This fall marks the debut of a groundbreaking series of events celebrating the impact of the African diaspora foodways on modern American cuisine.

The Flavors of Africa & the Diaspora in Wisconsin: Best Chef Edition will include a series of eight high-impact, immersive events culminating with a high-end celebratory gala, fundraiser and chefs competition meant to engage the community in a public display of positivity, diversity, inclusion and unity.

Behind the game-changing events is Cameroon native Yollande Tchouapi, an accomplished senior corporate executive and former owner of Irie Zulu restaurant and Afro Fusion Cuisine who has dedicated herself to creating meaningful dialogs, building bridges and creating change through food. 

In a 2012 interview about the launch of Afro Fusion Cuisine, Tchouapi spoke about giving voice to African culture by sharing its diverse cuisines. 

"It is sharing the story of an untapped culture – a value system based on the sense of family, community and the love of nature," she says. "It's about using the highest level of integrity to recreate flavors, fashion and trends that give these communities in Africa a voice – a point of view – on the global scale."

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Now, 12 years later, Tchouapi is working to bring chefs and the community together to celebrate and demystify the authentic cuisines of Africa, while encouraging both a broader exploration of the culture and a willingness to unify and work together to combat the narratives of racial disparity, segregation and a lack of diversity and inclusion that have impacted Wisconsin.

Flavors of Africa & the Diaspora in Wisconsin is the first event of its kind and marks the debut of Tchouapi’s larger-scale initiative, Ubuntu MKE, the first Wisconsin-based cross-cultural incubator lab designed to elevate and create access to African food culture in Milwaukee, throughout Wisconsin and across the nation.

Immersive events

The ticketed events, which will take place Sept. 15 through Nov. 9, will feature immersive roundtables, discussions and communal meals aimed at educating, connecting and uniting diverse communities.

Session topics include:

1. History of Southern Farmers Foodways & Impact on the American Cuisine
2. Positive Dialogue on Diversity, Inclusion, LGBTQ, Races Relations, Black History
3. Flavors of Uganda Traditional Cuisine
4. Building Community: Fruition Milwaukee & Flavors of Cameroon
5. Flavors of Ghana Traditional Cuisine
6. Farm to Table Dinner: Beulah Farm
7. Eradicating Inner City Food Deserts: Storycase of Sherman Park Grocery Store/Black Holocaust Museum
8. Chefs Roundtable featuring James Beard honorees, Michael Twitty & Guest Chefs

Additional details and tickets for all sessions are available online. Cost is $90 per person. All are open to the public.

The series will also serve as an intensive residency for local chefs, restaurateurs, bartenders and food artisans who will use their cumulative knowledge to inform their participation in the Flavors of Africa capstone gala.

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Gala & fundraiser

Flavors of Africa & the Diaspora: Top Chefs Wisconsin, will take place on Nov. 10 from 3 to 7 p.m. (with VIP social hour beginning at 2 p.m.) at the Milwaukee Athletic Club, 758 N. Broadway in Downtown Milwaukee.

The black tie event will offer guests a high-end experience that highlights and celebrates the diverse elements of African culture and cuisine through tastings, performances and a one-of-a-kind chefs competition. Guests will experience traditional African fare alongside modern, creative dishes that capture the flavors of Africa in new and innovative ways.

Proceeds from the gala will benefit Pride United, Alice’s Garden, Hunger Task Force and the Milwaukee African Women’s Association. 

“As a scholarship recipient myself, giving back has an impact,” says Tchouapi “Achieving the vision of sharing the Africa that I know and telling the story of our people while raising money to support local organizations and provide scholarships for refugees is my highest honor.”

Following the VIP social hour, the event will kick off at 3 p.m. with remarks from local dignitaries including Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, County Executive David Crowley and Governor Tony Evers followed by a keynote address from James Beard Award-winning author and historian Michael Twitty, who will discuss the impact of African diaspora foodways on modern American cuisine.

Beginning at 4 p.m., restaurants will present a Culinary Safari tasting experience that showcases the similarities and contrasts between traditional tribal African cuisine and modern takes on African cuisine created by an unprecedented collection of talented local chefs.

Over the course of the evening, guests will also be invited to immerse themselves in a variety of forms of entertainment, including the Queen of Africa Fashion Walk, Cameroonian and Nigerian masquerades and music by DJ Leo Neo.

“This experience allows African people to be open and share the beauty of our culture,” says Tchouapi. “But it also welcomes chefs and attendees to see that they have the freedom to cook and connect with African cuisine on a personal level.”

Best Chef Competition

Chefs will also have a chance to put their skills and knowledge to the test and compete for five different awards: Best Rising Star Chef, Best Technically Executed Dish (non-African), Peoples’ & Judges’ Choice (all participants), Best Beacon of Diversity Restaurant and Best Community Building Humanitarian Chef (all participating chefs).

