On Wednesday, King Charles III humorously joined the ongoing West African jollof rice debate saying that he couldn’t remember whether the “best” jollof rice he had at a recent royal event was Nigerian, Ghanaian, or Senegalese.
The British monarch made the comments while delivering a tribute to Nigeria’s profound influence on British life when he hosted a state banquet in honour of President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking during the event, the king recalled a recent gathering at St James’s Palace where the popular dish sparked friendly disagreement among guests.
“Only last week I was delighted to host a rather lively group of them for a jollof and tea party at St James’s Palace.
“I was firmly assured that the jollof was only the best, Nigerian of course, or perhaps it was Ghanaian or Senegalese.
“Diplomatically, I cannot remember,” King Charles said.
The remark drew attention to the enduring culinary rivalry among West African nations over which country prepares the best version of jollof rice, a staple dish widely celebrated across the region.
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