#owambe

I attended a wedding in Ikeja a few months ago where the aso-ebi alone, the matching fabric guests are expected to buy and wear, cost more than what some entry-level graduates earn in a month. There was a live band, a DJ, a separate MC for the traditional engagement segment and another for the white wedding reception, a professional photography team with a drone, small chops stationed at three different corners of the hall, and a "surprise" celebrity performance that the couple had clearly budgeted for months in advance. By the time the day ended, I found myself doing quiet mental math and thinking, this isn't just a party anymore.

Learn how to cook smoky Lagos-style party jollof rice with step-by-step instructions, expert cooking tips, common mistakes to avoid, and serving ideas for the perfect Nigerian celebration.