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1. Bean cake is the most common Nigerian English translation of akara.
Its widely understood locally and used in Nigerian schools, cookbooks, and media.
Example: Akara is a popular Nigerian bean cake made from blended beans and spices.
It is simple and familiar for Nigerians.
In standard English, a fritter refers to food made from batter or ground ingredients that are deep-fried which perfectly describes akara.
(It can also mean a slice of fruit, vegetable, or meat, or an amount of food cut into small pieces, pressed together, and covered with batter a mixture of flour, egg, and milk.)
Example: Akara are deep-fried bean fritters common in West Africa.
It is clearer for people outside Nigeria.
In summary:
Use bean cake when speaking to Nigerians or in local contexts.
Use bean fritter when explaining akara to an international audience or in formal English writing.
