The ISR dining area filled quickly on Thursday evening as students gathered around a visible kitchen, watching chefs prepare plates of jollof rice. Music and games were played while students moved between tables as the Jollof Cook-Off brought the campus together to celebrate African culture during Black History Month.
Hosted by the African Students Organization in collaboration with University Dining, the event began at 5 p.m. but continued until around 8 p.m., as more students kept arriving. Before the tasting portion of the event, organizers hosted cultural bingo, a voting game comparing different foods and an audience guessing game where selected participants acted out cultural references. The activities helped maintain energy while attendees waited for the tasting portion.
Aishat Odunewu-Smith, sophomore in LAS, said the cook-off felt meaningful because of her personal connection to the food. The cook-off brought together Ghana and Nigeria’s cultures through food, allowing students to learn about different traditions while sharing a familiar experience.
“This event is related to my culture,” Odunewu-Smith said. “It connects me to other countries in Africa, especially seeing Ghana represented here.”
She said watching the chefs cook in the open kitchen made the experience feel interactive rather than passive.
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Students chatted, laughed and wandered between tables as the chefs plated their dishes. The smell of spices and rice filled the room, making the crowd even more eager for the tasting.
Tolani Babawale, freshman in LAS, said the event offered a chance to enjoy familiar food while connecting with friends.
“This was a great opportunity to taste cultural food and connect with the African community,” Babawale said.
Two jollof rice dishes were served on small sample plates, each paired with side items rooted in African cuisine. A panel of judges and attendees voted on the dishes, with Ghanaian jollof winning the judges’ vote and Nigerian jollof taking the popular vote.
Kalaé Killingham, sophomore in LAS, said she attended to support friends and try jollof rice for the first time.
“I’m African American, but my friends are African, and I wanted to experience something new,” Killingham said.
The event, she added, allowed her to step outside her comfort zone. Where she lives, there aren’t a lot of Africans around, so this lets her experience a new culture.
By the end of the night, students gathered around tables, shared plates of jollof rice and reflected on the experience. The cook-off served as both a competition and a celebration, highlighting food as a way to bring students together on campus.
