Fatma Zohra Bendjelida wins CANEX junior chef competition in Algiers

Fatma Zohra Bendjelida was crowned the winner of the inaugural Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) Junior Chef Competition in Algiers after beating seven finalists in a two-day cook-off held alongside the Intra-African Trade Fair 2025. Loubna Ali Cherif and Aouis Akkouch were named first and second runners-up after preparing dishes rooted in African ingredients and local culinary traditions.

The contest offered cash prizes, medals and mentoring sessions with industry leaders, and judges included Chef Robert, Rabah Ourrad, Andile Sondaka and Taymor Mason. Mrs. Chinelo Oramah of the Afreximbank Spouse Network (ASNET), and celebrity chefs Coco and Stone, made special appearances on the judging panel.

“Gastronomy can become a unifying platform for culture, tourism and economic development locally,” Zimbabwe’s First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa said in her keynote address at the awards ceremony, calling for greater support for food festivals and youth innovation. “Gastronomy tourism is a fundamental component for promoting local cultures and as a major element of intangible heritage.”

CANEX spotlights youth talent and culinary diplomacy

The final cook-off began with four individual performances on day one; finalists then paired up on day two and worked under the guidance of mentors Andile Sondaka, Rabah Ourrad and Taymor Mason. Afreximbank’s director for Intra-African Trade and Export Development (Creatives and Diaspora), Temwa Gondwe, said the competition was designed to convert culinary tradition into economic opportunity.

“This is more than just a culinary show. It is an intentional strategy to assert Africa’s culinary elements and African cuisine as a strategic tool for economic empowerment and cultural diplomacy,” Gondwe said, urging investment in African-owned food businesses and contemporary restaurant chains.

The CANEX Junior Chef Competition was one of several gastronomy-focused activities at IATF2025, which also featured world-class cooking demonstrations and the Jollof Wars. The broader Intra-African Trade Fair drew more than 112,000 participants and generated over US$48 billion in trade deals, organizers said, making the event a key platform for showcasing creative industries and promoting intra-African trade.