From Nigeria to Brazil: Akara gains popularity, gets annual festival A traditional Nigerian dish, Akara, has become an integral part of Brazilian cuisine, earning an annual celebration known as the Acarajé Festival. The dish, a deep-fried cake made from beans, was reportedly introduced to Brazil by enslaved West Africans, who were taken from their homelands to South America decades ago. In West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, Akara is a staple food that can include various fillings such as fish, eggs, and vegetables. Akara is typically fried with either vegetable oil or palm oil and...