Jollof rice is a popular, one-pot dish made by simmering rice in a rich, spiced tomato-and-pepper stew base.<\/p>\n
This year, Adebule is bringing the rice battle front and center as part of the first-ever Afro Food Fest<\/a> at Orlando\u2019s Festival Park from noon to 7 p.m. on Sept. 5.<\/p>\n \u201cI just thought it would be a beautiful thing to bring together Afro nationals, Afro-Latinos, Afro-Caribbeans, African-Americans and all those interested by way of food, culture and fashion,\u201d says Adebule.<\/p>\n \u201cJollof Rice has been around for a long time. It\u2019s affiliated with Senegal, a part of the early nation called \u2018Wolof.\u2019 This is where the dish itself originates, but I think Ghana and Nigeria took it up a notch, and other nationals took it up, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n At Three Masks, African expats have been throwing down for the title. Now, there will be a far bigger stage. Five contestants, representing Nigeria (SuyaBite<\/a>, a West African street food place), Ghana, Togo and Liberia \u2014 along with well-known Sanford restaurant owner Shantell Williams doing a combined rep of America and Sierra Leone \u2014 will cook on site, presenting their dishes to judges in a blind tasting to win both bragging rights and a $1,000 prize.<\/p>\n Guests, however, will get the real prize: free samples from each competitor.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to make sure they can taste, as so many people in this part of the world had never tried jollof rice before.\u201d<\/p>\n Best African: 2026 Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards<\/a><\/p>\n Beyond the bites, of course, these and other vendors will be selling dishes that capture flavors from across the continent. Merchandise, too, will reflect many nations, many styles. But it doesn\u2019t begin and end entirely with Africa.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll also have live performances all day,\u201d Adebule says, \u201cincluding a Mexican dance group, a Puerto Rican all-women drum troupe, Latin jazz band, African cultural performances and more, plus the rice Competition. So much packed into one day.\u201d<\/p>\n Abudele\u2019s hope is that more people, African and otherwise, will enjoy deeper exposure to the rich rainbow of its culture.<\/p>\n To the lack of representation of its cuisine, he has theories.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it has a lot to do with our culture,\u201d he says. \u201cSo many people cook at home and don\u2019t go to places to eat a lot, and I think that the would-be restaurants doubt whether it would be worth it to start one.\u201d<\/p>\n This, he says, despite a significant number of Africans living in the metro.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to get them to come out,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s the only way people can track the potential of starting a business, going out to festivals like this and serving their food and seeing how many people enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n Tickets for the Afro Food Fest are $15 for ages 11+. Kids 10 and younger are free. Food and beverages sold separately. Find them, along with vendor information, at t<\/a>hreemasks.com\/aff<\/a>.<\/p>\n Find me on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter or Instagram\u00a0@amydroo<\/a>\u00a0or on the OSFoodie Instagram account\u00a0@orlando.foodie<\/a>. Email:\u00a0amthompson@orlandosentinel.com<\/a>, For more foodie fun, join the\u00a0Let\u2019s Eat, Orlando Facebook group<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t![\"African](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/TOS-L-inaugural-afro-food-fest-orlando-02.jpg\")
African clothing, accessories and more will be available for sale. At press time, the festival was still accepting vendor applications for both food and merchandise. (Courtesy Afro Food Fest)<\/p>\n![\"In](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/TOS-L-inaugural-afro-food-fest-orlando-01.jpg\")
In addition to the Jollof Rice Competition (samples will be available for guests to taste), a multitude of food vendors will serve dishes repping several African nations. Diverse cultural performances, African and others, will run throughout the day, as well. (Courtesy Afro Food Fest)<\/p>\n