What is so special about jollof rice?

Jollof rice is a one pot dish that is eaten all over West Africa so it comes in many guises but it is always a striking and vivid shade of orange. It is an every-day dish but it is also present at celebrations, when it is called party rice. It is cooked by gently simmering or steaming rice in well-seasoned obe ata. This ensures that each grain of rice is a flavour bomb. It is my all-time favourite dish and always hits the spot. Jollof rice is not a traditional staple but has become a key feature of our cuisine due to social mixing in the densely populated cosmopolitan metropolis of Lagos, and the wider Nigerian diaspora. Our food is mostly vegetarian with meat and fish being available but optional, and jollof rice is a part of this cuisine.