Nigeria celebrates Chinese cuisines at food festival

By Ochiaka Ugwu

Nigeria has celebrated Chinese cuisines of different tastes and shapes at the Nigeria-China Food Festival held Thursday in Abuja.

The festival themed: “From Farm to Feast” brought together friends from China and Nigeria to enjoy the charm and warmth of each other’s cultures—using food to build understanding and culture to strengthen friendship.

Speaking at the event, Nigerian Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Mrs. Hannatu Musa Musawa said that cultural dimension of the relationship was important as Nigerian music, film and literature have increasingly found audiences in China, while Chinese language, arts, martial arts and other cultural expressions have gained growing appreciation in Nigeria.

Musawa represented by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Abdulkarim Ozi Ibrahim said the exchanges demonstrate that friendship between nations was strengthened not only in boardrooms and diplomatic meetings, but also through culture, creativity and shared human experiences.

Musawa also called for use of food to open new doors of cooperation in gastronomy, tourism, hospitality, cultural exchange, culinary education and creative entrepreneurship as Nigeria and China celebrate 55 years of friendship.

She urged continuation of building on long-standing friendship and discovery of new ways of bringing the peoples closer.

“Because when Nigerians and Chinese sit around the same table, we discover something powerful: our cuisines may be different, but our capacity to celebrate family, community, hospitality and friendship is remarkably similar” she said.

The Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Zhou Hongyou said that food was at the heart of our daily life as every dish carries a nation’s history, and every flavor tells the story of people’s love for their home and their lives.

“Today, we bring Chinese and Nigerian cuisines together. This is not just a feast for our taste buds—it is also a conversation and a meeting of our cultures.

“China is a vast country with abundant resources. Its seven main regions each have different climates, local produce, and lifestyles, and these differences have shaped their own unique food cultures” he said.

Also speaking, Director-General/CEO of National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) Aare Abisoye Fagade who said the event was not only about food, but culture, friendship and opportunity, noted that food was one of the most powerful ways people share their stories. “Through what we eat, how we prepare it and how we serve it, we encounter the history and identity of a people” he said.

“Nigeria and China are two great civilisations with rich and distinctive culinary traditions. Although our methods and ingredients may differ, we share a common understanding: food brings people together.

“This festival provides a platform for Nigerians and Chinese to connect through cuisine, music, arts, crafts and hospitality. It also reflects the broader potential of our bilateral relationship—one built not only on trade and diplomacy, but also on cultural exchange, shared knowledge, enterprise and friendship” he noted.

Guests tasted 14 dishes from China’s seven regions and 12 dishes from Nigeria’s six zones. The event was characterized with cultural performances and a photo exhibition about their food traditions. Bush bar was set up to serve a special area for people to experience the culture of grilled skewers.