More Than Just a Food Fest: How Derby Turned Up for African and Caribbean Culture

The second annual Afro-Naija & Caribbean Food Festival, held at Markeaton Park in Derby on Sunday, August 2, drew thousands of people for a day filled with food, music, business and culture. However, for Dr Sam Osinowo, one of the organisers, the day was far more than just a chance to grab a bite to eat.

“This festival was not just about eating, it was about identity, heritage, and shared stories,” he said.

Families flocked to the event, drawn by the familiar dishes they cherished. Food enthusiasts eagerly sought out new culinary experiences, while businesses attended to meet their customers. Throughout the day, performers kept the crowd engaged and entertained.

Osinowo sees food as a powerful link to family history and the traditions people carry with them when they move from one country to another.

“African and Caribbean food tells the story of resilience, migration, innovation, and generational wisdom,” he said. “Every spice blend, slow-cooked sauce, and traditional recipe represented culture passed down through families and preserved through memory.”

And that really set the tone for the day.

The festival, initially a food-centric community event, has rapidly expanded into a much larger gathering, attracting visitors from all over the UK.

From morning until late, the park buzzed with excitement as families, food enthusiasts, entrepreneurs and community members mingled among the stalls and entertainment. MC Chulo and MC Boslynne kept everyone energised, while DJ Sholley provided a lively soundtrack throughout the day, featuring African and Caribbean music.

It felt less like a conventional food market and more like a grand outdoor celebration. The food, of course, was the main event. Stalls offered a wide variety of African and Caribbean dishes, with cooks adding their own family twists to familiar recipes.

The response was far greater than many vendors had anticipated. By the end of the day, most of the food and drink stalls had sold out completely.

For Osinowo and fellow organisers Abiodun Adebola and Seyi Adeyera, the turnout showed that people want more than somewhere to eat. They want places where they can reconnect with their roots and share those traditions with others.

The Jollof Wars

Of course, discussing African cuisine inevitably sparks a debate. The festival’s Jollof War competition posed the ultimate question: who truly creates the best jollof rice? Representatives from various countries engaged in playful banter and trash-talking, vying for bragging rights.

Nigeria emerged victorious, securing the crown, while Uganda took second place, Ghana third and Ethiopia fourth.

This was one of the most amusing moments of the day, yet it also highlighted the remarkable diversity of African cuisine.

“This festival was not just about eating, it was about identity, heritage, and shared stories.”

Instead of treating African cuisine as a single, generic category, the competition allowed different countries to showcase their unique flavours and culinary traditions.

The festival also included raffle draws, offering prizes from local businesses such as Buka Xp, Baasko Foods, Amen African Store, Pak Foods and Joakraft Photography.

For many families, an event like this holds special significance as it allows them to see their culture being openly celebrated. It also presents an opportunity to introduce their traditions to neighbours and friends who may never have had the chance to experience them firsthand.

Passing down these traditions to children was a central theme in Osinowo’s message.

When he talks about food keeping history alive, he is talking about people who have moved across the world but continued to cook the food they grew up with and pass those traditions on to their children.

In Derby, those recipes weren’t just kept at home; they were celebrated publicly, allowing thousands of people to savour them. Food also served as a catalyst for strangers to start conversations.

A plate of food could spark a conversation about someone’s hometown, a cherished family recipe, childhood memories or the country they left behind. This aspect of the event made it feel like more than just a food festival.

Supporting Black-owned Businesses

The festival provided Black-owned businesses and community organisations with an opportunity to connect with a large audience.

Local leaders and professionals attended, including representatives from Community Action Derby, Tech Derby founders Akindayo Akindolani and Pastor Joseph Origbo, and Dr Ogechi Eze, a local GP and founder of Afro Medic Mentors. Their presence demonstrated the level of support the festival has garnered from professionals, entrepreneurs and community organisations in the area.

Financial app LemFi served as the primary sponsor, significantly expanding the second edition of the event compared with the first. For vendors, this wasn’t just about brand visibility; they had the chance to connect with new customers and sell directly to people actively seeking African and Caribbean food and products.

As the festival drew to a close, the organisers expressed their gratitude to the vendors who had travelled great distances and endured the scorching summer heat to serve the crowds.

But for Osinowo, the biggest question is what happens next. Food is one of the easiest ways to pass culture down to children. A child may not remember every speech at a cultural event, but they are likely to remember the taste of a dish that reminds them of home, their parents or grandparents.

That is why the festival matters beyond one Sunday afternoon in the park.

It is about keeping recipes alive, bringing people together and allowing younger generations to experience their heritage rather than simply hearing stories about it.

As Osinowo aptly stated, food transcends mere sustenance; it embodies the essence of one’s origins, the heritage carried forward and the legacy passed on. This year’s festival exemplified this profound connection. For a single afternoon, Markeaton Park became a vibrant tapestry of cultures spanning thousands of miles, united by the universal language of food, music, family and shared experiences. If the organisers’ vision materialises, next year’s festival promises to be even more magnificent.

From the night