Changing the Narrative: Reflections from the UNWTO Tourism Forum on African Gastronomy

The recently concluded UNWTO Tourism Forum on African Gastronomy was not just a celebration of Africa’s rich culinary heritage, it was also a wake-up call. The conversations and insights shared revealed just how much work remains to be done if we are to position African gastronomy as a force for sustainable tourism, economic empowerment, and cultural pride.

Persistent Skills Gaps Across Africa

One of the key takeaways was the wide skills gap in the sector. Many culinary professionals across the continent still lack:

• Knowledge of local and indigenous ingredients
• Nutritional awareness, particularly as wellness tourism gains momentum
• Storytelling abilities that can transform a dish into an experience sharing the journey of an ingredient, a recipe, or a tradition
• Emotional intelligence and soft skills, which are essential in enhancing guest experience and team collaboration
• Interactive, value-driven experiences that go beyond just serving food
• These gaps limit our ability to deliver the kind of memorable,authentic culinary experiences that global travelers now seek.

A Closer Look at Tanzania
For Tanzania, the challenges are even more specific and deeply rooted. There is still:

A poor perception of local cuisine and ingredients

Limited awareness and appreciation of culinary careers, especially being a chef

Too few training institutions to develop the next generation of talent

A significant mismatch between graduates and market needs, particularly

in soft skills and workplace readiness

A worrying level of food waste, even as food insecurity remains a pressing issue and perhaps most critically, our restaurants and hotels are not telling our stories. We often overlook the beauty, diversity, and nutritional richness of Tanzanian food in favor of foreign cuisines, missing a key opportunity to connect with both local and international guests on a deeper level.

So, What Now?

The question posed to all of us at the forum was simple yet powerful:

What will you do to change the narrative?

Change begins at every level. For me, it starts at home. I plan to use more local and indigenous ingredients in my daily cooking. It’s a small step, but one that contributes to a larger movement one that values our roots, reclaims our identity, and redefines how Tanzanian cuisine is perceived.

It’s time to elevate the food on our plates to tell the story of who we are.

Let’s keep the conversation going. What will _you_ do to change the narrative?