearance was generally well-received, with visual ratings mostly ranging from 7 to 8.5 out of ten. However, the most immediate point of contention was the presence of a separate, dark sauce, identified as Shito (a crayfish-based pepper sauce). For most Nigerians, seeing "stew on jollof rice" was "a no". One taster speculated that the separate sauce suggested "the food itself doesn't have a taste that you'd want to eat alone," implying the rice might be "bland". Other tasters noted that the aroma was "very scented" and strong, suggesting a foreign "herb" or "Chinese spice," with one person even comparing the smell to Wankye rather than Jollof.
The tasting phase cemented the division, largely based on the Shito. Those who enjoyed the mix praised the sauce for providing the necessary spice, as the rice itself was perceived as "not spicy". For some, the Shito made the meal great and gave it a "special flavor". However, others found the sauce "very, very spicy" and overwhelming, and without it, the rice was described as "tasteless," "kind of bland," or like "normal canteen jollof". The lack of the desired "smoky part" was noted by one taster.
Ultimately, the final verdict overwhelmingly favored Nigerian Jollof. Final ratings for the Ghanaian dish clustered around 6 or 7 out of 10. Despite some tasters admitting they would finish the plate or even buy it because it "tastes good", the consensus was that the dish was "not even close to competition" and merely "okay" or "mid". One taster lamented, "If this is what you are making noise about on Twitter, you deserve every drag that comes your way". The experience, broadcast by Cruise, earned Ghana Jollof some "respect" because it tasted good, but the prevailing sentiment was that the online jollof banter is "not worth it". The chef, reflecting on the tasters' feedback, noted that he would take the feedback into consideration, potentially changing "certain things" in his recipe.
