7 weird foods Nigerians eat

There are numerous animals you’ll never have thought Nigerians enjoy cooking and eating that will leave you shocked.

A lot of Nigerians are used to the conventional beef, chicken and turkey but there are locals in other parts of the country that are quite opened to having other meats. Some of the foods are listed below.

1. Bat

As weird as you might think it is, a lot of Nigerians love eating bat meat. The winged mammals are mostly displayed on expressways by bush meat vendors and are delicacies in some parts of the country. Eating the meat is not always advisable though because bats are rumoured to spread diseases like ebola virus.

2. Grasscutter Faeces

Grass cutter faeces are used to make stew (agricdemy)

In some parts of Nigeria, people use the droppings from grass cutters to prepare soup with the belief that it makes the food smell good and it’s also high in nutrients.

3. Monkey

As much as monkeys are viewed to be close to the human family, some parts of the country still don’t mind dicing them up and making a hot pot of soup out of them. Just like bats, eating monkeys are also discouraged as they could spread viruses too.

4. Palm weevil larvae

Palm weevil larvae are a source of protein and iron edible insects (123rf)

Trees that are left to rot after harvesting palm wine off it produces some sort of large worms mostly known as “Akokuno”. After harvesting palm wine from the palm tree, the tree is left to rot and later produces some kind of big worms popularly known as “Akokuno”. These worms are harvested, roasted and eaten.

4. Snakes

A rattle snake being skinned and chopped before getting cooked (realtree)

According to people that have tasted it, snakes taste more like fish. They are well-seasoned, roasted or fried. People aren’t afraid of the fangs and venom, neither are they afraid of the cold-blooded slimy animal.

6. Locusts

A well prepared and served locust (greenprophet)

Locusts are of the grasshopper species and are known for destroying crops. They are mostly fried using palm oil, smoked or dried.

7. Cow brain

People consume cow brain soup too. (yearinthekingdom)

There’s a particular tribe that specializes in this delicacy. The cow brain is specifically used to prepare a stew called “Kwanya”. It is rumoured to be able to make the faint-hearted ill so if you don’t have the mind for it, please avoid it.