The aromas of wedding celebrations in N’Djamena, the Chadian capital have changed. During festive afternoons, amid the laughter of women and the rhythms of the balafon, one dish now takes centre stage on the high tables: Thiebou Dieun (Ceebu Jën in Wolof language), a vibrant and sun-kissed Senegalese dish of rice and fish.

In the past, guests would savour moula daraba (okra sauce), tant kul (long sauce), and other traditional Chadian dishes. Today, Thiebou Dieun has become a must-have for celebration menus, symbolising prestige and conviviality.

A Senegalese dish now popular in Chad

Thiebou Dieun is no ordinary dish. In 2021, UNESCO inscribed it on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in recognition of its culinary richness and social significance in Senegal. However, its fame has spread well beyond Senegal’s borders. Today, it is served at weddings, naming ceremonies and other major family celebrations in N’Djamena.

“Thiebou Dieun has become a mark of refinement,” says Zara, who owns a restaurant in Paris’s Congo district. “Newlyweds want a meal that will make an impression. Everyone loves this dish – it’s colourful, lavish and fitting for a celebration,” she adds with a smile.

This culinary adoption is no coincidence. It tells the story of journeys, encounters and the blending of cultures born of migration among the peoples of Africa.

Migration as a driver of cultural exchange

For several decades, migratory movements between Chad and countries such as Senegal, Niger and Cameroon have resulted in an unprecedented blending of cultures. Students, traders, civil servants and business partners have brought their tastes, languages and recipes with them.

In N’Djamena’s markets, yaboy sardinella (known as dried Senegalese fish in Chad) now sits alongside local produce. Spices and cooking methods have become intertwined in households. At weddings, Thiebou Dieun has become the dish that best symbolises unity.

“This dish is a beautiful metaphor for migration,” says Chadian sociologist Ruth Ngoh Ousmane. “It shows that when people move, they don’t just carry goods or ideas, they also impart traditions that become shared.”

A culinary identity in motion

While some people are nostalgic for the past and lament the gradual disappearance of traditional Chadian dishes from wedding menus, others view this as a natural evolution of tastes and practices. ‘Traditions aren’t fixed — they change and grow richer,’ says Olivier Djeran, a guest at a celebration in Sabangali.

“Marriage is a time for two families to come together and share,” smiles Murielle, a young bride from Sabangali. “So why not share the flavours of the continent too?”

For many young couples, serving Thiebou Dieun is also a way of showing their openness to the world – a sign of their connection to a curious, constantly evolving Africa.

The taste of blending

A single dish can tell the story of positive migration, showcasing a continent where borders are crossed through aromas, exchanges and human connections. Thiebou Dieun has not replaced traditional Chadian dishes, but rather joined them at the table. It stands as a symbol of culinary and cultural fusion, demonstrating that migration can be a source of mutual enrichment.

In Chad’s large wedding pots, rice, vegetables and fish now represent so much more than just a meal. They tell the story of a continent that travels, meets and unites around the same table.