A Systematic Review on Gastronomic Exchange Between Nigeria and the Diaspora: Transnational Influences and Culinary Identity

Abstract

This systematic review seeks to synthesise existing empirical studies concerning gastronomic exchange between Nigeria and its diaspora populations. Major objectives of this study were to: (i) the mechanisms through which culinary traditions are transmitted and adapted, (ii) the role of food in the construction and contestation of Nigerian diasporic identities, (iii) the influence of digital media and food entrepreneurship within transnational culinary exchange, and (iv) the reverse circulation of diaspora influenced culinary innovations back into Nigeria. In line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses guidelines (PRISMA 2020), a systematic search strategy was implemented across six electronic databases, namely Scopus, Web of Science, JSTOR, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online (AJOL). Boolean search strings associated with Nigerian cuisine, transnational food practices, diaspora identity, and culinary exchange were utilised throughout the search process. An initial total of 2,847 records was identified. Following the removal of duplicates, title and abstract screening, and full text eligibility evaluation, 67 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria and were retained for the final synthesis. The review identified four principal thematic categories. The first concerned food as a vehicle for preserving ethnic and national identity among Nigerian diaspora communities. The second focused on culinary hybridisation and the negotiation of authenticity within transnational settings. The third explored the influence of digital platforms, social media food influencers, and Nigerian food entrepreneurs in the global expansion of Nigerian cuisine. The fourth thematic category examined the reverse movement of cultural influence, whereby diaspora shaped culinary practices re-enter Nigeria and contribute to transforming domestic food culture, urban restaurant environments, and the culinary identities of younger generations. Across the literature, recurring cross thematic issues relating to gender, generational differences, and postcolonial food politics consistently emerged. The findings of the review demonstrate that gastronomic exchange between Nigeria and its diaspora communities is dynamic, multidirectional, and politically significant, shaping cultural identity, national belonging, and forms of social capital. Future scholarship should place greater emphasis on longitudinal and multisited ethnographic research designs in order to capture the temporal dimensions of culinary transformation more effectively. In addition, increased scholarly attention is required for marginalised subgroups within the Nigerian diaspora whose culinary experiences and food practices remain insufficiently explored within the current literature.