African Alkebulan to debut at Expo 2020 Dubai

African dining hall Alkebulan to make its debut at Dubai Expo 2020 with continent’s flavors and tradition. It will transport tourists on a voyage through the continent’s cultural diversity and gastronomic landscapes, bringing individuals, communities, and nations together.

Alkebulan (pronounced al-kee-boulan) is a culinary concept created by award-winning chef Alexander Smalls, a classically trained opera singer-turned-restauranteur. Alkebulan is Africa’s oldest name, meaning “Mother of Mankind” or “Garden of Eden.” The dining hall demonstrates contemporary African food and music from throughout the continent, designed as a celebration of African cuisine. Each counter and concept has its distinct design that pays homage to the region’s, cuisine’s, and chef’s personality.

Chef Alexander Smalls, Curator, Alkebulan, said: “African food is as diverse as the continent’s countries and communities, yet it is still under-represented in the world. Bringing a piece of Africa to Expo 2020 is not only a dream come true but also an opportunity to showcase the rich diversity that makes African cuisine unique from region to region. Food and music are both instrumental to our culture, and Alkebulan is a place that marries the two, welcoming visitors from around the world to be immersed in our flavours and traditions.”

Marjan Faraidooni, Chief Experience Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: Food brings people and communities together – at a time when we need it most. In the spirit of Expo 2020’s theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, we have invited countries worldwide to showcase their national dishes, giving visitors the chance to taste traditional and specialized food from around the globe in a safe environment. We are very excited to welcome the African continent to Expo, and for our visitors to sample new flavors and concepts – the likes of which have yet to be seen in the UAE.”

Alkebulan will provide customers with a delectable adventure of flavors and experiences, allowing them to sample gourmet dishes, street snacks, and fusion cuisine all in one location. The food hall has ten separate counters, each with a different menu:

• Afro Street Eatery by Coco, with dishes like Ugandan-style small chapatti wraps loaded with meat or vegetable curry, gives the rich fragrant flavours of West African street food.
•  Bar Cane Powered by Coco, satisfies sweet appetites with what may be the best doughnuts in the world, washed down with dessert cocktails
• Chicken Coop by Alexander Smalls, honours the ordinary chicken in both rotisserie and fried forms. The triple-fried Tunisian baharat chicken is a must-try, served atop a thick, custardy Belgian waffle
• Choma BBQ Another Coco innovation, this one is inspired by the skill of roasting, grilling, and smoking meats, with a menu that includes the must-try Zanzibari spicy rice and lamb with kachumbari salad as well as Kenyan style beef skewers served with roasted green bananas
• Jiko Cocktails Tribe Hotel Kenya’s Jiko Cocktails combines African flavours and spirits in shaken, blended, muddled, and strained cocktails prepared by renowned bartender Kelvin Thaiya
• Penja, by award-winning pop-up chefs Pierre Siewe, Glory Kabe, and Moos Gbane, promises innovative African cuisine and a world-class culinary experience from Cameroon and Benin, with dishes like farm cockerel breaded with mustard and tapioca, tandoori vegetal mayonnaise fermented cassava semolina, and tandoori vegetal mayonnaise fermented cassava semolina
• Seven Seafood Chef Kiran Jethwa’s Seven Seafood offers a modern perspective on East African seafood, incorporating regional ingredients, flavors, and combinations to elevate traditional Kenyan cuisine into modern world
• Sweet Ophelia’s, also by Smalls, is an Afro-Asian wok bar that serves tasty rice, noodle, and dumpling dishes, including West African favorite Cameroonian pepper fish
• The Tasty Goat, from Jethwa, showcases nose-to-tail dining of this fantastic and versatile meat, combined with the tastes, textures, and flavours of modern East African cuisine
• Shoebox Bakery, by Mame Sow, offers the ultimate pan-African bakery experience spanning both sweet and savory items, including Ethiopian injera flat bread

Countries worldwide will showcase their native foods at Expo 2020, allowing visitors to sample traditional and specialized cuisines from over 200 different locations.

Expo 2020, one of the first global mega-events since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, invites visitors from all over the world to participate in the creation of a new world during a six-month celebration of human creativity, innovation, progress, and culture, which will take place from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022.