In Nigeria, food isn’t just survival – it’s a daily adventure, a social glue, and an art form. And when it comes to the holy grail of Nigerian meals (jollof rice), everyone has an opinion.

But here’s the honest debate: with just ₦1,000 in your pocket, where’s the best place to satisfy your jollof cravings? Is it the gritty, smoky goodness from the street vendor under the umbrella or the polished plate at a mid-range restaurant?

Let’s break it down in this delicious Street Eats vs. Restaurant Dining battle.

The Street Food Magic

ALSO READ: Street Food Chronicles: Underrated spots in Lagos & Abuja

If we’re being honest, there’s something raw and honest about street jollof. And for most people, this feeling drags them to the street.

• The smoky, wood-fired aroma.

• That slightly burnt bottom-layer “party rice” taste.

• The spicy stew-soaked meat or egg that completes the vibe.

Irrespective of how you choose to serve this version of jollof, there’s always something authentic about it.

Not to mention the fact that ₦1k can get you:

• A generous plate of rice

• A chunk of beef or pomo

• Maybe a sachet of water to cool down after you’ve pushed down a full plate of tasty jollof rice.

The local food stall beside your office or the roadside stall in your street may not be porshed. They may not have an AC or even a good fan, but the fact that they’ve mastered serving you good flavour for this little stand out.

Restaurant Dining

Let’s be real: 1K at a restaurant is an entry-level budget. You might end up with a tasting portion of jollof, not a full meal. But well, it’s definitely not as bad as it sounds. After all, you often get:

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• A well-plated dish

• Clean environment

• Calm music and maybe free Wi-Fi

The jollof might be less spicy, more refined, sometimes missing that homey “local” kick. But this is your lane if you’re looking for a more relaxed, sit-down experience with service and ambiance.

However, ₦1K might only afford you a small takeaway pack, or you’ll have to top up to feel truly full.

Where Does the Jollof Hit Harder?

If we’re being honest, with 1K, street food wins on value, quantity, and raw flavour. The smoky taste, the street-side banter, the satisfaction of eating with your hand under a tree – nothing beats it.

But if you’re dressed for a meeting or need a more serene experience, a restaurant might offer more comfort, even if it means sacrificing a few scoops of rice.

ALSO READ: 5 reasons suya is best sold at night in Nigeria

Ultimately, it boils down to what you’re genuinely looking for. You should hit the streets if you want flavour, spice, and satisfaction.

However, if ambience, hygiene, and calm are qualities you value, a restaurant does it. However, you may need to come with a little extra cash.

From rooftop raves in Lagos to beachside events in Accra, one thing is constant: Nigerian DJs are the heartbeat of Afro-parties worldwide.

In 2025, they’re not just spinning tracks—creating cultural moments, blending amapiano with Afrobeat, and throwing in surprise samples that keep everyone on their feet.

Whether you’re a nightlife regular or a playlist junkie, here are the top Nigerian DJs turning every Afro-party into a movie this year.

1. DJ Spinall

ALSO READ: South African superstar DJ tells Nigerian DJs how to play Amapiano songs

DJ Spinall has been in the game, but 2025 proves he’s still at the top. Known for fusing Afrobeat with electronic dance music and high-energy mash-ups, Spinall’s sets are a masterclass in vibe control. From Coachella to Lagos Block Party, when Spinall shows up, the dance floor obeys.

Where to catch him: International festivals, major Lagos events, and exclusive rooftop gigs.

2. DJ Neptune 

With the release of Greatness 3.0, DJ Neptune is pushing boundaries again. His parties feature slick transitions and genre-hopping madness, blending old-school Naija hits with fresh amapiano drops that leave zero room for boredom.

His unique style lights up every party, leaving attendants wanting more. Of course, he’s also showing up in the international scene and won’t slow down anytime soon.

3. DJ Consequence

It’s not a party in Lagos if Consequence isn’t on the lineup. His mash-ups feel like a curated journey through Nigeria’s sound evolution. He’s always serving everything hot to spice any party – from Ajegunle bangers to the latest Afrobeats chart-toppers.

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Where he shines: Clubs, weddings, and elite Afro-raves

ALSO READ: Nigerian DJs who play songs without a license risk 5 years imprisonment – NCC

4. DJ YK Mule  

You’ve definitely moved your body to a DJ YK beat, even if you didn’t know it. His viral beat instrumentals and chaotic-yet-funky mixes have become the soundtrack to Nigerian street culture. And in 2025, he’s bringing the same madness to live events. He’s put energy, and whenever he steps on the deck, you know there’s fire on the dance floor.

