Africans pride themselves so much in their rich varieties of food. I’m often in awe of the delicacies I enjoy, even as a Nigerian woman. I remember travelling to the Benin Republic for a conference, of all the things I had planned, food wasn’t among them. But was I disappointed? Absolutely not! The conference was mainly about sustainable, nutritious food in Africa; many Africans from all parts of the continent were in attendance. It was there that I met a young lady of my age, Lucy, from the Ivory Coast. We started conversing.
Lucy is a farmer who runs a restaurant on the Ivory Coast. Initially, Lucy’s family’s primary source of income was farming, so she was born into that. With time and exposure, she integrated innovative techniques to transform their family farm.
Along the line, she decided to expand through the food value chain, which led to the establishment of her restaurant. What I admire about her mission is that she wants to create a place where people can crave and find luxury food from various African countries in her restaurant. This was what led her to the conference as well. She was eager to connect with food exhibitors at the event. Interesting, right?
In short, Lucy is a young Ivorian woman, a farmer who owns a restaurant and a food tour traveller.
While I share 3 major countries’ native foods, I’ll also share some conversations from Lucy’s lens. Let’s get into it.
Nigeria
Nigerian foods are one of the most delicious in Africa. Of course, as a Nigerian, this will be my number one choice! Nigerians often boast of mouthwatering soups, and we are absolutely right about that.
Before I go on, let me say this: It’s funny, but I must tell you ahead. If you’re visiting Yoruba land, which includes Lagos, Oyo State, Ogun State, Osun State, and Ekiti State, my dear, they love spicy foods. Don’t worry, though, you’ll love it. These are the foods you may want to try out.
- Egusi Soup: It is made with ground melon and any vegetable. Get it served with either semolina, yam flour, cassava flour, Eba (made from Garri) or assorted meat. It’s a banger!
- Efo riro: It is made with any leafy vegetable and pepper. Get it served with any of the swallows I mentioned above.
- Tuwo Shinkafa: It is made with mashed rice and moulded into a swallow. Get it served with okra soup, Miyan kuka, egusi Soup.
- Nkwobi: It is made with cow feet and garnished with other ingredients such as palm oil and utazi leaves. Get it served with a chilled drink. You’ll come wanting for more.
Uganda
Uganda offers a wide variety of traditional dishes. Lucy admired and credited Ugandans for how health-conscious they are with their food. They are huge on organic foods. During her stay, she also engaged in several cooking classes at restaurants.
Lucy’s Uganda experience was so enjoyable that I almost felt like planning a trip immediately.
What delicacy should you look out for in Uganda?
- Matoke: It is made from soft green bananas. It is either steamed or boiled and then mashed. You can enjoy this with or without sauce.
- Pilau: It is made with rice. It is like the Nigerian version of jollof rice. However, the spice’s taste and ingredients are different.
- Luwombo: It is made by smoking food in banana leaves. You can enjoy the different variations, including chicken luwombo, meat, fish, mushroom luwombo, etc.
The image below shows a serving of Pilau with stewed meat.
Image Source: Freepik
Kenya
Lucy’s time in Kenya was another thrilling experience. She couldn’t stop talking about the adventurous moment she had. She enjoyed the safari experience in Kenya and almost forgot her primary mission there. Laughs.
Let me digress a little, too, just like she did. She lodged at Cottars Safari Camp in Kenya for a few days, where she had the opportunity to enjoy wildlife and nature. She joined other safari lovers on a guided game tour. Being a food lover, she had the best time at the bush dining, an open-air meal experience in the wild.
Back to our food discussion, these are the must-try foods in Kenya.
- Nyama Choma: It is a grilled meat commonly made with goat meat. Enjoy it with Kachumbari salad or rice.
- Ugali: It is commonly made from Cornmeal. Get it served with vegetables of your choice. It could be cassava leaves, bitter leaves, etc.
- Sukuma Wiki: It is made with kale vegetables and garnished with onions, tomatoes, and other spices. Enjoy it with Ugali.
- Smoocha: It is made with chapati (flatbread) wrap, Kachumbari salad and sausages. Try this if you’d love to explore street food in Kenya.
The image below shows a grilled meat kebab depicting Nyama Choma of Kenya.
Image Source: Freepik
Final Thoughts
African cuisine is undeniably rich and full of variety. Our dishes reflect each geographical location’s culture, lifestyle, and history. Notably, African foods are a powerhouse of nutrition your body truly deserves.
Did you enjoy reading this? Which African country’s foods would you love to try? Let me know in the comments.
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