The Jollof Journey is a short documentary that uses Jollof Rice as a lens to explore the erasure of West African history and the ways food sustains cultural memory across the diaspora. Tracing the dish’s origins to the Wolof people of the Senegambia region, the film follows its transformation into one of West Africa’s most recognisable and contested culinary traditions.

Through historical research and contemporary voices, the documentary interrogates how colonial and Western narratives have shaped global perceptions of African culture, often marginalising or distorting local histories. Scholars describe this process as “dubbing”: the rewriting of African stories through external priorities.

By centring on a single, beloved dish, The Jollof Journey reveals how food operates as a living archive—carrying identity, pride, and memory across borders. From its origins in Senegambia to its place at tables across the African diaspora, Jollof Rice becomes a powerful symbol of continuity, community, and cultural resilience.