CULINARY JOURNEY THROUGH GLOBAL AFRICA
BY ALFONSO BROOKS
The 2024 edition of “A Taste of AfriKin” was a spectacular celebration that brought together flavors from 15 countries across the African diaspora. Held on September 1st at the Scott Galvin Community Center in North Miami, this event, timed perfectly with Miami Spice, served as a cultural and culinary feast that delighted the senses. More than just a food event, “A Taste of AfriKin” was a celebration of Black heritage, creativity, and culinary excellence. Guests were treated to an exciting array of traditional bites, from Afro-futuristic fusion dishes to nostalgic, time-honored recipes.
The event, organized in partnership with Celebrate West Africa and the City of North Miami, gathered local and regional vendors from South Florida to showcase their culinary skills. The event underscored AfriKin’s commitment to promoting food, culture, community, and creativity. Countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Haiti, Jamaica, and more were represented through their unique cuisines, blending the tastes of Global Africa in one unforgettable night.
One of the event’s highlights was the playful “Jollof Wars,” where culinary contenders from Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and even Haiti’s Djon Djon rice competed for the title of best Jollof. This friendly rivalry embodied the spirit of AfriKin: uniting people through culture, food, and shared experiences.
Featured countries were: The Bahamas 🇧🇸 , Eritrea 🇪🇷 , Ethiopia 🇪🇹 , Ghana 🇬🇭 , Guyana 🇬🇾, Haiti 🇭🇹, Jamaica 🇯🇲, Nigeria 🇳🇬, Senegal 🇸🇳, St. Croix USVI 🇻🇮, Sint Maarten 🇸🇽, Trinidad & Tobago 🇹🇹, the United Kingdom 🇬🇧, the United States 🇺🇸, and an Asian Hibachi Fusion 🇨🇳
“A Taste of AfriKin is a pivotal opportunity to redefine the narrative surrounding African culinary heritage and its profound influence on global cuisine. It is a movement that invites people to engage, participate, and become partners in nurturing a more inclusive and culturally rich community” says Alfonso Brooks, founder of AfriKin.
The post-event celebration echoed these sentiments, with attendees reflecting on a day filled with delicious food, music, and a sense of kinship that transcended borders. Taking its place as a landmark event in North Miami, “A Taste of AfriKin” promises to return bigger and better next year, with plans already underway for Labor Day Sunday, August 31, 2025.
The term “AfriKin” is a fusion of two words—Africa and Kinship—a perfect encapsulation of the nonprofit organization’s mission to foster cultural connections through art, cuisine, and education in human development. AfriKin goes beyond celebrating African culture, it is a movement that bridges divides, highlights shared humanity through cultural programming designed to promote empathy, unity, and transformation.
