Jollof rice originated as prison food, says Lai Mohammed

Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has stirred fresh debate over the origin of the popular West African delicacy, jollof rice, claiming it originated in Senegal and was initially prepared as food for prisoners.

Mohammed made the remarks while speaking on the historical roots of the dish, explaining that the name “jollof” is derived from the Wolof people of Senegal. According to him, many West Africans are unaware of the true origin of the widely celebrated meal.

“When you look at the origin of jollof, it’s actually from the word Wolof, and it’s Senegalese. People don’t really understand the origin of jollof,” Mohammed said.

He added that jollof rice was originally a simple, one-pot meal made for prisoners, consisting of rice cooked together with oil, salt and other basic ingredients. “Jollof rice was actually that food that was prepared for prisoners, because it was that food that was put in one plate—oil, salt, you know, and everything. So really, everything about jollof is Wolof,” he explained.

The former minister also referenced international tourism authorities, noting that officials affiliated with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation had previously clarified the dish’s origins. According to him, information published on Wikipedia also traced jollof rice to the Wolof people of Senegal.

Mohammed’s comments have reignited the long-standing debate among West African countries—particularly Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal—over the ownership and evolution of jollof rice, a dish that has since transformed from a humble meal into a cultural symbol and culinary pride across the region.