A Brief History Of Waakye Ghana's Favourite Breakfast

Waakye, a dish made from beans and rice, is a familiar sight to most Ghanaians. This simple, nutritious meal can be found on sale all over the country, from restaurants to street food stalls. But how did it actually come to be?
Who makes the best jollof rice: Ghanaians or Nigerians? This simple question forms the basis of the Jollof Wars, in which citizens of these nations take to social media to debate whose rendition of this originally Senegalese dish tastes best. Although there’s no actual fight, the banter and jokes can get intense, with national pride at stake.

However, there’s another meal that Ghanaians love just as much as jollof, but which they’re probably just trying to keep away from Nigerians. It’s called waakye.

Waakye (pronounced ‘waachay’) is a combination of red or black-eyed beans and rice, and it’s often served with salads, spaghetti, fried plantains, garri, meat and fish. It’s a delicacy all over the country, and Ghanaians frequently queue at stalls to buy it for their breakfast or lunch.

Waakye originated from northern Ghana, where rice and beans are staple food crops. However, it’s not clear which specific ethnic group is responsible for pioneering this national treasure. Depending on where it’s prepared, certain variations exist in its ingredients, like the ratio of rice to beans or the spiciness of the accompanying shitor (hot pepper sauce). Nevertheless, it manages to maintain a generally consistent taste.

The eating of rice and beans together is actually a common phenomenon in many cultures in the Americas, India and other West African countries. In Brazil, it is a base dish known as “o arroz com feijão”, with which other complex meals with meats and vegetables are served. Cameroonians, however, prefer to prepare the rice and beans separately, before mixing and garnishing it with vegetables and stews.

But waakye has its own unique characteristics, thanks to the many different accompaniments it’s served with. These reflect the influences of all the Ghanaian cultures that have adopted this traditional meal and made it their own.

Rice and beans can be found all over the world. This dish, for example, is Brazilian

Waakye is also an excellent choice for vegetarians who want to try out traditional Ghanaian food, as it can be eaten with just salads, juicy fried plantains and spaghetti. When bought from street stalls or restaurants, it’s packaged in broad green leaves, aptly named ‘waakye leaves’. It’s said these leaves are used to prevent the dangers of packaging food in polythene bags, but there is very little evidence to prove this.

Waakye is affordable and easy to come by. Indeed, it’s the popularity of the street stalls that has helped to increase the consumption of this dish in major cities like Accra, Kumasi and Cape. So if you’re in any of these places, do try the local waakye. But remember: don’t tell the Nigerians.