7 African Chefs Making Waves on Instagram

A lot of people say food is purely for sustaining the body. We eat for nourishment and energy so that we can keep going throughout the day. Yet, if you’re a food lover, you’ll understand that food is not just for energy, it’s to be cooked with love and then ingested with total enjoyment.

Across the continent from Nigeria to South Africa, down to Zambia, professional chefs are plating Africa’s traditional dishes on the international table. These chefs have carved a niche for themselves in the African food industry. From updating classic African recipes to creating amazing contemporary dishes that hit the spot, these chefs will make you want to spend all your time in your kitchen.

Thelma Egbe @thelmzkitchen

When it comes to African cuisine, Thelma Egbe is a culinary expert. The kitchen expert was born and raised in Nigeria but moved to the UK, where she is now based. She developed her skills at a very young age when she spent time helping her mum and aunt in the kitchen.

Though this robbed her off playtime with her friends, Thelma created her own world of fun by pretending to cook live on T.V. Cooking on TV is a dream she still hopes to make a reality. Her dad has also greatly influenced her cooking, as he taught her many of the recipes she now features in her namesake blog, Thelmz Kitchen.

In 2015, Thelma decided to take her inspiration up a notch and started Thelmzkitchen , this decision has turned to be one of best things she has done. She writes recipes, she modifies exciting recipes as well as caters for events once in a while.

What you will find on her Instagram page and her blog are innovative and exciting recipes such as Stuffed Plantain Boats as well as how to make Nigerian classics like Egusi Soup and Moi Moi. If you want to learn how to cook or up your kitchen game, check out her recipes. Also check out her recipe on how to make gourmet Indomie – instant noodles has never looked more delicious!

Lohi Busari @Lohicreates

Business woman, food blogger head chef of two restaurants in Toronto, Canada, Lohi Busari is a woman that enjoys cooking and knows how to do it well. She is all about having fun with cooking, but ensuring that the meal is as healthy and nutritious as possible, not the easy feat with carb-filled African cooking.

Lori shares delicious recipes such as how to make Banga Rice and Chicken Suya. She also offers tips and advice on how we can make life as simple and glamorous as possible. You will learn nifty ways to keep your pantry neat, tidy and organized as well as great ideas on how to bring a dinner set to life.

Temidayo Abdulahhi @TemiTyskitchen

Temidayo was in his final year of university studying Accounting & Finance and the pressure was getting to him, but what kept him going was creating recipes and cooking up a storm in the kitchen. On realizing that cooking was a God-given talent he could develop, he created TemiTy’s Kitchen.

Temidayo offers a personal chef service delivering Afro-Caribbean cuisines and healthy meal options including vegans and vegetarian diet. What’s more, Temidayo will deliver to any location of your choice around London, U.K making his service perfect for those with busy schedules. Visit his Instagram page, where you can see Temidayo in action, cooking succulent Jerk Chicken and the popular African food – the mighty Jollof Rice.

The African Chef @theafricanchef

Malcolm Riley, born and raised in Zambia and of mixed heritage is a self-taught Chef, who began his love of cooking from a very young age. His passion for cooking comes from his Mother’s great love for cooking.

Malcolm draws his inspiration heavily from his love for South African food and exploring all the wonderful cuisines from across the African continent.

Chef Malcolm’s style of fusion cooking is best described as Anglo and Afro-Indian. The award-winning, authentic, African Chef’s condiments and sauces are all about big flavors, spicing, chillis and100% natural ingredients that provide an easy addition to spice up any meal.

Ozoz Sokoh @kitchenbutterfly

Nigerian-based chef and food blogger, Ozoz, is not just passionate about creating recipes and cooking, she uses food as a way to explore the social, cultural and economic practices of how food is consumed throughout the world.

Ozoz is a geologist and a chef who learned to cook at home. Her love for cooking began when she went to a festival in Edinburgh with her family at 9 years old. Not a food lover at the time, she found herself so hungry on that day and she gorged on every food available. It was at this point she fell in love with food and cooking and her blog is an ode to all the wondrous things she has come to learn.

From this, Ozoz created her ‘New Nigerian Kitchen’ philosophy where she celebrates the Nigerian cuisine from inception to execution. Ozoz knows her traditional dishes and she’s an expert on Jollof rice, African’s favorite rice meal.

Gbubemi Fregene @chef_fregz

Chef Fregz is arguably the number one and most popular chef in West Africa. His Instagram page always serves African dishes cooked and plated in a French manner. Apart from being a chef, Fregene is also a food enthusiast and a freelance writer for a couple of popular online platforms.

Fregene was born in Ogun state but hails from Delta State and he received his culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu.

His brand, Chef Fregz started off as DVARD which was a grilling BBQ and finger only brand. He slowly ventured into doing food for people but kept it low to 20 people maximum. It progressed to being able to cater for larger crowds, but not more than 50 people. Chef fregz then started to specialize in bespoke private dinners, doing tailor-made menus to the specifications and desires of clients. Chef Fregz also sold experiences to our clients, not just food.

The brand grew as he started doing work for major brands like Knorr, Kenwood and most recently Samsung. As of now Chef Fregz has grown to the point where it has its space and has product lines like its canapés, its private dinners, catering, and consultation work.

Mo – The Gentle Chef @Moz50Flavours

When he became tired of eating the regular rice and stew at home and relying on home-cooked meals, Chef Mo started experimenting with seasoning and eventually taught himself how to cook different meals. Admitting he has made a few mistakes in the kitchen before eventually perfecting his craft, Chef Mo has a lot to offer.

Mo’s Instagram page and Twitter feed is full of Mo making steaming Cajun Chicken and BBQ Lamb chops with plantain. You would wish that his dishes were right in front of you. This hunky Chef is open to requests and has gained popularity through his offers and convenient delivery service around London, U.K.

Africa is a big continent with different cultural regions. From the western Africa to Eastern Africa, Africans love cooking and each region has its own cooking style, and Chefs from these regions have helped bring the different tasty dishes to limelight by showcasing them on social media throughout the world.

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