Competitors for Best Rising Star Chef will include: Kristin Schwab of Uncle Wolfie’s Dinner Diner; Zach Panoske of Bavette La Boucherie and Sinta;  Abhishek Patil of Saffon; John Levine of Coco's Seafood & Steakhouse; and Elijah Loebbaka of Nite Wolf. Two additional chefs are not yet confirmed.

Beginning at 6 pm., awards for Best Rising Star Chef and Best Technically Executed Dish will be presented by nationally renowned personalities including New York City Chef Pierre Thiam, whose career has been dedicated to showcasing West African fare; James Beard Award-winning author, Micheal Twitty; and Two-time James Beard Award-winning Seattle Chef Eduardo Jordan.

The Peoples’ & Judges’ Choice Award and Best Beacon of Diversity Restaurant will be chosen by Judge Derek Mosley of Marquette Univesity Law School; Shary Tran, Generac Director of Diversity and Inclusion and co-founder of ElevAsian, Pride United Co-Chair Micah Oge, Rick Rodriguez of U.S. Bank and 88.9 Radio Milwaukee Program Director and Hyfin Executive Director Tarik Moody. Tran will select and award Best Community Building Humanitarian Chef.

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Participating venues

The full list of over 40 participating chefs, restaurants, beverage experts and food and beverage purveyors is subject to change, but currently includes:

• AJ Dixon 
• Alem Ethiopian 
• Amilinda*
• Ardent*
• Bavette*
• Birch*
• Blue Star Cafe (Somali cuisine) 
• Brasserie Margaux
• Buckley’s 
• Casablanca (Madison)
• CocoVaa* (Madison)
• Coco’s Seafood & Steak
• DairyLand 
• The Diplomat*
• Discourse
• EsterEv*
• Ethica Wines*
• Flavor of Nigeria (Nigerian cuisine, Washington D.C.)
• Frankie’s Restaurant & Catering (Ghana cuisine)
• Frey’s Eritrean  
• Katie Rose of Goodkind*
• Heavens Table BBQ 
• Hometown Sausage Kitchen (East Troy)
• The Immigrant Room* (Kohler)
• Immy’s African Cuisine (Ugandan cuisine)
• Indulgence Chocolatiers
• Irie Zulu* 
• La Dama
• Les Delices de Awa African Cuisine (West African cuisine, Madison)
• Lupi & Iris*
• Morel*
• Moss Doli (Senegalese cuisine)
• Mothers’ & House of Bridges Collective
• Nell Benton
• Night Wolf
• Ono Kine Grindz
• Pasta Tree 
• Pastry Chef Nick Hoover*
• Room Service*
• Saffron
• Sanford*
• Taste of Cameroon BBQ/Suya (Chicago)
• Taste of Tanzania and Kenya (Madison)
• Uncle Wolfie’s Dinner Diner
• Uppa Yard (Jamaican cuisine)
• Valentine Coffee*
• Vegan Soulfood 

*Participants in VIP experience

Purchase tickets

Tickets for Flavors of Africa & the Diaspora in Wisconsin are available for purchase online. General admission tickets are available at two levels. Regular general admission is $250 per person with access from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; late entry general admission is available for $150 per person with access from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. VIP tickets are $675 per person or $1000 for two people.

All guests can expect a thrilling culinary and cultural experience showcasing the contrast between centuries-old tribal cuisines and innovative future-forward takes on the cuisine using fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

The VIP Experience will include high-end amenities including valet parking and concierge service. VIP guests will also experience an exclusive reception from 2 to 3 p.m. featuring specialty drinks and high end appetizers  from some of the area’s most acclaimed chefs. Entertainment will be provided by Ugandan-born musician Ben Mulwana and African Tap Dance Duo by Patte Nassalang & Dance Works.

Support through sponsorship

Ubuntu MKE welcomes the assistance of sponsors to underwrite the event. Sponsorship donations are critical to the mission of Ubuntu MKE and the Flavors of Africa & the Diaspora Experience as they allow for expanded access to the event and forthcoming educational opportunities. Sponsors for the Flavors of Africa & the Diaspora Experience currently include the Milwaukee Bucks, Mount Mary University and The Business Council. 

“I would love for more local businesses and foundations to offer grants so that we can do free programming for the community,” notes Tchouapi. “I am so passionate about sharing this culture and focusing the community on love that I’ve funded much out of my own pocket, and the community is embracing it. I’m asking all of my supporters to encourage their employers and companies to consider sponsorship.”

Sponsorship packets can be downloaded online. Donations can also be made directly to Ubuntu MKE online.

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Just the beginning

Flavors of Africa & the Diaspora is the first of many experiences created by Ubuntu MKE, the first Wisconsin-based cross-cultural incubator lab designed to build a more inclusive, diverse and equitable food community. 

Ubuntu MKE aims to curate, connect, develop and elevate the talents of underrepresented groups while showcasing the richness and diversity of African culture. These efforts will simultaneously contribute to the development of Wisconsin as a destination for tourism, business and economic growth.

For more information visit ubuntumke.com. You can also follow @ubuntumke on Instagram or Facebook for additional details.