Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage has earned global recognition once again, as culinary anthropologist and food writer Ozoz Sokoh has become the first Nigerian cookbook author to win a prestigious James Beard Foundation Award.
Sokoh, widely known as the Nigerian Food Explorer, clinched the 2026 James Beard Award for Emerging Voice in Books for her debut cookbook, Chop Chop: Cooking the Food of Nigeria, at the foundation’s annual Media Awards ceremony held in Chicago.
The James Beard Awards, often regarded as the “Oscars of the food world,” celebrate excellence in food writing, journalism, broadcasting and culinary storytelling. Sokoh’s victory marks a groundbreaking moment not only for Nigeria but for African food literature on the global stage.
Part cookbook and part cultural archive, Chop Chop: Cooking the Food of Nigeria goes beyond recipes to document the history, traditions and stories behind Nigerian cuisine. Through its pages, Sokoh explores the diversity of Nigeria’s food cultures, tracing ingredients, cooking methods and the social significance of dishes that have shaped generations.
For years, Sokoh has built a reputation as one of Nigeria’s foremost culinary historians. Through her platform, Kitchen Butterfly, and her work as a culinary anthropologist, she has dedicated herself to researching, preserving and promoting Nigerian food traditions, often highlighting indigenous ingredients and forgotten culinary practices.
Her latest achievement is being celebrated as a victory for African storytelling and an affirmation that Nigerian cuisine deserves a place in global food conversations. In an era where food has become a significant marker of identity and cultural diplomacy, Sokoh’s recognition shines a spotlight on the depth, sophistication, and diversity of Nigerian gastronomy.
From jollof rice and suya to lesser-known regional delicacies, Chop Chop invites readers around the world to experience Nigeria through its food, proving that recipes can also be repositories of memory, culture and history.
With her historic James Beard win, Ozoz Sokoh has not only broken new ground as a Nigerian author but has also opened the door wider for African culinary voices to be seen, heard and celebrated on the world’s biggest food stages.
Credit: AFP
