By Yunus S Saliu
The 2026 West Africa Food Festival (WAFFEST) ended on a high note in The Gambia, with the host country winning the Heritage Jollof Rice and Chef of the Year titles, among other awards.
The Gambia also secured first positions in the Bread Bakery and Barbecue (BBQ) categories, reaffirming its culinary strength at the week-long festival, which ran from October 15 to 21, 2026.
The eighth edition of the festival was hosted by The Gambia through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, in collaboration with the Gambia Chefs Association and development partners. It brought together chefs, culinary professionals and participants from across Africa to celebrate West African cuisine, cultural heritage and culinary innovation.
Team Gambia successfully defended its 2025 Heritage Jollof Rice title, emerging ahead of Liberia, which finished second, and Burkina Faso, which placed third.
In the Chef of the Year category, The Gambia claimed first place, followed by Sierra Leone in second position and Nigeria in third.
The host country also took first place in the Bread Bakery category, while Nigeria finished second and Ghana third. In the BBQ category, The Gambia again emerged victorious, with Nigeria taking second place and Liberia finishing third.
In the Students Challenge category, Burkina Faso secured first place, while the YMCA and the Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute (GTHI), both representing The Gambia, finished second and third, respectively.
Sierra Leone won the Three-Tier Cake category, followed by Ghana in second place and Liberia in third.
The results highlighted the competitive strength of participating countries and the growing potential of West African culinary traditions as a platform for tourism, skills development and regional cooperation.
Speaking at the gala dinner marking the successful conclusion of WAFFEST 2026, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Abdoulie Jobe commended the organisers, participants, sponsors, volunteers and other stakeholders for contributing to the festival’s success.
He said the event had provided an opportunity for participants to enjoy local and regional cuisines, exchange ideas, build friendships and celebrate their shared cultural heritage.
The minister emphasised that food was more than nourishment, describing it as an expression of identity and heritage and a powerful force for bringing people together.
He congratulated the award winners and participants, noting that everyone had benefited from the experience in one way or another.
On behalf of President Adama Barrow, the government and people of The Gambia, and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Minister Jobe expressed gratitude to the African Chefs Alliance, the Gambia Chefs Association and the National Steering Committee, led by Ms Ellen Johnson, for their work in delivering the festival.
He also thanked the sponsors, volunteers, media practitioners and other contributors whose support helped make the event possible.
The minister said WAFFEST offered an important opportunity to strengthen tourism, create employment and showcase the region’s culinary heritage to international audiences.
He noted that Destination Gambia offered more than beaches, pointing to traditional dishes, locally produced ingredients and the country’s hospitality as attractions capable of enhancing the visitor experience.
“A visitor may come to The Gambia for a beautiful sunset, but a memorable meal may be what brings them back,” he said.
Honourable Jobe encouraged hotels and restaurants to promote Gambian cuisine, source more ingredients locally and support farmers, fisherfolk and culinary professionals.
He also urged the Gambia Chefs Association to sustain the momentum through training, mentorship, innovation and regional collaboration, assuring the association of the government’s readiness to support such efforts.
The minister called for WAFFEST to be developed beyond an annual event into a platform for investment, youth empowerment and the promotion of West African cuisine on the global stage.
He said the success of the 2026 edition should translate into lasting partnerships, economic opportunities and stronger regional cooperation.
About WAFFEST
WAFFEST was founded by Chef Isaac Sackey through the Chefs Association of Ghana to bring together chefs, food enthusiasts and cultural ambassadors from across the region and beyond.
Since its inception, the festival has grown into a regional culinary event hosted in different countries. Its previous editions were held in Ghana in 2018 and 2019, Liberia in 2021, Ghana in 2022, Nigeria in 2023, Togo in 2024 and Ghana in 2025, before The Gambia hosted the eighth edition in 2026.
Beyond culinary competition, WAFFEST promotes the creative blending of traditional and contemporary cooking practices, supports tourism and hospitality development, and provides a platform for documenting and promoting indigenous recipes and cooking methods.
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