Night flexing (enjoyment) as it is fondly called in Nigeria is not complete without Suya. Suya is spicy roasted meat made from a slaughtered cow. We also have Chicken suya and Ram suya, this street food has been around for decades, enjoyed by both the young and old. The Hausas from the northern part of Nigeria are known for suya making, often referred to as “aboki”. An aboki puts in a lot of effort in making sure his suya is ready before the night comes, He must prepare his slaughtered cow, the meat diced into smaller sizes, spiced and put in wooden long grill sticks, he must now allow it marinate for several hours and then perfectly roast the meat. It is almost impossible to walk by any street in Nigeria at night without seeing roadside Suya grilling stands, the stands are mostly the busiest from mid-evening until late at night. One would expect suya because of its popularity in Nigeria to translate into the mainstream restaurant dining experience. Some restaurants have suya on the menu but nothing beats the taste of roadside aboki suya. Nigerian suya is said to look similar to shish kebabs, however, they are different meals. Nigerian Suya is garnished and served with a lot of onions, tomatoes, and cucumber. you cant find a Nigerian who those not know about, or enjoys suya. For most Nigerians with busy schedules, university students especially Suya is the “go-to” night meal. Suya is also very affordable, a stick of spicy roasted suya goes for less a 1 euro. Suya is best served with chilled orange juice or red wine.
