Boli (also known as Bole) is a roasted plantain snack or meal in Nigeria. It is native to the Yoruba people of Nigeria, but is also eaten by their neighbours in Rivers State, due to acculturation.Pearce, Tola Olu, et al. “Generating an Income in the Urban Environment: The Experience of Street Food Vendors in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.” Africa: Journal of the International African Institute, vol. 58, no. 4, 1988, pp. 385–400. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=Boli+roasted+plantain&so=rel. Accessed 6 July 2025. It is referred to as 'boli' by Yoruba people inhabiting South West Nigeria, and is eaten with groundnuts.
Overview It can be consumed as a snack or main meal, accompanied with pepper sauce and filled with meat, roasted fish or fried chicken especially during the festive period, especially in Rivers State. The word 'boli' is pronounced as 'bole' due to a difference in accent in the south-south region in Nigeria. In South South Nigeria, it is called 'bole' and is eaten with roasted fish. Bole went from being eaten at festivals to becoming a very popular street food. Originally it consisted of a roasted half ripe plantain and hot spicy sauce (made from palm oil, pepper and utazi leaves), however roasted potatoes and yam are now part of the dish. Aside from originating and being a popular dish in Yorubaland, it is slowly becoming a staple food at homes of Rivers State people.
Recipe Beyond the popular boli and groundnut combination, Port Harcourt-style bole and fish is prepared with the following ingredients:
Plantains (Unripe or Ripe Plantain) Mackerel fish Salt Pepper Palm oil Pepper
References
External links YouTube video of preparation