Ogbono soup

Ogbono soup
Ogbono soup with assorted meats
Alternative namesDraw soup
TypeSoup
Place of originNigeria
Serving temperatureHot
Main ingredientsOgbono seeds, water, oil, leaf vegetables (bitterleaf and celosia), other vegetables, seasonings, meat

Ogbono soup Listenⓘ is a staple soup in Nigerian cuisine. [1][2][3] It is made with ground dry ogbono seeds.[4][5][6][7] The seed is a major ingredient in various West African cuisines and it is made with considerable local variation across cultures. According to research by Chris Chinaka and J.C. Obiefuna, ogbono is an indigenous forest tree associated with plants classified as "non-timber forest products"[8]. It goes by various indigenous names among Nigerians. The common use of the word “ogbono” in general Nigerian parlance stems from the Igbo name for the word. [9]Among the Nupe people, it is called 'pekpeara', 'ogwi' in Bini, 'uyo' in Efik, and 'oro' or ‘apon’ in Yoruba, and 'goro' or 'goronor' in Hausa. [10] Although ogbono (dika nut) and ugiri, the Igbo name for bush-mango, are very similar and often regarded as equivalents, there is technically a distinction.[11]

The ground ogbono seeds are used as a thickener, and give the soup a black or brown coloration.[12] Besides seeds, water and palm oil, it typically contains meat and/or fish seasonings such as chili pepper,[12] salt, crayfish, leaf vegetables and other vegetables. Typical leaf vegetables include bitterleaf and celosia and ogiri. Typical vegetables include tomatoes and okra. Typical seasonings include chiles, onions, boullion cubes ("Maggi" in Nigerian parlance), and iru (fermented locust beans).[12] Typical meats include beef, goat, fish,[12] chicken, bushmeat,[13] shrimp, or crayfish.

For individual preferences, ogbono soup can be cooked together with egusi; it can also be cooked together with okra. These methods are likely ways to make the soup thicker and spicier.[14][15]

It can be eaten with fufu,[12] semo, wheat swallow, with pounded yam, or the processed and fried garri. In other countries the soup may be available in packaged prepared form in some markets that specialize in Western African foods.[12] Ogbono soup has a mucilaginous draw texture,[16] similar to okra soup.

It is widely cultivated for its edible sweet fruits and seeds in West and Central African countries such as Nigeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Benin.[17]

Etymology

The name "ogbono" (also spelled "agbono") derives from two Igbo roots: -gbo meaning "to foam, bubble or froth" and -nọ or -lo meaning "to be slimy or slippery", which together describe the thick, sticky texture the ground seeds produce when cooked.[18][19] The soup is widely known across Nigeria and West Africa, where it goes by various local names. Some of the other names it goes by across the region include:

The widespread adoption of the Igbo term "ogbono" across Nigerian ethnic groups reflects the central role of Igbo traders and culinary traditions in spreading the seed's use throughout Nigeria and beyond.[22][23][24]

Ingredients

Ogbono, Okpei and seasoning cubes
Ogbono soup ingredients:blended Ogbono seeds, okpei and seasoning cube
  • 1½lbs of assorted meat
  • 1 cup of dry grounded ogbono
  • 6tbsps of grinded crayfish (divided)
  • 1 large dry fish(washed and soaked in warm water)
  • 1-2 habanero pepper or ata-rodo
  • 1-2 tbsps. of dry grounded pepper or red chili flakes
  • 90-100mls of palm oil
  • one bunch of water leaves(optional)
  • 2tbsps of uziza leaves
  • 16 fingers of okra (chopped into any size)
  • 1 bouillon
  • salt to taste.[14]

Health benefits

Ogbono, also known scientifically as Irvingia gabonensis, is a versatile plant that serves many purposes. Its fruit, nuts, seeds, and bark can be used for culinary, manufacturing, cosmetic, and medicinal purposes.[25] It is rich in nutrients and, per 100g, contains dietary fiber, protein, healthy fats, vitamins A and C, magnesium, and calcium.[26]

