Gambia wins heritage jollof and chef of the year at WAFFEST
The West Africa Food Festival concluded with Gambia securing top culinary awards, showcasing regional food traditions.
The 2026 West Africa Food Festival (WAFFEST) concluded in The Gambia with the host nation winning the Heritage Jollof Rice and Chef of the Year titles. The Gambia also secured first place in the Bread Bakery and Barbecue (BBQ) categories during the week-long event held from October 15 to 21. This eighth edition brought together chefs from across Africa to celebrate West African cuisine.
Team Gambia successfully defended its 2025 Heritage Jollof Rice title, finishing ahead of Liberia and Burkina Faso. In the Chef of the Year competition, The Gambia placed first, followed by Sierra Leone and Nigeria. The host country also took first in Bread Bakery and BBQ, with Nigeria and Liberia securing second places in those categories respectively.
Tourism Minister Abdoulie Jobe commended the organisers and participants, stating the festival strengthened tourism and showcased the region's culinary heritage internationally. He encouraged hotels and restaurants to promote Gambian cuisine and source ingredients locally. The minister assured government support for the Gambia Chefs Association to sustain momentum through training and innovation.
Why it mattersThe festival celebrated West African cuisine and heritage, impacting tourism and skills development in The Gambia.