The Gambia won three major titles at the 2026 West Africa Food Festival (Waffest), including the Jollof Heritage competition, as the country host the regional culinary event for the first time.
Alongside the coveted the Jollof Heritage crown, Team Gambia also won the Bread Bakery and Barbecue competitions, in addition to the Chef of the Year award.
The Jollof victory marks the country’s third title in the competition, following previous wins in Lagos in 2023 and Accra in 2025.
Liberia, finished second, and Burkina Faso in third place in the Jollof rice competition.
The Gambia also finished first in the Bread Bakery competition, ahead of Nigeria in second place and Ghana in third.
In the Barbecue competition, Team Gambia took the top position, followed by Nigeria and Liberia.
The country’s success extended to the Chef of the Year category, where a Gambian competitor claimed first place. Sierra Leone finished second, while Nigeria came third.
In the other categories, Burkina Faso won the Student Challenge, with the YMCA in The Gambia taking second place and the Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute (GTHI) finishing third. Sierra Leone won the Three-Tier Cake competition, followed by Ghana and Liberia.
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First published on standard.gm — 22 October 2026
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