By Ghazali Ibrahim
A Lagos-based caterer, Theresa Sappor, has emerged as an unlikely star of Nigeria’s long-running Jollof rice rivalry after American streamer IShowSpeed publicly declared Nigerian Jollof superior to its Ghanaian and Senegalese counterparts.
IShowSpeed made the remark during his recent 28-day tour of Africa, where he sampled Jollof rice across several countries. After tasting the dish in Senegal, he admitted it was “very good” but ultimately leaned towards Nigeria. His verdict became even more viral in Ghana, where standing before a crowd of Ghanaian fans he said bluntly: “Nigerian Jollof rice is better than Ghanaian Jollof rice.”
The comment, coming from a global influencer with millions of followers, sparked celebrations online and reignited the friendly culinary rivalry. But as Nigerians rejoiced, a new question began trending: Who cooked the Jollof rice IShowSpeed ate in Nigeria?
The answer led many to Freedom Park on Lagos Island, where Theresa Sappor runs Sappor Cuisine, a modest food business located inside the historic former colonial prison turned tourist attraction.
Speaking on the sudden attention, Sappor fondly called Mama said she is still struggling to process how one meal changed her fortunes.
“This Jollof rice, na Holy Spirit help me cook am. I’m still in shock,” she told The Plug.
“Social media get power. Whether we like it or not, Nigerians have good food.”
Sappor revealed that she has been cooking since she was just 12 years old and honed her skills further through her mother-in-law, who is also a caterer. She now runs the business alongside her husband, a partnership that has helped keep operations afloat amid the recent surge in demand.
Since IShowSpeed’s visit, Sappor Cuisine has seen a dramatic increase in customers, with expatriates, tourists, and curious Lagos residents trooping in daily to taste the now-famous Jollof rice.
According to her husband, the influx has gone beyond Jollof.
“Some of them are now asking for other foods like fufu and egusi,” he said, noting that the kitchen has had to expand its offerings to meet growing expectations.
For Sappor, the moment represents more than viral fame it is validation of years of hard work behind the scenes.
What began as a simple meal served to a visiting content creator has now turned into a life-changing endorsement, placing a local Lagos caterer at the center of an international food conversation and proving, at least to millions online, that Nigerian Jollof still reigns supreme.
