- Culture, cuisine, creativity on US show Dec. 28
After successfully delivering its pro-African food festivals in Manchester, United Kingdom, and Maryland, United States, pan-African cuisine promoting organisation, AfroFlavour, is taking the festivals to Texas, USA this December.
Specifically set to hold at Toddy Oaks in Katy, Houston, in the state of Texas, the December 28, 2024 events will put on display an array of African dishes, continuing in AfroFlavour’s pursuit of mainstreaming African cuisine globally to reach $30 billion annually by 2035. The events will also showcase Africa’s rich traditions and diverse cultures, as well as the continent’s creativity with a lot of music, dance, fashion, and performances by guest artistes.
“We are thrilled to bring the AfroFlavour Food Festival to Katy, Texas,” said Lucky Idike, founder of AfroFlavour.
“Our goal is to create a platform that celebrates African culture, promotes cultural exchange, and fosters community engagement,” he added.
The food festivals in Katy, Houston, Texas, are expected to attract a global audience, including non-Africans, Africans resident in Houston and its surroundings, and from across the United States.
AfroFlavour, in a statement said it believes that this is an event that Nigerians and other Africans from the continent visiting the US, and in particular Houston, should mark down on their ‘to-attend list’ for the holiday period.
Specifically, AfroFlavour disclosed that the festival will feature a diverse range of African cuisine, including traditional dishes and modern fusion, a vibrant marketplace showcasing African fashion, art, and crafts; live music and entertainment, including Afrobeat and traditional African performances.
The Texas edition of the African Food Festivals by AfroFlavour, which will be held in the serene setting of Toddy Oaks in Katy, Texas, will also feature the organisation’s effort at promoting West Africa’s most popular cuisine, Jollof Rice, in what it has uniquely styled a “Jollof Love” food contest.
The “Jollof Love” contest will be open to attendees at the festival who will sample and vote for their favourite Jollof rice dish prepared by representatives of the main countries known for the dish, namely Senegal, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.
A major aspect of the African Food Festival by AfroFlavour, which it featured in Manchester, United Kingdom, is its effort to help build African food businesses in Europe and North America through its thought leadership and educational African Food Business Conference, usually held along with the Festivals.
Designed for entrepreneurs and food enthusiasts, AfroFlavour said the Texas event on December 28 will not include the conference as this has been pushed back to hold in March 2025.
In a message to the business community, AfroFlavour said it was proud to partner with local businesses and organisations for the AfroFlavour Food Festivals which promotes unity, cultural exchange, community engagement and Africa’s development.
“We believe that food has the power to bring people together and foster greater understanding and appreciation of different cultures,” said Osa Omoruyi, a director of AfroFlavour in the US operations of the organisation.
“We invite everyone to join us for an unforgettable celebration of African culture and cuisine, Omoruyi assured.
Globally, AfroFlavour said tickets for the festivals billed as an eight-hour event are available online at http://bit.ly/419Gnf5 and https://bit.ly/3V9bjrW. However, in Houston, Texas, tickets can be purchased from a number of African establishments, including Osuma Suya; Abula Hotpot; Ejide; Dabira Jewelry; Lagos Buka, Katy; and Aso Rock.
The event is still open for partnerships and vendors wishing to participate by contacting Lara@afroflavour.org +1 (832) 888-8787; Usenika@afroflavour.org +1 (832) 597-6259, while more information about the AfroFlavour Food Festival is available at www.afroflavour.org
The AfroFlavour African Food Festivals made their debut in Manchester, UK and Maryland, US in May and August, 2024 respectively. Endorsed by Nigeria’s Ministry of Tourism and with the partnership of Sterling Financial Holdings, the highly successful Manchester and Maryland events were attended by the immediate past Minister of Tourism, Lolade Ade-John, senior Manchester City Council officials, including the Lord-Mayor, Ibidapo Martins, group chief marketing executive at Sterling Financial Holdings, among many dignitaries.
