Dele and Aminata's Jollof War

By Yewande Daniel-Ayoade

A neighborhood cooking competition sparks a battle for the tastiest jollof rice

Jollof rice is a signature dish in many countries in West Africa. Each country has its own regional variation of the recipe, and each believes their version is better

Dele's favourite dish is his mum's Nigerian-style jollof rice. It's also the most popular dish at their neighborhood potluck. But this month, a new girl and her family have moved from Senegal into Dele's building, and they bring a different kind of jollof rice to the potluck. Unsurprisingly, Dele and Aminata each insist that their own mother's dish is best.

This competitive spirit grows even stronger when both families cook their jollof rice recipes for a local competition. Dele and Aminata attempt to out-do one another, and both dishes are ruined in the process. But the cooking disaster helps Dele and Aminata realize that there may be yet another way to make jollof rice ...

Warm, immersive illustrations bring this story of pride, jealousy, and cultural heritage to life.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1771476788
• ISBN13: 9781771476782
• Release Date: October 2026
• Publisher: Owlkids
• Length: 36 Pages
• Age Range: 4 to 7 years