Egusi, Ancestry, and the Flavors That Traveled With Us

I never get tired of African food—I could honestly eat it every day. One of my all-time favorite dishes is egusi.

Egusi is made all throughout West Africa and is often served with fufu or pounded yam. I truly believe egusi inspired callaloo in the Caribbean—our ancestors carried the knowledge, the flavors, and the spirit across the ocean.

While I was in Nigeria, my plan was to film my cook in the kitchen, but it didn’t happen, and I was honestly disappointed. Still, the experience stayed with me. I recently found an online recipe for Yoruba-style egusi that I haven’t tried yet—but it’s definitely on my list.

Food is memory. Food is culture. Food is connection.

What are your favorite dishes? 👇🏾🍲

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