King Charles III stirred laughter and revived West Africa’s long-running culinary rivalry when he jokingly leaned toward Nigerian jollof during a royal engagement, but deftly avoided crowning it as the best.
The British monarch made the comment while recounting a recent “Jollof and Tea” gathering at St. James’s Palace, where he hosted a “rather lively group” of young Nigerians.
“I was firmly assured that the Jollof was only the best: Nigerian, of course… or perhaps Ghanaian or Senegalese. Diplomatically, I cannot remember!” he said, drawing laughter and subtly dodging the heated regional debate.
The anecdote came as King Charles welcomed President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu at a state banquet at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, part of the Nigerian president’s two-day official visit to the UK to strengthen bilateral ties.
Addressing guests in St. George’s Hall, the King praised Nigeria’s growing global influence, highlighting its cultural vibrancy, economic potential, and strong diaspora presence in Britain.
He also noted expanding financial and commercial links: Nigerian banks are increasingly active in the City of London, more Nigerian companies are listing on the London Stock Exchange, and technology collaborations are gaining momentum.
“I was pleased to see that visitors from Nigeria spent £178 million in Britain in 2024, and 251,000 people from Britain travelled to Nigeria and spent just as much, in return,” he added.
King Charles concluded his speech with a touch of humor, switching to Nigerian Pidgin and raising a toast:
“Naija No Dey Carry Last!”
While the comment was light-hearted, it’s likely to reignite the friendly but fiercely contested debate over which country makes the best jollof in West Africa.
