“I have longed to see a Pan-African Food Festival for more than twenty years. Ever since I was a student at UC Berkeley, I have wanted to experience, at least once in my life, and in one sitting, all of the Pan-African dishes and delights that, prior to my arrival, I had never even heard of, let alone tasted. Growing up in Pasadena, California, I sadly and only rarely ventured beyond places like Panda Express, In ‘N’ Out, and California Pizza Kitchen. Truthfully, it wasn’t until I was a freshman at Cal that I experienced food from places like Ethiopia and Cuba and Morocco for the very first time. As you can imagine, I’ve been hungering and thirsting and dreaming of more ever since…

Shortly after retuning to Los Angeles, I inwardly decided I would produce the festival, but since then, have been very successfully procrastinating, saying, “I’ll do it as soon as I reach this. As soon as I finish and accomplish that.”  Well, if I’m not careful, I’ll be the one finished and this historic feast will never happen…

So the good news is: I am no longer procrastinating! Due to the pandemic and its injected wisdom, I am no longer waiting to do anything. More than ever, I know the time to do everything and e’rything is right now. And so, after more than two decades, I am fully embracing the daunting privilege of manifesting a signature culinary celebration, the likes of which the world has never known. The Pan-African Food Festival aspires to be a global, ongoing cultural buffet in honor of the heritage and history of the worldwide African family – and I can’t wait!  

Realistically, it’s probably going to take a few iterations to fully realize the vision, but my hope is that within a few years, the Pan-African Food Festival will become a can’t miss/must attend event on your annual calendar. In all likelihood, there will be some setbacks, but in the end, I am more than confident that you’ll soon be able to experience what’s been on my heart and soul for far too long. Regardless of the obstacles, I will continue to be empowered and propelled by the simple reality that this bitter journey of a thousand years, and a few short decades, ultimately concludes with one last step: making it happen.”