New York African Restaurant Week Festival Brought African Culture to Flatbush - Brooklyn this weekend
The New York African Restaurant Week Festival is a celebration of African and Black diaspora cuisine all in one place, with the goal of teaching others about African culture as well. The event took place on Saturday, Oct. 9 from 12 p.m. to Sunday, Oct. 10 until 7 p.m. in the Hillel Plaza adjacent to Brooklyn College.
African Restaurant Week is organized by founder, Akin Akinsanya. The festival had a large variety of African food vendors, a marketplace, and live entertainment curated by Find Your ID NYC, PYNK NYC, and the Organic Jam Session. The event was promoted by Brooklyn College International Business Association and their advisor, Dr. Ngoc Cindy Pham.
People who attended got to try different African and Black diaspora foods. Delicious African Orchards served Nigerian cuisine, Betty Ethiopian Kitchen from Ethiopia, Isra Gordon from Grenada, and so much more. The festival is a way to support chefs, their small businesses and restaurants, and allow others the opportunity to taste authentic foods that they may have never had the opportunity to do so.
(From left to right) Brooklyn College Alumna Zury, Brooklyn College Officer Hill, Dr. Pham, Brooklyn College student Johnny Desius, and Brooklyn College student Mariia Zakharova. Photo Credit: Hideki Aono Photography
For Dr. Pham, this is an exciting event that happens in her college’s “front yard.” “I am a professor of International Business. I always teach about cultures in all of my lectures,” she said. “I believe culture is a big part of our life and business. If we understand each other’s uniqueness, there would not be any conflict or war.”
Dr. Pham (left) wearing Africa Boutik (@africafaboutik) and Bishop D.B. Jones (right) of Global Justice Ministries. Photo Credit: Hideki Aono Photography
“This event helps introduce African culture which is new to me as well as to many of my students,” Pham said. “So I think why don’t we learn this new culture together! Being humble and keeping an open mind to new things are the keys of living!”
For the IBA Student Club, President Jamie Jones and Vice President Johnny Desius were also excited to have contributed to making the festival happen. They said that even though everyone can come from different backgrounds, there is still room to love and celebrate other cultures as they did this weekend.
Nkumu Katalay performing at the African Restaurant Week Festival. Photo Credit: Hideki Aono Photography
To share Afrobeats and global sounds at the African Restaurant Week Festival, FYID NYC brought its talent to share with attendees. There were performances by KYNGDEX, Nkumu Katalay, HOOX, FIKI, and more. FYID is proud to support a cause that wants to share African culture with the world through music and through food.
“This is our second season supporting the African Restaurant Week festival through music, marketing, and entertainment. Each season we have seen the event grow tremendously. This year, the Organic Jam Session brought an even richer atmosphere of entertainment that encouraged all event participants to join in and celebrate together,” said Imani Jones, founder of FYID NYC and the 501(c)(3), PYNK NYC.
FYID co-producers Imani Jones (left) and Hoox (right) at the African Restaurant Week Festival. Photo Credit: Hideki Aono Photography