The age-old jollof wars got a new twist in Accra as The Gambia snatched the crown at the West African Food Festival 2025, outshining heavyweights Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierra Leone.
For one week, chefs battled not just with recipes but with national pride on the line, and The Gambia’s team rose to the occasion with a dish that sealed their place at the top of the region’s most delicious rivalry.
Chefs Haddy Nyang and Momodou Alpha Jallow led the Gambian charge with a pot of jollof that impressed judges with its balance of flavour, spice, and presentation. Their victory earned them gold medals and bragging rights, adding fresh fire to the ongoing debates about who really makes the best jollof. “Winning this competition is not just about the flavour; it is about representing our culture and putting Gambian cuisine on the regional map,” said Chef Musa Darboe, head of the team.
The Gambian delegation was backed by the Gambia Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, a sign of just how seriously the nation takes its culinary heritage. Beyond the competition, the win reflects a broader push to showcase Gambian food as a symbol of identity and pride.
The victory was not a one-off. The Gambian team has steadily built a reputation at WAFFEST, with standout wins in 2019 for Best Chef and Best Dessert, followed by another jollof triumph in Lagos in 2023. This year’s success confirms that their rise in the regional food scene is no fluke.
WAFFEST itself has grown into West Africa’s biggest culinary gathering since its founding in 2018 by Ghanaian chef Isaac Sackey. Beyond the jollof rivalry, the festival celebrates creativity, tradition, and regional flavours through a series of competitions. Still, it is the jollof contest that always draws the loudest cheers, with each country fiercely defending its version of the dish that originated with the Wolof people of Senegal.
The Gambian win also comes on the heels of Nigerian celebrity chef Hilda Baci’s record-breaking feat of cooking the world’s largest pot of jollof rice, proving that the dish is more than just food. It is a cultural touchstone, a matter of pride, and a friendly battleground for West African nations.
While no verdict will ever end the jollof wars, The Gambia’s triumph in Accra ensures its place in the story. At least for now, they hold the bragging rights in a rivalry that shows no signs of cooling.
