Hi, my name is Zeenat, I was born in Ghana, but have Nigerian heritage. My grandparents were traders that were moving back and forth selling clothes and rare foods like cashews, coffee and other delights from Nigeria to Ghana and back again. I love cooking and have been cooking from a very young age. I was taught by my grandparents and my mother, I enjoy it, no matter how busy I am, I always make the time for home cooking.

I have also had the opportunity to cook big feasts during Ramadan and Eid to feed families and particularly for people that are living destitute on the streets. Nigerian and Ghanaian food is very similar, there are lots of similar dishes but they are cooked in different ways. For instance Nigerian fufu tends to be made with yam, whereas in Ghana it is usually made with plantain and cassava.  I’m looking forward to sharing some of my stories with you alongside as we cook up some delicious West African food in my class.