Celtnet Nigerian Recipes and Cookery, Home Page

Nigeria; officially: Ìjọba-Àpapọ̀ Orílẹ̀-èdè Naìjírìà; Republik Nijeriya; جمهورية نيجيريا; Republic nde Naigeria; Republik Federaal bu Niiseriya; Federal Republic of Nigeria gained independence from Britain on October 1, 1960 and became a republic on October 1, 1963. The capital then was the coastal city of Lagos, but since 1991, its capital has been the centrally-located city of Abuja. It is the most populous country in Afrca and re-achieved democracy in 1999 after a sixteen-year interruption; from 1966 until 1999 when Nigeria was ruled by military dictators who seized power in coups d'état and counter-coups during the Nigerian military juntas of 1966-1979 and 1983-1998. Current estimates put the population of Nigeria at over 131 million. Nigeria has more than 250 ethnic groups, with varying languages and customs, creating a country of rich ethnic diversity. The largest ethnic groups are the Fulani/Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, accounting for 68% of population, while the Edo, Ijaw (10%), Kanuri, Ibibio, Nupe and Tiv comprise 27%; other minorities make up the remaining 7 percent. The middle belt of Nigeria is known for its diversity of ethnic groups, including the Pyem, Goemai, and Kofyar. The number of languages currently estimated and catalogued in Nigeria is 521. This number includes 510 living languages, two second languages without native speakers and 9 extinct languages. In some areas of Nigeria, ethnic groups speak more than one language. The official language of Nigeria, English, was chosen to facilitate the cultural and linguistic unity of the country (though most poeple speak a patois, locally known as 'Broken English') though Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba are also recognised as regional languages.

Many traditonal Nigerian recipes are heavily grain-based with ground millet, sorghum, teff, Barley and cassava flour forming the classic staples of the diet. Pork and veal form a typical part of the diet in the northern part of the country, whilst fish stews, shrimp, crab and lobster are more common ingredients in the south. Hot chillies form a vital part of the country's cuisine and these provide the majority of the vitamin C in the diet. Many dishes are marinated in ginger, tomatoes and cayenne, and cooked in groundnut oil. Bush meat (wild game) remains an important part of the diet, when it can be obtained.

In Nigeria, much of what we would term a 'stew' is typically called a 'soup' whilst other stew-like dishes are called 'stews'. This distinction has to do with the carbohydrate staple that the dish is served with. Soups are typically served with pounded yam or fufu whilst stews are always served with rice.