Mohalenyane Phakela
FOODIES thronged Chef Donald Moletsane’s Thetsane Office Park-based restaurant on Friday where they were treated to some of the finest food the African continent has to offer.
The inaugural African Food Festival featured chefs from around the continent and was held under the theme “Unity in Diversity”.
The multicultural crowd sampled cuisine from various African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Lesotho Ghana, Somalia and Zimbabwe among others.
According to Chef Donald, who is also the founder of the Dona@Balos Chef School and Hospitality, the aim of the festival was to promote appreciation for African cuisine and foster unity in the continent.
“With this adventurous culinary feast, we are hoping to unite Africans since food brings people together,” he said, adding that the festival coincided with the opening of his restaurant whose main specialty would be African cuisine.
“It is through events of this nature that we can foster unity and change Africa for the better. We intend to hold such events on a monthly basis.”
The festival also attracted food lovers from beyond Africa, with Mollie Dugan from the United States of America telling Xpress People she hoped to see similar events in the future.
“It was our first time to sample different African cuisines, and getting the opportunity to taste what other countries have to offer,” Dugan said.
Chefs Dado and Abyan Shable from Somalia also told this paper, on the sidelines of the festival, that the event was their opportunity to showcase cuisine from the east African country.
“We have prepared Baris, Kashin and chicken which are some of the most popular traditional Somali foods,” Dado said.
“This festival has given us the opportunity to show the rest of Africa what we eat back home and also to learn about different African cuisines.”
Chef Maureen Kabey from the DRC commended Chef Donald for the initiative, saying it would engender more unity and understanding among Africans.
“Chef Donald has given us the opportunity to exchange our cultural cuisines so that Africa can unite through food,” she said.