Fatma Zohra Bendjelida has emerged winner of the inaugural Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) Junior Chef Competition, a contest that spotlights Africa’s culinary heritage and rising young talent.
Bendjelida clinched the top prize at the two-day final cook-off, held on the sidelines of the Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) in Algiers. Loubna Ali Cherif and Aouis Akkouch were named first and second runners-up. The competition was open to Algerian chefs aged 16 to 21, who were tasked with preparing dishes rooted in African ingredients and traditions.
Eight finalists competed for cash prizes, medals, and mentoring sessions under the watch of a high-profile judging panel that included chefs Robert, Rabah Ourrad, Andile Sondaka, Taymor Mason, Chef Coco, and Chef Stone, as well as Mrs Chinelo Oramah, Matron of the Afreximbank Spouse Network (ASNET).
Zimbabwe’s First Lady, H.E. Auxillia Mnangagwa, delivering the keynote at the awards ceremony, urged greater investment in African food festivals and culinary platforms to drive tourism, cultural pride, and economic growth. “Gastronomy can become a unifying platform for culture, tourism and economic development locally,” she said.
Afreximbank’s Director for Intra-African Trade and Export Development (Creatives and Diaspora), Temwa Gondwe, described the competition as part of a broader strategy to position African cuisine on the global stage. “This is more than just a culinary show. It is an intentional strategy to assert Africa’s culinary elements as a tool for economic empowerment and cultural diplomacy,” he noted.
The Junior Chef contest is among gastronomy-focused events at CANEX, which also features culinary showcases such as the “Jollof Wars.” CANEX itself is a flagship gathering of Africa’s creative industries, running alongside IATF2025, which drew over 112,000 participants, 2,100 exhibitors and secured more than $48 billion in trade and investment deals.
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