NEW ORLEANS (press release) – In homage to Juneteenth, Chef Serigne Mbaye and partner Effie Richardson are excited to announce the 3rd annual Dakar NOLA presents Afro Freedom Afro Feast. The culinary celebration gathers some of New Orleans’ finest chefs, cooking over open flame reminiscent of African American ancestors. Juneteenth commemorates the day when the last African American slaves were freed in 1865.
Afro Freedom Afro Feast will occur at Grow Dat Youth Farm in New Orleans City Park for a second year on Sunday, June 16, from 3 p.m. – 8 p.m.
“We will converge at the Grow Dat Youth Farm to focus on sustainability, the land’s beauty, and its bountiful harvest while honoring our ancestors who cultivated this very soil,” said Chef Mbaye. “We invite everyone to join us in commemorating history, celebrating culinary artistry, and inspiring our community while supporting the growth of our local youth.” Produced this year by Jovanca Maitland of JANE Events Consulting, the event will feature a lineup of award-winning chefs who will curate a delectable experience, create a communal feast, and plant a legacy of unity within the community. Participating chefs to date include Chef Nina Compton of Compère Lapin and BABs, Chef Charly Pierre of the Haitian restaurant Fritai in Treme, Chef Martha Wiggins of Café Reconcile, Chef Prince Lobo of the Ethiopian restaurant Addis NOLA, Pastry Chef Kaitlin Guerin of Lagniappe Bakehouse, Chef Shonda Cross, Chef and owner of Chef Shonda’s Fine Dining To-Go, and Chef Serigne Mbaye and the team at Dakar NOLA. The event serves as a platform to showcase the power of food to connect us all, recognizing the importance of cultural heritage and storytelling through food. Each dish served at Afro Freedom Afro Feast reflects history, tradition, and community and serves as a reminder of resilience and solidarity.
“Grow Dat Youth Farm is pleased to be the host site of Afro Freedom Afro Feast in collaboration with Dakar NOLA,” said Julie Gable, co-executive director, and Lily Mejia, development manager. “As a youth-serving organization committed to solidarity and the love of land, we take pride in the land we steward being used as a space for folks across the African Diaspora to commune, to celebrate, and to honor our ancestors on Juneteenth – and that our young leaders can bear witness to and participate in this joy!”
To date, the 2024 Afro Freedom Afro Feast event sponsors include our Official Hotel Sponsor Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans, Lodge Cast Iron, and Uncle Nearest. The 2024 National Media Partner is Garden & Gun, a lifestyle brand that celebrates the richness of the South.Tickets for the event will be on sale to the public at the end of April.
For more information head to afrofreedomafrofeast.com.