Aman Saddy 5/6/16

Nigeria is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse countries. The name itself Nigeria, is
taken from the Niger river which also helps determine where Nigeria is placed. Nigeria is located
on the west coast of Africa at the inner corner of the Gulf of Guinea (part of the Atlantic Ocean).
Because of trade, Africas cuisine had changed so much. Before trading with other countries,
Nigeria had been based off of rice, millet, and lentils. Many other foods that were introduced to
the cuisine came from European explorers. Many seasonings were brought such as nutmeg,
pepper and cinnamon.
Nigeria is so diverse that it is hard to pick one dish that represents the country as a whole.
The variety of foods in Nigeria also depend on what season it is and the weather types that are
going on. A large part of Nigeria is in the tropics and therefore there are many fruits that are
produced. Some of the popular fruits are oranges, melons, grapefruits, limes, mangoes, bananas,
and pineapples. People of the northern region (mostly Muslim, whose beliefs prohibit eating
pork) have diets based on beans, sorghum (a type of grain), and brown rice. Nigeria has many
different examples of culture in the area, which brings many different types of food. Some may
include different pumpkins and yams.
There are many significant dishes in Nigeria. Some of these dishes are exclusive for
festivals. Some of these dishes include Isu, Nigerian stew, Jollof rice, and Iyan. Since Nigeria is
so diverse, the holidays for these foods vary. Some of these holidays can include Christmas,
Ramadan, Easter, and Good Friday. These dishes are significant and Nigeria and supposed to be
very good. Besides religious holidays, there are other festivals too. The Argungu Fish and
Cultural Festival is held on the banks of the River Sokoto. These are some other festivals where
these dishes are usually seen or served.