On Saturday 14th February 2026, Valentine’s Day took on a deeper meaning for us as organisers of the Afro-Naija Food Festival. What began as a vision to create a cultural food experience became a sold-out, overwhelmingly attended celebration of African culture, community, and enterprise in the beautiful city of Derby.
As organisers — Abiodun Adebola, Dr. Sam Osinowo, and Seyi Adeyere — we are deeply grateful to every single person who showed up and filled the hall with love, colour, rhythm, and joy.
People travelled from Derby, Birmingham, Nottingham, Leicester, Bradford, Walsall, Ireland, and many other locations to be part of this historic maiden edition. Your presence confirmed to us that this platform is needed, valued, and growing.
More Than a Food Festival
For us, this festival has never been just about food. It is about identity, heritage, economic empowerment, and togetherness.
African food tells stories of resilience, survival, migration, innovation, and family. Every pot cooked and every plate served carried history, pride, and purpose.
We were proud to showcase cuisines from Nigeria, Ghana, Congo, Zimbabwe, and Uganda, giving attendees the opportunity to explore the depth and richness of African gastronomy.
One of the most exciting moments of the day was the Jollof War, and we congratulate Uganda for emerging as the winner — a result that sparked friendly rivalry and huge excitement across the hall.
Honoured by Our Leaders
We were privileged to be joined by community and political leaders whose presence meant a great deal to us:
- Catherine Atkinson
- Ndukwe Onuoha
Their support affirms the importance of African-led initiatives and the positive contribution our communities continue to make across the UK.
Our Journey as Organisers
This festival was built on months of planning, sacrifices, late nights, personal resources, and a shared belief that African culture deserves large, visible, and respected platforms.
We came together with one purpose: to create a space where culture meets opportunity.
Seeing families eat together, vendors sell out, children dance, and strangers become friends reminded us why we started.
To Our Vendors – Thank You
You are the backbone of this festival.
Thank you for cooking tirelessly, travelling long distances, promoting the event, creating content, volunteering, and believing in this vision. Many of you worked in cold conditions, yet showed up with warmth, excellence, and professionalism.
We see you. We celebrate you.
Sponsors & Partners
We are sincerely grateful to our sponsors and partners whose generosity and trust made this festival possible:
LEMFI, Pak Foods, Buka Xperience, The Elizabeth Solomon House, Emma Afro Store, TES, Global Talent Media Hub Ltd, SRP LSC Church, Winners Family Worldwide, Baasko Stores, JESI Afro Groceries, Kavod Afro Store, Lightways Finance, Immigration Advice Consultants, Naija UK Connect, Enterevents, The Nsibidi Project, 1st Shawarma, Estodus Secure Lift, Market Mate, and Bayanol Group.
Your promotional gifts, logistics support, and encouragement strengthened this vision.
A Sincere Apology & Our Commitment
Due to the unexpected and overwhelming turnout, some attendees experienced delays, overcrowding, and limited access to seating and services.
We take full responsibility.
As this was our maiden edition, we have reflected deeply on our shortcomings, documented lessons learned, and are already restructuring operations to ensure smoother registration, better crowd control, larger capacity, and improved vendor and attendee experience going forward.
Thank you for your patience, grace, and understanding.
Looking Ahead
The Afro-Naija Food Festival is here to stay.
Our vision is to build one of the UK’s leading African cultural food platforms — one that:
- Celebrates African heritage
- Supports Black-owned businesses
- Creates economic opportunities
- Preserves culture for future generations
The next edition will be bigger, better, and more inclusive, featuring more cultures and experiences. The official date will be announced soon.
With Gratitude ❤️
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for making Valentine’s Day 2026 unforgettable.
Together, we are stronger.
Together, we rise.
Together, we celebrate Africa.
— Abiodun Adebola, Dr. Sam Osinowo & Seyi Adeyere
For and on behalf of the Afro-Naija Food Festival Organising Team
