{"id":5548,"date":"2026-04-03T08:42:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T08:42:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/?p=5548"},"modified":"2026-04-03T09:10:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T09:10:58","slug":"boma-college-to-host-second-edition-of-ladha-za-afrika-culinary-competition-showcasing-african-cuisine-and-heritage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/2026\/04\/03\/boma-college-to-host-second-edition-of-ladha-za-afrika-culinary-competition-showcasing-african-cuisine-and-heritage\/","title":{"rendered":"Boma College to Host Second Edition of Ladha Za Afrika Culinary Competition Showcasing African Cuisine and Heritage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Boma International Hospitality College<\/span><\/span> (BIHC) is set to host the second edition of the Ladha Za Afrika Culinary Competition<\/strong>, a high-profile Pan-African event celebrating indigenous cuisine, culinary innovation, and the next generation of hospitality talent.<\/p>\n

The three-day event will bring together hospitality students and professional chefs from across Africa<\/strong>, who will showcase modern interpretations of traditional African dishes using locally sourced ingredients and sustainable cooking practices.<\/p>\n

Celebrating African Identity Through Food<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

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Held under the theme \u201cFahari ya Mapishi ya Afrika \u2013 Food Safari Expedition,\u201d<\/em> the competition highlights the richness, diversity, and cultural pride of African cuisine<\/strong>, positioning it within the fast-growing global gastronomy landscape.<\/p>\n

According to Mike Macharia<\/span><\/span>, BIHC Board Chair and CEO of the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cGastronomy is becoming a key driver of tourism and cultural identity. Competitions like Ladha Za Afrika help promote our local cuisine, encourage innovation among young chefs, and strengthen the hospitality industry.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

A Growing Global Opportunity<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

The competition comes at a time when gastronomy is gaining global significance:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • The global gastronomy market is valued at USD 1.1 trillion<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Projected to reach USD 1.8 trillion by 2027<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Culinary tourism could grow to nearly USD 5 trillion by 2035<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    This growth underscores the role of food as a strategic pillar in tourism, culture, and economic development<\/strong>, creating opportunities for African cuisine to gain greater global recognition.<\/p>\n

    Competition Structure and Judging<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

    The event will feature both student and professional categories<\/strong>, with participants competing across:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Starters<\/li>\n
    • Main courses<\/li>\n
    • Desserts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Competitors will be evaluated on:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Creativity and originality<\/li>\n
      • Modern interpretation of traditional dishes<\/li>\n
      • Technical cooking skills<\/li>\n
      • Presentation and taste<\/li>\n
      • Sustainability and waste reduction<\/li>\n
      • Professionalism and food safety<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        The judging panel will be led by Chef Shaun Michael Smith<\/span><\/span> as Chief Judge, supported by a team of culinary experts from across the continent.<\/p>\n

        Winners will receive Diamond, Gold, and Silver awards<\/strong>, alongside special recognitions.<\/p>\n

        Nurturing Africa\u2019s Next Culinary Stars<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

        Targeting participants aged 17\u201325<\/strong>, the competition aims to:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Provide mentorship and networking opportunities<\/li>\n
        • Offer hands-on masterclasses by industry experts<\/li>\n
        • Build practical skills in modern African cuisine and restaurant operations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          The initiative reinforces BIHC\u2019s role in bridging education and industry<\/strong>, while nurturing talent that can compete on the global stage.<\/p>\n

          Event Details<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

          The Ladha Za Afrika Culinary Competition<\/strong> will take place from 13th to 15th April 2026<\/strong> at BIHC in Nairobi, bringing together institutions, hotels, sponsors, and culinary professionals in a celebration of African heritage, innovation, and excellence in gastronomy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

          As African cuisine continues to gain global attention, the event positions Nairobi as a key hub for culinary excellence and cultural storytelling through food<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Boma International Hospitality College (BIHC) is set to host the second edition of the Ladha Za Afrika Culinary Competition, a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5558,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,153,15],"tags":[550],"class_list":["post-5548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-news","category-trends","tag-boma-hotel"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Boma.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5548","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5548"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5548\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5559,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5548\/revisions\/5559"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5548"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsroomhub.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}