Culture export: How Nigerian food is gaining popularity in Bournemouth

By NGUHER KENDRA ITYOACHIMIN,  from Bournemouth –

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous black nation, a country with a rich cultural heritage and diversity, it has a population of over 200 million people, it boasts of 250 ethnic groups and about 500 distinct languages, Nigeria like many nations of the world exports its abundant natural resources such as crude oil, agricultural produce, fertilisers and cement to different parts of the world.

In recent years, Nigeria has moved past its natural resources. The giant of Africa as it is commonly called stands uniquely in its own class with a diverse population of people who travel far and often wide and has started exporting its influential culture in the form of food, music, movies, lifestyle and fashion.

Nigeria’s food particularly has garnered worldwide popularity, starting from its friendly jollof wars with other countries in West Africa such as Ghana and Senegal.

Bournemouth, a coastal resort town south of Dorset in England has a diverse group of people from different backgrounds and countries. With the increasing number of Nigerians in the country and a growing curiosity in African food, the UK has embraced African food through Nigerian cuisine and delicacies

We look at one of the first Nigerian themed restaurants in Bournemouth, Mimi’s African restaurant, owned by a Nigerian Mr Enoguses Oviarobo, who is also the manager.

In an interview with the Mr Oviarobo, he had said he started the restaurant to contribute to the community, the increasing number of black people in the area, the popularity of African cuisine and to fill the gap of not having African cuisine in the Bournemouth area. He said that although the popularity of African food compared to other ethnicities like Chinese, Jamaican Thai, Turkish and Indian cuisines, is still relatively low in the area because of our poor tourism rates in Nigeria, his restaurant has been surprisingly well received by the community.

In his words, “Majority of our customers are British people more than even Nigerians, also Chinese, Turkish and Indian customers as well, it is interesting that they love the food because Bournemouth before now was a place with majorly white people, our culture has to be introduced to them because lots of them have not visited Nigeria, and having to carve a niche here was initially challenging but with the nature of inclusivity in Bournemouth, great customer service and exquisite cuisine, they visit and bring even invite their friends”.

He added that they have been able to achieve success by fine tuning the recipes to make them less spicy and according to the customer’s individual preferences. He also added that “with the coming of TikTok and social media which sparked Jollof wars and people highlighting different Nigerian cuisines like jollof rice, pounded yam and egusi soup, people are  now more adventurous and eager to try different things.

He also stressed the importance of authenticity, embracing our crown as Africans and staying true to ourselves as Nigerians, as no one can make Sushi as well as a Japanese man would, so also being original and not trying to change the Nigerian food has helped Nigerian food become loved and accepted by foreigners.

This reporter spoke to some of  the restaurant’s customers.

Ario Payk, an Iranian who lives in Bournemouth had this to say about Nigerian food: “I love the variety, I love the zest and spark it offers. Its different, it’s got soul; I love the spices that are used in making the chicken and the suya is a favourite. We are ordering a selection today and will be sharing to basically discover.”

He describes Nigerians as genuinely nice, friendly and having a personal charm about them.

Jenni Murfitt, from Southhampton, Eastleigh, said she likes the food because “it’s got more flavour and it’s cooked better as well in comparison to British food, I make the rice now because of my partner, and my kids like the egusi.”

She added that she likes the Nigerian culture because everyone is happy all the time and welcoming.

Abraham Adekoya, a resident in the area, described the food as authentic, good food and the closest thing he can get to home cooking and added that the egusi is his favorite food, jollof and puff puff as well.

Another Nigerian Chukuma Onuka, a resident of the area, said the food reminds him of home like his mother’s cooking and is convenient for when he cannot cook.

He added that “it makes me a proud Nigerian to see that Nigerian meals are getting widely acceptable by people from other nations and gradually African meals will be centre stage, in the past people used to be discouraged by the spice but the trumpet is sounding and give it a decade, African meals will be like an example of Italian Pizza or the noodles of the Asians and Jollof rice will take the seat at the table.”

In lending his voice to the Ghana and Nigerian Jollof wars he says that Nigeria has the best jollof. He said, “Ghana jollof is not on the league and in comparison, to Nigerian jollof we should be talking about Indian Jollof and Asian curry.

Nigerian food is putting Nigeria on the map outside of its borders and paving the way for tourism and a cultural exchange that is beneficial to  Nigeria.

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