Valentine’s Day, Saturday 14th February 2026, will go down in memory as one of Derby’s most vibrant celebrations of African culture, community, and cuisine, as the Afro-Naija Food Festival returned with its maiden edition — and delivered beyond expectations.
What was planned as a cultural food experience quickly transformed into a sold-out, over-subscribed, high-energy gathering, attracting the Black community, families, food lovers, entrepreneurs, and culture enthusiasts from across the UK and beyond.
Attendees travelled from Derby, Birmingham, Nottingham, Leicester, Bradford, Walsall, Ireland, and other locations, demonstrating the growing relevance and reach of the festival as a unifying cultural platform.
From the moment doors opened, the atmosphere was electric — filled with laughter, music, aromas of sizzling delicacies, colourful traditional attire, and an unmistakable sense of togetherness.
A Celebration Beyond Food
This festival was not just about eating — it was about identity, heritage, and shared stories.
African food tells the story of resilience, migration, innovation, and generational wisdom. Every spice blend, slow-cooked sauce, and traditional recipe represented culture passed down through families and preserved through memory.
Cuisines from Nigeria, Ghana, Congo, Zimbabwe, and Uganda were proudly showcased, creating a melting pot of flavours that delighted both first-time tasters and long-time lovers of African food.
One of the most anticipated highlights of the day was the Jollof War, where countries went head-to-head for bragging rights. The crowd erupted as Uganda emerged winner, adding excitement and friendly rivalry to the celebration.
Distinguished Guests & Community Leaders
The festival was honoured by the presence of:
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Catherine Atkinson
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Ndukwe Onuoha
Their attendance reinforced the importance of African-led community initiatives and the growing visibility of diaspora-driven cultural platforms within UK cities.
Behind the Scenes: A Vision Fueled by Passion
In her heartfelt address, the Founder shared how her passion for cooking began early in life, growing up as the only girl among brothers and spending countless hours in the kitchen learning, experimenting, and sometimes making mistakes.
What once felt like duty became a calling — and eventually evolved into a platform that now celebrates African excellence through food, enterprise, and community.
Special recognition was given to other co-founders:
Dr. Sam Osinowo and Seyi Adeyere, who worked tirelessly alongside the Founder for several months, planning, sacrificing, and pushing through challenges to ensure the festival became a reality.
To Our Vendors: The Heart of the Festival
The festival would not exist without the hardworking vendors who:
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Cooked tirelessly
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Travelled long distances
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Promoted the event
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Created content and skits
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Volunteered in cold conditions
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Showed up with excellence and consistency
Your commitment turned a vision into a living experience.
Sponsors & Partners
The organising committee expressed deep gratitude to sponsors and partners whose generosity and belief made the 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.
Their promotional gifts, logistics support, and timely assistance were instrumental to the success of the event.
This event is officially covered by Fab Studios
A Word of Apology & Appreciation
Due to the overwhelming turnout and sold-out capacity, some attendees experienced delays and limited access to seating and services.
The organising committee sincerely apologises to anyone who did not receive full service and thanks everyone for their patience, understanding, and grace.
This maiden edition provided valuable lessons, and organisers have confirmed they have reflected on all shortcomings with plans already underway to significantly improve capacity, logistics, and attendee experience for future editions.
Looking Ahead
The Afro-Naija Food Festival is more than an event — it is a movement to:
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Celebrate African culture
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Support Black-owned businesses
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Build economic opportunities
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Preserve heritage for future generations
Plans are already in motion for a bigger, more inclusive 2027 edition featuring even more cultures, experiences, and collaborations. The official date will be announced soon.
Thank You, Derby ❤️
To every attendee, vendor, sponsor, volunteer, creative, and supporter — thank you for making Valentine’s Day 2026 unforgettable.
Together, we are stronger.
Together, we thrive.
Together, we celebrate Africa.