The fat extracted from the seeds is a good source of myristic, lauric, palmitic, and oleic fatty acids..[27] The macronutrients found in Ogbono soup include carbohydrates, fiber, fats, protein, and water, all of which support effective body function.[28]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Reporter, Our (2018-12-01). "Ogbono Soup". Tribune Online. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  2. ↑ Ogunsiji, Ayo (2001). Language Attitude and Language Conflict in West Africa. Ibadan, Nigeria: Enicrownfit. pp. 160–174.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. ↑ Igboanusi, Herbert (2002). A Dictionary of Nigerian English Usage. Ibadan, Nigeria: Enicrownfit. p. 201.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. ↑ Atiku, M.K. (2003). Strengthening Food and Beverages Quality Standards and Safety as a Stimulant for Industrial Growth. Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology. p. 178. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Ogbono Soup". Nigerian Tribune. 2018-12-01. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  6. ↑ "Ogbono – UdyFoods". Archived from the original on 2025-06-20. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
  7. ↑ "Ogbono Soup- Proudly Nigerian superfood that can gain UN cultural status". BusinessDay. Lagos, Nigeria. 2026-02-01. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  8. ↑ Chinaka, Chris; Obiefuna, J.C. "Production and Utilization of 'Ogbono' (Irvingia gabonensis)" (PDF). National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, Ahmadu Bello University.
  9. ↑ Echeruo, Michael J.C (1998). Igbo-English Dictionary: A comprehensive Dictionary of the Igbo Language, with an English-Igbo Index. Yale University Press. pp. 135–159.
  10. ↑ Edozie, V (2016). "Ogbono trees vanishing in Bayelsa". Daily Trust.
  11. ↑ Osewezina, Williams (2022-08-19). "Ogbono: Things To Consider Before You Eat It". So Healthy. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wright, Clifford A. (2011). The Best Soups in the World. John Wiley & Sons. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-118-10925-0.
  13. ↑ "Bushmeat: How wild meat can be a threat to wildlife and human health". Animals. 2019-06-19. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  14. 1 2 "Ogbono and Okra Soup | Nigerian Lazy Chef". Archived from the original on 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2025-04-26.
  15. ↑ "Egusi and Ogbono Soup Combo".
  16. ↑ Odumade, Omotolani (May 21, 2018). "Soups every Nigerian should be able to make". Pulse Nigeria. Archived from the original on October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  17. ↑ BPharm, Jennifer Obidike (2021-09-20). "Ogbono (African Mango): 6 Amazing Benefits, Nutrition, and Side Effects". Healthful Wonders. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  18. ↑ Williamson, Kay (2006) [1972]. Blench, Roger (ed.). Dictionary of Ọnịchà Igbo (PDF) (2nd ed.).
  19. ↑ Echeruo, Michael J. C. (1998). Igbo-English Dictionary. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300073072 – via Internet Archive.
  20. ↑ "Ogbono soup". Journal of Arid Agriculture University of Maiduguri. 2023.
  21. ↑ Festus, C.; Nwala, L. (2012). "Extraction and procession of agbono cotyledon for long shelf-life" (PDF). Academic Research International. 2 (1): 139–145.
  22. ↑ Igboanusi, Herbert (2001). Language Attitude and Language Conflict in West Africa. Ibadan, Nigeria: Enicrownfit Publishers. p. 160. ISBN 9783422545 – via Internet Archive.
  23. ↑ Don Lawson, D.C. (2018). "Proximate Analysis and Phytochemical Screening of Irvingia Gabonensis (Agbono Cotyledon)" (PDF). Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research. 5 (4). doi:10.26717/BJSTR.2018.05.001227.
  24. ↑ "Irvingia gabonensis: Forest ecology and uses". Forest Ecology and Management. Elsevier. 1980.
  25. ↑ Nwokolo, Collins (2020-05-12). "7 Amazing Health Benefits of Ogbono (Irvingia gabonensis)". Health Guide NG. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  26. ↑ "Top 10 Health Benefits of Ogbono: Boost Your Wellness Naturally". 2025-03-19. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  27. ↑ Olorundare, Olufunke; Adeneye, Adejuwon; Akinsola, Akinyele; Kolo, Phillip; Agede, Olalekan; Soyemi, Sunday; Mgbehoma, Alban; Okoye, Ikechukwu; Albrecht, Ralph; Mukhtar, Hasan (2020-10-22). Morales, Patricia (ed.). "Irvingia gabonensis Seed Extract: An Effective Attenuator of Doxorubicin-Mediated Cardiotoxicity in Wistar Rats". Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2020: 1–14. doi:10.1155/2020/1602816. ISSN 1942-0994. PMC 7603620. PMID 33149803.
  28. ↑ https://kubanni-backend.abu.edu.ng/server/api/core/bitstreams/c0107fe0-b5be-4579-bcee-a075a15ca98c/content

Further reading

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