Food is one of humanity's oldest forms of knowledge.
About Us
Preserving African culinary heritage. Connecting communities through food.
Our Journey
Jikoni Palatables began in 2016 as a catering business built on a simple belief: food brings people together.
As we prepared meals and served communities, we noticed something deeper. Every dish carried a story. Every ingredient had a history. Every recipe held knowledge that had been passed from one generation to the next.
We began asking questions.
- Who was documenting these stories?
- Who was preserving the knowledge behind indigenous ingredients?
- Who was making sure future generations would understand the foods that shaped their communities?
The more we searched, the more we realized that much of Africa's culinary knowledge remained scattered, undocumented, and at risk of being lost.
What started as a catering business gradually became something bigger.
Today, Jikoni Palatables is a growing ecosystem dedicated to preserving, organizing, and sharing African culinary heritage through food stories, recipes, ingredients, research, community contributions, and innovation.
Our journey continues, but our purpose has become clear: preserve the knowledge, share the stories, and connect people through food.
What We Believe
A recipe is more than a list of ingredients. It carries memories, traditions, skills, and identity.
Indigenous ingredients deserve to be understood, valued, and celebrated.
Communities should play a role in preserving their own food heritage.
Knowledge becomes stronger when it is shared.
Food can connect generations, cultures, and communities in ways few things can.
Most importantly, we believe that preserving culinary heritage is not about looking backward. It is about ensuring future generations have access to the knowledge, stories, and opportunities that come from understanding where their food comes from.
Founder Story
Ng'ang'a Wanjira
Founder, Jikoni Palatables
Jikoni Palatables was founded by Ng'ang'a Wanjira, a hospitality professional and applied biology graduate with a passion for food, science, and community.
Growing up, some of the most meaningful lessons came from the kitchen, where food was never just something to eat. It was a way of sharing stories, preserving traditions, and bringing people together.
This curiosity about food led her to study both hospitality and applied biology, creating a unique perspective that combines culinary traditions with scientific understanding.
In 2016, she started Jikoni Palatables as a catering business. Through her work, she discovered that many of the conversations surrounding African food focused on what was being eaten today, while much of the knowledge behind ingredients, traditions, and food systems was being overlooked.
She saw an opportunity to help preserve that knowledge and make it accessible to more people.
Today, she leads Jikoni Palatables with a vision of building an ecosystem that documents African culinary heritage, supports innovation, creates opportunities for communities, and shares Africa's food stories with the world.
For her, food is not just a product or a service. It is a bridge between culture, knowledge, people, and possibility.
Our Future
We believe Africa's culinary heritage is one of the continent's greatest untapped resources.
Within recipes, ingredients, farming practices, and food traditions lies knowledge that can inspire innovation, strengthen communities, support livelihoods, and connect people across generations.
To help unlock that potential, Jikoni Palatables is building an ecosystem of initiatives that work together toward a shared purpose.
We preserve and share culinary knowledge.
We create opportunities through food products and services.
We connect people with products and resources that support our mission.
We tell stories that educate, inspire, and connect communities.
Expanding opportunities for learning and professional development.
Coming SoonCommunity engagement through immersive food gatherings.
Coming SoonResearch and experimentation for future-ready food innovation.
Coming SoonOur Mission
To preserve, celebrate, and share African culinary knowledge while creating opportunities for communities to connect, contribute, and thrive through food.
Our Vision
A world where African culinary heritage is preserved, valued, and accessible to everyone, and where food serves as a bridge between cultures, generations, and communities.