Capitaine

When it comes to fish, no species is more important than the capitaine, also known as Nile perch or giwun ruwa, which means "water elephant" in Hausa.

This fish is eaten in a variety of ways and is native to Lake Chad as well as many of the region's other natural and man-made bodies of water (where capitaine has been introduced to improve food security). On the banks of Lake Chad and smaller waterways, it's common to see whole fish or fillets drying in the sun, but capitaine is also eaten fresh. It can be grilled on an open grill with oil and chili marinades, or deep-fried whole once gutted, giving it a crisp outer exterior but soft moist flesh inside.