As a Nigerian, you must belong to one ethnic group or the other. We have over 200 ethnic groups, and it is funny how every ethnic group has a dish special to them, and they are known nationwide and worldwide for this dish. This dish represents the group, and wherever it is mentioned, you don't need to be told which ethnic group the dish is unique to. Some of these local dishes are used to welcome guests in some towns, and in most cases, if not presented to guests, it simply means they are not welcomed.
designed in canva.
We have so many ethnic groups in Nigeria; every ethnic group has a dish or two unique to them, giving us a variety of food to choose from. A meal that is unique to a particular group does not stop others from enjoying the delicacy; this gives their local dish a lot of publicity, which is what every group wants. We have three major ethnic groups in Nigeria: the Igbos, Yorubas, and Hausas. These three ethnic groups and their local dishes have made names for themselves, and their dishes have gone international.
I am Igbo, and we are known for so many dishes, some popular and some not popular. Attend an Igbo party and you get to see varieties of food, from ofe akwu, ofe egusi, ofe onugbu, ofe oha, and even ofe nsala, also known as white soup, to mention but a few. All mentioned above are soups, and we have the best swallow to complement them with. We have pounded yam, can go with semovita, fufu, and, in most cases, goes well with eba. All these are meals that a lot of people tend to enjoy; even people who are not Igbos enjoy these meals and might even go for more if given the chance.
Being Igbo but raised in the northern part of my country really affected my love for my people's delicacies, as I had very few opportunities to taste them. How I grew up to love the Hausas local dishes more convinced me that the area or region you grow up in has a way of affecting the type of food you like and enjoy. I was raised with more of the Hausas local delicacies, and I grew to love them even more than I love our local dishes. Now that we have left the northern part of the country, my mom is doing everything possible to ensure we love local dishes unique to the Igbos. We have managed to fall in love with some, but I just can't wrap my head around some, and it is making me detest them.
The soup I detest so much is one that almost everybody loves and enjoys. That one soup is the ofe nsala, also known as white soup. I don't think I have any tangible reason for not liking and enjoying the soup like every other person does. Before I had my first trial, everyone, including my mom and dad, kept saying I would like it. I was discouraged about this soup the day I had pounded yam is used as thickner for the soup, no oil added, and without yam added to it it will be just watery, so in other words this is yam soup cause I don't get.
After all the hype, I tasted it for the first time, and it did not sit right with me. The first time I tasted it, it was the last time I tasted it as well. Whenever it is prepared at home, I always look for something else to eat.
Thanks for reading my post.
