The past few years have been challenging for many in the food and beverage industry. The impact of the pandemic is unquantifiable and the level at which food enthusiasts have remained optimistic and determined is worthy of emulation.
It feels powerful to be celebrating Africans in the food and beverage industry. The words of James Beard “Food is our common ground, a universal experience” keep reechoing in our heart and soul making us loyal to deliver always because we believe in the process and knowledge of creating. Knowledge is the light for every dark tunnel and we are optimistic that the knowledge y’all exude can only but wax stronger. We make every day we live an opportunity to break barriers, celebrate, appreciate, eat and drink.
We look beyond the surface and see the deeper meaning of what truly we stand for and represent. “It’s not surprising, then, that we have our own way with food. We’ve called it our way for centuries and incorporated our wondrous way with food and eating into our daily lives.” those are the words of Jessica B. Harris from the High on the hog cookbook.
As Jean Anthelme Brill rightly stated “tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are.” what you all have continually done is remind us of our roots, where we came from, and where we are going.
What this makes us realize is that y’all have come a long way and we celebrate your consistency and determination over the years.
This year we selected My Cookery Zone top 50 Africans in the food and beverage industry from African countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Congo-Brazaville, and Ghana. We look forward to doing more of celebrating those behind the African cuisine. It will always get better!
CATEGORIES\HONOREES
CULINARY SCHOOL
BOMA International Hospitality College, Nairobi, Kenya.
Hospitality Business School (HBS Hotel school) Nigeria
JHB Culinary & Pastry School, Johannesburg, South Africa
Red Dish Chronicles, Lagos & Abuja, Nigeria
The School of Culinary Arts, Accra, Ghana
CHEF
COCO REINARHZ (SOUTH AFRICA)
DIEUVEIL MALONGA (CONGO-BRAZAVILLE)
FREGENE GBUBEMI (NIGERIA)
KINORAH AWINI (GHANA)
MICHAEL ELEGBEDE (NIGERIA)
NTI RAMABOAH (SOUTH AFRICA)
PERRE THIAM (SENEGAL)
PINKY MARUPING (SOUTH AFRICA)
RAPHAEL NDAIGA (KENYA)
SELASSIE ATADIKA (GHANA)
TOBI SMITH (NIGERIA)
ZOE ADJONYOH (GHANA)
FOOD WRITER/BLOGGER
FAFA GILBERT (GHANA)
IYABO LAWANI (NIGERIA)
JEAN-CLAUDE ATTIPOE (GHANA)
JOYCE JAY GYBIE (GHANA)
MATSE UWATSE (NIGERIA)
OLAOLUWA JEJE (NIGERIA)
OZOZ SOKOH (NIGERIA)
TOLA AKERELE (NIGERIA)
TOMI MAKANJUOLA (NIGERIA)
UZO ORIMALADE (NIGERIA)
FOOD PODCASTER
IQUO & ATIM UKOH (NIGERIA)
YORM ACKUAKU (GHANA)
FOOD & WINE CRITIC
OPEYEMI FAMAKIN (NIGERIA)
UGONNA EJIOGU (NIGERIA)
UJU AMAESHI (NIGERIA)
ORGANIC FARMER
OLUSOLA SOWEMIMO (NIGERIA)
SHOLA LADOJA (NIGERIA)
YOUTUBE\TV SHOWS
GINA EHIKODI (NIGERIA)
SIBA MTONGANA (SOUTH AFRICA)
SONIA AKPATA USMAR (NIGERIA)
WINIFRED NWANIA (NIGERIA)
YEMISI ODUSANYA (NIGERIA)
BARTENDER/MIXOLOGIST
AMAKA MBAGWU (NIGERIA)
JOEL MENSAH (GHANA)
LARA RAWA (NIGERIA)
OLUWAKEMI IDIALU (NIGERIA)
FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
ANJOLA AWOSIKA (NIGERIA)
JOEL ADU (NIGERIA)
MICHAEL NELSON (NIGERIA)
YETUNDE ABASS (NIGERIA)
WELLNESS
ADEDAMOLA ATILADE (NIGERIA)
BUNMI GEORGE (NIGERIA)
RONKE EDOHO (NIGERIA)
My Cookery Zone 