Comedian, celebrity chef and entrepreneur Carl Joshua Ncube was appointed the UN Tourism Special Ambassador for Gastronomy at the recently held inaugural UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa.
Attended by the UN Tourism Secretary General and Basque Culinary Centre Director General among a host of other dignitaries, who included the First Ladies of several African nations.
The event showcased how culinary tourism can boost local communities and Africa’s global presence. The key focus was on integrating Africa’s rich culinary heritage into tourism and fostering collaboration among stakeholders
Ncube was given the honour of UN Tourism Special Ambassador for Gastronomy alongside 3 other chefs representing different regions of Africa: Chef Yohanis Gebreyesus from Ethiopia, Chef Adenike Adefila from Nigeria, Chef and Mounir El Arem from Tunisia.
Reflecting on his new role in a video posted on TikTok, Carl Joshua Ncube shared that it was about creating an identity for African and putting the continent cuisine in a global language that everyone can understand.
We’re tasked with put African food, not just Zimbabwean food on the map, and I know from a Zimbabwean perspective it’s not just looking at traditional food but we’re looking at past present and future.
The multi-talented creative is currently pioneering a transformative initiative in his Rural BnB business. Ncube hopes to bridge the gap between rural communities and the tourism industry by turning traditional accommodation into abodes that showcase African hospitality.
The celebrity chef also launched a cookbook titled “Chikafu,” which explores Zimbabwean cuisine in a unique and fun way that is unique to Carl himself. The book features 100 food recipes and 25 recipes for cocktails, utilising local ingredients. The book is available exclusively as an ebook on web platforms and directly from Carl.
