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| The Jollof dish |
“So, which aspect of
journalism do you consider majoring someday?” friends, family and well-wishers
have asked me times without number.
Oftentimes, I give them
an answer that makes them turn to suggest to me that, perhaps, I must see the
curer of sick heads.
“My ultimate aim is to
be a war reporter [preferably with Aljazeera].”
“War reporter? And you
consider marrying to raise a family? Solomon, please stop having this dream.
You are too young for this,” a classmate back in Ghana Institute of Journalism once
told me.
I fantasize at war
reporters wearing their bulletproof vests and helmets giving live reports with
the sound of gunshots in the background. It is no wonder at all that not long
ago I contacted one of the world’s best journalists, Sharon Schmickle, for
mentoring. Sharon has reported from the war front in Iraq, Afghanistan and
other war-torn countries.
So, when I heard that
one of Media General’s outlets, 3FM, was preparing grounds for war among Ghana,
Nigeria and Senegal, one thing popped up in mind― a perfect opportunity to try
my hands on war reporting!
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| The promo: Alfred Ocansey, anchor of News 360-Tv3 |
Dubbed the 3FM Jollof War, the event slated for
July 1, 2017, will have representatives of three countries cooking Jollof (a delicacy made from rice) to
suit their home style― Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal.
If you have followed
discussions for some time now between Ghana and Nigeria, on social media, the
food at the center of the impending war has been a bone of contention. Whether
Ghana or Nigeria’s Jollof tastes better
has been overly debated with musicians even singing on.
As though the war on
whose Jollof tastes better is not
enough, there’s yet another raging debate as to who really owns the ‘birthright’
of the famed Jollof?
Indeed, finding answers
to these questions have been tricky as the changing colour of the chameleon.
Historically, the origin of Jollof as
one of West Africa’s most prominent cuisines has become another war on its own.
If what food and agriculture
historian, James C. McCann, asserts is anything to go by, both Ghana and
Nigeria stand the chance of losing the birthright of Jollof to the then Senegambia.
According to him, Senegambia
was ruled by the Jolof Empire [also referred to as the Wollof Empire]. This
empire could be credited with Jollof
for its dominance in rice at the Upper Niger River. The name Jollof is said to have been derived from
the Jolof/Wollof people.
However, I strongly
believe that even if Professor Adu Boahen should come back to life and say we
should heed to James C. McCann’s claim, Nigeria and Ghana will still contest this
origin.
So, what does the present
day Senegal make of this whole touting of “my Jollof is the best” by Ghana and
Nigeria? Well, I do not know the plans Senegal has in stock ahead of July 1st.
However, I hope it has, like North Korea, piled up some intercontinental ballistic
missiles of aromatic ingredients to win the tongues of the distinguished judges
for the event.
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| The promo: Johnnie Hughes, Host of New Day, TV3 |
I must join the
numerous Ghanaians, Nigerians and Senegalese out there who have expressed
interest in 3FM’s Jollof War in
thanking the organizers. Indeed, this day will truly vindicate the best cook
among these three countries. Off to their country they would go bragging for a
year only to return to face the likes of Togo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cameroon
and Mali next year.
Lest I forget, on
Tuesday, June 27, 2017, I celebrated my birthday and again was the question
posed to me; “Where is the birthday party?” Well, I humbly invite you to the
forecourt of TV3, Adesa We, Kanda in the Greater Accra region, to come wine and
dine at the 3FM Jollof War event.
You do not require any ticket
for entry. The event is ‘gate free.’ Should you come and yearn for more Jollof, just mention my name to the
organizers that the birthday boy says, “MORE Jollof!”
Trying to call my cell
phone might not be successful. I will be at the battle front rehearsing my
dream of war reporting with two spoons in my hands scooping Jollof from all corners of Ghana,
Nigeria and Senegal. Yes! Do not call for cease fire in this war.
Long live 3FM. Long
live the cultural and culinary diversity of Africa.
The writer is a
broadcast journalist with 3FM 92.7. Views expressed here are solely his and
does not reflect the editorial policy of his organisation.
Email: nehusthan4@yahoo.com
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