On this World Food Day, the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) calls on African citizens, governments, and institutions to look inward—to our soil, seeds, and ancestral wisdom—for the answers to Africa’s food future. As the continent’s largest civil-society platform championing food sovereignty and agroecology, AFSA commemorates this day by fronting its flagship Pan-African campaign, My Food Is African, a bold movement to reclaim Africa’s food systems by celebrating our rich culinary heritage and transforming how food is produced, valued, and shared.
Food in Africa is far more than sustenance; it is a living expression of who we are—our history, identity, resistance, and dignity. Each dish tells a story of survival, celebration, and connection to the land. Yet, industrial and ultra-processed food models—chemical-intensive and culturally alien—continue to erode our health, our ecosystems, and our pride. My Food Is African challenges this trend by promoting diets that are healthy, sustainable, and culturally grounded, while honoring the role of smallholder producers, especially women and youth. It seeks to reconnect African citizens with the origins of their food, restore pride in indigenous knowledge, and inspire a continental shift toward food systems that nourish both people and planet.
Embracing Our Roots Nurtures Our Future
Discover it – Celebrate it – Spread it.
Knowledge of traditional African foods is more than culinary history—it is reconnection with our roots, the sustainable practices embedded in our culture, and the empowerment of local communities. Celebrating African food is celebrating who we are and asserting our rightful place in the world’s culinary mosaic. By spreading this pride, Africans everywhere become ambassadors for a philosophy that respects the environment, values local producers, and promotes health.
True African food begins with the soil. Our food must be grown in living, microbe-rich soils through agroecological practices that honor nature and regenerate ecosystems. Food grown with chemicals on degraded land is disconnected from African wisdom and well-being. Healthy food systems begin where the seed meets the soil—when soil is nourished, life is sustained.
Traditional African diets are powerful medicine. Rich in nutrients, biodiversity, and healing properties, they are key to addressing Africa’s growing health crises—from malnutrition to lifestyle diseases. These diets are not relics of the past but critical solutions for our present and future. Fast food is not the future. Ultra-processed diets are colonizing our kitchens and damaging our health. African food, when grown ecologically and prepared with care, is the strongest antidote.
Rooted in Agroecology – Driven by Citizens
My Food Is African is not only about what we eat; it is about how we grow it, who controls it, and what future we choose for Africa. Long before “agroecology” became a global term, African communities farmed with nature—rotating crops, composting, and respecting seasons. Reviving agroecology is not importing a solution; it is reclaiming a legacy. It is our blueprint for survival in a climate-challenged world.
Women are the unseen architects of Africa’s food systems—as farmers, seed guardians, cooks, and teachers. Their knowledge and labor uphold biodiversity and household nutrition. Youth are the heartbeat of Africa’s food future—reconnecting with land, culture, and innovation. Together, they form the living bridge between our ancestral wisdom and modern creativity.
Food connects generations. Recipes, seed rituals, and stories passed from grandmothers to grandchildren are our oral heritage. Protecting this intergenerational knowledge is protecting our identity. Eating African is an act of power. Every meal prepared with pride and ecological care is a declaration of sovereignty and self-determination.
A Call to Action: Reclaim Our Plate, Rebuild Our Future
On this World Food Day, AFSA calls for:
- Policy Change: African governments must integrate traditional diets and agroecological production into national food, health, and education frameworks.
- Citizen Mobilization: Each African citizen can be a food ambassador—supporting local farmers, choosing chemical-free foods, and celebrating indigenous cuisines.
- Media and Education: Schools and media must teach that African food is modern, aspirational, and globally relevant when rooted in culture and ecology.
- Seed and Soil Protection: There is no food sovereignty without seed sovereignty. Our soils and seeds must remain in the hands of farmers, not corporations.
“Our food is not poor food—it is rich, diverse, and healing. Reviving African food is reviving our dignity.”
AFSA invites all Africans to join the movement to Grow with Nature, Eat with Pride, and Live with Dignity.
