Celebrating world African culture day
24 January is World Day for African and Afro-descendant Culture, an opportunity to highlight the richness of Africa’s heritage through its artistic, musical and culinary expressions
One of the leading figures embodying this cultural diversity is chef Georgiana Viou, who stands out for her commitment to bringing African gastronomy to the international stage
Originally from Benin and now based in France, Georgiana Viou has established herself as a true ambassador for African flavours. In an interview with SIAL Paris Newsroom, she described her cuisine as a ‘bridge between cultures’, blending her African roots with French influences. She says: “What I do in my dishes is tell a story, the story of my origins and my personal journey.
African gastronomy, a heritage to be preserved and reinvented
For Georgiana Viou, African cuisine is much more than a culinary art: it is a living testimony to the traditions and skills handed down from generation to generation. Her creations feature ingredients such as manioc, groundnuts and akassa, which she sublimates while respecting their essence. “These products are simple, but their richness lies in their history. Each dish is an invitation to discover a culture through its flavours’, she explains.
This approach is perfectly in keeping with the spirit of World African Culture Day, which aims to celebrate and enhance the diversity of African heritages. By revisiting traditional recipes with a contemporary twist, Georgiana Viou offers a new perspective on African gastronomy, positioning it as an innovative and universal cuisine.
A culinary dialogue between tradition and modernity
Georgiana Viou also talks about her personal journey, marked by a constant dialogue between her Beninese origins and her experience of French culture. This dual influence is reflected in her cuisine, which she describes as a dialogue between tradition and modernity. “Cuisine is a universal language. It allows us to transcend borders and create links between cultures’, she says.
Her work highlights a vibrant African cuisine, capable of adapting to contemporary tastes while remaining true to its roots. Through her dishes, she tells stories and shares memories, offering a deeply emotional culinary experience.
Georgiana Viou, an ambassador for African culture
The Beninese chef is convinced that gastronomy can play a central role in transmitting culture and combating stereotypes. Her participation in international events such as SIAL Paris helps to raise awareness of the richness of African cuisine on a global stage. “My aim is to show that African cuisine is vast, rich and contemporary. It deserves its place among the world’s greatest cuisines’, she declares.
To mark World Day for African Culture, Georgiana Viou is passionately illustrating the importance of preserving and reinventing the continent’s culinary traditions. Through her creations, she shows that African culture is not limited to its past, but is a source of inspiration for the future.
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Source: Atalia Botha – Unsplash