The Best Jollof Rice Ever!

Kamsi and Kwame are best friends and each says jollof rice is their favourite food. (Jollof is a tasty, spicy rice and vegetable dish that originated in West Africa and is now enjoyed all over the world.) Both of their mums make superb jollof and each boy considers his mum’s to be superior. To settle the matter, Kamsi suggests they each make their own jollof and see which really is the best.
Out into the garden they go and each collects some ingredients. However both boys are tricksters and each chooses items that nobody would want to find in a rice dish – muddy puddle water, a caterpillar, ants and dried-up chewing gum. Yuck! What a mess each boy has created. Now what? Seemingly they’ve completely forgotten the purpose of the competition.
In the meantime both mums have been working away in the kitchen and call the boys to come and join them in cooking their favourite dish. In they both go, don their aprons and prepare the ingredients. Soon a gorgeous aroma emanates from the large pot. My taste buds were tingling as I watched the children clear up and lay the table. Then it’s time to sit around the table (Grandpa included) to share the meal. The wise mums have this to say: ‘See, alone we make good jollof …’ – that’s Kwame’s mum. ‘But together we make the best jollof!’ So says Kamsi’s mum and their sons both shout ‘TOGETHER!’ They also decide that henceforward they will always work together, the occasional trick notwithstanding.
Onyinye Iwu has most certainly served up a tasty offering of readers and listeners. Humour is one of her main ingredients and her vibrant illustrations are a feast for the eyes. There’s a recipe for Kamsi and Kwame’s best jollof rice for those who want to try making it, but don’t forget to find somebody to cook with.