Bespoke African dining hall Alkebulan debuts at Expo 2020 Dubai

African dining hall Alkebulan made its debut at Expo 2020, showcasing African food and culture through a colourful culinary lens. Capturing the essence of Africa, it transports visitors on a journey into the continent’s cultural diversities and gastronomy scenes, bringing together people, communities and nations.

Alkebulan (pronounced al-kee-boulan) — the oldest name for Africa and translating to Mother of Mankind or Garden of Eden — is a culinary concept curated by award-winning chef Alexander Smalls, a classically trained opera singer-turned-restaurateur.

The dining hall is a celebration of African cuisine, designed as a showcase of contemporary African food and music from across the continent. Each counter and concept has its own design that honours the individuality of the region, cuisine and chef. 

Smalls says: “African food is as diverse as the continent’s countries and communities, yet it is still underrepresented in the world. Bringing a piece of Africa to Expo 2020 is not only a dream come true, it’s also an opportunity to showcase the rich diversity that makes African cuisine from region to region. Food and music are both instrumental to our culture, and Alkebulan is a place that marries the two, welcoming visitors from around the world to be immersed in our flavours and traditions.”

Marjan Faraidooni, chief experience officer of Expo 2020 Dubai, says: “Food brings people and communities together — at a time when we need it most. In the spirit of Expo 2020’s theme, Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, we have invited countries from around the world to showcase their national dishes, giving visitors the chance to taste traditional and specialised food from around the globe in a safe environment. We are excited to welcome the African continent to Expo, and for our visitors to sample new flavours and concepts — the likes of which have yet to be seen in the UAE.”

Offering a delicious odyssey of flavours and experiences, Alkebulan will give diners the chance to experience gourmet dishes, street bites and fusion fare, all in one destination. The food hall hosts 10 counters, with each providing a different menu:

• Afro Street Eatery by Coco delivers rich aromatic flavours of West African street food, with dishes such as Ugandan-style miniature chapatti wrap filled with beef or vegetable curry.
• Bar Cane by Coco satisfies sweet cravings, serving what could well be the world’s finest doughnuts, washed down with dessert cocktails.
• Chicken Coop by Smalls celebrates the humble chicken in two of its best forms: rotisserie and fried. The triple-fried Tunisian baharat chicken, paired with a thick, custardy Belgian waffle, is not to be missed.
• Choma BBQ by Coco is inspired by the art of roasting, grilling and smoking meats, with a menu that includes the not-to-be-missed Zanzibari spiced rice and lamb, served with kachumbari salad, as well as Kenyan style beef skewers served with roasted green bananas.
• Jiko Cocktails by Tribe Hotel Kenya brings the flavours and spirits of Africa together through shaken, stirred, muddled and strained cocktails created by talented bartender Kelvin Thaiya.
• Penja by award-winning pop-up chefs Pierre Siewe, Glory Kabe and Moos Gbane promises innovative African cuisine and a world-class culinary experience from Cameroon and Benin, featuring dishes such as farm cockerel breaded with mustard and tapioca, tandoori vegetal mayonnaise fermented cassava semolina.
• Seven Seafood by trailblazing chef Kiran Jethwa offers a contemporary look at East African seafood using ingredients, flavours and combinations from the region to take traditional Kenyan cuisine into the modern world.
• Shoebox Bakery by Mame Sow is the ultimate pan-African bakery experience, spanning both sweet and savoury items, including Ethiopian injera flatbread.
• Sweet Ophelia’s by Smalls is an Afro-Asian wok bar that serves tasty rice, noodle and dumpling dishes, including West African favourite Cameroonian pepper fish.
• The Tasty Goat from Jethwa showcases nose-to-tail dining of this fantastic and versatile meat, combined with the tastes, textures and flavours of modern East African cuisine.

At Expo 2020, countries from around the world will showcase their national dishes, giving visitors the opportunity to taste traditional and specialised cuisines from more than 200 different outlets.

One of the first global mega-events to take place since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Expo 2020 invites visitors from around the planet to join the making of a new world in a six-month celebration of human creativity, innovation, progress and culture, running until March 31 2022.

For more information, visit www.expo2020dubai.com.

This article was paid for by Expo 2020 Dubai.