Jamaican chefs for South Africa

Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer

Western Bureau:

Jamaica-born chef and founding member of the Caribbean Culinary Network, Kevin Broderick, will be celebrating Jamaica 50 in South Africa and is expected to excite the taste buds of South Africans during his trip.

The Jamaican High Commission in South Africa is organising the trip, which will take place from July 31 to August 14, which will include chef Broderick along with Anthony Miller of Caribbean Producers of Jamaica.

The programme includes a church service at the Anglican Cathedral in Johannesburg; an official reception in Pretoria; a culinary showcase by Broderick and Miller; and musical performances by international piano legend Monty Alexander and jazz instrumentalist Dr Kathy Brown.

As part of the cultural exchange, chefs Broderick and Miller will conduct workshops at the South African Chef Training Academy and the University of Johannesburg. They will also present an evening of Jamaican cuisine at a five-star hotel in Johannesburg as well as make appearances on prime time television, including on the Big Brother Africa reality show, which is aired in 49 African countries.

"This is an excellent opportunity for me to showcase that Jamaican cuisine can rival any international cuisine in the world, while celebrating Jamaica's 50th year of Independence. I am excited about the trip to South Africa and it will go a far way in boosting my culinary career," Broderick explained.

The South African Department of Arts and Culture, Grace Foods UK Ltd, a number of South African companies, and the Jamaican community in Southern Africa helped to make the trip with the chefs possible.

According to Jamaica's High Commissioner to South Africa Norma Taylor Roberts, "the high commission is firmly committed, amid the challenges of distance and resource constraints, to take advantage of the unique opportunity of our Golden Jubilee. We will not only be showcasing the country's achievements in several fields, but also building Jamaica's reputation as a place to invest, work, and visit."

The activities in August are a continuation of the high commission's year-long programme that started in January with the visit of film-maker Sarah Manley to capture footage for the Jamaica 50 One People Documentary. Michael 'Ibo' Cooper and Dr Sonjah Stanley Niaah of the University of the West Indies also participated in a seminar in Pretoria in February titled 'The Role of Reggae Music in the African Liberation Struggle'.

sheena.gayle@gleanerjm.com