Ep 48: Jollof wars: What our food says about us

<p>In this joyful episode with Yewande Daniel-Ayoade, we reflect on food and what it says about our identity and tolerance for others. Yewande tells me about how <em>#jollofgate</em> inspired her latest work, <em>Dele and Aminata’s Jollof War</em>, and how she wanted to create a book that opens up conversations about the beauty of traditional meals. </p><p><br></p><p>We also talk about territorialism and how it shows up in culinary wars, why we feel the need to compare culinary choices, and what it means to grow in tolerance for others who may not understand our food and its importance to us. </p><p><br></p><p>As we bring things to a close, Yewande shares a summary of her writing journey, and how the support of friends and sheer determination to make her dreams come true resulted in her first book and the subsequent ones.  </p><p><br></p><p>There is laughter and joy in this episode, and I hope you enjoy listening/watching as much as we enjoyed making it. </p><p><br></p><p><strong>FYI to parents or adults with children in their lives</strong>: Yewande’s book is a conversation starter. I hope you purchase it, read it to the child/children in your life, and reflect on your own interactions with food. </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Show highlights</strong></p><p>00:00 – Introduction</p><p>2:48 – Why are we so territorial about food? </p><p>4:47 – Why does the existence of Ghanian jollof rattle Nigerians so much?</p><p>6:28 – Is there a connection between what we eat and what we think of ourselves?</p><p>7:37 – Do we ever achieve tolerance?</p><p>9:33 – Thoughts on the recipe in the book? </p><p>10:54 – What should readers take away from the book? </p><p>12:19 – Choosing what to write about when she can feel other&#39;s pain</p><p>13:23 – The one thing Yewande has learned from being a children’s book writer</p><p>14:54 – What is Yewande Daniel-Ayoade’s writing journey?</p><p>18:24 – A shift to the whimsical and understanding seasons of change </p><p>20:31 – Which jollof is the best jollof?</p><p>21:39 – What is the secret to staying on the journey of the art?</p><p> </p><p>_____________________</p><p>Watch on YouTube: <a href="https://youtu.be/_CZLt9bkUeg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://youtu.be/_CZLt9bkUeg</a> </p><p>_____________________</p><p>Guest’s links</p><p>Buy <em>Dele and Aminata’s Jollof War</em>: <a href="https://shop.owlkids.com/products/dele-and-aminata-s-jollof-war" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://shop.owlkids.c