This November, AJABU, Africa’s first bi-annual international Cocktail and Spirits festival, returns to Cape Town, South Africa, promising a thrilling program for spirits enthusiasts. Running from Wednesday, November 20th to Sunday, November 24th, AJABU showcases world-renowned international bars, educational seminars, panels, and exciting new initiatives such as the AJABU Scholarship Program.
Curated by cocktail visionaries Colin Asare-Appiah and Mark Talbot Holmes, AJABU—which means “miraculous” or “wondrous”—has set out to be Africa’s leading spirits and cocktail festival. With a lineup featuring acclaimed bartenders, bars, and hospitality experts, the festival captures the rich diversity of the industry across the continent, offering unique collaborations that connect brands, media, and cocktail enthusiasts.
A World-Class Lineup of Global and Local Bars
AJABU 2024 is proud to host bartenders from up to 10 internationally acclaimed bars across four continents, including:
- Milady’s (New York)
- True Laurel (San Francisco)
- Jewel of the South (New Orleans)
- Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico City)
- Atwater Cocktail Club (Montreal)
- Front/Back (Accra)
- Hero Bar (Nairobi)
- Jigger and Pony (Singapore)
- Library by the Sea (Grand Cayman)
These global bar talents will collaborate with Cape Town’s top bars, including Cause Effect, Tommy’s Chop Shop, Art of Duplicity, Hacienda, The Drinkery, and Tjing Tjing, to create exquisite cocktail experiences that showcase African ingredients.
“We are excited to bring AJABU back to Cape Town with a fantastic group of accomplished bars,” says co-founder Talbot Holmes. “We’re looking forward to seeing these bartenders work alongside local establishments in one-of-a-kind pop-ups and informative seminars.”
AJABU Scholarship Program: Supporting Africa’s Future Hospitality Professionals
New for this year’s festival is the AJABU Scholarship Program, an initiative to uplift the African bar community through educational and hospitality-focused training. The program offers courses from the Professional Bar Training, Edinburgh Whisky Academy, and Wine & Spirits Education Trust. While some scholarships are designated for Sisterhood for Industry Support, others are available to any African-based drinks industry applicant.
The scholarship board, consisting of renowned industry leaders like Eileen Wayner (CEO, Tales of the Cocktail, USA), Kojo Aidoo (Director, Front/Back, Ghana), and Christelle Reade-Jahn (Director, SA Brandy Foundation, SA), will announce scholarship winners in early November. The selected scholars will be celebrated at the Community Brunch on November 21st.
Educational Seminars and Masterclasses
AJABU 2024 will also feature a lineup of seminars and masterclasses led by industry veterans. Highlights include:
- Steve Olson – Co-founder of Del Maguey and Stray Dog Gin, leading sessions on Bourbon, Rye, and Kansas City whisky.
- Simon Ford – Founder of Fords Gin, hosting discussions on gin and its growing popularity.
These sessions will offer in-depth insights for consumers, cocktail enthusiasts, spirits aficionados, and bar industry professionals.
Ticket Information and Further Details
AJABU Festival debuted to incredible acclaim in Johannesburg and Cape Town this past March, attracting nearly 2,000 attendees and setting the stage for its return to Cape Town this November. To join this unique celebration of African hospitality, purchase tickets on Quicket. The festival’s third event is already planned for March 2025 across Johannesburg and Cape Town, in collaboration with the Cape Town Beverage Show.
For more details, visit the official AJABU website at www.ajabufestival.com or follow AJABU on social media at @ajabufestival.