5. Oba_DDJ

Although relatively new on the block, Oba_DDJ is already redefining what it means to be a vibe curator. Known for his effortless blends of afro-house, hip-hop, and alté, his sets feel like a spiritual journey, with bass. In a space dominated by OGs and old timers, he brings precision, calm confidence, and clean transitions that keep the crowd on lock. Catch up with some of his viral mixes on TikTok and other social platforms.

6. DJ TGarbs 

Representing the growing wave of female DJs, DJ TGarbs has been lighting up Abuja, Lagos, and even London Afro brunches with her smooth mash-ups of R&B and Afrobeat. She’s fresh, fearless, and fiery behind the decks. She may still be one collab away from global domination, but we’re sure hearing about her, and she’s not slowing down.

7. DJ Crowd Kontroller 

If your DJ can’t control a crowd, what’s the point? Crowd Kontroller isn’t just mixing songs – he’s commanding the tempo of your soul. His live mixes, hype vocals, and fearless genre switches make him a favourite at parties with real music heads. Add that to the fact that his live recordings are always viral, and you can tell he’s the man for the moment.

In 2025, Nigerian DJs are no longer local kings – they’re global culture shapers, bringing the Afro-party spirit to every dance floor from Toronto to Tokyo. So pay attention to the DJ next time you’re at a party, wedding, or just vibing on a Friday night. Behind every unforgettable moment is a Nigerian DJ blending sounds with soul.

ALSO READ: DJ Neptune explains why Da Grin is the artist he respects the most

Kanekalon, the Japanese quality fibre giant in the last four years has transformed from just producing fibres into providing beauty solutions to meet Nigerian hairdressers and stylist needs in the business.

According to the media statement by the Kanekalon representative, Mr. Poku, during the Kanekalon collaboration workshop event series with HAIRSTYLIST & BEAUTY EXPERT ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA – HABEAN – in Port Harcourt, the team has extensively surveyed the Nigerian market. It has improved its products to provide beauty solutions, enabling hairdressers and stylists in the state to upgrade their business skills to suit their customers’ needs.

Poku, while showcasing one of the company’s products – Darling Duchess- said its ultra-lite fibre has lasting shine and gets better with time, for all styles to be achieved using the product to suit the needs of every woman.

He informed that the distinguishing features of Kanekalon from other products in the market include its six unique characteristics of original Kanekalon fibre, namely:

• Soft touch: No finger pain while braiding.

• Easy to braid: It locks easily, and even an apprentice can learn faster using it.

• Time saving: It saves turnaround time because of quality improvement.

• Hot water set: The stylist does not need to boil water for too long to achieve curls.

• Flame retardant: It has self-extinguishing features such that immediately it is removed from fire, the fire is quenched from the fibre.

• Globally loved: For 65 years, the product has enjoyed maximum patronage and love from its customers around the globe.

The Darling Brand representative, Mrs Biola Yaqub, in her presentation gave an insight into what stylists do, describing them as hair creatives using the Darling hair product to bring out the beauty in women, which informs the choice of their motto “Find Your Beautiful .”

Mrs Yaqub said Darling products are designed to build confidence in women and with its unique appearance empowers the women by creating jobs that gives them financial freedom with the offer of a wide variety of colours for the beauticians and stylists such as colours 1,2,4,33, purple, ginger, turmeric, silver, white, yellow amongst others.

Yaqub, while also showcasing the Darling Duchess braid said it comes in regular cuts and pre-stretch and it’s qualities are ultra-lite, flame retardant, easy to braid, hot water set, feel-good texture, tangle free, doesn’t waste, easy to curl and has natural shiny looks, 100 percent premium Kanekalon fibre.

She added that the Darling Duchess comes in a variety of colours that enable colour blending for stylists to introduce to their customers the variety of colours offered by the brand as against making their hairs with the regular and traditional colours always.

In her remarks, the Founder of HABEAN, Mrs Beauty Okeku, acknowledged the association’s partnership with her partners – Kanekalon, Darling and AH&B.

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Okeku appreciated Kanekalon for the workshop collaboration that has impacted in no small measure in the lives of braiders and stylists in the beauty profession in Nigeria.

She affirmed that many stylists who have attended previous collaboration workshops organised by Kanekalon with their partners are doing better in their careers because they put the knowledge they garnered into practice, advising participants not to lose focus as the workshop progresses.

In attendance at the Kanekalon collaboration workshop event were the representatives of the Japanese fiber giant, Darling Brand, African Hair & Beauty Magazine, the founder of HABEAN Mrs Beauty Okeku, Stakeholders in the Port Harcourt Hair business.

KANEKALON, the Japanese fibre giant, was established in 1957 and has since spread across Africa, Asia, Europe and other parts of the world.

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