By: Yunus S. Saliu
In a good atmospheric condition full of ambience, the Gambia Chefs were declared the winner of the Jollof Rice Competition, popularly called Jollof Rice War, and also pronounced winners of the Meatless Monday Vegan, and Bread Bake competitions, as well as ACA/WAFFEST Chef of the Year individual in a weeklong festival held in Accra, Ghana from 22nd to 27th September 2025.
In this well-competed event, Chefs Haddy Nyang And Momodou Alpha Jallow won a Gold Medal and were crowned the new champions of the Jollof Rice competition. Chef Malang Kebbeh also won a Gold Medal to clinch the Meatless Monday Vegan Award. With a Silver Medal, Chef Emmanuel Mendy becomes the winner of the Bread Making competition, while Chef Momodou Alpha Jallow receives a Bronze Medal in the WAFFEST and ACA Best Chef of the Year category.
The Gambia Chef Association, led by its president, Chef Musa Darboe participated in the event, which was fully supported by the Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), as part of efforts to promote Gambian gastronomy internationally.
West Africa Food Festival (WAFFEST), celebrated annually, brings together celebrated chefs from across West Africa and beyond, as over twenty countries across Africa showcase the region’s rich culinary heritage.
Before its latest success at this year’s festival, the Gambia Chefs are no strangers to success at WAFFEST. In 2019, they won Best Chef and Best Dessert of the Year in Accra, and in 2023, they were crowned champions of the Jollof Rice War Competition in Lagos, Nigeria.
Expressing their heartfelt thanks to the general public as they honoured, members of the Gambia Chefs Association thanked the Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard), Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute (GTHI) under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) for their support in ensuring that ‘Team Gambia’ participated in WAFFEST 2025.
In an extension, they appreciated different individuals, hoteliers, and companies for their leadership roles, advice, and full support to the team.
The Gambia Chef Association’s winning team for this year’s event included Chef Musa Darboe, President of the Gambia Chef Association, Chefs BSL Manneh, Gibba, Malang Kebbeh, Haddy Nyang, Emmanuel Mendy, Momodou Alpha Jallow, and Chef Muftaha Bojang.
In a breakdown, the competition was divided into seven categories. The first category is Country Cuisine, where Sierra Leone emerged in 1st position, Nigeria and Ghana came 2nd and 3rd respectively. In category two, Plated Desert, Nigeria came 1st, Ghana and Sierra Leone came 2nd and 3rd positions, while Nigeria emerged 1st in category three, Tier Cake and Liberia and Sierra Leone emerged 2nd and 3rd respectively.
In category four, the ACA/WAFFEST Chef of The Year individual, Nigeria emerged 1st, Ghana and Gambia grabbed 2nd and 3rd positions. In category five, West African Countries Heritage Jollof, The Gambia came 1st, Ghana and Nigeria followed as 2nd and 3rd position winners. The sixth category, Bread Bake, Ghana took the 1st position, while Gambia and Nigeria emerged in 2nd and 3rd positions. The last category, seven, Meatless Monday, The Gambia came 1st, Ghana 2nd and Eswatini 3rd.
