Oasis Beach Resort

It’s no secret that, with enslavement, came the dissolution of our culture— including our food. Despite the transatlantic journey and stripping of our culture, many of our foodways actually survived. The food we love may look a little different than it once did, but much of modern Black American cuisine derives from West African dishes.  The jollof rice and red snapper I devoured at Oasis Beach Resort in Cape Coast could have easily been a plate of dirty rice and fried catfish, like the ones I’ve eaten countless times in New Orleans. One of the most authentic experiences I had on my trip happened when I was sitting down at a local chop bar (a restaurant serving local dishes) near Elmina Castle. At the African Pot, I dove hands-first into my first bowl of a spicy light soup with tilapia, goat, and okra— a food my mother cooked often growing up. Indulging in dishes that my soul knew, though I’d never tasted some of them before, made me feel like I was right where I was supposed to be. Eating my way through my ancestry— a delicious birthright.