Seattle got its first taste of the Jollof Festival on August 23, when LTD Bar & Grill in Fremont hosted a five-nation showdown to decide who makes the best version of the iconic West African rice dish.

Competing dishes represented Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana, Kenya, and Cameroon, each putting their own spin on Jollof rice, a dish famous for sparking friendly rivalries across the globe. I was in the enviable position of serving on the judges panel and had the privilege of tasting my way through the crews offerings. 

For me, the Jollof from Liberia was far ahead of the pack. By the time all of the judges’ votes were tallied, it was a virtual tie for first with Nigeria besting Liberia by half a point to take the panel’s top spot.

Here’s where the judges landed with our final scores.

5th place – Kenya
4th place – Ghana
3rd place – Cameroon
2nd place – Liberia
1st place – Nigeria

That was only part of the story. After sampling the Jollof rice, attendees cast their votes for their favorite. When all the votes were counted, a few countries swapped spots, with Saydah who owns and operates Liberia Joloff Seattle coming out on top, claiming the festival’s top prize.

5th place – Kenya
4th place – Cameroon
3rd place – Ghana
2nd place – Nigeria
1st place – Liberia

Liberia’s win marks another victory in the country’s strong run on the Jollof Festival circuit, where they are side by side with Nigeria when it comes to total wins over the past five years.

The Jollof Festival Seattle edition was more than a tasting contest. DJ Nayiram, DJ NGL, and DJ Zen kept the energy high, host Denis Dubai guided the program, and Livi Hendrix performed live.

With Liberia taking home the trophy, the Jollof debate is far from settled, but the city has officially joined the international conversation.

Next stop for Jollof Festival: Philly and Charlotte, where the friendly – and tasty – rice rivalry continues.